The Portland daily press., 1898-08-11
George Nadeau, the Aroostook Des-
psrado, Arrested.
HE rs THE MAN WHO SHOT DEP
UTY McNALLY.

be brought belOTc WCUD Aou"J'
Six years ago, ION the goth of March,
1892, Deputy U. s. Marshal William d.
McNally, armed with a warrant went to
ST. Francis, Aroostook county. to arrest
George Nadeau on charge of selling
LIQUORS without United States license.
Nadeau was reckoned perfect terror In
that vicinity when his pas sions were
aroused, but otherwise was a perfectly
peaceful man engaged in the avocation OF
a farmer. Nadeau, 1t was reported, had
heard that the United States officers in
tended arresting him and bringing him
to Portland for trial and he was also said
to have declared that he would never be
taken alive. He had good many friends
in that locality, and it was stated that
they gave information when an officer
was noticed coming that way, or any
stranger in fact, SO that Nadeau could be
on his guard. This plan for warning
Nadaau was the easier since the country
was sparsely settled and it was sixty
seven miles by wagon road to Nadeau's
house at St. Francis from Caribou.
When McNally arrived at Caribou he
took q double sleigh for st. Francis and
was accompanied by Deputy Collector
Miller Of Foxcroft and Mr.. Garner. the
proprietor of the Fort Kent hotel. Upon
reaching the vicinity Of Nadeau's house he
found the man, but he had barricaded, all
the doors and windows and refused to sur
render. When McNally tried to get at
him he let drive ut him from his gun and
shot McNally, making two wounds in one
leg and one in the other. McNally made
the remark, swell, that beats hell'' and
then started to run. He only got little
distance from the house when he fell and
just as he dropped bullet whlzzed
through the air where his head would
have been it he had not fallen. McNally
was borne off and Nadeau remained safe
in his own castle. ,,e5
Several attempts were made at other
times to get Nadeau, but SO we'll was he
posted of all the enemy's movements that
he escaped arrest.
So time passed by. When Marshal
Saunders came into office he thought it
would be we'll to bring the Desperate to
justice, if the thing could be done and
accordingly ON the 80 tn of last June
warrant was issued against Nadeau
charging him with assaulting and woGnd-
ing an officer in the discharge of his duty
Owing to the pressure of business and
the fact that several of the officers were
sick, the warrant was not served for some
time. Finally 1t was decided to put the
warrant in the hands of Deputy United
States Marshal Bernes o. Norton OF Bel
fast. Mr.. Norton is one of Marshal
Saunders new appointments, but he has
proved himself very efficient officer.
The other day he arrested and took to
Augusta a gang of five men, and has
got about man week wanted by the
government since his appointment. The
warrant was sent to Mr.. Norton on
Thursday evening last and upon receipt
of it he started at once for St. Francis.
The rail distance to Caribou was $40
miles, and the remaining 81. miles was
made by team, one being taken to Fort
Kent and another to St Francis. Last
Tuesday morning the officer arrived at
Nadeau's home The man, evidently not
expecting any trouble, was in his hay
field getting in hay. Mr.. Norton stepped
up to him and asked him If he was
George Nadeau. and received an affirma-
tive answer. "Then" said Deputy Norton
"you are my prisoner, for hold this
warrant for your arrest. I have only this
to say: If you choose to come with me
peaceably and quietly, there will be no
trouble. If you resist then you will go
as prisoners 60 for go you have got to.
Nadeau said that he would go peaceably,
but wished to step into the house and
change his clothes and tell his family.
This was permitted and then Norton and
his prisoner started for Portland. They
passed Tuesday night at Caribou and left
Bangor on the 1.07 p. N. train yesterday
afternoon reaching this city at g. 80 p. m.
Upon arrival Nadeau was first taken to
the United States Marshal's Office, where
he met Marshal Saunders, and Deputy
Marshal Smith, and the representative of
the PRESS, and after a brief talk he was
taken by Deputy Norton to Portland Jail.
He will be brought before Judge Webb
this morning.
1t is rather odd that Nadeau who is
uneducated, but can write his name is
supervisor of schools in his town, and al.
SO a constable. He is about five feet eight
inches tall, with dark hair and heavy
dark beard, a muscular build, and pair
of flashing dark eyes. He is thorough
Frenchman in manner and exceedingly
nervous. He has a wife and four children
in st. Francis.