The Buried Treasure Of Murderer Nelson Wade

 

"In the kitchen of the county jail hangs the collar, chain, and shackles used on Nelson E. Wade, who murdered John and Isabella McBride on the evening of July 22 1873, on the old Lusk farm, above Newberry, and with them the hangman's knot that snuffed the life of the murdered one of the most desperate and hardened criminals the county jail has ever held...  The collar and chains still have the leg irons and handcuffs attached as they were when finally removed from Wade before his execution.  The iron collar was rough, and he lined it with cloth. He frequently told visitors that he had secured gold enough from the McBrides to make a longer and heavier chain than the one he as dragging about."

Gazette and Bulletin, August 1910

In July of 1873, The McBrides were killed for their money.  Although thousands of dollars were recovered, there are still legends of the treasures that were buried and never found.

The Lusk farm, was a plain old fashioned log structure, built many years before, surrounded by trees and high weeds. "Situated within a short distance of the public highway leading from Newberry to Linden station."

 

When Patrick Lusk died in 1816, he left the "Homestead Farm", of two hundred and twenty acres, to six of his children. These brothers and sisters lived on the farm, cultivating it, and dividing the proceeds. "They were a parsimonious family, and cautious in their dealings even with each other." Their money was kept concealed in the house, in bags, stockings, old chest, and various other places, each retaining the custody of his or her own share.

In another story of Elizabeth Lusk's death in the well, it's asserted that her brothers took her trunk of money and would not return it, so she flung herself into the well.  

In the 1820s, John McBride, a man of "intemperate habits", came to the Lusk farm, "devoid of property of occupation". "Intemperate habits" was a term often used for men who had alcoholic tendencies. In testimony decades later, Henry Apker recalled that  the local tavern keeper had been instructed by the Lusk family that no liquor should be served to McBride.  This was all part of a suit to recover money from the estate, so it's possible the testimony was skewed. 

 McBride was a veteran of the US Navy, and in 1812 was awarded a medal for his bravery and good behavior.  After traveling to Marysville Ohio with his brothers, he returned to Lycoming County, where he found employment on the Lusk farm. In 1825, he married Isabella Lusk.  They had one child, who died at the age of 19.  

By 1859, Sarah and Isabella were the only two of Patrick's Children remaining.

Almost all of the other children had died unmarried, and intestate, all without issue.  As each died, his or her share fell to  the others, and the family "made no change in their mode of life."

The Lusk Homestead, shown as the J. McBride property, across from Linden Station

John McBride continued to farm the homestead, and all of the proceeds were divided into three shares, one for himself, one for Isabella, and one for Sarah, until June 28 1871, when Sarah conveyed her real estate to the McBrides for the consideration of $3,000 [Roughly $73,000 in 2023] Sarah died two years later, intestate.  

"He and his wife were the owners of the farm upon which they lived, together with the adjoining farm - in all about 200 acres of the very choicest land on the Reach, although they have failed to cultivate it properly - letting it run down. "

"It was known that two wealthy bachelor brothers of the wife had died at the place and bequeathed their possessions to the aged couple which added to their frugality and other circumstances caused them to be regarded as among the most affluent residents of the county."

The McBrides lived in a state described as "abject poverty and want", although it was common knowledge that they in fact had a great deal of money hidden away.

"The house is reached from the public road by a lane, and no habitation is within 300-400 yards of the place. The couple were known as quiet and unobtrusive people and possessed no social qualities. They had a few visitors and abstained from calling on others unless absolutely necessary."

In 1859, there was an attempted robbery at their home.  From them on, a light was seen burning all night in the home.  It was said that the couple slept in shifts, so that someone was always on guard against burglary attempts.  They kept two large bull dogs, for additional protection.

On the afternoon of July 23 1873, Abraham Newcomer passing by the McBride home, noticed that the cattle were still penned in the yard.  Thinking that was unusual for that time of day, he went to the house and found Mrs McBride lying dead near the cellar door, a pistol wound behind her right eye. 

Newcomer ran to the neighbors to raise the alarm, and then returned with them to enter the house, where they found Mr. McBride on the floor with several large gashes on top of his head.

