Franklin Affair by Jim Lehrer Page B

story of his crime and the threat against his own life. The brother, able to write as Nelson himself was not, put into writing Nelson’s statement. That was what Adams offered into evidence.
    â†’Adams: Next day Nelson was found dead hanging from a tree on Market Street. No note. Believed a suicide.
    â†’More Adams: Roger Nelson came forward to somebody
[
couldn’t make out name
]
with his brother’s confession. Claimed his brother was murdered. Written statement turned over to an official
[
name also not clear
]
of our new national government. Official declared it a fraud but made it available to Adams
[
just in case?
].
    â†’“My solemn oaths and duties” required him—said Adams, of course!—to pursue. Did so in complete secrecy.
[
Thank you so much, John.
]
    â†’Adams offered another written statement, this from Roger Nelson. Said other one from brother valid. Also, repeated what brother’s acquaintances said. They knew Button Nelson recently acquired a knife, a sack, and some rope—and a lot of money.
    â†’Adams: Discreet inquiries at “proper places of endeavor and record” showed a Melissa Anne Wolcott, “a woman once of means but no longer same,” was missing. Her house had the appearance of blood in one of the main rooms. Two women acquaintances said Melissa Anne Wolcott had “born a male child out of wedlock” when a very young woman. Whereabouts of the baby unknown. Woman’s father was friendly with Ben, who was a frequent visitor to the Harrison home when Melissa was an “innocent and unspoiled girl” at the time she gave birth to the male child.
    â†’Adams, prosecutor, rested case by stating that he, Adams, believed the evidence, circumstancially if not directly, showed that Ben, “though a man of much achievement in his public life, had committed two of the most heinous personal crimes known to civilized society.” First, he had “violated the essence of a young woman,” speculating that the “act of consummation” could well have occurred when Melissa Anne Wolcott was “a mere child.” Second, he had been “a principal perpetrator” of that woman’s brutal murder and possibly the demise of an accomplice as well.
    â†’Ben, in his defense, spoke briefly. Said he was “an old and dying man who had lived a life that he was pleased to say had resonance within large and appreciative societies of many levels both in America and in Europe.” Said he made no claim to perfection or even to attempting perfection, but he did believe he had made contributions that would have life beyond his own.
    â†’More Ben: “I have nothing to say to the charges made just now with such conviction and effectiveness” by Adams, whom he called “a knight of freedom for whom all Americans now and forevermore will owe debts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
    â†’Hamilton asked Adams what kind of decision or verdict he was requesting, noting they had no legal authority to do anything.
[
Amen, Alex!
]
    â†’Adams said he was “not wise enough to even presume he knew what a proper course” would be.
    â†’Madison asked, “Are you suggesting we be parties to bringing formal charges against Ben with the expectation of an appropriate punishment of hanging or imprisonment to follow?”
    â†’Adams did not respond.
[
Can’t make it out if he did, at least.
]
    â†’Solution offered.
[
Can’t tell by whom.
]
By secret ballot, each man to indicate whether to refer the case against Ben to the proper authorities. If vote goes against such action, each man would be bound by a most sacred word
[
oath
]
of honor never to tell of this meeting or its subject, even under the prospect of pain or death.
    â†’Somebody
[
can’t tell who
]
said, “We act together or we remain silent forever together.”
    â†’The vote—three to one against