Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-20
ST. PAUL'S SENSATION.
EX-SENATOR RAMSEY BLACKMAILED
TO THE TUNE OF $4,000.
A Case Rivaling That of Wilson and Moen
They Are Coming Easy for Ex-Coach-
man Wilson Nichols-Money Paid to
Him on Demand.

They Are Coming Easy for Ex-Coach-
man Wilson Nichols-Money Paid to
Him on Demand.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE D1sPArcu.1
ST. PAUL, May ia most sensational story
is printed here tonight. 1t is to the effect
that Alexander Ramsey, Governor of Min
nesota for three terms, from 1861 to 1866;
United States Senator for u years and Secre-
tary of War under President Hayes has
been blaclmailed out of nearly 2OO0O
by his coachman. The story is as follows:
Two wears since one Wilson Nichols served
in the capacity offamily coachman for ex-
Governor Alexander Ramsey. One morning
after driving the Governor down to his office
in the Germania Bank, of which Ramsey was
Mt that time the president Nichols made q
demand upon the Governor for sum of
money.
/ This demand was pooh -poohed by the latter,
when Nichols proceeded to dismount from
his seat and made the declaration that he (the
Governor) knew what had passed between
them and had better come to time, Nichols
followed the Governor into the bank and
the latter, to avoid scene, told him to mGet
him ut the office that evening after business
hours. Nichols did so and found present at
that meeting the Governor, two prominent
attorneys and another prominent official.
The scene was, to quote Nichols, a stormy
one, but finally ended in a sum of money,
Stubeu W De @lUiUOU, DeluS pilu 10 NlcHOlS Us
q price of his silence, and a further price 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 q
further agreement renouncing all claims
and demands upon his victim in the future.
Nichols afterward left st. Paul, first relat-
ing all that took place rs detailed above and
also showing the money received. After an
absence of something like one year he re-
turned, and having spent the money re-
ceived at first, renewed his demands.
He lived in idleness, yet was always plen-
tifully supplied with money, and in reply to
inquiry would always say that "they came
easy for him" All he had to do was to call
upon the Governors private attorney in the
weeks ago Nichols left st. Paul after
displaying large roll of money, which he
told came from the same source as his
former rolls In one Of his confident.
ial moods he exhibited letter of
January 18th last calling him to the
office of the Governors attorney and inform
ing him that "everything was all right"
To n reporter who called upon Mr.. Ramsey
Mt the time Nichols made his last black
mailing demand he would only say that
Nichols was a scoundrel and had black
mailed him. The Governor admitted he had
been blackmailed by Nichols, but further
than that would say nothing, referring the
reporter to his attorney.
The case is one that rivals the sensational
Wilson and Moen case, where Moen was bled
for nearly half a million dollars. Nichols
makes no attempt to conceal his criminal
operations; in fact, he openly boasts of the
manner in which he is enabled to live with
out labor or money.