"Soon after the nearer neighbors were informed of the tragedy, and by afternoon hundreds of people on foot and in carriages were hurrying to the scene. The most intense excitement prevailed, and those who witnessed the bloody corps of Mrs. McBride and her almost dead husband were filled with indignation against the murderer and threats of lynching were freely made by parties in search of the assassin."

Immediately, a coroners jury was impaneled on the scene.  They found money hidden in "every conceivable place", throughout the home. In all, several thousand dollars was found.  

A later account of the treasures recovered from the scene

"Yesterday morning the condition of Mr. McBride who received the brutal treatment at the hands of Wade, seemed to be somewhat improved, but he had not yet been restored to sensibility. The severe injuries complicated his enfeebled constitution and almost certain to lead to his death. " Harrisburg Patriot, July 25th.

"On Saturday the attending physician considered McBride's condition somewhat Improved, but did not like his breathing. While in a partially conscious state, the physician asked him if he was hurt. McBride replied "yes." It was then resolved to change his position in bed, and while this was being done. McBride said," What are you doing ?" He was than asked If be knew the man who had hurt him, and the wounded man replied "no."

 "What was the man after who came to the bouse?  was the inquiry of the physician. McBride replied, "He came here to whip me." This was all be was able to say. and he immediately became unconscious. In fact he was not conscious any of the time, but lay in a confused state of mind, just able to make a responses  the inquiries, without comprehending his situation, or the object of the interrogations." 

John McBride survived for four days, dying on July 27th.  Both John and Isabella were buried in the Lycoming Presbyterian Church Yard in Newberry Pa.

The Lycoming Presbyterian Church Yard was formerly located on Arch Street in Newberry.  The graves were all moved in the 1930s or 40s.

===========

The Tell Tale Gold – 

The Murderer Caught in a Brothel

=============== 

Wade's downfall resulted from visiting a bawdy house on Washington Boulevard, which later became the Greevy homestead, where he gave some gold pieces to one of the 'the girls'. The girl was later questioned as to where she had obtained the money, and she said she had gone to a house on Bloomingrove Road with Wade, where he had taken two bags of money.

"On Wednesday night a man apparently intoxicated and with a swaggering air entered a house of prostitution in Williamsport and was very extravagant in the expenditure of his money. He exhibited more gold coin than is ordinarily possessed by individual, and the mistress of the house, having been informed of the murder near Linden and of the supposed robbery of gold, began to suspect the visitor as the guilty party and slipped to the outside and communicated her suspicions to the police authorities of Williamsport.

 They soon made their appearance at the house and took the man into custody. He was examined, and in his pockets were found about $9,00 in gold. He offered no resistance to the officers, and after a brief interval confessed that he had committed the murder and stolen the gold after the perpetration of the crime, besides making revelations as to how he had proceeded about the bloody business. The fiend is now in irons in the Lycoming county prison, from which he will not emerge until he is brought out for trial."

=========

The INSANITY

Wade's Early Years

==============

Wade pleaded innocent by reason of insanity.  Several papers reported that insanity ran in his family.

"At an early age Nelson E. Wade was thrown upon the world to mould his own character for good or evil. His mother is still living, but since the age of sixteen years has been subject to fits of insanity. At the age of nine years Wade went to live with the farmer named Harvey, in the vicinity, whither he remained until he was sixteen years old, and then started in life for himself a hardened and reckless youth. "

Another paper reported:

" At an early age he was thrown upon the world, to mould his own character for good or evil. When about nine years old twenty-four years ago Mr. Amos Harvey, living on the Blooming Grove road, took him in charge, and as he was an active, Intelligent looking boy, determined to rear him, and give him a home until be was able to go out and do for himself.

 For seven years he remained with Mr. H., but during the last year of his stay became uneasy and discontented. On Christmas day of that year he left his adopted home, and started off through a deep snow, not knowing precisely where he would bring up. He had not been long absent from the house before Mr. H. had suspicious of something wrong, and tracking him through the snow soon succeeded in capturing him and returning with him. 

