Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-24
THE NELSON CASE.
Lawyer Mccarthy Of Clinton,
Sent for By Nelson.
Interview With the Much-wanted Man
at His Recent Capture.
Another With Sheriff viIes, Showing that the
Journal Story is Correct.

town received a letter from Foster Mel
son requesting an interview with him
at once and so the attorney proceeded
to call upon Nelson this morning.
The Journal had a new man in the
ease this morning for the reason sug-
gested in yesterday mornings de-
Spatches. that as soon as the reporter
who first went to work on the case
showed up in town ii was taken for
granted by the friends of Nelson who
have been acting In the capacity of
spies in the village. that an attempt
would be made to arrest him at once
1t is feared that the zcalousness OF a
newspaper man who has been in town
for two days may have tendency TO
hasten Nelson's departure.
The story published in q morning
paper that Nelson ana his brother Wal
lace are staying in the woods and are
armed with rifles and reyolyers is not
true or at least has not been true up To
THIS point. When the Journal man first
took hold of the case the general inn
preston abroad seemed To be that Mel
son was a regular desperate that de-
lighted to shed large amount of blood
on the slightest provocation Since
that day when Nelson was arrested by
Sheriff Nies the terror Of the man has
fallen below par. 1t Is not that Nelson
IS blood thirsty or that he constantly
wants 10 destroy life and property that
he is feared by those that know him
best say he is not quarresome in the
least unless 1t be when he is imposed
upon while intoxicated
1T seems strange that this man who
is so much wanted By law officers can
hang around there. be seen and talked
with every day by his neighbors or
anyone that comes along whom he
knows and not be arrested.
The interview with Nelson by the
Journal man at the time of his arrest
and which has been withheld until now
may be of interest
1t was while being conveyed from Dick
sons to his own home that the following
conversation ensued between Sheriff Viles
and "Nelson, the Journal man taking
notes:
Where did you get all this stuff vol;
have around your house,
Il got them honestly, SIR
Where did you get those mems that you
have killed and pulled the feathers from
attic?"
THE boy bought them. or the most of
them. Some he bought of Wallace Mel
son, some of Mr.. Powell some of Esther
Estes. and some of William Cooper. He
has bought a number of hens while he
was out on my team.
Where did you get all the crowhars
II got one of George spearin and an
other of Uriah Goodwin
Where did you get that warp and
block?"
The boy bought that in Benton"
How about the wrenches. where did
you get them?
Wallace bought one or two Of them
there and bought one or more OF Henry
Written. This is Mr. Files amt it?''
My name is Niies."
That's what ! thought. I'll tell you.
Mr.. Niles. l never stole anything. ] have
some people VINO don't like me and they
want. to throw me down. But ! don't
care"
Yes you do too You don't want a
hard name if you don't deserve it.
Well, I'll tell you. | used TO drink hard
once and folks got down on me and they
Stili want to crowd me-
Don't you drink now?'
No. sir
Didn't you and your wife go up toward
iartland on an expedition?
No. sir me and my wife haven't been
out only one night this fab. and that was
Uncle Lewis.
Say. didn't you and the boy call ut n
house near Skowhegan. cne afternoon
about dark, and ask for something to
cat?'
NO. sir, we never did l don't know
when l was in Skowhegan last"
When Nelson arrived home he went TO
overhauling the tools that had been laid
aside. and he said that one bar that had
been claimed by man who was present.
had been there 20 years. He also claimed
L. ~ ri
There has been no posse OF 10 men
securing the woods for Nelson today.
as stated in a Lewiston paper, this even
ing.
The Lewiston paper referred to con-
tains an article from its Watervile CORE
spondent that has all the characteristics
that have made the writer famous In
an interview with Sheriff Viles of Skow-
hogan. he makes that gentleman say that
the Journal man has resorted to false
hood in the stories that have been pub
lished in these columns. If Mr.. Niles
ever said the writer lied. he will believe
himself Here is an interview with MIR.
Viles which may be of interest. over
took place. this evening:
rs the statement true in the Lewis
ton Journal. this evening. in which you
are quoted as saying. I believe the Ken
nebec Journal reporter does claim all the
honors of the capture
Mr.. ,Viles-'1 don't remember any such
thing
Have / at any time made any state
ments in my published stories that there
was no truth in or l had no authority
for?"
I'm tell you as I told the Lewiston
Journal man. that the people over there
believed that Mentally let Nelson go pur-
posely'
Have l at any time claimed that Nc
Nally did not work the case up?''
mo. / don't think you have
Would you chase Nelson up in the
daylight if you wanted to arrest him.
knowing that he would rum
No / should expect to have to come
upon him unawares so that he would not
know me. He knows me now, and |
should expect him to run if he saw me
coming"
Didn't you tell Nelson that he would
have to go to Skowhegan with you. and
didn't he understand that he was under
arrest?"
II might have told him so. We take a
man sometimes without reading a war;
rant
did not Mrs. Nelson say in the pres
ence of nearly all about there: ''rhey are
going to take Foster to Skowhegan. to-
night and l am going over in the morn
ing'?'
Il think she did say just that"