The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-22
NlCKUM IN PUEBLO
Divorced Husband Of Murdered
Woman Is Located.
Puts at Rest the Suspicious of
Relatives.
STELLA BROWNS STORY
Cook at the Hotel Becomes Con-
fused on Stand.
Explains Presence of Blood on
Her Hands.
LUCAS FINDS A MAN.
Apprehends One at BurIfngame
Who Proves an Alibi.
Looking for Mysterious Individ-
uaI With Black Whiskers.
Departs for West on His. Quest
This Afternoon.
LUCAS FINDS A MAN.
Apprehends One at BurIfngame
Who Proves an Alibi.
Looking for Mysterious Individ-
uaI With Black WhiSkers.
Departs for West on His. Quest
This Afternoon.

]. r. Nickum, one of the divorced
husbands of Mrs. Mary A. Nickum
who was brutally murdered Sunday
morning, has been located by the
Pueblo authorities. He is advertising
manager for the Bergman Bros.
clothing house, and has been there for
a year.
This afternoon Sheriff Lucas left
Burlingame for the west after failing
to locate the Nickum murderer. He
said he had no information to give out
1t is reasonably certain that Sheriff
Lucas and Deputy Robert Miller are
hunting for the man with black whis-
kers, the suspicious character who was
seen about the Santa Fe depot Sunday
morning and was reported yesterday in
the vicinity of Burlingame. The Off
GERS went down there. and last night
picked up a man on suspicion, but he
proved an alibi in short order and was
released.
At a late hour last night the re-
port was spread in Topeka that Lucas
had capteured the murderer, and was
going to take him to Emporia for safe
keeping. This rumOr was the result
of telegram Lucas sent to the Santa
Fe officials last night He wanted a
permit to ride a freight to Emporia,
so that he could catch the through
train, as it did not stop at Burlinga
The officers are still searching for the
stranger as they did not come back
on III at 2:10 this afternoon
The body of Mrs. Mary A. Nickum
was taken TO ottawa Monday night
for burial. 1t was accompanied by J.
Z. Cunningham and Mrs. Emma P p8er-
son, the son and daughter of the dead
woman The funeral took place at OF
taWa at 2 O'Clock this afternoon
Before the body was taken away. the
coroner caused to be removed organs,
for the purpose of further examination
The examination of the organs has been
made by Dr. ]. d. Freeman, and White
it has not yet been completed, all the
results so far are negative in their
character. The probability is that the
determination that Mrs. Niclxum's body
was not violated by whoever performed
the murder.
1t is contended by some of the lead
ing physicians of the city, however.
that the examination will not fully -
tie the question of the intent o. .1e
murderer to commit a criminal asSaoII
These doctors are of the opinion that
the case may be found to be similar
to the famous Whitechapel cases, which
presented unusual physiological condi-
tions-
There is nothing left for the off,
GERS in the way of clues except those
which point to some entirely un-
known and mysterious murderer
whose only motive seems to nave peen
a fiendish moral perversion.
On the ak with which Mrs. N1ckum
was killed, about four inches from the
ak head, and stuck into a splinter OF
the wood is a single black curly hair,
which the officers now regard as an
important clue. 1t may have been
from the body of the murderer, or II
may have come from Mrs. N1ckum-
The bloody AK, with the hair cllng1ng
e. a. haS 0laCp6
of the coroner for safe keeping, to-
gether with the bloody knife with
which Mrs. Nickum was mutllated.
The blood on the head or the ak
indicates that the blow was struck by
a Ieft-handed person, or at least that
# was struck from left to right
Mrs. Browns Story.
Mrs. Stella Brown, the cook at the
Nickum hotel, was the principal VII
ness at the coroner's inquest which
was commenced Monday afternoon
over the remains of Mrs. Mary A
Nickum. Mrs. Brown was consider
ably shaken in her testimony by the
severe questioning of County Attorney
Hungate, and at times seemed to be
on the verge of bursting into tears
Mr.. Bungate questioned her sharply
In regard to the bloodstains which
she washed off her hands when she
returned to her room after respond
ing to Mrs. Nickum's calls. and about
the blood stains which were found on
the bed clothes of her bed.
srWhy did you go back to bed after
coming from Mrs. Nickum's room ?"
asked Mr.. Hungate-
Because am subject to heart fail
ure and the excitement was too much
for me- said Mrs. Brown
You didn't get out of bed till all
the officers had left the house, did
you?" he asked.
''I think there were some of them
still there" was the reply.
How long since you have seen your
divorced husband?" said Mr. Hungate.
about seven years." replied the |
witness.
Miss Grace McLane, the chamber |
maid at the Nickum, testified that |
when she went to Mrs. Nickum, after
Mrs Brown had been there, Mrs |
Nickum was muttering the names |
ssDella'' and Emma Della is the |
girl who worked for Mrs. Niclum |
inst prior to Grace McLane-
Nine witnesses were examined at the /
Inquest, which was in session from |
p. m. till 4:30 p. m. in the city court /
room The names Of the witnesses
were as follows:
DIR. Otto Kiene, Dr. J. d. Freeman.
DIR. L. H. Mum, DR.. c. A. Mcguire,
DR.. w. D. Storrs. Dr. c. V. Van Horn.