The next summer be again started off, and Mr. Harvey concluded to let him go, having despaired of ever making a respectable young man of him. Mr. H. says that Wade was a good boy to work, but be bad such a terrible disposition quick tempered, and quarrelsome with companions and often Mr. Harvey warned him to beware, for he believed he was "doomed to die a murderer."

 Last winter Wade visited the bouse of Harvey, and manifested a disposition to remain with him, but as Wade appeared to be reckless, with no idea of labor, he drove him away. Mr. H. states that Wade is about thirty-three or thirty-four years of age."

Wade joined the service during the Civil War, serving with the 7th Calvary.  At one time Wade worked for Henry Smith, and he was employed at the Beaver Mills, but "breaking two saws, he was discharged." He also worked as a brakeman for the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad.

In August of 1872, Wade was in prison, convicted of stealing a watch from J.W. Bowman, a  "gentlemen of Watsontown".  He was sentenced to 4 months in jail, from September 14th to January 14th.

============

The CONFESSION

=============

We now present the confession of Wade the murderer, which is as follows:

 “I am American born and have relatives living hear here; I was born out of the Blooming Grove road, beyond the Poor House; the afternoon I committed the murder, I walked up the tow path from the city; went to the McBride’s house and calculated that it was about the time they had done their milking; last winter when I was at Glossner’s near by Mrs. Glossner told me of the trunk up stairs; and while I was there last winter I made it my business to find out how much money these folks had. 

On reaching the house on Tuesday afternoon, I was met in the yard by one of the dogs which barked at me.  I soon made up with him and walked into the house, when M’Bride wanted to know what I wanted there; I told him I wanted a drink of milk, when he told me to to the cellar where the old lady was, she asked me if I had money to pay for the milk; from the cellar I returned to ask the old man for some bread but found he had bolted the door; when he unbolted it I shoved my foot in and the old man struck at me; I then knocked him down with my fist; the dog then made at me and I knocked him down.

I then struck the old man with the stick three times, when he cried murder; I then hit him another rap with the club; I then went to the cellar and struck the old woman; but as I have told you several times, I did not shoot her, as I had no pistol, but bought out at Trout’s yesterday. 

When I came out of the cellar after killing the old woman, the old man was up and the dog was licking blood off his hands; I then hit him again. I then procured an axe went up stairs and broke open a chest and found the trunk I had heard Mrs. Glossner talk about; it was too heavy and I made two trips that night carrying away the money.

The club I used was cut in the woods near by with a small jack knife. If they will look in the cornfield they will find where the grass is trampled down, that is where I looked over the money. I got between sixty and seventy thousand dollars. I will not tell where it is."

 

Wade, in his confession, claimed to have taken between sixty and seventy thousand dollars from the home, all hidden in a trunk upstairs. He claimed he had learned from the Glossers, who lived nearby, of the trunk. When arrested, he had about $100 on his person, and a bag containing $400 in silver was also found.

While incarcerated, Wade boasted of many other murders he had commited in other parts of the country and frontier.  

"The murderer was fond of boasting and appeared to take especial pride in relating how many persons he had killed during his lifetime. He has frequently been in the Lycoming county jail charged with committing thefts and breaches of the peace. At one time he was employed as a brakeman on the Philadelphia and Erie railroad, but was discharged for disorderly conduct. It is said the murderer that while he was in the Western army, he was the perpetrator of the most cruel and blood-curdling acts on record. It is in substance that from some cause he became offended at a boy, and dragged him into a log house, secured the windows and doorway so that escape was impossible, and then applying fire to the structure, stood guard, and laughed with fiendish glee at the crackling flames as they consumed the body of the poor, defenseless lad."

In August of 1873, the Cambria Freeman reported:

"This fact plainly demonstrates that his boasts of having no fears about lynching are only made for effect, and that his stories about murdering so many persona and of lynching men, are related for the purpose of notoriety as he is just ignorant enough to think it a great achievement to impress visitors with the idea that he ahs been a perfect barbarian all of his day.  That he is branded as a murdered is sufficient to know, but taht he is a willful and unheard of falsifier there cannot remain a doubt."

