The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-01-15
M'NEIL IN HIS FLIGHT.
A CONDUCTORS STORY OF THE DE-
FAULTING PRESIDENTS TRIP.
The Journey to st. Albans and McNeips
Nervous COnduct-His Gripsacks Closely
Watched-False Reports Of Suicide and
Murder-Dr. Nelson's Bondsmen.

tectives of the state force are still busily
employed in unravelling the many mys-
terious actions of President Mcneil Of the
plundered Lancaster bank of Clinton, and
not day passes without some valuable in
formation being found The arrest Of Nc
Neil is very likely to occur at no distant
period, and when that is accomplished re-
view Of the case will show that one Of the
best and most complete pieces Of detective
work has been done that has been recorded
for many day, and which will
reflect great credit on the state force. From
information received by Chief Wade, Mr..
j. o. Parsons, Pullman car conductor on
the Fitchburg road, has been interviewed by
Detective Moore with important results and
all the reports Of the drugging or suicide Of
Mcneil, or of his having been murdered, are
shown to be false or mere idle speculation
Mr.. Parsons stated to Detective Moore
that his car was attached to the train which
took Mcneil and Veo north from Fitchburg
on the night the bank was robbed, and that
they rode with him. He said that when
Mcneil and Veo first met on the car they
talked as though they were strangers. but
afterwards were together talking and writ
ing and that they were so engaged when he
saw them last together. Mcneil did not ap-
pear to be under the influence Of any mar
cotic or drug, but appeared as though he
had been drinking little, say about enough
to give him little courage. He was nerv-
Gus and was up smoking and moving about,
and appeared anxious about the railroad
connections. He paid local fare to st.
Albans, rendering two S. bills for his ticket,
and got his change later, as Mr.. Parsons did
not remember what the local fare was at
the time When Veo got off the train at
Rutland he only had one valse, or grip
sack, with him, but Mcneil could
have got off the other end of the
car and given Veo another gripsack
had he desired. When the train arrived at
St. Albans the Montreal train was waiting
for them, and when Mcneil got off the Bos-
ton train there he had a good sized grip
sack with him. He was told by the porter
of the sleeping car which was the Montreal
train, and started forit The porter offered
to carry his valise to the Montreal train, but
Mcneil would not let him. Mcneil gave
the porter so cents, and he remembered him
well. Mcneil seemed to be in the full pos
sessioh OF his sciiSes, but appeared to be
anxious to get to his destination, and in
Quired about the train. He talked first
about the Montreal train, and afterwards
about st. Albans. Mr.. Parsons does not be-
lieve Mcneil has committed suicide. Nc
Neil and Veo took the gripsacks into their
berths with them, and did not allow any one
else to handle them, and they took no pains
after the train had gone beyond Fitchburg
some little way to make it appear that they
were strangers. From the above it will be
seen that Mcneil was all right when he
parted company with Veo, and that he con-
tinued his journey alone to st. Albans, SO
that he could not have been murdered on
some lonely mountain in Vermont, as has
been surmised; or if he was murdered or
killed himself 1t was after his arrival at
place of comparative safety from pursuit.
There is general belief in Clinton that
the story of the conductor is somewhat
'shaky," and the theory of suicide seems to
be gaining ground.
DR.. Nelson was again brought into court
Tuesday, but failed to procure bail and was
held in $4,000 for his appearance at the
next term of the Worcester county superior
court, which convenes at Worcester on Mon
day next, and the prisoner was taken to
Worcester in the evening.
The annual meeting of the stockholders of
the bank was held Tuesday and an adjourn
ment effected until Feb. 9. The fact that
but sixty-three of the thousand shares of the
bank were represented at the meeting was
regarded as very peculiar circumstance
Bank Examiner Gatchell saw nothing
strange, however, in the circumstance. He
said it was well known that no business
could be transacted, and that nothing could
be done until he, the examiner, had submit
ted his report. Another reason why SO
small number of shares were represented
is that most of the stock is owned out of
town, and it would merely Inconvenience
people to be present without any resulting
benefit. Mr.. Gatchell thinks it will be sew
eral days before his report is ready.