The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-05-07
Aisccll2nenus.
FAMOUS MAINE OUTLAW.

Freeman Nadeau is famous outlaw
in Aroostook county. Maine. He had
sworn that he never world be taken
alive and that he would Kill any officer
who tried to arrest him. Nevertheless
he was brought to Jail in Portland.
Me-, recently by Deputy United States
Marshal Noah Prescott. The story of
his capture is as thrilling a tale Of adj
venture as has ever befallen any of
Uncle Sans officers in that part of the
country.
The Portland Press tells the
story, prefacing it with the statement
that Nadeau's brother George years
ago shot a deputy United States mar
shall and is still at large.
The whole Nadeau family has been
engaged in selling rum to the lumber
men and the inhabitants of Northern
Aroostook for years, contrary to the
Maine law. But no sheriff or officer
whose business it is to prevent the sale
of liquor in AroostOok county or in
Maine desired to Interfere with the
Nadeaus in any way or to even threat
Ell them with arrest. In fact Freeman
Nadeau has been the | ully and terror
of Northern AroostoCk ever since he
was old enough to shoulder 1t rI1le, and
this is one of the first accomplishments
the youth of that county is taught
Besides breaking the State law with
impunity the NadeauS have also been
selling rum without securing Il govern
ment license for this privilege, and
though the United States officers were
sure these men were breaking the
laws they have not met with much
success in securing enough evidence
against them to warrant an indict-
Il np mt
issued. For 80 thoroughly had Free
man Nadeau and his brother George
terrorized the country that no one
could be found who would testify
against them or give evidence of any
kind that might lead to their arrest.
To testify against the Nadeaus 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 desperado's
ill will
So the Nadeau boys have gone on in
their own way, running things with
high hand, defying the law and their
neighbors, selling rum and smuggling
it across from Canada whenever they
desire to do so. Brave indeed was the
man who dared to testify against
them, and drawer still the officer who
should attempt to place them under
arrest. A few years ago, however, an
indictment was found against George
Nadeau, who lived some miles from
his brother Freeman, and Deputy
United States Marshal McNally at
tempted his arrest George Nadeau,
as has been said shot McNally through
the legs and escaped, and since then
and up to last Saturday, Freeman
Nadeau, who is considered the worse
man Of the two, has been the most
feared and the most hated man in
| Northern Aroostook.
At the last term of court an indict-
| ment for selling liquor without Uni
| ted States license was found against
| Freeman Nadeau, and Deputy United
| States Marshal Noah Prescott, of
| Clinton, was sent to Aroostook to
place the outlaw under arrest. Pres
| colt left Portland for Ashland a
month ago, and on one bright winters
| morning he drove twenty eight miles
| into the woods to serve his warrant.
| The outlaws stronghold is log cabin
built in q small clearing in the very
| widest part of the State. The nearest
| house is several miles distant, but a
rough road which is the main thor
oughfare used by lumbermen in get
ting in and out of the woods in the
winter time, passes by Nadeau's dwell
ing.
On this first trip of Deputy Marshal
Prescott to Nadeau's house the outlaw
was not at home, and after waiting
some time for him to return, Prescott
started to drive back to Ashland. He
had driven only few miles when he
saw a man coming towards him with
rifle in one hand and a big tin pail
in the other. Prescott had often seen
the outlaw and knew him at once
When the deputy marshal got within
few yards of Nadeau the outlaw
dropped his pail and covered the officer
with his rifle.
Il know you" cried Nadeau with
an oath, land | know what you're
after
YES" said the deputy marshal as
he continued to advance slowly, I've
come after you to go to Portland
Take another step towards me-
shouted the outlaw, land you're a
dead man
The deputy marshal stopped and
the outlaw went on to say that he
would never be captured alive, and
had half a mind to blow the officers
head off, as it was.
you've got the drop on me this
time" said Prescott as he backed away
from the threatening rifle. but want
to tell you, Nadeau, that I'm coming
after you again and you'll go to Port
land with me too
Then I'll go in a box said the out
law with an oath, ''and you'll be in
another box alongside of me-"
Fooled in his first attempt to capture
this criminal, Deputy Marshal Pres
. colt returned to Ashland and tried tC
r arrange some plan of getting neal
r enough to Nadeau's house to capture
him. Every man who came by Ma
deau's house and saw the outlaw TOLD
: the deputy marshal that the,desperadC
was on the lookout for him and would
4 shoot him on sight.
? my brother shot Bill McNall!
: thronoh the legs y said Maiden. Nbn