The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-26
The Trial of John Nelson Pro-
crossing Rapidly.
The Defendant Under Sharp Cross.
Examination by Mr.. Dubois.
An Opinion Handed Down by Judge
- uess iD the Appellate Court.

The trial OF John Nelson for receiving
stolen goods is progressing much more
rapidly than when il was brought before
the common pleas jury at the first hear
ing. Hertorday afternoon the prosecu-
tjon rested and John Nelson was put
on the stand in his own behalf. Detect
ives James q. Swan and Slas l.. w. Mer-
rill testified in regard to conversation
with Nelson at the time of the arrest OF
Mclaughlin and Wallace. Horace q.
Belcher, he Providence Journal reporter,
repeated the story which he told at The last
trial of the case in regard to CONVERSE
tions which ne had with Nelson. AT the
first interview Belcher had with Nelson,
the defendant said that he made no entries
OF the sales which Wallace had made. Al q
second interview he said that he had
a record. Nelson had stated also that he
knew that Wallace, whom he first knew
as Kelly, did not steal the gold becaue he
worked for Kent Stanley and they made
plate. He also knew that Wallace was
not thief because Wallace said he was
not.
Nelson on the witness stand said that
he had been a naturalized citizen about
nine years, and was born in southern
Prussia. In the city OF Providence he be-
gan work for Ezra Dodge and was finally
promoted to the charge OF the chemical
department of the esta ablishment. During
the past two years he had been In business
for himself and had bought ana
sold gold at considerab BILE ex-
tenty At the time of the arrest the de-
tectives came in making a great disturb
ance. Parker asked "W here Is the stolen
gold?" and the defendant replied that he
had no package OF stolen gold.
The witness denied that there was
any concealment about the shop and the
back room in which the gold was found
was not completed until the last part of
October. Nelson had two clerks, Benja-
min and Coslow, who bought gold from
Wallace on several occasions. Nelson said
that he had never bought any cane heads
from Wallace to his knowledge.
Nelson was subjected to minute cross
examination by Mr.. Dubois. He was
prone TO argue his case and from time to
time was rebuked by the Court. He
admitted that large manufacturers
did not sell scrap gold, but
claimed that small jewelry firms did. He
also said that he knew it was illegal to
buy of a minor, but had never asked Wal
lace his age. The witness said that he
knew that "Parker had been laying for
him" for some time, and he was
rather frightened when he saw Parker
bring in another detective, Mr.. Merrill,
whom he did not know. He thought
that this was part OF scheme against
him.
"What We're you afraid of il you haanrt
done anything wrong?" asked Mr.
Dubois.
~ wasn't afraid but was nerved up"
"Yo1 werssuspiciousr' ~
"Yes.n
"You determined to look out for Par
ker?n
81 determined he should not get the
best of me.n
"In what way did you act SO he
wouldn't get the best of your"
II didn't act at all. / didn't talk"
The witness said that be was afraid Of
Parker to the present time, and thought
that the arrest of Mclaughlin and Wal
lace was a scheme to ipjure him.
Nelson heard that Parker was "laying
for him" nine or 10 months ago. Respec-
table business men to the number OF so
had said so.
George Rice was one OF them, Nelson
said.
" DO you call Rice business man ?"
queried the Attorney General.
think so.n
4" In the shoe business, is he 2"
an " be-"
"A heeler, a ward heeler
"Who are some of the other 80 business
men?"
"There are great many others, but
don't want TO disclose them for fear they
may get in some trouble"
"Their property is insured, isn't it?" in
quired Mr.. Dubois.
At the conclusion of Nelson's testimony
Cduluel one Oh the ue1eDQaDtS
clerks, was called to the stand. Benjamin
said that he had been clerk in Nell
sons store for about two years.
The gold was sold in the
front store on the show case. The back
room was not completed until the 29th OF
last October. Previous to this time all
the business was done in the front store.
Benjamin never remem bered of Wallace
being in the back room. He had
bought gold OF Wallace, but not in the
form of unfinished cane heads. Wallace
bought strips of gold and broken jewelry
OF various sorts. Nelson asked Wallace
where he got his gold and Wallace sad that
hs-bought it from various firms. The wit
ness said that when the detectives came
into the back room the package OF
gold was in full view on a shelf
above table. Parker was very much
excited and talked in a threatening way
In cross-examination the witness said
that certain port ions of the gold produced
in evidence he would not buy from a
stranger because this gold was in the pro-
cess of manufacture.
George w. Brown testified that he was
In Nelson's shop a. one time when Wal
lace came in. Brown asked Nelson what
the mans name was and he was told
that it was Kelly. Brown replied
that he looked like man
named Wallace. Mr.. Brown thought
that this conversation took place In the
spring, Dut WIS not sure ~ ulu not take
place in the fall.
David A. Crowell testified that he had
known John Nelson for about two years.
He was in the DEFENDANTS store su bse-
quent TO the arrest on Oct. %, and
had conversation between Parker and
Nelson. Nelson said he had bought
gold of Wallace several times. Crowell
was present when Belcher interviewed
Nelson. BeIcher did about all the talk
ing.
At this point the court adjourned until
2o'clock.
Appellate Division.
In the case OF William f. DE Wolf ct al.
VS.. Annie T.. Middleton ct al, Justice
Stiness has handed down an opinion
which in substance is as follows:
Upon previous hearing IL
was held that the second and fifth clauses
of the will OF William DeWolf gave TO
his two daughters, Charlotte and