davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
THEY ARE COSY.
Russian Soldiers Comfortable in Dug
outs at Mulxden.

Mukden, Nov. 21.-via Tien Tsin,
Nov. 21.-Since the Japanese failed in
the attack which they made on Pouti-
loft hill, November IS, the old order of
affairs has been resumed. There are
frequent skirmishes, particularly in the
vicinity of the Russian center, where
both sides have daily. clashes. There
was an exchange of artillery fire dur
ing the greater part of November 20.
1t appears that the affair of Novem-
Der Is, was a reconnaissance in force
and that, had it been successful, it was
The Japanese got within thirty PAGES
of the Russian outer positions before
being driven back. They left over a
hundred dead on the field,
The Russian soldiers are quite COM
Portable in their dugouts. The weather
continues extremely cold, the ther-
mometer recording thirty-five degrees
of frost The frost is accompanied by
high winds which carry clouds of
dust
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21

In my opinion" said Mr.. Hungate
this morning, the crime was the work
of a 'prevert,' the kind of criminal
lunatic responsible for the S=%itechapel
murders in London, which startled the
world a few years ago. Whoever killed
Mrs. Nickum, he was a fiend of the
worst kind, and insanity should be no
defense for him.
Il looked over the scene of the mur-
der and formed conclusions, which, of
course, are of no more value than the
other conclusions in the case. 1 think
that Mrs. Nickum was on her way to
the ice chest in the hall when stricken
down, and that the murderer then
dragged her into the pantry, where, by
the light of the bracket lamp on the
wall, he finished his horrible crime BY
mutilating her body. 1t is by far the
most horrible crime ever committed in
this city, and no effort should be spared
to overtake and punish the criminal
regardless of his mental condition"
Is This the Guilty Man?
A tall man with long black whiskers
has come into the case as one of the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21

police, seems worthless in the face of
the Viciousness and revolving nature
of the crime.
Mrs. Nickum was not known to
have any enemies, and her age made
it improbable, yet the man who struck
her down entered the house with the
intention of killing Mrs. Nickum or
some other person. She was away
from her room, where her money was
kept, and it would not have been
necessary for a thief to assault her
before committing a robbery. She
was peacefully preparing her mid
night lunch when assaulted, and as
her groans aroused the girl from a
sound sleep. it is almost certain that
had Mrs. Nickum been given time to
scream before she became uncon
scious, she would have awakened the
girl at that time.
When Sergeant Darby of the police
force first reached the scene of the
tragedy, he found that the back door
was unlocked, and was standing
slightly ajar. The coal house. from
which the old axe was removed, stands
directly back from the back door of
the hotel and would be the first point
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21

tasked him if he was going out on the
train and he said yes, that he was go
! ing to Chicago. 1 watched him when
he left the restaurant and he did not go
toward the depot, but went across to-
ward the express office. 1 noticed that
while he was in the restaurant he kept
his left hand down under the counter
and seemed to be trying to cover it
up"
Chas. Rahrer, the proprietor of the
rooming house and restaurant says;
anything to do with the murder of
Mrs. Nickum, though of course we
can't tell. The officers are working
to find out who the man was. 1t
around here after doing the murder.
My night man at the restaurant
thought that the man appeared to be
very much excited, and said that his
hand shook when he tried to drink
water so that he almost spilled the
water. Ward Odel1, the boy who is
| on duty nights here at the rooming
house, simply thought that the man
was drunk, and as we do not admit
such characters to the house, he told
him that our rooms were all taken
The Divorced Husbands.
One of the divorced husbands is A.
M. Cunningham, who is at 272 West
10th street, New York city, where he
Isl connected with one of the big real
estate firms of the metropolis. He
has been there about five months. He
was divorced from Mrs. Nickum about
twenty-five years ago, and has not
only met her once, and that by acci-
dent, at her sisters home, about ten
years ago.
The other divorced husband is J. R.
Nickum, whose present home is sup
posed to be Pueblo, Colo. ]. R.
Nickum was divorced about eight
years ago from Mrs. Nickum. the
| trouble being over financial matters, it
| is said. The couple did not live hap
i PLY. Nickum was an inventive
genius. He has patent clothes horse,
and he was also interested in a per-
petual light scheme which was devised
by his brother. While in Topeka
Nickum was known as quite swell
dresser, and he was good many
years younger than his wife Since
their divorce Mr.. Nickum is known to
have corresponded with Mrs. Nickum-
The sheriff has taken possession of
lot of Mrs. Nickum'S letters, among
them being some from Mr. Nickum
1t is not known how recently the last
letter was received. The postnan on
the beat delivered a letter to Mrs.
Nickum about three days ago, and it is
Mr.. Nickum. The letters which have
been found from Mr. Nickum to Mrs.
Nickum are filled with severe criticism
or complaints about the way he was
treated.
Son Suspects Nickunl.
Mrs. Nickum's only son is J. E. Cum
ningham, aged SO, the proprietor of.
five-chair barber shop at Ottawa, who
is prosperous in his business. He came
to Topeka with his sister, Mrs. Peter
son, also of Ottawa, on Sunday morning,
in response to kilograms. He said to-
day to a reporter for the State Journal:
II don't want to say what I think
about this affair just now, but I will
say this: that if J. r. Nickum is any
where around in this part of the coun-
try it would pay the officers to keep
watch of him. If this crime was COM
mitted by Nickum, it >Cas done because
(Continued on Page Ska
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
MURDER FOUL and F|END|SH

