Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-26
How Mills and Wiikcrson were
Observation-Disclosures Reviewed.

scene in q rather remarkable case, that
has engaged public attention for nearly
three years. and ended the existence OF
a man, whose early life appears to have
been involved in more or less mystery.
Nicholas was the third white man 10
die on the galows In Richmond since the
war The other two were Jeter Phillips
and Thomas Judson Cluyerius. who's
cases were the most sensational In Vir-
ginias history. and are still well remem-
bered. Phillips was hanged In the Henri
co jail-yard for the murder OF HIS young
wife. and just eight years ago Cluverius
paid the death penalty for drowning his
fair young cousin in the Old reservoir.
Nicholas's victims were men, but his
motive was n woman-the wife OF one OF
the unsuspect.ng pair whom he sent TO a
watery grave.
While the Nicholas case has not at
tracted the widespread attention that the
Phillips and Cluyerius cases did, interest
I'm the Jamcs-river trapper and his crime
has been very marked, especially In Rich
mond and the adjacent counties. lie had
been i'm jail about three years, and had
been before the public almost continuously
since his arrest. He stoutly denied his
guilt during all the time he remained
I'm jail, and by his oily tongue and pc
visited him to believe in his innocence.
LITTLE FAITH IN HIS STORY.
Those most familiar with him, how
ever. and who were thrown In daily con
tact with him put but little faith in his
protestations. He was a deep scheming
rascal. and while he had but little O.
say at all times, he caused the county
officers more trouble than any prisoner
that has yet been incarcerated IN the
county Jail. He was treated with great
consideration by Sheriff solomon and his
deputies. and instead OF being fed as
the other prisoners are. was for months
before his execution supplied with food
from the officers table. He was also.
until sentenced. permitted 70 occupy
room on the top floor of the jail which
is much more comfortable than the cells.
but of all this he was not at all appre-
ciative. Instead he was generally cross
and surly when spoken 10 by the Sheriff
or his deputies, and repeatedly he told
visitors that he was not being properly
fed or cared for by the Sheriff Naturally.
this continued grumbling on his part was
not calculated 10 make his iailers friendly
TO him. and they never visited his cell
unless forced to do so. To the news
paper-men, who We're thrown in contact
with him almost daily, Nicholas was
not always pleasant. and on several Occa-
sions he endeayored 10 have them ex-
cluded
lie was an idiosyncratic creature, ana
though he possessed none Of that per
sonal magnetism, which is so essential IA
making friends OF strangers. the muir
derer had a way Of drawing on ones
pothies, and sent more than one per
son who came to see him out OF curiosity
f,.-, !, O.. ..Hx 70 Of
innocence.
lie was known to be a schemlng man
by his nelghbors. and but few OF them
trusted him or associated with him. The
crime tor which he forfeited his life was
most unusual one, and h. employed
an unique method Of disposing OF Mills
and Wilkerson. Nicholas was an unmar-
red man, and lived In a room Of the
house occupied by James Mills and his
family. in HsnricO county near the
Goochland line
THE FATAL TRIP PLANNED.
on the night before the drownins-De-
cember T. 1S32-NichOlds Mills. ana VII
kersOn were together at the house az
Mrs. Wnkerson the iatter's mother, and
there arranged and determined upon
trip across the river next morning 10
take bee-tree This expedition was
Suggested Ilanlf'As ana tdA III NNN Rf
Nicholas. Wlkerson was very unWill-
ing TO 20, and hnally consented at the
suggestion Of his mother. who said that
as Mr. Nicholas seemed anxious for him
10 20 he had better DO so. Mills was UNI
willing 20 go unless WilkersOn went In
the course Of conversation. which re-
suited in this expedition being agreed
upon. both Mills and Wilkerson stated
in the presence Of Nicholas that they
could not swim. and were very much
afraid OF water: they ana not Ike water
more than knee-deep. The fact that they
could not swim was generally known
to their friends.
Everything being in readiness 10 carry
out the plan for the day. the three
men started from home about o'clock
IN the morning. equipped with every
thing necessary for taking the bee-tteo
having with them TWO buckets holding
two and q half or three gallons each.
for the honey; two axes, one Ratchet
and piece of netting 10 protect the per-
son from the bees The boat used be-
longed 10 one Joseph Bruin, and on their
way 10 the river an uncle Of the owner
was asked II they might use the boat
and was told that they could get the
key which unlocked the boat from its
fastening 10 the bank from Bruin, the
owner. Nicholas replied that he had
key Of his own. and had often used II
before without permission.
BOAT FILLED WITH WATER.
The men landed on the Chesterfield side
Of the river and visited the bee-tree, but
decided not 10 cut II down. and the fatal
return-trlp was started on. The boat
was d small one about ten feet Ions.
and about two and q half feet wide, and
both IN going over and returning the
prisoner sat In the extreme rear, with
his face 70 the front and Wilkerson and
Mills sat In front Of him with their faces
10 the front and their backs to him.
This position Of the parties Nicholas
admitted very reluctantly when Ques-
toned about It. When returning. and
about fifty yards from the Henrico shore,
the boat suddenly filled with water, ana
Mills ana Wnkerson were drowned. AMI
Nicholas swan 10 shore The next day
the magistrate OF the district was notified
Of the occurrence. and an inVcstis1-
ton was set on foot. The boat was got
ten out OF the water ana IL was found /
that Immediately under the seat wher-
Nicholas sat there were three h'y'5, /
freshly bored, with an inch-and-a-halt .
auger.
IL was afterwards ascertained that on /
Tuesday evening. December 9th, tie own
ar Of the boat used H. ana u was 'hth I
sound. Some fresh pine shavngs CORE /
sponding 70 the size Of the holes ana 10 /
the wood the boat was made OF were also
found on the shore, they having been
thrown into the water and washed OUT /
On the bank There were also found corn
cobs. which had been cut to exactly nc /
the holes IN the boat. which had also
lrfted 20 the shore.
MOTIVE FOR THE CRIME.
Nicholas was arrested the next day at
ter the drowning. and was taken before
the coroners Jury, and here motive for
-, l.II.E.I .L..l.-..