The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-06
A DELIBERATE MURDER.
The Crime for Which Vale Paid the
Extreme Penalty.

The Crime for Which Vale Paid the
Extreme Penalty.
The crime for which Nelson Vale paid
the penalty with his life today on the
scafiold was as deliberate murder as was
ever committed in the District The crime
was prompted by jealousy. and for sew
eral days prior to its execution had been
planned by the murderer. With the low
cunning OF his nature. however. Vale had
decided to iTritate Jackson into making sn
attack upon him. SO that. possibly. he
might escape the consequences Of the
crime which he had decided to commit. He
was successful in causing Jackson TO at
tack him, but TeckOned without his host
when he believed that the provOcation to
kill him was sufficient In the eyes Of the
law TO excuse him from the consequences
OF the taking OF the life Of his fellow
man.
Vale and Jackson lived near each other
on the TenIeytown Road and both were
common labOrers. the latter being employ
ed in connection with the construction OF
the electric railroad to Rockville. For
several years Vale had been living with
a woman named Mary Ellis whom he
the murder OF Jackson. Vale was suspi-
cious on account of rumors he had heard
that Jackson was too familiar with Mary
Ellis. On Friday evening. January y
last, when Vale returned from work he
found Jackson at his house in CONVERSE
ton with the woman. He was displeaSed
and warned Jackson that in the future he
must stay away from the premises. and
said 70 him that II he ever again found
i'm oil n MAJ lie ha o.
~ his tJackson's) streets Jackson. il
appears paid no attention to this warn
ing for again on Saturday afternoon when
Vale returned home from his work he
found Jackson in conversation with the
woman. Vale thereupon told Jackson 10
keep out OF his way as he did not mind
killing a niger" Jackson laughed at
this, hut went away
According to the testimony given at the
trial last March. after Jackson went away
Vale left his home and went 10 a neigh
boring store. where he procured a pistol
and also a bottle OF whisky to brace him up
to the sticking point, or rather to the
shooting point. Nothing more. it appears.
took place between the two men on Sat
urday afternoon. About midday on Sun
day. however. both men appeared in the
roadway in front OF their respective homes.
which are lot more than thirty or forty
feet apart AS soon as Vale saw Jackson
he said TO him:
Say, Jackson. do you want to see me-"
To this Jackson replied: No
Vale. however was pretty deep in his
cups. and fearing that he would lose his
opportunity to carry out his threat of
lighting up Jaeksons Streets he began
to abuse him in the most violent language.
According to the testimony Of several
witnesses. Jackson stood the abuse for
some time, and then picked up a stone
from the roadway and hurled IL at Vale
It missed its mark. however. but this only
seemed further to irritate Vale. who in
creased the volume Of his abuse. Jackson
thereupon picked up another stone. which
he threw at Vale. striking him in the side.
Without waiting for any further demon
s'ration on the part of Jackson Vale drew
Il ON his pocket the pistol with which he
hal armed himself the night before and
fired The ball struck Jackson in the
head and passed through the brain He
fell TO the ground and was taken to the
Georgetown University Hospital. where he
died abou- four hours after receiving the
wound.
While this was going on Mary Ellis was
standing in the doorway OF the Vale house
She cried cut to Vale: @-0h. Nelson. what
have you done?" Turning to her. Vale
calmly replied: II killed that niger on
account OF you" Mary Ellis replied sim
ply: You're a liar" and turned and walk
ed back into the house
After his conviction Wales attorneys.
MessTs. Hewlett and Walker made a mo-
ton for new trial This was overruIed
by Justice Clabaugh An appeal for com
mutation OF sentence was made to the
President. This was denied. on the rec
ommendation of the Attorney General.
who. at the direction of the President. had
examined thu full record of the case.
Between the Lips of Every Man.