her. Her head was in a big puddle of
blood. She was moaning, but 1 couldn't
make out what she was trying to say.
I thought she said something about
man and axe but L am not sure. /
called for help and Grace McLane
came. We raised her up, and then we
got Mr.. Smith, a boarder, who called
the doctor. That old axe belonged in
the coal house, where it was kept to
crack up the big Jumps"
The Doctors Statement.
DR.. c. B. Van Horn, who was the first
physician to reach Mrs. Nickum. and
who, with DR.. Storrs and DR.. Otto
Kiene. performed the operation at the
hospital, said:
Mrs. NickUm was so badly injured
that we knew at once there was very
slight chance for her recovery. We
found it necessary to trephine the skull
in two sections, and it was with diff
Guilty that we kept her alive during the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21

operation. Her temperature fell until
dangerously near the fatal point, but
after the operation she rallied and her
temperature and pulse grew better. She
did not regain consciousness for an in
slant. 1t is a wonder to me that she
was not killed instantly by the blow,
which cracked her skull clear across,
from a point between the left eye and
ear to a point near the base of the
skull. On account of her age the skull
was brittle, and the heavy blow shat
tered the bone in all directions. in the
same manner that ice is shattered. In
my opinion the skull was crushed by a
single blow, although we found slight
abrasion on the top of her head, possi-
bly, caused by a second blow with the
fiat side of the weapon.
Mrs. Nickum died at 7:45 last night.
probably as the result of the pressure
of the blood clots which had formed.
The fracture ran around to the base of
the skull, where it is impossible to tre-
phine. / do not like to make a state
ment as to the exact cause of death. in
the face of the inquest, which is sure to
be held, but 1 think that is safe. At
any rate we know that the brute who
assaulted her is responsible for her
death"
DR.. Van Horn was asked concerning
the rumor that the body of Mrs.
Nickum had been mutilated
"It is true" said DR.. Van Horn.
''She had been slashed with knife,
much after the 'Jack-the-ripper'
method, although not so extensively"
Usually Waited for Trains.
1t was Mrs. Nickum's custom to
wait until the late trains had come in
before retiring. She usually ate a
late lunch just before closing up the
house and retiring to her room. 1t is
evident that she was preparing to eat
her lunch when assaulted. Three
doors open out of the little pantry, one
into the dining room on the north, an
other into the office on the south, and
a third into the hallway on the west.
If Mrs. Nickum was standing before
the cupboard, which is just west of
the office door and on the south side
of the little room, the man who struck
the blow must have rushed upon her
from the office door THE front door
Mrs. Nickum may have lain on the
floor for over an hour before her
groans attracted the attention of the
girl 1t was o'clock when she was
found, and she usually retired an hour
before that time. No plausible reason
for such a dastardly attack on the
woman can be found. Her domestic
affairs have been unhappy, and she has
two divorced husbands living. For
seven years she ran the "Commereial'
hotel, near the Santa Fe depot and
for the past year has been keeping
the N;okum house, a clean little sec
ond class hotel and lodging house at
52e East Fifth street. She has been a
resident of Topeka for the past Is
years.
James Cunningham, her son, who
lives in Ottawa, and her daughter
Mrs. Emma Peterson. also of Ottawa
came to Topeka Sunday in answer to
a telegram telling them of the affair
Mrs. Nickum also has relatives in Lyn-
don, Usage county.
Police Are at Sea.
The police are completely at sea
concerning the tragedy, and none of
officers
advance a theory worthy of attention,
unless it is the sheriff, who seems to
suspect some relative. The robbery
theory which is entertained by the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21

