The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-18
IN COURT.
John Nelson's Defense Of Receiving
Stolen Goods Submitted.

The trial OF John Nelson was continued
before MIR. Justice Wilbur this morning,
the court room being crowded to It's Ut
most capacity. The examination OF wal
lace was completed yesterday afternoon
and several other witnesses testified 10
matters of no great Importance. Detective
Swan described the circumstances OF the
arrest and the court adjourned. Ihis
morning Detective Parker also testified
in regard TO the arrest OF Wallace ana
Mclaughlin. He said that Nelson at this
time denied having bought the gold, and
claimed TO know Wallace but slightly.
Silas l.. Merrill, detective, testified that
Nelson said at the time the detectives ar
rested Wallace in the formers store that
he had received no gold. he subsequent
ly stated that he had bought gold OF Wal
lace twice.
Horace Bclcher testified that in his
capacity as reporter he had interviewed
the defendant at his store on North Main
street in the presence of Detective
Parker. Nelson said that he didn't know
Wallace at all, but the fellow had been
there two or three times and later said
seven or eight. The defendant
further said that he paid fuli
market price for the gold. He said that
he knew that Wallace did not steal the
gold for Wallace told him so. He knew
that Wallace worked for Kent-Staniey
Company and that the gold which this
firm used was for plate, while this which
Wallace sold was solid. Wallace said
asenSast DE sSasat dshdr 1T from stated re9S that rhs
had not bought over fifty
pcnnyweights of gold altogether.
He also said that be did not take the gold
from the counter and carry IL into the
back room. Afterward when questioned
by Parker, Nelson admitted that he did
takethe gold to his back shop.
At an interview the next evening Nelson
said that he could get out of the case all
right and he had plenty of money to fight
it. He said that Wallace had been there
five times in ALL In cross-examination
Mr.. w ilson directed his questions in re-
gard to an article written by Belcher In
The Journal rejecting upon the defendant
At this point the state rested and Mr..
Wilson opened for the defense, attacking
the credibiiity of Wallace and McLaugb-
lin as confessed criminals. Formerly,
said the attorney, I" men OF such a stamp
were not allowed 10 testify, but in the
light OF higher civilization in the perse-
cution of Jews and other classes of
citizens criminals have been allowed to
swear away the regulations OF honest
men," Mr.. Wilson asserted that the
value OF the gold was the important point
TO consider in the case, and claimed that
Nelson always paio full price for the gold:
down to the credibility of Wallace.
John Nelson was the first witness
called for the defense. He said that he
had been in this country about thirteen
years, having been born In southern Rus
sia. He had been refiner by trade until
he went into business. The witness said
that he became acquainted with
half ago, but had never seen
Mclaughlin until yesterday. He adver-
tised continually for old gold in the
papers. He subsequently, refined 1t.
Other jewelry shops in the city did the
same. The first gold which he bought of
Wallace was in the form of q "button."
Wallace came again about four or five
months after. He had another button"
and asked SIS for it. The defendant
bought it and lost q by the trans
action. He had no further deal
ings with Wallace until last September.
Since that period he did not know how
many times he had bought gold of Wal
lace but thought about five or six times.
Wallace told him that he collected the
gold and the witness said that he would
be glad of his trade. He used to come in
dressed up and said that business was
brisk. He never intimated that he
was getting the gold in an unlaw-
full manner. The gold scrap was
often filled with solder. The witness
said that he had always paid Wallace for
full weight. His scales, which he pro-
duced iu court, he declared were correct.
Wallace had often disputed with him
about the weight, but twas found to be
correct. Nelson was questioned about
his back room and stated that he had
il fitted up last October. He always
did his transactions openly, in the front
room and never hid anything. Most of
the gold brought by Wallace was inferior
in quality to that in evidence. He always
paid the full market value OF the gold.
Wallace was arrested in the store on Nov.
%. When the detectives came in the
witness said that he was sitting
in his chair addressing envelopes,
This was Just before election. Someone
came in TO the back store end said Kelly
is here.n Kelly lis the name which he
witness claims nc knew Wallace by. Wal
lace, or Kelly, snid that ne had 30 penny
weights Of gold. Nelson took he gold
INTO tho back store TO weigh IL,
but put IL on the shelf when
called TO answer question. AT this time
Parker came in TO The back room much
excited and cxclaimed: "What did YOU
do do with that stolen gold?n The wit
stolen gold. Parker charged him with
buying gold that night. A crowd imme-
diatcly collected and loud talk followed.
No attempt was made To conceal the gold,
though there was an ample opportunity.
At this point the court adjourned uutii
o'clock.
Tire cuse OF Chnfiee against the Old Col
cny Railroad was continued this morning
owing TO the sickness OF Mr.. Justice
Rogers.