The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-12
Mr.. MICHELS0NS MISDEEDS.
FULL ACCOUNT or HIS ROMANTIC
AND CRIMEFUL CAREER.

lie Has Operated I'm the Legislature,
in Law. I'm the Pulpit, and in the
Penitentiary, II RObber, Biga-
mist. FOrger and SvindIer, Il the
IIIegitimRte SON of Russian Of
ncIaI. and Has Three wives Now
Living-Other Interesting Facts iR
the Dapper Little Mans Career.
Jacksonville. Aug. 1.-THE flight Sf At
torney Alexis NJ. Nicholson to avoid pros
ecution for forgery has revealed an in-
teresting story in regard TO his career.
Nicholson is a Russian by blrtn. and the
nlegitimate son OF an ex-mayor Of st.
Petersburg. His mother was a famous ac-
tress. who. II Is said. even found favor
with the grandfather Of the present czar-
In the latter part OF the 7Os Miehelsons
then about IS 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. Nicholson
sailed from st. Petersburg on a ship
bound for Charleston, S. c., commanded
by Capt. J. T. Hubbard. He had money
and letters Of introduction to prominent
people in Charleston. Among the letters
was one to Col. w. l.. Trenholm. lata
controller OF the currency.
Armed with these letters, and being
bright and handsome. the young Russion
exile was soon cutting a wide swath i'm
Charleston. lie studied law in the Office
of prominent Charleston firm, was adj
mitted to the bar and then taken intd
partnership by his patrons.
Meanwhile, remittances from Russia
ceased, and Nicholson found himself with-
out money to continue his swell career.
Then he began to forge the name OF thu
law firm. securing large sums. Accused
of the forgery, he confessed and was for
given. lie was soon robbing the frm
again, however and finally was arrested
on complaint OF the German Bank Cf
Charleston. A trial followed. and Mich "
son was sent to the Columbia peniten-
tiary. While there Nicholson learned oe
plot of desperate convicts to escape
which he betrayed to the officials. there-
by saving the lives Of the warden and
several guards. For this he was pardoR-
ed. There were rumors that Michelson
instigated the conspiracy solely to secure
pardon.
Leaving the penitentary Nicholson set
tied In Mount Pleasant, S. c., across the
river from Charleston, and went to teach
| ing school. Then he joined the Campbell
lite church and became a preacher. While
preaching Nicholson married Miss Rus
sell, daughter Of wealthy planter. His
wife was large woman and very de-
rage she learned that Nicholson was un-
true to her and the story goes that she
took her husband across her knee and
used q shingle on him. This treatment so
hacked Nicholson that he mmigrated to
Madison Fla. bringing with him beau
tiful girl whom he reported as his wife.
although there is no record that he was
ever 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 legs
lature. He made brilliant record In the
legislature and returned TO Madison with
a bright future. Then he became involv-
cd in a liason with a mans wife and fed
to Quitman, Ga. In Quitman he COM
mitted forgery and flew back TO Madisons
Fla, where he was arrested, but escap-
ed by donning the garb OF a woman and
slipping down the pillar Of porch.
In some way the charges against him
were uubHeA up anu tWO yNoA @eo NAAS'--
elson came to Jacksonville, announcing
his intention to reform. He soon built
up a good practice, and about a year ago
married a woman here, announcing thar
he had been divorced from his other two
wives, but Nicholson 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
imminent fed. 1t now develops that he
has never been divorced, and is the hus-
band of three living wives. 1t is thought
the rx-conviet, ex-!sgisiater, lawyer.
teacher, preacher bigamist and son Of a
Russian nobleman, has gone to Mont
gomery, Ala, and efforts will be made
TO bring him back. He Is a handsome
fellow, of small stature. with raven black
hair and mellow brown eyes.