Evening journal., 1891-05-20
BLED BY HIS COACHMAN.
Ex-Sccretary Ramsey Said to
Have Been Blackmailed.
TO THE TUNEIoF $4,000.

The Alleged Case Resembles the Famous
RIoen-wilsssn Afrair--How Minnesota's
Ex-Governor Is Said to Have support
ed Formea Empioye in TdIeness.
ST. PAUL, Mmy 90--A sensational story
was printed here last night by the Sc.
Paul Herald. which says that Alexander
Ramsey. governor OF Minnesota from 1851
90 1866, United States senator for twelve
years and secretary Of war under Presidents
Hayes, has been blackrBailed out OF near
ly $4,000 BY his coachman. The Heralds
story is as follows; -Two years since one
Wilson Nichols served in the capacity "
family coaehman for ex-GovernoY Ale1an-
der Ramsey. One morning, after driving
the governor down TO his Office in She Ger-
mania bank, Of which Ramsey wns Mt
that time the president, Nichols made i
demand upon the governor for anni Of
money,
The Demand Pooh Poohed.
This demand was pooh poohed hsathe
latter when Nichols proceeded 20 disnosnt
from his seat and made the declaration iuat
he tthe governorl knew what had ne,-ed
between them aud had better come to slime.
Nichols followed the governor into the
bank and the latter TO avoid d scene. told
him to meet him at the office that evening
after business hours Nichols did so and
found present at that meeting the go>.,n-
or, two prominent attorneys and anotAer
prominent official
There Was stormy Scene.
'The scene was 70 quote Nichols, a very
stormy fnu bpt GHn1It 4rt4a4 -. q, .......
money-stated 10 be $1,000 being paid TO
Nichols as the price Of his silence and fora
promise TO leave the country
At this time Nichols was required to
sign an affidavit, the contents Of which he
claimed TO be unknown to him, and also
TO sign a further agreement renounchg
all claims and demands upon his victim in
the future.
. He Lived In Idieness.
"Nichols afterward left ST. Paul, first
relating all that took place as detailed
above, and also showing the money re-
ceived. After an absence of something
like one year he returned, and having
spent the money received at first. renewed
his demands. He lived in idleuess, yet a.
ways was plentifully supplied with money,
and In reply to inquiry would always say
that they come easy for him. All he had
70 40 was 70 cali up tine governors private
attorney in this case and ask for what be
wanted.
Touched . Second Time.
1.-TWO weeks ago Nichols left st. Panl
after displaying a large roll Of money,
which he told came from the same source
as his former rolls. In one Of his conf
Dental moods he exhibited letter OF Jan.
10 last calling him 80 the Office OF the gov.
ernor's attorney and informing him That
everything was all right
ITO reporter who called upon Ramsey
at the time Nichols made his last black
mailing demand be would only say that
Nichols was a scoundrel and had black
mailed him. The governor admitted that
he had been blackmailed by Nichols hut
further than that would say nothing, re-
ferring the reporter to his attorney.
Like the nioen Case.
"rhe case is one shat even recalls the
sensational Wilson and Moen case, where
Moen was bled for nearly half million
dollars.
Nichols makes no attempt TO conceal his
criminal operations-in fact he openly
boasts Of the manner in which he is en-
abled to live without labor"