The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-07-23
NOBLE AND IGNCBLE.
Nicholson, the Florida Forger, is of High
Firth but Low NIorols.


| Charleston, S. c., July 17.-(Special 1.-THE
| arrest OF \. M. Nicholson in Madison, Fla,
| on the charge of forgery on Saturday last,
| brings out a romantic story concerning
the young fellow. Several years ago the
| good ship Richard III arrived in Charleston
| harbor. from ST Petersburg, to take a
| cargo of cotton. The Richard III was one
! of the largest full-rigged ships that used
| to come to this port. On this particular
| trip she had on board a Russian of high
| birth and possessing manners. but without
a dollar friend in the World-caSt Oft,
| deSOlate and alone.
Colonel William l.. Trenholm. afterwards
| comptroller Of the currency under MIR.
| Clevelands first administration. was then
Russian consular agent at this port. and
the captain, being exercised in his mind
about this young man, went to him and
told him that this boy of about eighteen
| years of age on board OF his ship, that
| he the son of nobleman high in the
service of the car, who, on the eve OF MS
| departure had brought him aboard of his
ship giving him just bare passage money
and begged him to take him to America
and then turn him adrft The captain SAID
that he became interested in and alter
wards touched the forlorn plight of the
| young nobleman, who was brilliant talker
and of most charming manners. and de-
| termined to see what he could do for him,
| and had brought him to Colonel Tren-
holm and begged that he would do what
| he could for him.
Made II Good Impression.
| Colonel Trenholm was very much pleased
| with the young man, who was singuiarly
| prepossessing, as said above, and called
himself Nicholson. and said that the reason
| for his being sent off by his father was
| that his father had slapped his sisters face
and that he had struck hum for so dong.
| Colonel Trenholm introduced him to his
| friend, Julian Mitchell who, upon eXaml-
| nation found that could read Greek and
Latin with ease and could speak several
| modern languages with tiuency. At figures,
! too, he was a veritable prodigy. one could
| take a pencil and write on q piece OF paper,
| calling it out to him as it was written.
| such a sum as this: 1872, multiplied by
| 1865 and before the man with paper and
| pencil would have the sum 1inished. Michel
| son would have calculated 1t mentally.
Mr.. Mitchell and Mr. Smith, his partner,
| We're so pleased with the young man that
| they took him into their law Office as a
| clerk. He there remained some time, CIV
| ing absolute satisfaction and winning his
! way into the graces of all with whom ne
| came in contact.
| At the boarding house where he lodged,
| the landlady and all the boarders espe-
| cially those OF the weaker sex, were ms ar
| dent admirers and enthusiastic TRENDS
| After Nicholson had been IN the once
| some time MessrS. Mitchell ana smith were
! appraised of the fact that their 1lrm name
| had been forged on several occasions TO
| checks. The forgeries were easily traced
to young Nicholson. His employees asa not
| prosecute him. but he did not receive mucn
mercy at the hands Of the managers OF
| the Germania bank. He was trleo aho
| sent to the pententiary. Ihere MS ul-
usual gifts stood him in good stead. he
roade a favorable impression on all with
| whom he came in contact and was soon
made the bookkeeper of that institution:
| BY his uniform good conduct he lesseneu
his time of imprisonment and was soon
| free to roam at will.
| Convict HypOcrite.
| Whether he really experienced tempo