However, three years later, it was learned that at least one of his stories was in fact, true, making it possible that all of his tales of murdering others were based in fact as well.

The Harrisburg Telegraph

April 10 1877

On one occasion, when  asked how he passed the nights, when he replied, “Jolly, I have McBride’s ghost in here, and I make it lively for the apparition.”

In interviews from his prison cell, Wade made many claims about the large amounts of gold and silver he had taken from the McBride home. He claimed it was hidden so that no one could find it, and that he would give the information to "some poor man, no relative of McBride"

“I have had fifty names in my lifetime, but Nelson E. Wade is my right name; where I to do this all over again I would exchange the silver for paper money; that’s what bothered me, it was so heavy.”

Sheriff Piatt then remarked to him, “you must have nerve to do this deed,” when he replied: “Yes, sir, I am hardened.  When a child I dreaded the word murder, but after going through the rebellion, and on the frontier with Kit Carson and others, I shrink not at any crime:  They may take me out to hand me tomorrow; I have only once to die; I have killed several women before this one; in regard to the money I got exchanged one hundred and eighty dollars in twenty dollar gold pieces at one of the banks in the city, and got fifteen percent for it. They asked me where I got it.  I told them I was a cattle speculator from Canada.”

 

In another interview, he said "there are two bags buried in the city, 2 above, and 2 below"

After the death of the McBrides, a nephew and niece of Sarah Lusk came forward, contending that they were entitled to distributive shared in the estate.$2,700 of the money recovered in the McBride home had been found in the bedroom of Sarah Lusk.

========

The VERDICT

===========

On September 3rd at 9am,  the jury returned a verdict of murder in the first degree.

"The following is the verdict of the jury; That upon view of the body of Mrs. Isabella McBride, wife of John McBride, she came to her death by a gun shot in the left temple – the ball entering to the left and above the left temple bone, and passing out near the corner of the right eye and nose; also, that the said deceased was struck on the head by a club, and the said jury do further day that the said wounds were inflicted by one Nelson E. Wade, on the evening of the 22 of July 1873."

Wade was a large imposing man.  The Williamsport paper reported that a photo of him was much sought after, but if one was taken, I have not been able to locate a copy.

On October 6th, Wade went on a rampage.  He broke the water pipe and the cot in his cell, and dug a hole through the wall into the adjoining cell. Apprehended by the sheriff and tied up with rope, he twisted off the handcuffs and threw them out the window, before escaping the ropes. He then broke out from his cell, and was found in the corridor the next morning.

In all, Wade broke 7 pairs of handcuffs, before he was executed. "He was finally chained to the floor by an iron chain, the end of which was attached to the iron collar upon his neck. "

A guard watched him night and day.

===========

The HANGING

===========

During the morning of the execution Wade was visited by a number of reporters, one of whom in the presence of the murderer, asked the sheriff when the execution would take place. The sheriff replied between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.  Wade then requested the sheriff to have the job performed before 12 o’clock, as he had an engagement in hell at that hour.  He said he would walk to the gallows like a man, and there would make a speech, giving the chief-of-police and other people hell.

 

"At the time he was executed he was thirty five years of age, having lived a life of dissipation for the past nineteen years."

The Gallows were last used in Williamsport in 1914.

But they first were constructed here for Nelson Wade, in 1873

Wade was hung twice, in the Lycoming County Jail Yard at Williamsport on November 6th 1873. He was twice dropped through the trap, the rope having slipped the first time.

"The prison doors were thrown open to persons holding permits at 1 o’clock. The main entrance was guarded by a detail of police. Twelve jurors accompanied by Sheriff Van Buskirk and physicians first entered, followed by the reporters. 

In addition to the three hundred persons in the prison yard, the execution was witnessed by hundreds from adjoining telegraph poles, house tops, etc.

