Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-14


Year, and Babe.
Charged with ernhezzling the funds
of the little church of which he was
pastor, the First Colored Baptist of
this city, Rev. William T. Niekerscn, is
in jail at Columbus. o., awaiting the
arrival of Sheriff G. S. Hutson, of this
city. Surrounding the story of the mis-
appropriation OF church funds are facts
that show Nickerson to have been a
man wholly devoid of moral principles.
HIS bride, and a baby daughter who
came Into the world on December /
last, have been deserted by the man
who promised to love and cherish only
a year ago last February. Sill an
other child has been born. out of we'd
lock, OF which Nilskerson issclaimed by
its mother, Ella jackson, of 500 North
Third street, to be the father.
Nickerson was indicted by the grand
jury sitting at the March term OF the
district court on the charge OF en-
bezzlenlent. and 1t Is on this warrant
that he has been arrested by the Ohio
officers. The crime IS alleged TO have
been committed last July. VIXEN the
church negotiated a loan, thru I. A.
Sieg as agent, for S194, giving a mort
gage on the church property to secure
the loan. The money was turned over
TO Nickerson by the trustees, who au-
thorized their pastor TO make such re-
pairs as were necessary to the building,
and apply $40 of the sum on back SAL
AIRY. due the pastor. 1t is alleged by
the trustees, who appeared before the
grand jury with the information that
led to the indictment, that Nickerson
failed to pay the bill for the. lumber.
He never made an accounting TO the
trustees, and while the bill for labor
was satisfied dt Is claimed that there
was balance OF about $40 that can
not be accounted for.
Efforts to IApprehend Active.
Sheriff Hutson, as soon as given the
warrant for Nickersons arrest. began
the efforts to apprehend the defendant.
and has worked hard to locate him.
Correspondence from the preacher to
friends here, led to the desired infor-
nation but upon several occasions the
officers found they We're a few days
too late to lay their hands upon him.
After his marriage Nickerson went to
Peiia, where he was student at the
Central University OF Iowa. He retain
ed his passionate here. however, and did
not finally leave the city until Angus.
1.za fS,c hoo "A
from at Clarksville, Mo-, st. Louis and
in different points In Ohio. On March
II Sheriff Huts,on learned that his man
was in st. Louis. The police depart
nent OF that city was immediately
with and began Its In
designations. The result WIS that the
preacher was found to have gone to
Columbus O., where his arrest was
Effected by the Columbus police We'd
lesday afternoon.
ohio Requisition Laws Very Strict.
While the slleliff's officers have been
conducting the work of etfecting the
capture the county attorney has been
busy preparing the data for the requisi-
ion. Some rush work was done We'd
lesday night, after the arrival of the
elegram and the papers, prepared
Without a@fiaw, 1t Is thought, were tax
n to Des Moines this morning by Sher-
II Hutson, who applied to the governor
or the requisition. The necessary pap
RS were granted at noon today. The
ohio requisition laws are very techni-
al, and require the filing Of papers in
nipMcate. Ohio is the only state in the
nion where this is done, but Mr.. |
yorthup does not think there will be |
ny very great trouble There is a |
anger, however, because of the race |
ceiling at Columbus at present, that |
he minister may file proceedings in |
abeas corpus and try to evade the re-
uisition before the sheriff arrives. |
very effort has been made to guard |
gainst any possibility Of compiled
ions and certified copies OF all the
estimony taken before the grand jury, |
he indictment and warrant, We're in
he hands of the sheriff when he left
he city, so that, when he arrives at
Columbus, q fugitive warrant may be
ssued If necessary.
Deserts Wife and Child.
Whatever may have been Nicker
on's sins of omission and commission,
he facts as they have developed show
i'm to have been in a way clever, cum
ing and a deceiver of the first water.
hat he was a powerful exhorter, While
i the pulpit, is attested by those
lembers OF the church who have wit
essed the sin sorrowing ones go weep
lg and Wailing to the mourner's bench
nder his persuasive appeal ito come
)rward, brethren, and get into the fold
{ grace" In private life he seems to
ave been equally smooth, fer the Gill
lores, the parents of his Wife, We're
ntireiy deceived by him, AS We're also
lie Jacksons. into whose home he
fought nothing but sorrow.
Following his marriage to Lulu Gill
ore, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Gilmore, 706 Frederick street, Oh
eb. Is, 1903. at which Rev. Elijah
rown Jones, of the First Baptis,
lurch, OBLIGATED, Nickerson took up
s residence there. but left for Chr |
tgo on Aug. 3, 1903, several months /
fore the child was born. 1t was not
It'll its advent that the case assumed
e phase of desertion,. but in a letter {
his wife he stated he would not rel