The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-18
M4ZET JOGS MAISE'S MEMORY.
Biddeford Folk Are Wondering IL Their Bill
Nelson and Ours Are the Same.

BlDuEFoEp. Me. June Leone OF the ques-
tons which Frank Moss put to Chief of Police
Deverv in the Mu2et committee investigation
was Of special interest here because II brought
to mind the hot summer day nineteen years
ago when the local militia fought the hattie OF
Chicks Hill. The lawyE was asking Chief
Devery about one Nelson. the reputed keeper
o! n dive. also credited with having monopoly
OF the business OF going bail for unfortunate
women in tho Tenderloin. As was related in
TIE Sun at the time. Mr. Moss put this ques-
ton. among others:
Did you ever know Nelson to bear any
other name. such as Robert Wilson. or that he
the leader OF gang OF thieves at Bidde-
ford Me-: that he was arrested In the Nine.
teepth precinct and taken back there for
trial?"
The inquiry failed to bring any information
OF value from the Chief. but 1t greatly inter-
estsd many BiGdeford men. for. although
they presume to know nothing about the New
York resort or It's keeper. they have 4 very
lively recollection Of the arrest NJ a desperate
chap who at one time called himself Robert
Wilson and was afterward known as Bill Mel.
SON II was Wilson and two OF his pals who
made up the force with which the militia and
the police snapped shots on June 80. 1870. in
the only battle which has taken place on Bid
deford soil since the Indian wars. 1t was
bloodless engagement. ending in the CAPTURE
OF two OF the enemy by the police. but it was
won at tho cost OF several pounds of state
ammunition.
When the Great London Circus and Roval
Br itish Menagerie came to town that day the
crooks" who followed the show worked their
games industriously. sneak thieves Peapng u
harvest by Slipping in at the back doors Of
houses while the OCCUPANTS wore on the front
steps Watching the eenhants go by Com
plants OF losses OF moley and Jewelry began
TO worry tho police, and after a tinle the Mar;
a patr oman. spotted' three Suspicious char
act.rs aud followed Thorn along the railroad
track rounding them IN at the loot OF Chicks
the three intrenched themselves heht;I
some some bushes ana when the Marshal invited
him In liu'vil!- first. The barley WIS short.
The Marshal had looked into the muzzles OF
guns during service IN the civil war. lie and
the deputy pulled their reviewers and ouened
the shooting match at once. firing into the
N the bushes had five pistols while the officers
ni-t"l went behind ire" anI wished he ' had ia a
dNuole -harrel!ed shotgun. The exchange al
shots was kept ur until. H." officers had
emptIel their revolvers and were out OF am
Atout this time the Marshal sent the patrol
man, downtown for more help lie aroused
the business section and called out the local
msLitin company. which was hurried in car
TeEe to the the foo5 Of he nh where hs noce
other at bay. Two or three hundred excited
soldiers to tho scene of the action. Tho in
fantrv company. under command Of Capt.
Cyrus Berry. rcw wealthy California ranch
rifle volley Into the neiGhborhood Of the
bushes. The crooks replied with n fusillaus
from their shooting irons and the militia fired
again. When Capt, Berry and the Marshal led
II charge up the nil through the tall grass two
Of tho men came out OF the bushes ard surren-
dered their empty revovers. The third man
MANAGED to Eet away aud probably had most
OF the plumber with him. search Of the field
OF conflict revealed a So gold piece and a lot of
Springfield bullets. but nothing more. A kit
of burglar tools WAS found on the arrested
men. Both theS and their captors conRratu-
lated themselves after the battle that NOBODY
was hit They all said they aimed high pur-
posely.
Robert Wilson and James O'Neil were the
names given by tho DESPERATE pair They
waived prem mary examination in the lower
court whore they excited as much interest as
the circus and menaGsrie. and were taken to
the county Jail at Alfred to await the supreme
Court session on 0 charge of burglary. Be-
fore their trial time came they threw peuper
In the Iailer's ewes and ESCAPED. A small re-
ward Tor their capture was offered and Wilson
or BIZ Nelson. 40 he was then called. was re-
arrested on Sixth avenue. New York. on Nov
IT, the same year For some reason. now I'M
known. he was never tried in this county.