The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-08-02
A RUSSIAN ,ADveNTURER
Who One limo Lived In Bsrkeley Cuunts
Near Holly Hill, ..E'. - \.

| "ho one ihno Lived In Beikeley Counts
Near Holly nil. ...@'.%. &.
Several years ago, says tho N ews and
Courier the good ship Richard III, ar.
rived In Charleston harbor from St. Pc.
tersburg to take cargo Of cotton.
The Richard Ill was one Of the last
full rugged ships that used to come to
this port. On this particular trip she
had on board young Russian Of high
birth and prepossessing manners, but
Without q dollar or a friend In the
world-cast off. desolate aud alone.
Coi. William l.. Trenholm, after
wards comptroller of the currency un-
der MI. .Cleyeland's first administration
was Chen Russian consular agent at
port, ana Ghe captain being exercised in
MS mind about this young man, went
10 MIN and told him this boy Of about
10 years OF age WaB on board fhis ship.
Chat ne was the son Of u nObleman HIGH
In the service of the Gar who, on the
eve or his departure, had brought him
ABOARD of his ship given him just the
bare passage money, and begged him
to take him to America and then turn
him adrift.
The captain said that he became In
tereSted i'll and afterwards touched by
the forlorn plight of the young noble,
who was a brilliant talker and of most
charming manners, and determined to
see what he could do for him, and so
had brought him to Col. Trenholm and
begged that he would do whatever ne
could for him.
Col Trenholm was very much pleased
with the young man, who was singu-
larly prepossessing, as said above, and
called himself Nicholson and said that
Inc reason for his being sent off by his
father was that his father had slapped
his sisters face and that he had struck
| him for so doing.
Col. Trenholm introduced him to his
| friend, Major julian Mitchell, who, up.
on examination, found that he could
read Greek and Latin with ease and
could speak all OF the great modern
languages with lluency. At figures,
too, he was a verltable prodigy. One
could take Il pencil and Wlite on piece
OF paper. calling it out to him as it was
written, such a sum as this: 1872
multiplied by G,3GS and before the man
with paper and pencil would have the
sum linlshed he would have calculated
it mentally.
Major Mitchell and Mr.. Smith, his
partner, were 80 pleased with the young
man that they took him into their Of
lice as clerk. lie remained some time
giving absolute satisfaction and win.
ming his way into the good graces of all
With whom he came into contact.
At the boarding house at which lie
lodged the landlady and all the boarders
especially those Of the weaker sex, were
his ardent admirers and enthusiastic
| friends.
After Nicholson had been In tle Of
ice some time Messrs. Mitchell tS
| Smith were apprised Of the fact that
| their firm name had been forged on
several occasions to checks. The forg
cries were easily traced to young Mich.
| elson. His employers did not prose-
cute him, but he did not receive such
| mercy at the hands Of the manage.
ment of the Germania Bank. He was
| tried and sent TO the pepitentiary for
| eighteen months.
Even in the Penitentiary his unusual
gists stood him in good stead. lie made
| a most favorable impression on all with
Whom he came In contact and was soon
| made the bookkeeper Of that 1nstitu.
ton BY his uniform goodconduc the les
sened his time of Imprisonment and
was soon free to roam at will. Whether
he really experienced temporary
change Of heart, or whether he was
merely adding sacrilegious hypocrisy
to his other crimes OF ingratitude and
dishonesty Is not known. At all events
ne became q Cambellite minister and
achieved considerable popularity in the
extreme upper portions of the State in
his ghostly capacity.
After Il while ne was married to a
very excellent young country girl with
whom ne seemed to live happily tor
some time but after about years time
he suddenly disappeared and was not
heard Of from that day until about
four years ago, letter was received in
charleston from Charleston lady in
Florida who had known of Nicholson
when In Charleston saying that he was
then married to a very pretty and
| charming young woman of excellent
parenJage, asking If he ought not to be
exposed.
The gentleman here to whom the let
| ter was addressed thought that as the
mischief was done and the girl already
| married to him, and as he seemed to
be leading quiet and respectable life,
and as he hoped that having sown so
much wild oats, that he might have
gotten through and really turned over
new leaf, 1t would be wisest to do
nothing In tho matter at all, and ac-
cordingly nothing was done and he
dropped out of the minds of tho peo.
pie here entirely until the special from
Jacksonville about him in the News
and Courier yesterday recalled him to
their minds.
In Florida he seems to have risen to
considerable prominence in Madison
county, as he represented that constit-
uency in the State Legislature last ses-
sion: The story of his downfall in
FLORIDA is curious. lie telegraphed
from Thomasville. Ga, to a stabeman
In Qnitman, orderidg carriage and
pair Of horses to take a gentleman over
to Madison, signing the name of II. G.
Mcintosh, without that gentleman's
knowledge. lie went to Quitman, it
Is reported, made use Of the team, and
when asked for the charges said that
Mr. Mcintosh was responsible for
them. For this he was arrested for
forgery.
n Bloody Fight.
SHREVEPORT, Ia., July 2l.-~-News
has been received here of tragedy ut
Ivory, a settlement in Arkansas, just