The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-04-23
Ed Nelson CONFESSES TO ROBBERY
Of Package Containing $4,000

cuL III SIICEI. w SCoAt L4| -
New York last week as a suspect $500
in bills had been taken from him and
the rest of the amount. $500 was rails
ed by Mr.. Nelson yesterday and turned
over to the authorities.
II is an interesting but pathetic story
that is told of the way the theft was
committed. On the evening o. the 2Gth
ultO., Mr.. Nelson, who has been in the
service for the past six years went TO
the a. G. J.. station to sped 4 few
moments with his friend MI. F B.
Powers who was on the II that night.
While in the car. Nj. Powers asked Mr..
Nelson TO stay there a mOmen while
he went out to the station mail box and
collected the mail there. Mr.. Powers
left the car and was gone only i fey
moments. During that short interval
the OyerpOWering temptation had come
10 Mr.. Nelson and he slit open the
registered pouch, took out the bulkiest
package. not knowing what amount
was in it, and slid it under the stove IN
the mail car. This SIC, 600 package 1t
is said remained there for two or three
days before Mr.. Nelson had the chance
to take it out and secrete it.
In the meantime the inspectors had
been put on the case and experts in
that line were bending every energy
to locate the guilty party. SusniciOn
fell on every man who could possibly
have taken the money and watch was
kept on every man suspected. Certain
evidence or facts in their possession
led the inspectors to keep a close sur
veillencc on Nelson. Mr.. Nelson left
Wilmington On Saturday the 9Th inst
accompanied by his wife and mother,
and they went to New York city, nav
ing stopped at the Imperial hotel there.
The first intimation to ar. Nelson
that he was being suspected of the
theft was when a p~Ostoffice inspector
met him Tuesday morning the 9th inst.
! and searched him. AS said above 5000
il bills were taken from him, he hav-
ing been given receipts for this amount.
MIR. Nelson with his party remained in
! New York the balance Of the wepl-
returning to Wilmington Oh Sunday
morning last.
Nothing further vas done, as far IS
Mr.. Nelson was aware until Tuesday
evening when he was closely question:
ed by Inspector Buck. He maintained
all the time his absolute innocence and
declared that the money taken from
him in New York was the result of
} long years of saving. He stoutly de-
MED, to every inquiry, that he had any
| knowledge of the robbery, until he
made full confession yesterday morn
| ing.
When the confession was made, besides
the young man himself the only ones
present were Inspectors HoOten, Max
Well and Buck. After he confessed his
guilt he directed the search for the
buried pile Of money and then busted
himself in raising the balance Of 5000.
This took all of the morning.
Early in the afternoon the charges
of having robbed the mail and Of cut
ting and defacing a mail pouch we're
sworn out against him before Commits
sioner Collier. Mr.. Nelson, as said
above waived examination and was
bound over to court.
The inspectors who have worked up
the ase from the beginning and %
whose energy is due the successful
result are Mesxs. S. T. Hooten of BAL
tinOre, ". ]. Maxwell of Wilmington,
Del, and S. H. Buck Of this district.
The downfall of this young man will
come as news OF q surprising and dis
treSSing nature to his hundreds Of
friends. He is a native WilmingtOnian
and has spent all his life here, having
been of a quiet disposition and free
from any suggestion of dissipation Oh
fast living.
He has been in the United States
postal service for a few months more
than six years. He was an exception
ally bright young man n he had
the confidence and respect of all with
whom he came in contact. Before ea,
terin@ the mail service he was in the
local p~Ostoffice for six or eight months
but even in that short time he had
come to be regarded as a splendid cleri
who knew his business thoroughly.
Sadder too at this time is the Iacr
that Mr.. Nelson had perfected plans tt
leave the mail service, his resignation
having already been sent in to take eff
feet the 18th of April. He had leased
the handsome corner store in the new
Carroll building. on the corner o.
Second and Princess streets, and in
tended within a few weeks TO open uI
: a modern confectionery and fruit store
) there. Orders for part Of the furnish
lngs have already been placed. thi!
Delng the reason for the recent visit tt
New York. He was married only a few
r months ago to a highly esteemed young
iaoE and on her account, too. is Their,