Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1883 — THE DEED CONFESSED. [ARTICLE]

THE DEED CONFESSED.

Nelling, the Brutal Murderer, in Jail Awaiting Punishment. . * . «»» Jacob Nelling, the man whom Detective Harris settled upon as the murderer of Ada Atkinson, from the first, and whom, dispite the many assertions to,the contrary which have purposly been all owed to circulate, the family of the poor girl also believed the guilty man, has confessed his guilt and is now in jail. The case against him has been worked with consummate skill. net-work of circumstances had been woven about his feet weeks, and knowing that he was so closely watched as to make escape impossible. Nelling, in his desperation, sought to relieve himself by throwing the guilt upon Jacob lAdd, a young man id the employ Of the Johnson woman, in Oxford. His story was a direct contradiction of what he had sworn to at the Coroner's inquest, and utterly wild and improbable in every way. Ladd and Nelling were both taken to Fowler Saturday and placed in jail. Nellng being under the impression that he was held-

merely as a witness against Ladd. On Monday, in the court room packed to its utmost capacity, Nelling was put through a most searching examination by Judge Coffroth, of Lafayette. After involving himself in numerous contradictions and absurdities, he was confronted by Ladd, the man whom he accused, and both men told their stories, face to face. To give a detailed account of the examination and of the .many events of thrilling interest which have succeeded it would be impossible. We must content ourselves with Saying that Ladd, an effeminate young fellow of 24 who looks to bo much younger than that, told his story in a manner which convinced every hearer of his innocence, while with Nelling, the case was reversed, and everyone believed him to be the murderer. The court adjourned with the announcement that a public examination would be held at Oxford the next day. Detective Harris passed the night with Nelling in jail and succeeded in inducing liim to make a full confession of his crime.

The confession was reduced to writingand subscribed and sworn to by Nelling. He said that while working in the orchard and knowing that Ada was alone in the house, he was seized by an insane impulse to murder her - that he choked her to insensibility, and in murderous frenzy cut her with his knife. He says he went down stairs and Out to the nnlk house and. ..wtwhed his bloody hands and threw The water on the grass. He denies that he outraged her person or had any intention of so doing, and solemnly asserts. that he had no. confederates in the crime. He makes the confession freely, without reservation and without hope of mercy. The confession was taken to Oxford the next morning and publicly read, by Col. Da Hart, of Lafayette. An immense crowd at once set out for Fowler with the expectation of assisting at a lynching. In the afternoon, in a crowded court room Nelling again declared the tfuth of his confession and detailed the circumstances of the murder. To prevent an otherwise inevit- [ able lynching Nelling was taken down j the back stairs and the crowd, locked i in the court house until the officers had ! S°t him safe in jail. Au enormous j crowd hung about the jail most of Tues- ■ day 'night, but as nearly everybody seemed to have come to seo the hanging rather .that, to Leip doit, the at- • tempts which were made to secure pos- ■ Session of the murderer, failed for lack of organization. Yesterday' Nelling was slipped on board the car's and taken, to Lafayette where he is now in jail. Nelling s well known Icehefousness of disposition causes his statement that he did slot intend, to commit r rage, to be almog 4 universally d'irbe’•eved.