Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1912 — Grand Nephew of S. R. Nichols Claims to Be Knabe Murderer. [ARTICLE]

Grand Nephew of S. R. Nichols Claims to Be Knabe Murderer.

The Helene Knabe murder, which occurred Oct. 23, 1911, and which has been the greatest murder mystery of Indianapolis in recent years, has again come into prominence since the confession of Seth Nichols to the police court of Portsmouth, N. H. Nichols stated that, while he (Nichols) was uhder the influence of liquor, an acquaintance by the name of Knight offered him 91,500 if he would get rid of a woman for him. He agreed to do it and was led to Dr. Knabe’s rooms. Dr. Knabe was asleep when they entered but just as Knight had given Nichols a sharp knife sbe woke up and screamed. It was then that he cut her Ibroat. Nichols states that he did not know who the woman was until the papers came out the next morning, and that be has been on the jump ever since, expecting to be arrested at every move. Niehols is 21 years old and a son of Wallace Nichols, formerly of near Mt. Ayr, and a grandson of John L. Nichols, of Barkley township, also a grand nephew of S. R. Nichols, of this city. . . His father, Wallace Nichols, was killed In July, 1897, by a kick from a horse and his mother died the next spring. He then went to Lafayette, where he had an aunt, and continued to live there and at Brookston until kbout 3 years ago when he enlisted in the U. S. Navy. After reprimanded and court martialed several times, he was finally given a dishonorable discharge. At the time of his confession he presented the appearance of being doped and was very hazy on some points relating to the murder. Hlb aunt at Lafayette declares that he has been mentally unbalanced for many years and that at times he would tell wonderful stories of fancied experiences, only to deny them the next day. He has a great desire for notoriety and at one time caused a telegram to be sent to Lafayette stating- that he was drowned. Police officials and others interested in' the Knabe case give his story, no credence at all and declare that he is insane. Nichols is not known to have been here for a long time, although his enlistment papers in the navy give Rensselaer as his birth place.