Year: 1868

The Lockport IN. " correspondent of the
Bunaio Express, in writing up the career of
Charles Tucker, alias Mason, just convicted of
The girl Nellie referred to was Nellie vii.
liams. who published the Penfield Extra


While at Rochester Mrs. Mason began to
suffer with the painful illness which from that
time forward never ceased until it itterminated
her life at Lockport on the 18th OF September,
1867, and was confined to the house. Her hus-
band at this time began to conceive a feeling
OF interest in, or attachment to girl of less
than twenty, young lady well known TO the
editorial and typographical fraternity Of
western New York as the former editor
and proprietor of a little sheet published near
Rochester, and who was at this time q com.
positor in printing establishment there. Il is
quite evident to those that heard the trial and
saw this young lady on the stand that she was
guilty OF nothing more than indiseretion with
Mason in allowing any attention at all from
him, and it will answer the purposes Of this
narrative quite as well TO suppress her patro-
nymic, calling her simply Nellie. Mason called
al Ihe printing room several times, where she
was employed, during the sickness OF his wife,
under the pretext of having work for her to do
aud wishing to learn the printers art him.
SELF He wrote Eotes to her, one of which
she was seen to tear in pieces and throw
on the floor. Upon one occasion Mason
asked her TO take a walk with him to see his
wife at her request. which she agreed to
do; but after walking some distance on the
street with him she discovered that they We're
going In direction opposite 10 Masons board
jng.house, and called his attention to the fact
He returned some evasive ans wer, and desired
to proceed; but the girl insisted on returning,
which they did. After this episode NelIie's
mother became alarmed, and chided her for
lmprudence, which, Mason learning, he wrote
note to the girl, asking her pardon, saying
that If he had committed any error ii was of
the head rather than the heart, and that he
knew OF no one whom he would so greatly de-
sired as companion for hls dear wife as her
After this Mason and his wife left Rochester
and came to Buffalo in May, 1867: and for a
time the curtain falls on his yearnings after q
companion for his dear wife.


while at Rochester he procured an insur-
ance In connecticut Company for SS,000 upon
the joint lives OF himself and wife, payable to
the survivor: 1t is remarked by the prosecu-
ton as significant that the amount was large,
that the insurance should have covered the
life OF his wife and that she died four months
afterwards He told the agent that his
Miie was suffering from gastritis, disease of
the stomach. The defence contended that this
policy was taken after repeated solicitations by
the agents OF the company, they giving Mason
half their fees. This insurance policy plays an
important part during the tlme being relied on
by the prosecution as the chief inducement to
the crime, allowing that Mason was the guilty
party. In this connection may speak Of the
otner alleged motive, which was the passion of
wife out OF the way that he might marry her.
These two motives were Of course held up con-
splcuously before the jury to account for the
cused. 1t all appears that Mason did not have
money enough to pay the first premium on the
insurance.


Some circumstances attending the woman's
death were commented on as suspicious. None
OF the neighbors were called in during her Ill
ness or last moments, and the offered services
OF two ladies as watchers were refused. She
was buried the day after her death, and Mason
was heard to laugh while in the cemetery. The
same night OF the interment he went to Roches-
ter and to the insurance agent the following
morning, demanding the insurance money. He
nv fha hA
tne usual ninety days at all events. Then he
went to the residence of Nellie's mother and
inquired for the girl. Being told that she was
out ne engaged in conversation with her
mother, telling here that his wife was dead,
tnat ne mad received large fortune, and that
ne meant TO set Nellie mp in business, that he
was much pleased with her, and much more to
the same effect. He informed another party
mat his wife was dead, and he was not sorry,
for she was burden to herself and everybody
the sold lady,n 6c