The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-23
WHY HE KILLED HER.
McLean's Act Was Committed in
Sudden Anger.
Caused By B1ow-The Story eff the Fatal
Ride and the Crime

Ride and the Crime.
Concord. N. H., November 22.-Today in
his trial on the charge of murder Arthur
G. Mclean told how he shot and Killed
Nettie B. Douglass. one night last summer.
Mclean admits that he Killed the girl DuV
claims that the act WAS not -nemeolateo.
He testified in substance as follows:
Il am %. My parents live in Hennlker.
First met Nettie Belle Douglass at a SOCIAL
in Henniker, and first walked home with
her from surprise party the latter part OIL
June: called on her on the invitation OF her
mother and herself; had her ring and she
mine several times. ,Nettie and I got to like
each other Nights before my going home
she would put her arm around my neck and
kiss me. She told me of receiving letter
containing ar invitation to go ON an excur-
sion from married man in which directions
were given her for leaving the town to
savoid suspicion l have used fire arms of
all kinds as long as l can remember. and
when not owned by me. have hired or bor-
rowed them. II was my practice for years
to carry revolver when driving. l drove
to East Deering with Nettie one Sunday in
the latter part of July. We returned at
eleven that night. then, had a. revolver
borrowed of George Wakefield. Later be-
came engaged to Nettie and she had my
ring and I hers.
II spent Saturday evening, August II, at
the home of Nettie. She said she was
obliged to break our engagement. | asked
for myssring, and she gave it to me and re-
turned hers. While sitting on the sofa she
put her arms around my neck, kissed me
and said she was sorry to break the engage
ment. Before leaving, at her request,
promised to continue my calls. l LAID up
nothing againstsher for breaking the en-
gageme mt because Of what she told me. L
met Mrs. Douglass on the shoe factory road
Monday evening. August ID, and saw Ncttie
afterwards. She accepted my invitation to
ride the following evening l engaged re-
volver of Mr.. Brown the same Monday eve
ming because of my prospective drive. My
custom is t0 carry a revolver fully loaded.
and for that reason bought cartridges of
Preston BROTHERS Tuesday evening. l did
not t. II MIR. Preston wanted the cartridges
for cousin in Deering, but said L had been
over'to Deer.ng shooting with my cousins.
81 had no malice then against Nettie.
Later i got a team and took Nettie to drive.
We went beyond Contooook and turned for
home. When we got to Henniker village,
the ride was continued by common consent
towards North Weare. Nettie complained
of being cold and we got out of the carriage
and walked on the roads. When she got in
to the carriage, I wound the lap robe
around her. l had no malice against her
then. Each had kissed the other several
times.
while near Mr.. SaIgent's house on the
Concord road, asked her to tell me who
stood between us and caused the breaking
of the engagement. This she declined to
do and then asked if could win over the
person who stood between us If she could
renew it. She said not under any circum-
stances. She said she would never marry a
man who used her cowardly and mean; that
/ had written a letter asking ner to go to
an excursion and foot the bills. / said l had
not. She said. You lie and you know you
did. friend Of mine told me you did, |
said You are foolish to talk tnat:way".
''lShe then turned and struck at me and
spat in my face, l then fred and shot her.
1 don't now how many shots I fired. saw
the girl lie back in the carriage and l got
out of the carriage. All that l remember is
that ! ran and fell. Next somebody said
wake up. Ny quick temper caused me to
shoot the girl for she spat in my face. I
have done many things in my life that l
regret and this is one of them. love Nettie
still and had no malice against her up to
the time / shot her,"
On cross examination, Mclean said: "My
reading has generally been love stories.
read some this summer, also sDeadwood
Dick and such stuff. l Lever read a
murder trial. and didn't read of the Lizzie