A few minutes prior to one o’clock, Revs. Dr. Riley and James Curns, presiding elder, both of the Methodist persuasion, entered the doomed man’s cell, and ministered to him a short time. At 1 o’clock the line was formed and proceeded to the scaffold as follows: Two ministers, the murderer between the sheriff and chief-of-police, deputy and policeman. Upon arrival at the scaffold, the sheriff read the death warrant, during the reading of which Wade was composed, but had a deep scowl in his countenance. He then stepped on the fatal trap. He was dressed in a dark gray coat, light vest and pantaloons, low shoes and silk hat, no collar or necktie.  He spoke as follows:

Gentlemen and Fellow Citizens of the United States: Remember me this day. I am going to leave the world, guilty of the murder of John and Isabella McBride. I have told you, and you read in the papers, how I committed the deed, yet the commonwealth did not seem satisfied. There were witnesses who swore they saw me at the stables that night. It was false, and I hope God will forgive them for swearing falsely. I hope and pray that at the day of resurrection the newspaper men and you all will meet me in heaven. I am going to a home which lawyers and policemen cannot deprive me of a home from which sheriffs cannot snatch me. 

In a rambling manner he spoke of the flag of the Union and the enthusiasm he felt for it, declaring that McBride’s gold and silver and all the gold in the world count not buy it.

 

I stand on the death trap, and I ask you to fight for the Union in the war which I think is not far distant. May God bless you all, and remember that Jesus died for us all. You thought I would have to be carried to the gallows; but I committed the deed, and I know I must answer for it. Remember that Governor Geary ate his breakfast and left his world suddenly; so, be prepared. God bless you all, and my He mercy on my soul!  God bless me.”

Wade was then seated on a chair, after which Rev. Dr. Riley made some remarks on the solemn and melancholy occasion. During the Rev. gentleman’s remarks, Wade appeared unusually excited, easting his eyes in every direction. He again took his position on the fatal trap, at the same time handing silk hat to a policeman and telling him to do whatever he pleased with it. His arms were then pinioned behind his back, the noose adjusted around his neck by the sheriff, and the black cap drawn over his head. Wade then said; “May God have mercy on my soul.”

 

Sheriff Van Buskirk struck the lever with a firm hand, the trap gave way and a horrible sight ensued. The coil of the rope loosened, and the feet of the murderer came violently in contact with the ground. At this juncture Wade threw his head back and shouted at the top of his voice, “god have mercy on my soul,” repeating the exclamation three times. The noose was then slipped over his head, and his body fell to the ground like a log. The spectators rushed to the scaffold, aged men wrung their hands and wept like children. From the multitude a shout of “Oh, God! what a sight!” went up, while numbers quitted the prison yard.

 

The police drove the crowd back, and picking up the murderer carried him on the scaffold again, Wade asking them to let him walk up. It was horrible sight to see the murderer again place on the fatal trap. Again and again did he implore God to have mercy on his soul. Again was the noose placed around his neck; again did the sheriff strike the lever, and the body of Wade dangled between heaven and earth.

While preparation for the second fearful launch were being made, Wade coolly asked the sheriff whether the rope didn’t slip; said his neck was sore, and made another remark inaudible to the press correspondents during the excitement. At five minutes past two o’clock life was pronounced extinct by the physicians. 

"The sheriff says the failure of the first hanging was no fault of his, as the same rope and knot hanged Fields, weighing thirty pounds more than Wade. It was the noose that uncoiled." - Altoona Tribune.

The body was immediately cut down and placed in a coffin and permitted to be viewed by everybody who so desired.   The rope was used in the execution was cut in pieces and presented by the Chief of Police to newspaper reporters.

===========

The BURIAL

============

Wade's body was collected by his Aunt, a Mrs. Yader  [Yeater?] of West Street in Williamsport, a sister of Wade's mother.    Several papers reported that the body left Williamsport on the same evening over the Philadelphia and Erie railroad.   

Mrs Yader states that the body was to  be buried on the farm of David Young, one mile from Dewart, Northumberland county, and twenty-five miles from Williamsport.

Years later, when Amos Ritter was murdered near Dewart, "in a recently dug potato field", papers reported that it was was within sight of the grave of Nelson E. Wade, who 25 years earlier murdered Mr & Mrs John McBride. Wade was buried in a corner near the Amos Ritter home.

