Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1917 — THE GREAT “NICK CARTER” IS DEAD [ARTICLE]

THE GREAT “NICK CARTER” IS DEAD

Man Who Wrote “Thrillers” Was a Quiet Country Gentleman—Real Name Alfred B. Tozer. “Nick Carter” is dead. The famous sleuth has tracked down his last criminal and has rescued his last beautiful niaixjen from the clutches of—the villain. He died a few days ago, when Alfred B. Tozer, a qniet, affable, country gentleman, passed away in his beautiful home on the short of Lake Goguac, near Battle Creek, Mich.; for they were both the same man. Mr. Tozer,, who was not only “Nick Carter,” but a dozen other authors, had been an invalid for three years. He wrote his thrillers until a short time ago, when his hands became too crippled from paralysis to pound the typewriter. He turned out hairraising stories of crime and adventure, sitting at his dignified lesk in his handsome library. When he grew tired of the nerve-racking tension of his tales, he could look* out the window’ upon the peaceful fields and orchards of his estate. Reformers held up his books as responsible *at times for hoys’ daredevil outbreaks, for the running away from home, for this wild rebellion against law and order, but the author himself was a highly respected citizen, leading the simplest life and Waring the kindliest smile. When the Boy Scout movement grew strong, Mr. Tozer began o write a different type of story. Instead of volumes depicting daring hold-ups of the overland express and the drugging of the innocent heroine in Ting Ying Loo’s opium joint, his adaptable typewriter ground out stories of the faithful, efficient, brave and gallant Boy Scout who rises to fame and fortune in the books signed by “Harvey Ralphson.” Les, “Nick Carter” was the same “Harvey RalphS son” whose works are devoured today by thousands of boys as the inspiring, ennobling fountain of Boy Scout gospel. Mr. Tozer was an experienced newspaper man, at one time being city editor of the Grand Rapids Herald. He also was founder of the Sunday Record, of Battle Creek. But for many years he had been kept too busy with his detective and Boy Scout stories to engage in active newspaper work. k