People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1892 — More About the Highwayman Nicholas. [ARTICLE]

More About the Highwayman Nicholas.

Monticello Herald. Dan Nicholas, a young man who has seemed anxious to break into the penitentiary for some time past, committed an act last Thursday night which will likely land him there if he gets justice. He induced a yeung Hebrew named Barnhart, who has been living at John Cline’s near Patton, to get into a buggy with him, telling him he wanted him to appear as a witness for him in a case before Justice Carson.. After driving around till dark Dan told Barnhart to throw up his hands, and pushing a revolver into his face compelled him to give up about £35. He then jumped over a fence and disappeared. On Sunday evening Sheriff Gwin received a telegram from Sheriff Blue at Rensselaer asking if Annie Nicholas was wanted here. Annie is Dan’s wife, whose stabbing exploit at Marion was noted in these columns recently. Sheriff Gwin did not want Annie but reasoned that Dan would be in her neighborhood, and accordingly took the 3 a. m. train for Rensselaer. He found Dan and wife stopping at a restaurant, and being shown to their room before breakfast he knocked at their door. Dan, after’ some delay, opened the door. His wife was up and dressed, and Sheriff Gwin after a little parley was invited in. “I want you, Dan,” said Jim. “What for?” “For holding up that little Jew Thursday night.” “Oh! for the love of Moses! I'll tell you just how that was. I’ve known that little fellow about seven months. I met him by the school house that night and asked him to loan me a dollar. He said all right and if he never got it back he'd always have something corning to him, and that’s all there w r as of it.” “All right Dan,” replied the sheriff. “You come with me, and we’ll tell the court about it.” And so Dan came. He had to wait for the noon train, and for convenience he spent the forenoon in the jail at Rensselaer, though not without serious pro test. Then Sheriff Gwin took him to Delphi, where a warrant was awaiting him, and he is now in jail there. It is only a little over three weeks since he appeared in court there charged with rape and only escaped the penitentiary by a disagreement of the jury. Judge Reynolds gave him warning at that time to be’ on his good behavior, and Dan says he would rather be tried by some other judge this time. The law allows him that privilege and likely he will avail himself of it.