Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-01

/ QudIters, where tnen descriptions were t4keu
| by Clerk German as follows:
| Nelson E. Thomas, "a years old, 8 feet B
| inches high, weight 1S5 pounds. He is very
dark brown and was born in Howard county,
| Md. He is pock-marked. has small side
whiskers, chin whiskers, and small moustache.
| His wife, Eliza Thomas, Is years old, feet
| AZ inches high, weighs 100 pounds. She is
! light brown and has a scar behind right ear.
She was born in Prince Georges county Md.
Matilda or Lizzie Thomas, who is held as a
| witness, is twenty-six years old, feet AZ
inches high. and weighs 120 pounds. Her COM
ple1ion is light brown. She was born in How
| ard county, Md, and has a scar over her left
| eye.
The Confessional Thomas.
While the three prisoners were in headquar-
tiers waiting to go to the photograph gallery,
Thomas told STAR reporter how and why he,
and he alone, had killed Eliza Foster.
"She bothered the life out Of me-" he said,
"and couldn't get rid of her. We first quar-
relied on d street near my wife's service place."
snow tell the truth" interrupted his wife.
"Did have anything to do with it?"
"No, indeed, DEAR" he answered ''You
didn't know anything about it. I did it and
expect to get hung for 1t. They won't hang
her or do nothing like that with her, will they?"
he asked.
THE RULING PASSION.
just then an officer entered and Lizzie
thought that he ready to take her photo
graph. She asked for comb and brush, as
she wanted to look as neatly as possible.
Il done it," continued Nelson.
"But if you had taken my advice" inter-
rupted his wife, 'you wouldn't be in this
trouble now. You know that l warned YOU
long ago and called you back three times that
night"
Il know you did, dear, but it's too late now"
THE STORY OF THE MURDER.
Continuing his story Thomas said: "She
Gizzie FOSTER kept after me about one thing
or another, and begged me to take her to Tillie
Thomas house in Howard county The even
ing before the affair occurred she said to me:
III see Title Thomas tonight, or I'll eat my
breakfast in hell l made up my mind that I
would take her to Titles house. and it was
about o'clock that night when we started.
When we passed the old toll-gate did not know
which way to go, so we walked slowly along the
road until we arrived at Benning bridge We
stopped on the bridge and talked awhile. The
night was dark. but could see the water in
the branch. Then we continued our journey,
as We supposed. toward Howard county. We
quarreled several times and the last quarrel
We had was near the place where killed her."
did you kill her on the road?" inquired the
reporter.
mo, sir" he replied, 81 struck her, where
she fell. There is a road or path leading from
the main road. through the woods. We turned
! in there, and picked up the stone and struck
her. She made no noise whatever, but fell
down the bank. 1t was then nearly O'Clock,
and remained in the woods, near Bladens-
burg, until daybreak, whenI returned to the
city"
Il have done murder" he continued, "and
know am going to be hung for it. 1 hope
they will try me next week and then give me
one week"
For what?" asked the reporter
10 pray, he answered.
The prisoners were then taken to Nephew's
photograph gallery and photographed for the
roSues' gallery.
MARGARET SMITHS STORY.
Margaret Smith, colored woman at whose
house the murdered woman lived called at po-
lice headquarters to-day and volunteered the
information that it was her belief that both
Thomas and his wife had had hand in the
murder. She said that Thomas and Eliza Fos-
ter often had quarrels. The day before eman-
cipatiOn day she said, Eliza told her that she
was going to Thomas house for her clothes
and also mentioned going in the country. Mrs.
Smith said that she warned her about
going with Thomas, and told her that he would
Kill her before the year was out. What Mrs.
Smith particularly impressed upon the officers
was the fact that she had already given infor-
nation and that her name had not appeared
in the newspapers.
THE PRISONERS WILL 60 TO MARYLAND WITHOUT
REQUIsITIoN.
The prisoners were taken back to the sixth
precinct station, and they expressed willing
ness to go to Maryland without a requisition
Sheriff Darnall has been notified and he will
take them prisoners to Marlboro as soon as
possible.
READY TO DIE, But FEARS MARLBORO.
This afternoon STAR reporter visited the
murderer in the sixth precinct station. I'm
still here" he said when the reporter spoke to
him. Il am ready to de-" he said. Il am
guilty and it's no more than deserve or can
expect But, gentleman, God knows I don't
want to 60 to dat place called Marlboro. /
done heard too much about it already, and
hope they won't throw the key away when they
get me there and lock me up. Yes, Use God
fearing man." he continued. ''and never was
arrested before. ] never stole anything In my
life and the police never had me before"
'But you loved too many women" suggested
the reporter.
well, no, dats not the trouble" he said.
''You see Eliza become attached to me and 1
couldn't helpit. It's done and it can't be I'M
done. There was a gentleman with kind of red
hair here just few minutes ago who lives in
that place dey calls Marlboro. told him that
if he got there before me tell 'em Use guilty
and wants a trial next week. Then for them to
give me two or three weeks to pray and then
hang me-"
PREFERS DEATH TO TIE PENIrENTIARY.
Dus tAey tnlSnt senu you W tue penitenlIdry,
the reporter suggested.
For Gods sake don't let 'em send me to the
penitentiary," he said. II would rather go to
Heaven than to the penitentiary, because they
tells ME dat you has to work awful hard and
can't rise you head"
''You go to the penitentiary," interrupted
his wife, who occupied a cell close by. II
know girl who went there and she only had to
cook, and then you might get pardoned some
of these times"
"But it's different with man." he reasoned
"They don't treat men like they do women,
but then it's dat place, Marlboro, dat bothers
me. / would rather die right here among my
| friends"
Peoples been a-tellin' me-" he continued,
''dat 1 can't go to heaven, but knows better,
because the Lord says If man repents of sins
as high as a mountain, they will be washed
| away All he's got to do is to pray from the
| bottom of his heart, and Use already done dat.
| i prayed last night and the Lord washed away
| my sins. / am now prepared to enter heaven
and only want one, two or three weeks in which
to make further preparations"
Soldiers Returning From New York
The train which left New York last night at
1880 had on board the National Fencibles, Cor
coran Cadets, Union Veterans and Post Office
Guard OF the d. @. n. G.. The train arrived
this morning, and the boys marched to their
| respective armories. They all say that they
| had fine time. Capt. Domer, of the Fenci-