The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-01
THE MAINE MAN ESCAPED THE BULLET
Which An Angry Relative Intended
as Death Messenger.
Murder and Suicide In a Crowded
Street In Lowell.
The Nichols FamIIy's Troubles Re-
suit In Crime.

LOWELL, Mass, September 30.-A crime
which, had the murderer's purpose been full
~ accomplished, might have equalled in the
number of its victims the recent sad affair in
portsmouth, was perpetrated here this
morning, when John Q. Nichols attempted
wholesale slaughter Of his relatives. He
shot his niece. Mrs. Ida M. Cunningham, Of
Reading, and shot at his nephew and grand
nephew, and then put two bullets in his own
head. BE and Mrs. Cunningham will die.
The tragedy grew out of quarrel over
property, and the relatives whom Nichols at
tempted to kill were on their way to appear
against him in court.
At $50 o'clock this morning, Mrs. Jacob
Nichols. Mrs. Lyman, her son. Fred A.
Nichols, and his wife, left Mrs. Nichols's
on Appleson street for the police court They
passed through Summer as far as Appleton
street. Mrs. Jacob Nichols first saw John
.; Nichols, and being afraid of him ran into
failed to notice Nichols until almost up to
where the horse cars were standing. Fred
A. Nichols, one of the party, tells the fol-
lowing story Of what occurred, as far as he
remembers:
John Q. Nichols allowed all rhe party to
base ball bat In his hand, with which he at
tempted to strike me. / struggled with him
and finally wrenched the club from his hands
He then drew the revolver and fired shot,
but lodged behind tree in season to save
myself. He then fired two shots at Mrs.
Cunningham, and then chased us around the
horse car.
"My wife, Master Lyman and myself ran
into the horse car, and all the passengers
scyy lay down on the floor, expecting he would
was afraid OF the horse car men, or whether
he thought enough damage had been done, l
don't know. but when l came out of the car
| found him lying there with two bullet
holes In his head.
81 am the son OF George Nichols. and
grandson of the late Jacob Nichols. l re-
side in Freedom, Me-, and came to Lowell
today at the request of my grandmother,
who was afraid Of Nichols. Today he came
into her house, roamed around as he pleased
brother Of my grandfather, and was started
In business by him."
For % years John @. Nichols worked with
his foster brother. the late John l.. Nichols.
Market and Dutton streets. Jacob Q. re-
ceiyed $40 week and promise that he
should have share of the property they
were making In the business. Jacob L.
Nichols died seven months ago and John @.
Nichols dld not get cent OF the property:
- 1eeoSN enN RsOaNON WIN shOoO WIN udu
secured the wealth for some sort of divis-
ion. They knew of the promises that had
made to him, but they turned deaf ear to
his entreaties. Then he threatened. For
two weeks he has been haunting the vicinity
Of the Nich0ls's place. When he called at the
Nichols house on Sumner street a week ago
Monday for further talk he was threatened
with arrest for trespass, and was arrested
and the trial was to come up in court this
morning, having been continued from last
Tuesday. Last Tuesday all the people who
were mixed up in the terrible affair this
morning were in court to testify against him.
Fred Nichols denies that the murderer
was defrauded of his property. He says:
My grandfather adopted him when he was
a boy, educated him, paid him $40 week in
the store. John @. Nichols had some trouble
years ago and transferred S28O0 to my
grandfather. That money must have been
returned to him, as John Q. soon afterward
entered business. He had no other money
to make purchase of stock"
Nichols left letter to his wife which de-
tails the fact Of his having been taken from
the Amherst. N. H., p0orhouse by his half
brother, Jacob Nichols, to be brought up as
his own child. 1t recounts his long life of
drudgery and that when will was made by
Jacob bequeathing him something, the fami-
ly prevailed on him to make a later one,
leaving John @. out. He clearly shows his
intention Of shooting. He requests Post 1856,
q: A. X, to which he belong, to take charge
of his remains.