Delia D'Ambra

Nelson was reported to have stated, quote, I plugged him. It was a center shot, end quote. which seems to suggest that Nelson had been aware he was shooting a living person, not a deer or a bear. But who exactly claimed to hear him make those statements and what the full context of the conversation was is unclear from the available coverage and records in this case.

Nelson was reported to have stated, quote, I plugged him. It was a center shot, end quote. which seems to suggest that Nelson had been aware he was shooting a living person, not a deer or a bear. But who exactly claimed to hear him make those statements and what the full context of the conversation was is unclear from the available coverage and records in this case.

The story did, however, support the prosecution's argument from the start, which was that Nelson was capable of distinguishing his friend from a deer, which meant the only alternative reason for Nelson doing what he did was because he must have had some other reason for wanting William dead.

The story did, however, support the prosecution's argument from the start, which was that Nelson was capable of distinguishing his friend from a deer, which meant the only alternative reason for Nelson doing what he did was because he must have had some other reason for wanting William dead.

Maybe it was a secret grudge or a vendetta, which, in my opinion, is more of an argument for premeditated murder than manslaughter, but whatever. And despite getting the opportunity to present such a narrative during the examination hearing, the county attorney just kind of left a lot to be desired when it came to details about why Nelson would have wanted to harm William.

Maybe it was a secret grudge or a vendetta, which, in my opinion, is more of an argument for premeditated murder than manslaughter, but whatever. And despite getting the opportunity to present such a narrative during the examination hearing, the county attorney just kind of left a lot to be desired when it came to details about why Nelson would have wanted to harm William.

Reading between the lines amongst all the source material, it seems like it was suggested that Nelson may have wanted more of William's land or something. And that could have been his potential motive for the shooting. But again, nothing states that specifically, so we'll never really know.

Reading between the lines amongst all the source material, it seems like it was suggested that Nelson may have wanted more of William's land or something. And that could have been his potential motive for the shooting. But again, nothing states that specifically, so we'll never really know.

And when the proceeding concluded on December 30th, it was decided that Nelson's case would not go to a grand jury because the evidence against him was too insufficient. However, that didn't mean tensions between people in the community who viewed Nelson's culpability very differently dissipated.

And when the proceeding concluded on December 30th, it was decided that Nelson's case would not go to a grand jury because the evidence against him was too insufficient. However, that didn't mean tensions between people in the community who viewed Nelson's culpability very differently dissipated.

In fact, the following year, in November 1899, the Minneapolis Journal reported that a grand jury in Beltrami County did end up reviewing the case and ultimately decided to indict Nelson for murder. Once again, it was Williams' brothers who'd spearheaded the effort to prosecute Nelson and get the case this far.

In fact, the following year, in November 1899, the Minneapolis Journal reported that a grand jury in Beltrami County did end up reviewing the case and ultimately decided to indict Nelson for murder. Once again, it was Williams' brothers who'd spearheaded the effort to prosecute Nelson and get the case this far.

However, the trial ended with an acquittal, which reportedly contributed to Nelson's wife suffering from a stroke right there in court, but not one that was severe enough to kill her.

However, the trial ended with an acquittal, which reportedly contributed to Nelson's wife suffering from a stroke right there in court, but not one that was severe enough to kill her.

According to one settler who did an interview with author John Doby, Nelson lived the rest of his life as a free man and moved to the northern end of the state park, where he stayed until his death in November 1912 at the age of 71. Nelson maintained that he'd never intended to kill William, and he considered himself wrongfully accused of the crime.

According to one settler who did an interview with author John Doby, Nelson lived the rest of his life as a free man and moved to the northern end of the state park, where he stayed until his death in November 1912 at the age of 71. Nelson maintained that he'd never intended to kill William, and he considered himself wrongfully accused of the crime.

But Nelson's acquittal carved a deep divide between members of the Rust family and William McMullen's associates and loved ones, literally for decades. In the 1930s, which was a long time after the shooting, Nelson's son-in-law, Martin Heinzelman, was living in Texas for the winter and sent a delivery of grapefruit to one of William's old friends up in Minnesota.

But Nelson's acquittal carved a deep divide between members of the Rust family and William McMullen's associates and loved ones, literally for decades. In the 1930s, which was a long time after the shooting, Nelson's son-in-law, Martin Heinzelman, was living in Texas for the winter and sent a delivery of grapefruit to one of William's old friends up in Minnesota.

The gift was apparently a gesture of goodwill and sort of a means of burying the hatchet, I guess. Initially, William's friend was really touched by the gift and was even reported to have become emotional when he opened it. But then, after he pulled himself together, he was overheard saying, quote, end quote.

The gift was apparently a gesture of goodwill and sort of a means of burying the hatchet, I guess. Initially, William's friend was really touched by the gift and was even reported to have become emotional when he opened it. But then, after he pulled himself together, he was overheard saying, quote, end quote.