The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1895-08-16
A DEGENERATE SON,
From a Very Much Mixed, as Well
as Foreign, Ancestry.
lie TRULY TRAVELLED ALL THE CATS.
He Was Ex-CouvIct, Ex-Legislator, Ex-
Teacher, Preacher, BIgamist, and
the Son of NOblemau, is Now
Fleeing From Justice.


fight of Attorney NJ. Nicholson, to
avoid prosecution for forgery, has re-
vealed an interesting story in regard to
his career. Nicholson is a Russian by
birth and the illegitimate son of an ex,
mayor of St Petersburg. His mother
was famous actress who, it is said,
even found favor with the Grandfather
of the present Car. In the early part
of the '7Os. Nicholson, then about eigh-
teen years old became involved in a
plot against the Car and, to save him
from Siberia, he was sent to this
country by his noble father. Michel
son sailed from st. Petersburg on
ship bound for Charleston, s. c., COM
manded by Captain J. T. Hubbard. He
had money and letters of intro
duction to prominent people in
Charleston. Among the letters was
one to Colonel w. L. Trenham, late
comptroller of the currency. Armed
with these letters and being bright and
handsome. the young Russian exile was
soon cutting a wide swath in Charles
ton. He studied law in the office of a
prominent Charleston firm. was admit
ted to the bar and then taken into part
nership by his patrons.
Meanwhile, remittances from Russia
ceased and Nicholson found himself in
need of money to continue his swell
career. Then he began to forge the
name of the law firm. securing large
sums Accused of the forgery he con-
fessed and was forgiven. He was soon
robbing the firm again, however, and
AoI r1yo1. inf Of
the German Bank of Charleston. A
trial followed and Nicholson was sent
to the Columbia penitentiary. While
in the penitentiarv, Nicholson learned
of desperate plot OF the convicts to
escape which he betrayed to the Off
cials. thereby saving the lives of the
warden and several guards. For this
he was pardoned. There were rumOrs
that Nicholson instigated the conSpircy
solely to secure pardon.
Leaving the penitentiary Nicholson
settled in Mount Pleasant, s. c., across
the river from Charleston and went 20
teaching school. Then he joined the
Campbellite church and became a
preacher. While preaching Nicholson
married Miss Russell, daughter of a
wealthy planter. His wife was large
woman and very determined. About
year after her marriage she learned
that Nicholson was untrue to her and
the story goes that she took her hus-
band across her knee and used a
shingle on him. The treatment SO
hacked Nicholson that he immigrated
to Madison. Fla. bringing with him a
eautifu! girl whom he represented as
his wife, although there is no record
that he was divorced from his South
Carolina wife. At Madison. Nicholson
began to practice law and in year was
so popular that he was chosen to the
Florida legislature. He made bril-
liant record in the legislature and re-
turned to Madison with a bright fu-
cure. Thea he became invol we'd in a
liason with mans wife and fled to
Qultnam. Ga. In Quitman he com
mitted forgery and flew back to Madi-
sou, Fla, where he was arrested, but
escaped by donning the garb of a wo-
man and slipping down the pillow of
a porch, In some way the charges
against him were hushed up and two
years ago Nicholson came to Jackson
Vile, announcing his intentions to re-
form. He soon built up good practice
and about year ago married a woman
here announcing he had been divorced
from his other two wives. But Michel
SON could not keep straight and last
week forged the name of Attorney
Frank Pope to a note for a large
amount and when discovery was i'm
minent, fle l. 1t now develops that
he has never been divorced and is the
husband of three living wives 1t is
thought the ex-convict, ex-legislator,
ex-teacher, preacher, bigamist and son
of a Russian nobleman, has gone TO
Ala and efforts will be
made to bring him back. He is hand
some fellow of small statue with raven
black hair and mellow brown eyes.