suspects He fits in with County Attor-
-ney Hungate's idea that the murder
was committed by a moral pervert OF
lunatic.
At shortly before O'Clock Sunday
morning this tall man with the black
whiskers walked into the Rahrer room
ing house, at the northwest corner of
Fifth and Holiday He asked Ward
OdeH, who is the night man there, for
a room. Oden sized up the stranger and
decided that he was drunk and told
him that the house had no rooms left.
The unknown man acted very strange
ly, Odell thought.
A few minutes after 5 o'clock the
same man went into the restaurant
which Charles Rahrer also runs, just
across Fifth street from his rooming
house Nelson Kidwell, who is night
man at the restaurant, says:
1.-The man ordered a piece of steak
and acted in a very peculiar manner
while waiting for it. He leaned over
against the counter and seemed to be
drunk or something. When I brought
in his meal he put his face close down
to the counter and pushed the food into
his mouth with his fingers and ate as
though he was in a great hurry. I
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
IN. A GIANT COMBINE.
CoffeyvilIe Glass Fruit Jar Works Por-
ton of Big Deal.

Muncie. Ind. Nov. 21.-F. c. Ball of
Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing
company; announced last night that a
deal had been consummated whereby
the latter company has come into pos
session of four of the largest glass fruit
jar manufactures in the central and
western states. The purchase includes
the Marion Glass Fruit Jar factory of
Marion, Ind. the Coffeyville Glass Fruit
Jar Manufacturing company of Coffey-
vile, Kan; the Loogootee company of
LoOgootee, Ind, and the Port Glass
company of Belleville, Ill. Although no
statement of the purchase price has
been given out it is estimated that it
represents an investment aggregating g
about 81 900, 900.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21

tai trouble. Those who knew the deceased
intimately speak of the pathetic hope
which he held out that his wife might be
cured some day, and by that time he
wanted to have a beautiful home ready
for her. That was one plan, says his
friends, which he cherished all the time.
The federal court will be closed Tuesday
afternoon out of respect. Judge RolIock
this afternoon adjourned the term of the
federal court in session at Fort Scott,
Kan. The various members of the federal
courts will attend the funeral in a body.
The funeral services will take place at
Mr.. CampbelPS residence Tuesday noon
at 12:15 o'clock and will be private. DR..
S. S. Estey of the First Presbyterian
church will be in charge. At 2 O'Clock
the body will be sent to Goodhope, Ill,
for interment in the old family lot in the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
DINNER NOT READY.
Reason Why a New York Man Com
mitted Suicide.

New York, Nov. 21.-Dissatisfied
with his wife's housekeeping and final
ly throwing himself into a towering
rage because dinner was not ready the
moment he arrived home, John P.
Ziegler, a furrier, has hanged himself
at his home in the Bronx.
Mrs. Zeigler told the coroner that
although she tried hard to conduct the
household to please her husband, he
was, never satisfied. She said he at
tempted to poison himself two months
ago, and later. tried to kill both by
putting poison in the tea.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
Ms. HHzry II A<ckulv
from q HofograpA taken
five years ago.

reached by the murderer after secur-
ing the weapon.
Mrs. Nickum's sleeping apartment
is opposite the dining room, on the
first floor. and across the hall from the
pantry where the murdered woman
was found. The two girls occupied a
room on the same floor. and back of
Mrs. Nickum's room.
Mr.. Hungate's Theory.
County Attorney o. E. Hungate has
taken great interest in the case, ow-
ing to the atrocity and the mystery sur
rounding it, He attended the autopsy,
which was held at DeNoss & Penwells s
undertaking establishment last night
by Dostors ]. D. Freeman, c. A. Nc
Guire, L. H. Mum, w. D. StorrS and
Otto Kiene. DR.. Freeman and DR.. Mo
Guire did the work of the autopsy, and
explained their findings to Mr.. Hum
gate.
Floor Plan of Nic1<um Hotel, Showing
Where Mrs. NicIum Was Slain.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
COLD WAVE CAME
Mercury Was Down to 80 Degrees
This Morning.

