story of his crime and the threat against his own life. The brother, able to write as Nelson himself was not, put into writing Nelsonâs statement. That was what Adams offered into evidence.
âAdams: Next day Nelson was found dead hanging from a tree on Market Street. No note. Believed a suicide.
âMore Adams: Roger Nelson came forward to somebody
[
couldnât make out name
]
with his brotherâs 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?
].
ââMy solemn oaths and dutiesâ required himâsaid Adams, of course!âto pursue. Did so in complete secrecy.
[
Thank you so much, John.
]
âAdams offered another written statement, this from Roger Nelson. Said other one from brother valid. Also, repeated what brotherâs acquaintances said. They knew Button Nelson recently acquired a knife, a sack, and some ropeâand a lot of money.
âAdams: Discreet inquiries at âproper places of endeavor and recordâ showed a Melissa Anne Wolcott, âa woman once of means but no longer same,â was missing. Her house had the appearance of blood in one of the main rooms. Two women acquaintances said Melissa Anne Wolcott had âborn a male child out of wedlockâ when a very young woman. Whereabouts of the baby unknown. Womanâs father was friendly with Ben, who was a frequent visitor to the Harrison home when Melissa was an âinnocent and unspoiled girlâ at the time she gave birth to the male child.
âAdams, prosecutor, rested case by stating that he, Adams, believed the evidence, circumstancially if not directly, showed that Ben, âthough a man of much achievement in his public life, had committed two of the most heinous personal crimes known to civilized society.â First, he had âviolated the essence of a young woman,â speculating that the âact of consummationâ could well have occurred when Melissa Anne Wolcott was âa mere child.â Second, he had been âa principal perpetratorâ of that womanâs brutal murder and possibly the demise of an accomplice as well.
âBen, in his defense, spoke briefly. Said he was âan 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.â 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.
âMore Ben: âI have nothing to say to the charges made just now with such conviction and effectivenessâ by Adams, whom he called âa knight of freedom for whom all Americans now and forevermore will owe debts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.â
âHamilton asked Adams what kind of decision or verdict he was requesting, noting they had no legal authority to do anything.
[
Amen, Alex!
]
âAdams said he was ânot wise enough to even presume he knew what a proper courseâ would be.
âMadison asked, âAre 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
âAdams did not respond.
[
Canât make it out if he did, at least.
]
âSolution offered.
[
Canât 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.
âSomebody
[
canât tell who
]
said, âWe act together or we remain silent forever together.â
âThe voteâthree to one against
Kieran Scott
Vera Caspary
Holly Bush
Abigail Graham
Erica Stevens
Liz Mugavero
Annabel Wolfe
Patricia Duncker
Erin Kelly
Nora Roberts