The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-24
Confronted by the Ne
gro Bill Hands.
Hands Says That He Never Saw
the Man Before.

John NOLAN, the man for whom
the officers and deputy sheriffs have been
making such a persistent search, was
safsly landed yesterday, within the walls
Of the Cumberland county jail, but bis
stay there seems destined to be exceeding
Iy brief Everybody who has been in any
way connected with the investigation
has become convinced Of the genuineness
Of MoLain's alibi, and admits that the
sooner he is released the less his rights
Will be infringed. No one who has
read his straightforward statsmeDt to
the Somerset county sheriff in Skowhe-
gan, Tuesday evening, and heard the
news verifying his claim that he was at
Scribner's Mills, two miles from Kun
brd Center the night of January IL,
when the Gorham murder was conf
mitted, has the least doubt of his inno-
cance.
Nolan was brought to Portland yes
terday forenoon by Deputy Marshal
Firth ana Deputy sheriff Lunn Of this
city, who lefs here for S3owhegan on
the night Pullman, Tuesday. Deputy
Firth teryed the warrant which CHARGED
McLain with being the murderer Of
Clifford Mosher. The officers had to
walt over three hours in Waierville,
leaving there on frsight early Wecnes-
day morning. and arriving in Skowhs-
gan at 81.
The first train out Of there being
scheduled to start at s 20, thers was no
time to be lost. Sheriff Pennen WHOSE
business like action in the case reflected
cre1it on his county and city, was at the
station to meet the officers The county
attorney Of Somerset also put in an ap-
pearanoe at the jail ana volunteered to
further assist the Portland officers.
Nolan had been one of the four onou-
pants of a spacious cell In the ''eagei' at
the new county jail, and he was prompt
ly brought ont into the main corridor, to
meet the new corners When tbs warrant
was served he informed the officers that
he was anxious to accompany them TO
Portland, to have the matter cleared up.
He showed not the least sign of fear or
emotion. Looking straight into the face
Of Deputy Firth, he said: 81 had moth
ing to do with that affair. and knew
nothing about it. 1 had simply heard In
one of the places where ! worked that
murder had been committed in Gorham,
and that negro had besn mixsd up In
it. / heard no particulars. When / was
at Madison man who learned that my
name was McL,sin wanted to know If
was the same Nolan that was wanted in
that Gorham murder case. / thought he
was joking. If had ssen a newspaper,
and found out that was under suspicion
woul1 certainly have written to the
sheriff and told him was innocent"
The prisoner made haste to exchange
his jail suit for the clothes he wore into
the institution, when he applied there
for lodging Monday night There was
little time left. and the party remained
In the jail corridor, till within five min
utes of train time. When the handelffs
were held out for the purpose of coupn ng
him to Deputy Firth, Nolan remarked :
''This is entirely unnecessary, for have
no desire to run away. l am as anxious
to go to Portland with you as you are to
have me. Anybody who knows me knows
I'm not the kind of man to commit
robbery ana murder. l am sure can
clear myself from suspicion"
The arrival of the Portland officers
not having bssn anticipated till the
noon train, there were very few specta-
tors at the railroad station. Duri ~ the