The forecast of cooler weather sent
Iout Saturday by the weather bureau
twas good guess, and the mercury this
e1norning was down to 30 the coolest
record of the past two weeks.
The forecast for Kansas sent out to-
day is Fair tonight and Tuesday" The
wind at noon was south, blowing six
miles an hour. The weather today has
been fair enough, even if the tempera-
lures were some lower. The hourly
thermometer readings at the govern
rnert weather bureau tOdaY were:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
Asnhvxiated hv Leakfng Gas.

San Francisco, Nov. 21.-Courtland
S. Benedict president of the Hastings
Clothing company, and his wife have
been asphyxiated by Illuminating gas.
Mr.. Benedict used gas reading lamp
in his bedroom and turned off the key
at the lamp. The tubing leaked and
when Mr.. and Mrs. Benedict were dis
covered they were unconscious. They
will probably recover.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
Sale of Oueen's Wedding Gifts.

New York, Nov. 21.-The jewels
and costumes of the late Queen Draga
of Servia are to be sold at auction in
London December 8, says a Times dis
patch from that city. One of the
articles to be sold is a bracelet given
to the queen by the emperor of Russia
as a wedding present. The sale is ex-
citing great interest among collectors.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
KERENS IN THE RACE.
Wants to Be United States Senator
From Missouri.

Kansas City. Mo, Nov 21.-R. C..
Kerens, of ST. Louis, who was in the
city today, said: ''I am in the race
for United States senator to succeed
Senator Cockre1I to stay. have never
asked for any office and I believe that
my services for the party entitle me to
this one"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
SHOOTS HIS SON.
Joseph Bloom, Wealthy Farmer, Then
Surrenders to Officers.

Shenandoah, Ia, Nov. 21.-Joseph
Bloom, a wealthy land owner, residing
eight miles south of here, shot and in
stantly killed his eldest son Frank ear
ly today. The shooting grew out of a
family quarrel. The father gave him
self up Immediately after the shooting.
He claims self-defense.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21
weather Indications.

Chicago. Nov. 21.-Forecast for Kan
sas: Fair tonight and Tuesday; south
west winds.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-21

CONTINUED on Page Ska
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-04-01

First-The miners demand a reduc-
ton in the price of blasting powder
from 81 to SITS per can. They de-
mand a uniform advance in the scale
of wages paid topmen and that drivers
in districts Numbers 1 and 4 shall re-
ceive the same scale as in districts
Numbers and 8. >..&
Second-The operators claim they
are standing by the Indianapolis agree
ment and in so doing cannot submit
to general increases in the wages paid
unskilled labor throughout the dis
trict. There is no dissatisfaction with
the scale paid skilled workmen in any
district. .- l,@:.
kilograms were sent to John Nit
chell, president of the United Mine
Workers of America, asking him to
come to Des Moines and aid a read
justment of the difficulties.
Leading operators say the position OF
the miners is untenable and that they
cannot reach them so long as they
cling to their present position. It is
believed the lockout may be the begin
ming of a long and hard struggle.
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-04-01
IOWA MINERS ARE ON STRIKE.
Every Colliery in the State is Affected and
Thousands of Men Involved.

Des Moines, April 1.-Unable to
agree to an arbitration of their differ
ences the Iowa miners and operators
split in joint conference with the re-
suit that every mine in the state will
be shut down, throwing 1880 miners
out of employment. The conference
adjourned a session covering period
Of six weeks, the latter part of which
was devoted to an attempt on the part
of both to arrive at some amicable
conclusion.
The split resulted from refusal on
the part of the operators to raise, the
wages of the unskilled men and to
lower the price of blasting powder
demanded by the miners.
The refusal to increase the wages of
unskilled workmen, such as mule
drivers and topmen, at the beginning
of the conference extended only to Ger.
tain districts, but at the close of the
conference the operators demanded
that it should be universal and apply
to every district of the state. Summed
up the situation is this:
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-04-01
/ INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS. :
TWO Resolutions Of inquiry Appear In
& -, the House, .iss.

