Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-23
BIRD HAD FLOWN.
Another Unsuccessful ATTEMPT
to Capture Foster Nelson.
When officers Arrived at House He
Was Very Much Missing.
People Generally Believe That We Was Mott.
fled Of Intended Capture.

Clinton Oct. 22.-(SpeciaD.-Depu
Sheriff McNaly made an attemnt in
broad daylight to capture Foster Nelson
To-Day. Inc descent of the officer was
Witnessed by half a dozen wer-known
citizens and II happened this way: The
journal man was In town and in an in
terview with Mr. McNally, father of the
deputy. ascertained that the officer was
very much ncensed against the reporter
for what had been puhIished ahoit tha
escape of Nelson The Reporter denied
any intention on his part TO iniure the
officer or attack his reputation, but did
say: If your son does not arrest Nelson
before tomorrow morning, | know some
one who WILL.
y reprter noticed movement at once
on the part OF the officer 10 go to Mel
son $. ana so, as that was what the re-
porter intended should be done. he pre-
pared to accompany the expedition Sew
eral teams were hitched up and the
descent on the home of Nelson began
Arriving on the Scene. no attempt be-
ing made to approach cautiously. the
place was found 10 be deserted although
there was evidence of the recent presence
of someone, the family washing being
spread upon the grass back of the house,
The officer drove around the barn. but
Foster insisted on not showing up
Very soon Moses Nelson. the aged
father of the. man wanted, came from
=
Nelson Is man of "A years and feels very
badly about the affair. He cried like Il
child and said he had had trouble enough
in his lifetime to kin most men The
who have known him. for he says he has
spent all the property in getting his sons
out of scrapes, and those that knew the
old man years ago say that at one time
he was worth considerable property.
Foster had been there. this forenoon.
but ut about the noon hour was seen by
Mrs. Goodrich. the nearest neighbor
north. to go across the Dickson pasture
in the direction of Mr. Powell's. on the
Ridge road. Officer McNaly made a
short search of a clump of trees in full
view of the house. but discovered no
signs of the mueh-wanted man. He then
drove up the road little way and came
back. He then by a roundabout way
drove over to the Ridge road and re-
turned after dark without his man.
One thing was noticed by the visitors
and that was that the hay in the barn
had been pressed and was being hauled
away by q Young man H., the zen employ OF OF
officer. writs of attachment were left,
trusteeing the buyer of the hay and In
favor of the creditors OF Nelson.
1t is the general belief in this section
that Nelson. not fearing arrest by the
local officers of the law. had hung around
for the purpose of pressing and selling
his hay. and then with the money would
go to Moosehead lake. where he has often
been before when wanted by the law Off
GERS.
1t is also believed that he is AT this hour
at Mr. Powel's on the Ridge road. and
that he was on the watch for McNally
or any other officer that might happen to
come along. this afternoon.
Ii has also been the topic on the street
that Nelson knew the officer was coming
after MIN. today. for At ii o'clock he was
at his house and an hour later was seen
crossing Dicksons pasture.
People hereabouts make no bones Of
II. inf r a -
presence in town of. the Journal man and
that friends of his informed him that
some attempt would probably be made TO
take him. today.
Your representative desires to say. al
though he believes it unnecessary as far
as the greater number of citizens OF
Clinton are concerned. that he has not al
this time nor ever has had desire TO
injure Mr. McNally in the least. He has
only told the story as he saw the facts
shape themselves. and believes that no
elasticity of the truth has been lnduigeu
When apologies are necessary they VIII
be forthcoming.