Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-26
SOMETHING ABOUT HIS LIFE.
His Real Name Was Nicholas. Not
Amos-Statcment from the Family.

The executed man was not without
friends and relatives in this city. though
their names have been referred TO but
seldom. His brother Mr. ". II. Nicholas,
lives at No. 1l0i - ChafIln street. and
with him reside two sisters Of the de-
ceased-Miss Clara L. Nicholas and Mrs.
r. +. Lane. A Dispatch reporter called
at the home last night. and met Mr.. w.
H. Nicholas and the other brother Mr..
John -. Nicholas. of GOochland. Being
asked as to the accuracy Of the report
that their brothers name was Amos. and
not Nicholas they. said that there was alb
solutely 10 truth In 1t. The only founda-
ton they knew for the report was the
fact that their mother who BIS now
g0-odd years old, and lives in Goochland.
was Miss Amos prior to her marriage TO
their father
Their brothers correct name, they
say. was Philip Norbourne Nicho-
Las. and not Philip Norman
Nicholas. They were asked If he
got the name. Philip Norbourne, from
Judge Philip Norbourne Nicholas, who
was at one time president OF bank IN
this city, and was afterwards made Judge
Of the Circuit Court. but as to this they
could not say.
ing people. and are very much distressed
over their brothers shameful death. Both
brothers say that he st0utly denied his
guilt 10 the last, and they believe him 10
have been innocent
STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY.
The following statement was written by
Miss Clara Nicholas and signed by the
others Of the family, and given 10 the re-
porter for publication:
RICHMOND, VA. July p, 1896
"Phnip Norbourne Nicholas's relations
wish to express their opinion TO the pub
lie at large In regard To his execution
We feel that he has been the victim OF
Injustice from the beginning 10 the end
Money and position is law In Virginia.
II he had been a wealthy man he would
have been brought from prison IN hurry
but being a poor man, he has been ioFcel
10 die like a dog. There have been several
murders cOmmitted-wiitul murders-ih
and near Richmond in the last year or
two. and those committing them nave
either been cleared at once or sent u
urison for a short time. But this poor
man had enough after-discovered evidence
IN his possession 10 have cleared nm, II
he Rad been Justly dealt with. lie mas
been hurled into eternity on circumstan-
tlal evidence: his life taken from MIN
when there was grave doubt Of his quit.
No man with common sense would nave
put on heavy boots and an overcoat, ana
taken two other men in boat ana
drowned them in the river, when he was
,isling his own life thereby.
"Our brother was kind-hearted, and was
the last man In the world who would nave
taken anothers If lie thought the
world Of Judson Wilkerson. We know
he has been the victim OF injustice, ana
think the rope has been put around the
wrong mans neck. The Governor gave
q negro-Morrls Hopkns-twenty days
respite. BIT to this poor man he refused
even that much. II Philip Nicholas had
been a man Of wealth We believe his
fate would have been far different. Pow
crty in Virginia is a great drawback as re-
CARDS law. Philip Nicholas did not die
his shameful death frendless. No, he
had many loving relations and friends
who were poweress to help him. There
IS a just God. however, and some DAY
we will have justice from Him where
we have rot received justice IRON men,
"W. II. NICHOLAS,
JOHN II. NICHOLAS,
"R. r. LANE,
"OTHO l.. NICHOLAS,
Miss CLARA l.. NICHOLAS,
Mrs. ADELAIDE 5. NICHOLAS"
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Pbllip Norbourne Nicholas was born in
buckingham, near Scottsyllle, May l, lSii
He lived there until he was about Is
years old. when he engaged In railroad
work, and was employed as foreman Of
a gang Of hands on the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway. After three years service
on this line ne went 20 Georgia, and was
employed In like capacity on the
Georgia Pacific railroad. lie Afterwards
returned To buckingham. and went TO
Fayette county, West virginia, where
he remained for two years, getting out
stone from the quarries. He returned to
Virginia. and settled in Goochland in
1854. I'm the fall OF 1881 he removed 70
Heurico. and began work on the Wickham
farm. Mils's house almost adj0ined his,
and the home OF Wilkerson, where he
lived with his aged mother was only
across the road.
II is generally believed that Nicholas
confessed his crime 20 Father Welbers
though OF course the priest can never
make II public, should he have done So
The fact that he did not proclaim his
innocence and declined 10 deny his guilt,
bears out this theory. Nicho,as certainly
must have known more about the death
Of Nils and Wllkerson than he made
public for when the Supreme Court first
decided adversely In his case he was
questioned by DR. Charles Il. Chalkley
as TO the crime, and told the physician
that II he ever told all he knew about
the death OF the two men he would tell
him. He never decided 20 make any
further statement. and died without
making a public confession.
IL was by request of Nicholas that
Mr.. Vogler adjusted the moose, this de-
putty having performed a Ike service at
the execution OF Morris Hopkins.
The body was cut down by DR.. Charles
H. Chalkley, and the autopsy was con-
Quoted by DR. Croxton, assisted by Drs.