Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-29

MAJOR mayer t0en introduced 4
letter from Nelson to Mrs. De Bech
while he was in prison. explaining
his relations with a woman, who he
had previously passed as his wife and
who went with him to Arkansas and
again lived with him.
Major Thayer said that Nelson was
then without funds. Mrs. De Bech
/ had to cash checks with which he
lavished flowers on her in New York.
Mrs. Walter Marvel
Mrs. Marvel, wife of Walter Mar
vel. told of her meeting the Nelson's
who bought the farm Qda Nor
ency). All supposed she was his
wife. He bought Mrs. De Bech when
he came back from the service. She
came to our house on June and
staid until married on October 0.
She often went to the house Nelson
fixed up for her. Husband and at
! tended the marriage. Talked with her
! often. She said Nelson had deceived
her and hadn't cents in the world.
He said he lied to her to get her. l
. told her she hadn't treated Mr..
Washington right. She had no call
1 NiS ohN ulod SeSu 10 WANT u.
! She assisted at a fair. l liked her
very much. She was a stranger in a
! strange land. 1 was much older and
she seemed more like a daughter.
/ Have seen her twice at the Jail and
believe she told me the truth
! Major Thayer said after Nelson
! went to Thomaston and she had writ
/ ten her statement, ! wrote to him
asking if he wouldn't write out his
statement. You will see by the print
ed evidence that he corroborates the
story told by her. He saw he was
about to lose her. so he planned to
have the fire set and get the insur-
| ance. She lost much valuable prop
erty there. in furniture and jewels,
$4,000 or $4,000. The insurance
was in no wise excessive.
He told he would go to Boston and
get job and sell some of their
furniture and jewels there stored
She went to bed that night and he
went down to furnace to fix it for
the night. The next I knew a cat
awoke me, scratching my face.
| Nelson says the man who installed
the furnace said it would sometime
| burn the house. Said he filled the
! furnace full of wood and went TO
bed. lying there trembling. He then
placed the cat near her face. He
told her she must say nothing about
! sending the furniture to Boston, be-
cause the insurance people would be
ing any insurance.
latt
! Major Thayer said she told insur-
ance people and others what Nelson
| told her to say.
| Il only claimed one thing was lost
that was not and that was the
| jeweled pendulum. taken from me at
the Bangor House. said she.
James J. Long
James j. Long. deputy sheriff,
Bangor, who stops at the Jail, heard
! the conference of Mrs. Nelson to
County Attorney Blanchard She
said that lots of things, furniture.
etc. were taken before the fire to
| Boston. l asked her what time the
! fire took place. she said about > or
) A. NJ. Didn't ask how it started.
Nothing was said about who set the
/ fire and | heard all her talk. Have
often seen her in Jail. Her health is
very poorly. About five weeks ago l
, heard a noise, called the sheriff and
we found her in bad shape. Got a
doctor. who treated her. Some days
she doesn't leave the cell.
, l went to Boston for the goods
Never saw many any better; very
! Valua BILE.
: 1 have talked with her a great deal.
/ and the others at the Jail think she
! should be pardoned. 1t would be in
! the interests of justice. Her talk
! has always been the same and l
! think they are true. When she was
sentenced, she simply pleaded guilty
and was sentenced. They were in
! the dock. Nelson was taken to the
stand and questioned.
! She can't live on the Jail food She
/ has little money and we buy things
! for her outside. If she didn't get an
! hour or SO outdoors every little
while she wouldn't be alive now.
Or. Agnes Person
! DR.. Agnes Person of Bangor,
Osteopathist, few weeks ago, treat
ed Mrs. Nelson in Jail. She is better
now, but when began a never had
| seen d person in such bad condition.
Gave very lightest treatment first
and she tainted. Her mental condi-
| ton in coming out of the faint was
| pitiable. l knew it must be fright
! from some previous experience.
| When she was conscious l found it
! to be SO. The cell is very damp and
soon gave me Il sore throat. Ii con-
! tinued until Mr.. Thayer got an cleo
| trio heater and warmed the cell She
can't stand that conference.-the will
kill her.
Major Thayer filed a letter from
| DR.. Milliken of Bangor saying that
! Mrs. Nelson cannot stand the Jail
confinement.
Miss Evelyn Vassar
| Miss Evelyn Vassar, stenographer
| for Major Thayer. told of taking the
dictated statement of Mrs. Nelson
at the Jail. Her condition was
weakened. She has grown worse
and I've staid with her often for
hours. Think she is honest and not
an 'adventurist
| | remember they came to your of
flee before the fire. Nelson went out
ard she said to me he was going
to Boston and get position She
seemed glad. / think her attitude
| has changed and don't believe she
| will ever have ANYTHING more to 40