The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-16

beF your Almighty Father lS aboNs soA
and knows ali about you and your acts
The talk around here about you = thaf
sou are In danger. Take my advice and 80
20 the governor. tell him the whole truth
and throw yourself on hts mercy DO not
think about paying your trouble with
money. because that cannot ne. You VIII
DC just - much liable sfterward a. YOU
have ever been. This letter is sent from
~ TRUE FRIEND
Nelson Denies His Guilt.
This letter was not sent. There was no
evidence OF the crime. only rumor. ar
Christensen did not believe IT Nelson, he
said. must face it out. on the following
morning Christensen and ole Hegdahl
started with Nelson, without telling him
their purpose. for Tacoma ON their way
they stopped At Seattle and called on the
Rev :. r. Toiefsen. 80 Pine street. secre-
tary OF the Poulsbo Orphans Home ana
brother Of its founder They told their
mission 10 him. that they were going TO
see COnstantia Johnson's father as To the
charge. Nelson denied the crime alto
gether. said IL was all foolish talk, and
carried himself Jauntily.
on the way to Tacoma Nelson intimated
that II he was smirched others would not
come out clean. When asked what ne
meant he said the orphan girls had talked
as much about Pastor Langeland as they
had about him.
Conclusive Evidence Given.
r. NJ Tollefsen. a younger brother or
the Seattle pastor and now in charge or
the Pouisbo orphanage, accompanied the
investigating committee 10 the Once CT
Dr. Quevii Believing Nelson's continued
asseverations Of innocence, be was sur
prised TO md the doctors statements
formed an accusation OF so grave and SER
fous a character. lie Immediately teie-
grabbed TO Seattle FOR his brother. who
Joined them the next morning. ana the IN
vestigation was continued at the house OF
the Norwegian pastor OF Tacoma pT'
Saetre. The victim, Constantine Johnson
was sent for and questioned. Her simple
narrative Mortified the committee. Inc
doctor was again examined. Then Nelson
who had not been present al any OF these
examinations. was called ia TO answer the
grave charge that had at last conVinced
of his guilt the friends who had set out 10
clear him OF H. tie iauntily denied mat
there was a vestige Of truth IN H.
At I O'Clock in the evening the commit
tee reconvened for the purpose Of meeting
the father Jens johnson. He IS young
man OF magnificent physique. handsome
and intelligent. AS he told ms story ne
frembled with passion. His big hands
worked nervous.y aud tears dummed his
bIuo eyes and choked his utterance. Nell
son wished to be admitted. Johuson was
asked II he could control himself before
the brute who had ruined his child lie
replied that he would His brother H.
NJ. Johnson. sat by his side and promised
for him.
Nelson Attempts Bravado.
When Nelson entered the room ne I'M
mediately addressed himself 10 the un-
bappv father. and knowing something OF
tho doctors statement, he tried 10 vilify
the innocent child in order TO shield hum
self. said that he deplored the fact that
she had sinned with the boys OF the or
phanage but that he himself had never
had even a guilty thought in regard 10
her The father controlled himself ana
Nelson was requested 10 withdraw.
on the 18th the committee returned, and
as A result of its convictions on the sub
iect II NJ. ToHefsen drew up Nelson's
resignation Of his position as manager of
the orphanage, which Nelson signed, ana
he and his wife left the next day.
l. r. Moe. the uncle Of the criminal, was
away logging at the time. on his return he
refused 10 believe the evidence collected
proving Nelson's guilt. on September 3
he started out 10 make his own !nVesCga-
tioa. accompanied by r. NJ. Tol.efsen and
Nelson The latter stayed at Seattle While
Mr. Moe went on 70 Tacoma and returned
on the following DAY.
Nelson at Last ConfeSses.
Meanwhile Nelson made A partial con-
mltted that he had taken liberties with
tho girl but SIN denied any crimlnahty.
lie wished the girls father 10 know this.
and johnson was asked 10 come 10 Sc
attic He replied that he could not leave
his work He is A carpenter, and had
been out OF work for some time. On Sep
tember = Nelson said he wished 70 mako
a confession. lie entered the Nestry or
the Rev s. r ToEefsen. Seattle. and in
his presence and that Of the Rev. Hem
dirk faugeland. pastor Of Poulsoo, he
made a fun confession OF his guilt
This confession bears out the statements
made by the girl IN every particular eN-
cent that Of the duration OF the time over
which his criminal assaults upon her eN-
tended. he claiming that II was not moro
than six months and not within a year
before she left the orphanage. The doc
tors testimony Will controvert the latter
statement lie says that his lnsinua-
lions az 70 other parties being equally
guilty With himself Of assaults upon the
girls OF the orphanage were untrue. Il
must no remembered that the Rev. Hen
dirk Iangelapd was present when this
confession was made Nelson admits,
however. that Constantia Johnson = state
went of his criminal intimacy with other
orphan girls under his charge is true. and
the names ~ several are given whom he
brutality treated IN a similar manner 20
the poor sirl who IS now In the doctors
hands with probability Of becoming in
sane as the consequence ~ such treat
men'.
His lawyer I'm Heaven.
p.ven after this confession, on his vav
home on the boat Nelson carried almsef
as iauntily as ever When asked bout the
matter ny ueighhors ne confidently an-
swere1 that q was coming ont all right.
Asked II Ne had engaged a lawyer. he
answered n don't need one. Ny lawyer
Is in heaven"
ON SUNDAY last the special correspond
emit ~ the Post-IutelNEencer visited \ei-
son az his ranch. a mile or 50 in tire woods
back ~ the pretty bay % Poulsoo. He
is "A short man. pveposseSSing IN general
appearance. with fHl dark brown beard
we'll kcrt and small pale HUE eyes tie
suelks English poorly. 4 detailed state
mont was made - him % tho incidents
loading un On his confession. and % the
20 had 20 SAY. lie Uut on an air OF SIM
ana replied
Nelson NEain Confc>ses.
"N-s some u- it IS true The little gi-l
Vss tie-rer- to other elg.s she Vas pref
IS and s-tEHt sn1--aH1--v-ell ] E1t f,rt
or hsr We paved tlgetRe~ The sev,.
he wa there. ant tren- But te.f Goa
aN-ut .. ana We tslse1 .t oae-. tara Pc
flreatr gro ard He SITS hv rrv e.te r1e
4 ts.1 rr ~ 70 -a7-t BE- ara everything ls
aI rSrt"
'.Y>l Ireet.r-ef trat othere vr-e equally
$685. Is BE- t~lr that vru 90 -7es 7trsrT-.'
"Wrrl mans heart 30 Sack Nls ~ -l
't tAEA tr' N3 -o2l Is cean Ev. An