The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-13
ZELLA AND THAT CHECK.
1T Is SAID THAT SHE OBTAINED 1T
FROM HOWARD GOULD
While tho Latter Was at the Worlds
FaIr-George J. Did Not Like the
Idea of Giving Any Woman 50 Much
Cold Cash.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE World to-
morrow will say: The case Of Zella Nj
colaus, who is suing George Gould for
$4,000 appears today in an entirely new
light by reason of story which has
come out giving what purpOrts to be
the true history of the affair. This ao-
count canas-fron- an authoritative
sourss among the frineds of Mrs. Nj
colaus
According to her friends. Mrs. Nj
colaus obtained the check originally
from Howard Gould. when the latter
was in Chicago attending the worlds
fair. As the story is told. the $4,000
materialized in a settlement Of part
of Jay Gould's estate just before How
ard Gould started for Chicago. His
share in this particular division in a por-
ton of his fathers estate was $4,000.
And TO make the account Of the books
appear all right, George Gould, as
executor. made out a check for this
amount 10 Howard and gave it to him
to deposit. Howard. however, carried
this check to Chicago with him. While
there he met and became fascinated
with Mrs. Nicolaus. He was with her
the greater part Of the time he was in
Chicago, and before he left he gave her
the orty-thousand-dollar check.
George J. Gould got wind Of this
transaction In time to stop payment on
the check. Mrs. Nicolaus presented it
at the bank in Chicago, but when it was
pronounced no good" she came to New
York and sought an explanation of How
ard Gould. The latter told Zella that he
would set the matter right at once and
went to his brother to know what right
he had 10 interfere with the check.
There was a stormy interview between
George and Howard, the former declar-
ing that $40, 600 was too much money to
pay any such demand. Howard refused
to sever his acquaintance with Mrs.
NicolauS and returned TO her and re-
ported the result of his talk with
George. Then il was that Zella was
George Gould herself and threatened to
bring suit for the payment Of the check
unless the amount il called for was at
once handed over to her.
George was obstinate and sought the
aid of Superintendent Byrnes, and the
latter sent for Mrs. Nicolaus. 1t is said
that she called on Byrnes and he threat
ened to expose her past if she annoyed
the Goulds. She calmly informed
Byrnes that no matter what her past
might nave been or WDdL DOSlllOO she
might now be in, the fOrty-thousand-
dollar check had been paid to her by
Howard Gould and it was as much hers
as though the amount had been paid in
cash.
She claimed that George Gould, after
once signing the check, had no control
over it. That he was not authorized
by Howard to stop payment, and he had
obtained the check from her in fraudu-
lent manner
She explained by saying that when she
came to New York with the check in
her possession and told Howard Gould
the circumstances he had endeavored to
get his brother to withdraw the stop pay
ment orders, and after several inter
views with George Gould, the latter told
her he had decided TO pay
her the amount she claimed
rather than have any trouble over ii.
But for family reasons he would not
allow the check TO go through with her
signature, and if she would give up the
check he would give her $4,000 in bills.
When he paid her the second $500 she
handed him the check, suppOsing that
he was going to count out the balance
of the $4,000. George Could she said,
grasped the check and then told her to
get out Of his sight or else he would
have her arrested as a blackmailer.
Mrs. Nicolaus told the superintendent
that she had witnessed the payment of
the check to her by Howard Gould, of
her presentation of it to the Chicago
banks, and wound up by telling the
SUPERINTENDENT that he did not dare 10
arrest her on any such charge as George
Gould preferred. She had done nothing
for which she could be arrested and she
did not propose to leave the city until
the matter was settled.