Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-02
THE BENNING MURDER.
Nelson Thomas, His Wife and Female
Friend in Marlboro Jail.

Friend in Marlboro Jail.
A PRELIMINARY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TEsTI-
MoNr OF TILLrE THoMAs-rHE WIFE OF NELSON
THOMAS HELD AS HIS AccoMPLIcE IN THE MUIR
DER OF ELIZA FOSTER.
Nelson Thomas, the confessed murderer of
Eliza Foster is now incarcerated in the Marl-
boro'. Md. Jail with his wife and his female
companion, Tille Thomas. Wednesday night
after Thomas had made the statements in which
he implicated his wife and accused one Fletcher
OF the murder. he told the officers that he was
lonesome, and requested that his wife and
Tlille be placed in cells in the corridor where
his cell was located. The officers granted his
request and soon the trio begun discussing the
crime. The wife cried like a child because her
husband had eliminated her in his interview
with the detectives, reported in yesterdays
STAR. but he assured her that he would fix the
case all right SO that she would be cleared, and
pleaded with her not to give way to her feelings
Under ms promises to clear her of completely
IN the crime she became reconciled, and the
three prisoners were soon engaged in a reli-
gious meeting of prayer and song.
THE PRISONERS IDEA OF MARLBORO JAIL
The devotional exercises having closed for
the time, Thomas discussed his future life,
often referring to Marlboro as a place where
he did not want to go. He spoke of the Marl-
boro' prison as though he had been there; but
he explained that his knowledge was obtained
in his boyhood. He then lived in Prince
Georges county. he said, and when he misbe-
haved his mother would picture the prison to
him and tell him that when persons were sent
there the jailer would sometimes lock the door
and throw the key away. This impressed him
with the belief that the prisoners would then
starve to death, and that is why he dreaded
being sent there.
The woman Tillie, before retiring for the
night. said that she wanted to give Nelson her
gold ring.
"'Taint no use givin' it to me, Tillie," said
Thomas, ''cause twont do me no good"
THE PRISONER DISCLOSING OF HIS PERSONAL
EFFECTS.
Then Nelson discussed the disposition of his
earthly goods. Use got watch and chain in
the Office" he said land Use also got a
knife"
Title, interrupting him, said: 81 wants the
watch"
"Tll tell you what I'll do" said Thomas
Gone of you can have the watch and the other
can have the knife
After the conversation Wednesday night
Thomas felt as though he had to exonerate his
wife, and it was then that he made his confess
sion as reported in yesterdays STAR.
After making his confession, Thomas Gas
mentioned in yesterdays starr expressed de-
sire to go to heaven at an early day, and yester-
day afternoon he spent i'll prayer.
DEPARTURE OF THE PRISONERS FOR MARLBORO.
Sheriff Darnall arrived here yesterday after
noon and in company with Detective Raft. he
started in hack with the prisoners for Marl-
boro'. 1t was o'clock when the party left Pc.
lice headquarters.
Goodbye. Mr.. Horne" said Thomas when
he had lighted cigar. Il hope I'll see you
again before die"
Then the vehicle started for Marlboro via
Uniontown. Mrs. Thomas broke down
and cried like a child. Nelson pleaded with her
to keep up her spirits, saying: I'm in trouble
and not you. Let's sing and be Jolly"
Nelson had been the leader of a church choir
and could sing well. He led off with Nearer
My God, to Thee" The women joined in the
singing and kept it up till the hack stopped
in front of the Marlboro Jail, at Tbs o'clock.
AT MARLBORO JAIL.
Then the prisoners were taken into the JAIL
where the town magistrate was seated behind a
desk. Nelson Thomas was charged with the
murder of Eliza Foster and his wife was
charged with being an accessory. Learning
that she was charged with completely in the
crime, Lizzie Thomas fell upon her knees and
cried as though her heart would break. The
efforts OF her husband to pacify her were of no
avail, and she had to be assisted to her cell
A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
was had. Detective Raft testified to the condi-
ton of the body of the murdered woman and
also to the circumstances attending the arrests.
He also detailed the confession and various
statements made by the prisoner.
The woman. Tillie Thomas, was then sworn
and her testimony proved to be of considerable
importance to the prosecution. She testified
that she had heard Lizzie Thomas say that she
was going to have Eliza Foster killed. On this
testimony both
THOMAS AND HIS WIFE WERE HELD
for the October term of the cour. without bail,
and Tillie Thomas was held as a witness
Before the officers left the JAIL Thomas asked
the sheriff to be good to him like Detective
Raft had been.
HE certainly treated me WE'LL" said Thomas
''Mr Raft was the best friend had during my
troubles. He stuck to me well, and was the
only one TO visit me when was lonesome and
locked up in the police station. l feels happy,
and all l ask is TO be treated good like L was
treated in the police station"
Before the officers left the Jail Thomas re-
quested them to send hirI preacher, as he
wanted to prepare to die. and asked Detective
Raft to visit him on the day he is executed and
shake hands with him. The officers arrived
here at l o'clock this morning.
Detectives Raft and Horne have learned that
the shoes worn by Eliza Foster when she was
murdered were purchased at a secondhand
store on AZ street. Pictures, which are ex-
cellcnt likenesses of the prisoners, were taken
by Mr.. Nephew, the photographer.
81 The difference between a loose vague
boast and an affidavit giving exact figures is a
wide one, and of great significance to person
interested in the statement. The STAR s,cedrs
to its circulation. This is point of great i'm
portance to advertisers.
RObbcries Reported.
Joseph Smith, No. 227 ID street northwest, re-
ports stolen from his hallway Tuesday night a
camp chair.-W. C. Maupin reports the lar
ceny of pair of silver cuff buttons.-J. II.
Mansfield reports the theft of a push-cart.--
A. N. Miller, No. 100 Z street northeast, reports
that his house was entered April 25, by forcing
a basement window and robbed of an alarm