The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-10-19

pfOfOunu, ana, after fcallZ1nS Sl3UO
from the sale of her husbands effects,
she came to New York. Nicholson had
his life insured for $4,000, but the COM
pany refused to pay the amount, alleg
ing that the suicide was not the result
his widow instituted proceedings to re-
cover the money, but up to the period
of her death the matter had not been
settled. She was, however, in comfort
able circumstances, as she had means
unlimited from her relatives in New
Orleans, in addition to the 1890.
When she came to New York about
two years ago, she led for q time a
gay and merry life, and seemed to have
completely forgotten the bright prom
isc of her girlhOOd and the happy fu-
trre which she might work out for her
self. Beauty, flashing diamonds, and
reputed wealth, soon brought her hosts
of friends, among them one gentleman,
| Thomas p. Wight, clerk in n Broad
street firm. Wight, who seemed to
have some slight knowledge of her pre-
viOusly, paid her marked attention, ac-
companied her to the theatre and took
her out for drives in the park. The re-
mainder OF the story is given on the au-
thOrity of Chief of Police, Whitney, of
! Bergen Point. The result Of the affair
with Wight was an unlawful connec-
tiOn, and the pair took rooms on East
Eleventh street, and, it is reported,
a time Mrs. MichelsOn's health com
menced to fail, and she had recourse to
the advice of DR.. Gillett, who per-
ceived that she had, like most women
who f0rsake the paths of virtue and
! lead an unsteady life, acquired the
seeds of pulmonary consumption. The
symptoms, however, were not serious
and some slight remedies were pre-.
| sCribcd.
She still continued to have plenty OF
money, which she spent freely, accOr-
ding to the statement of the servant
girl who was with her when she died
she having for some time past paid tho
expenses for the household. About
three months ago she called OH DR.
Gillett and complained of being very
| i'll. When the. doctor examined her liz
found she was far gone in consumption
| and he told her that nothing but cx
treme care would preserve her life. HI
recommended change of air and an alb.
scence from the city, and, in conse
Quence, Wight went to Bayonne, bought
a lot with Maud's money! and erected
q cottage, the cost of which has not yer
been paid. Mrs. Nicholson continued
to decline rapidly, and Notwithstanding
all that science could do for her sh'
died on Saturday morning. She wore
on her fingers at the time of her deatl
diamond ring, valued at $1,000, and ;
costly pearl ring.
When Wight returned from the city HI
took the rings from her fingers, and tell
ing the servant he was going to New Orl
to make arrangements for the funeral
and that he would be back in the eve
ming, he left. He did not return tha
night nor the day following, Sunday
and the body lay i'll the cottage rapid,
decomposine. On Monday morning
the chief of police, Mr.. Whitney, wa!
notified, and he at once went to tn
cottage and took possession. While h
was there Wight was seen returning
and the officer concealed himself in Al
inner room to learn what he would say
He talked roughly to the little servan
girl, and said he was going to have
pine box made to take away the body
! On being confronted by the officer an
asked what he had done with the rings
he became confused, and said he ha
got drunk and that they had been stOl
en- from him. Mr.. Whitney is, however
of the opinion that they had bee
pawned by him in New York. He wen
| to Jersey City and procured coffin,
carriage and a hearse, and in the eve
ming the body of the once bcautifu
and accomplished Maud Carleton wa
borne to her last resting place. Incl
denta1ly, after the funeral Wight lei
and has not since been heard of, and tn
police remain in possession of the cot
tage. In searching it numerous pa
pers were found, giving the facts {
the lady's early life, and the suicide {
. her husband in Chicago. In addition
there were eight slips cut from the pei
sonal columns of the Herald, addresse
by her to Wight, and to her by hin
Inquiries have been set on foot to al
certain whether any of her relation
live, and the authorities are on til
look ont for some charge on which the
may arrest Wight, against whom, how
ever, it is but fair to say there is Il
evidence, SO far as foul play is cor
cerned.