The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-23
United States Deputy Marshal
Prescstt Hero Of Arrest.
TOOK NOTORIOUS LAW BREAKER
IN HIS OWN CABIN.
Had Sworn Never To be Taken Alive But
Bravery and Strategy of the Officer
Too Much for Him-Account of Deputy
Marshal Prescott's Thrilling Ad-
ventures in the Northern Forests.

ventures in the Northern Forests.
Freeman Nadeau, the Aroostook out
law, who had sworn that he would never
be taken alive and that he would kill
any officer who tried to arrest him, was
brought to Portland on the six O'Clock
train from the East last night by Deputy
United States Marshal Noah Prescott.
1.-The story of his capture as told by
the modest deputy marshal last night to
a PRESS reporter Is as thrilling tale Of
adventure as has ever Eefallen any of
Uncle Sans officers in this part Of the
country. 1t rivals in Its sensational de-
tails the arrest of the "moonshinars" of
the mountains of North Carolina, and
makes US interesting story as any that
could be found in the current yellow
backed novels which are SO largely de-
voured by the youth OF America.
freeman Nadeau haa been the terror OF
the wilds of Aroostook for many years,
and although he IL young man his
equal as desperate has never been seen
in Maine. 1t was George Nadeau,
brother of freeman, who several years
age def1ed the United States officers or
any officers Of the law, to arrest him, and
who shot Deputy United States Marshal
McNally when that officer attempted his
capture at his stronghold in the Aroos-
took woods. George Nadeau escaped ar
rest for this crime and has never been
captured. He Is still at largo, and
IL vph frio tO mr.
rest him, but Deputy Marshal PRESCOTT,
before he was appointed one Of Uncle
SANS officers, had seen George Nadeau
and talked with him and Mr.. PRESCOTT
says that George Is lamb and a gentle
man when compared with Freeman
Nadeau.
The whole NadeAu family has been en-
gagged in selling rum to the lnmhermen
and the inhabitants of Northern Aroos-
took for years, contrary to the Maine
law. 6ut no sheriff or officer whose busl-
ness 1t is to prevent the sals Of liquor in
Aroostook county or in Maine desired to
interfere with the NadeAus in any way
or to even threaten them with arrest In
fact Freeman Nadeau has been the bully
and terror of Northern Aroostook ever
since he was old enough to shoulder
rifle, and this is one Of the first &C.
oomplshmepts the youth of that county
is taught. Besides breaking The state
law with impunity the Nadeaus have
also been selling rum without securing
government license for this privilege,
and though the United States officers
were sure that these men were breaking
the laws they have not net with much
SUCCESS In securing enough evidence
against them to warrant an Indictment
being found or warrant heing issued.
For so thoroughly had Freeman Nadeau
and his brother George terrorlzed the
country that no one could be found who
would testify against them or give evil
dence of any kind that might lead to
their arrest. To testify against the M
deaus was like signing ones own death
warrant, and the few neighbors of these
men valued their lives too highly to run
any risk, of mourning these desperados
i'll will.
So the Nadeau Eoys have gone on in
their own way. running things with a
high hand, defying the law and their
ne ghbors, selling rum and smuggling it
across from Canadn whenever they de-
sired to do 80. Brave indeed was the
man who dared to testify against them,
and brayer still the officer who should at
tempt TO place them under arrest. A few
years ago, however, an lnulotmsht was
found against George Nadeau, who llvei
some miles from his brother freeman,
and deputy United States Marshal Nc
Nally attempted his arrest. george Ma
deau, as has reen said, shot McNally
through the legs and escaped. anu since
then and up to last Saturday Freeman
Nadeau, who is considered the worse
man of the twp, has been the most iearsd
and most hated man in Northern Aroos-
took.
A the last term of court an lh"lco"ieh'
for selling liquor without oul'eo
States license was fonnd against free-
man Nadeau. and Deputy Unlten Sta'es
Marshal Noah Prescott of CLINTON was
seut to Aroostook to place the outla"
11udar orro.+ I,..o.oo+t laFt Portland IOr