The Ritter Murder - an Unsolved Murder in watsontown PA, with a marker still standing along the road

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-brutal-murder-in-watsontown-that.html

Kathi Wertman, in a post for the Watsontown Historical Society, wrote: "  Imagine as a child a vase would fall off  a shelf, and you grandmother would point out the window and say “That darn Wade.”    That was the case for Glenn Wertman, son of Stewart Wertman, the school teacher.  Wade would be blamed for everything that went wrong on the farm.  The family always thought he was a horse thief and was hanged in Williamsport.  However a little research done for Glenn's 80th birthday revealed the gruesome story.

 Why he was buried on the farm, and who the relatives were, we cannot discover.  The farm was at that time owned by John Lowe, but whether he lived there or rented the farm out, we are not sure.  The farm has since been in the Wertman family for over a hundred years, when Enoch Everitt, Glenn's great great grandfather bought the farm from John Lowe. 

 Nelson Wade, Civil War veteran and murderer, is buried in an unmarked grave on the Wertman farm in Watsontown.  And yes, they believe they know where he is buried."

==============

The TREASURE

==============

So is any of Wades buried treasure still out there?  It's impossible to know, not knowing for certain how much he stole, or where he hid it all.   But it appears that it was all recovered either by the authorities, or by friends of Wade, in 1873.

On Wednesday July 23rd, the day after the murders, Wade visited Mr Harvey's home.  With him was Jessie Russell, whom he introduced as his cousin Deane.  Wade claimed she was a clerk in the store of Noyes & Co.

Wade took Harveys son down to the shed adjoining the barn, and poured out a bag of silver upon the bottom board of a wagon box.  When the boy asked where the money came from, Wade replied: that that was his business, and that he was going to bury more money than that.  He further stated that "the simplest place is best" and said that if he did not return, the boy could have all of the money. The boy assumed Wade had been robbing banks.

Wade then gathered the coins back up and buried the bag in a corner, covering it with dirt and straw. This was the $4000 later recovered by Chief Coder and Officer Marley.

The Sunbury Gazette Reports that after that, he returned to the Harveys again" 

"Returning o the house he remained there a short time, when he started off over the hill, Mrs. Harvey says be was absent some half or three-quarters of an hour from the house; when be returned be was in state of great perspiration, and had in his band a four-leafed clover, 

Search was made all day yesterday by Mr. Harvey and several other gentlemen in a clover field adjoining a piece of woods, upon the farm, but they could find no traces of his work, but firmly believe that he has secreted gold somewhere upon the farm. 

Mr. Harvey is anxious to discover the money, and blames his boy for not informing him of Wade's statements ; but the boy being: young, did not appreciate the situation.  All the time that Wade was at the house he exhibited the utmost coolness, and laughed and joked with the woman be represented as his cousin. He remained till after supper, when he paid Mrs. Harvey for the meals they had obtained and departed for the city."

In September of 1873, Wade confessed that one bag of gold was hidden under a stone in Lycoming Creek, and another in a stone wall at the Harvey Farm.  The bag at the Harvey farm was located, but the bag in the creek was missing.

In October of 1873, Wade was boasting that a friend of his had recovered the money from Lycoming creek, and said that he was being furnished with green backs obtained by the sale of the coin

Interview With A Bank Cashier, August 1873

===========

READ MORE
==========

Sources:

• Journal of the Lycoming County Historical Society, Summer 1961
• The Cambria Freeman Aug 1 1873
• The Linden Tragedy, History of Nelson E. Wade, the McBride Murderer; Together with Sketches of the McBride and Lusk Families, Details of the Arrest, Trial, and Conviction of Wade, Gazette & Bulletin Printing House, 1873, 52 pages. 
• The Daily Williamsport Bulletin
• Juniata Sentinel and Republican 12 Nov 1873, 

The Six Executions In Williamsport Prior to November 1873

The Sunbury Gazette

November 14 1873

 

"It was on August 29th 1873...  that Nelson E. Wade was placed on trial for the murder of Isabella McBride. He had attacked the old people on the afternoon of July 22.  They had remained undiscovered until the afternoon of July 23, at which time Mrs McBride was dead.

The old man lingered until July 27 and both were buried in the cemetery next to the Lycoming Presbyterian Church in Newberry.