Washington, April 1.-Representa-
tive Williams Of Mississippi has in
troduced two resolutions Of inquiry
addressed to the department of JUS
tice. One requests information as to
whether any criminal prosecutions
have been instituted by the depart
ment agai-.st the individuals or cor
porations who were adjudged recently
by the supreme court Of the United
States in the Northern Securities case
Is be guilty Of having violated the laws
az the United States by entering into
unlawful combinations in restraint Of
interstate commerce.
The other resolution requested In
formation as to whether any investtga-
ton was ever had at the suggestion
of the ATTORNEY general, or by the de-
partment Of justice at the suggestion
Of any one else. OF the so called santhra-
cite coal trust. n a.
Flood Conditions Improving.
Detroit, Mich. April Flood
conditions all over Michigan are stead.
nv improving and It Is thought that all
danger from high water Is over In the
state. AT Grand Rapids the river con
ttnued to fall during the night and
conditions show very material i'm,
nroYement. e }s
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-04-01
RUSSIANS ARE RETREATING.
Cars Forces Evacuating All Positions Held
By Them in Northern Part 81 Korea.

", Seoul. April 1.-The Russians are
IN full retreat bevond the .Yalu river.
The first land battle in Korea, fought
Z on Monday. will probably be the last.
From every point the Russians-Cos-
sacks, artillery and infantry---are re-
treating in orderly fashion northwarc.
The action fought on Monday was a
victory for the Japanese army The
lighting on both sides was brilliant
and severe. The Russians were strong
ly entrenched in the town of Chongju,
which is on the main With road thirty
dve miles north of ANU.
The Japanese advance guard came
In touch with the Russian outposts. at
1900 meters. The Russians were
driven back on the town, which was
held by 600 Cossacks, acting as infan-
Try. For several hours the firing was
ut long range, but Japanese reinforce.
ments were hurried up. ~'-.
Several brilliant charges by Japan.
csc infantry drove the Russians from
the first line of entertainments into the
town proper. Here they made a des-
perate stand until another Japanese
brigade came in sight. Then, in the
face of overpowering numbers, the
Russians retreated northward, cover.
Ing their rear cleverly with Cossack
squadron. They took their wounded
with them. The Japanese troops
marched into the town and now occu-
py it.
"a general Japanese advance con.
tinues =
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-04-01
RIVERS CONTINUE TO RISE.

Vincennes, Ind, April 1.-The
Belgrade levee has broken again and
the Wabash is rising an inch an hour
The water has now reached the prin-
cipal streets here. It has been rain
Ing hard all night and day in Southern
Indiana and a still higher stage OF
water is feared. This county and
Lawrence county, ILL.,, are largely un-
der water. In Lawrence county the
water has reached the second story
windows of barns and houses. In one
house fifty refugees are living. TWEEN
ty-seven women and children are stay.
ing in a schoolhouse, the men coming
here in boats for provisions. Water
Is over the railroad tracks and land
slides have stopped traffic again.
The Indianapolis and Vincennes
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-04-01
STRIKERS ARE RloTous.
Martial Law Prevails in Roubaix,
France

Paris. April 1.-Martial law prac-
ucally prevails in the department of
the North owing to the menacing atti-
tude of the striking textile workers.
One hundred and sixteen establish
ments, including various cotton, linen
and wooden mills, and 12,169 strikers
are now involved. Anticipating an out
break at Roubaix that city was occu-
pied by cavalry and infantry, the city
hall being surrounded. The main
streets were harricaded and several
skirmishes between the troops and
strikers occurred, but the sternness
OF the military crushed the main disor-
der. The strikers, however, continue
defiant.
Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-04-01

New Haven, Conn.,, April IA
decision rejecting as evidence the
"sealed letter." by which William ].
Bryan was to be given $4,000 from
the estate of the late P. S. Bennett,
was given during the day by Judge
eager in the superior court when the
hearing on Mr.. Bryan's appeal from the
decision of the probate court declin-
ing to admit the sealed letter" to
probate was resumed.
Judge eager said the letter was dis
positive in character and therefore
came within the statute governing
wills, which demands that every pa
per that is codicil or testamentary