Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-05-26
PARENTS DENY STORY
Was A FRAME-UP
MAKE THEIR STATEMENT THAT
DAUGHER WAS BOUND AND
GAGGED BY PROwLER.

several weeks ago Ahe hcPuDh-
can carried an article with reference
to stranger entering the home of
Chris Nelson, near Oakfield, who
bound and gagged his twelve-year-
old daughter Margaret. The child
was found in an unconscious condi-
tion and the matter was reported TO
the county officials.
Ten days later report was cir
culated that Mrs. Nelson, mother OF
the girl, had faxed the whole affair
with the intention Of frightening
her husband so he would leave the
farm and move to Audubon. The
article in question was published in
the Atlantic daily, and because of
it's interest locally, this paper re-
published 1t. This brought denial
from Mrs. Ham Webster, of this
city who is the mother of Mrs. Mel
son. We told her il the story was
not true we would be glad to pub
lish a correct statement.
Mrs. Nelson has made state
ment to the Atlantic paper and in
justice to her, we are re-printing it..
The Mothers Story.
Here is the story as told by Mrs.
Nelson:
my husband myself and our lit
tie son left the dining room about
$3.50 on the evening Margaret was
attacked. She stayed in the house
to do some homework. A neighbor
called at the house and rang the
bell When Margaret did not re-
spond our little son came to the
barn and told Mr.. Nelson and my
self.
I'VE went to the house and began
a search. looked in the attic. cell
lar, closets and in every part of the
house, but could find no trace of
Margaret. had looked in the very
closet where she was but did not see
her. 1t was very dark in the closet.
Finally Mr.. Nelson went to the rear
of the closet and there found the
girl. She was bound hand and foot
and handkerchief was stuffed in
her mouth. She was still uncon-
scious from blow dealt her on the
head by the mysterious stranger.
He was q tall man, wearing red
sweater, she told us. DR.. Koob, Of
Brayton, was called to attend to
Margaret.
"The entire house had been ran
sacked. The bed in the hired mans
room was torn to pieces. The
prowler evidently was after the hir-
ed mans money. The latter had
carried $50 with him few days be-
fore. The prowler took several dol
lars and some finger rings belong
ing to Margaret.
"The attack took place on Thurs
day evening. On the following Tues
day Mr.. Nelson received letter
through the Extra post office. This
purported to have been written by
the "Red Sweater Man" 1t was
so signed. The letter was as fol-
lows: MY Dear Margaret-We
would have made nice getaway If
It hadn't been for your neighbor.
But never mind, we will make Wis
it again soon. Say. you have pref
ty room. My health is fine; how is
yours. BY the way; a little dis
guise will work wonders.
I'VE are wondering what the
writer meant when he used the
word we Did he refer to an ac-
complete or did he refer to our
daughter?
''My husband tried to trace the
letter to the sender but could not
do so. The paper on which 1t was
written bore a water mark and we
used this clue, but without results.
I'VE are as much in the air about
the whole affair as anyone. We do,
however, resent the insinuation that
either myself or my daughter had
anything whatever to do with plan
ming this affair"
The handkerchief used to gag the
girl was a large white one. In one
corner was the initial &C" The Nell
sons say there was no such handker-
chief among their effects. The faith
or says that the handwriting OF the
letter was compared with that OF his
daughter, and that, while there was
bare. semblance of similarity. II
was not by any means sufficient to
warrant the assumption that the
girl was the writer of the epistle.