Nicholson - E W (Capt) - CW - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 23—The remains of Capt. E. W. Nicholson, who died in Washington, presumably by his own hand, were buried Wednesday from his residence on North Tennessee Street. The pallbearers included Gen. Lew Wallace, commander of the Loyal Legion, Gen. Fred Knefler, Rev. D. R. Lucas, Commander George H. Thomas Post, and other grand army men. The military and other organizations of which the dead man was a member sent costly floral decorations.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Monday, 20 August 1894

Capt. E. W. Nicholson, formerly of this city, but more recently of Indianapolis and Washington, committed suicide in the latter city by shooting himself at the treasury stables near the white lot. The ball entered the liver just below the heart. A Washington special to the Indianapolis Sentinel gives the following particulars:

At 5:30 o’clock the report of the discharge of a gun attracted the attention of watchmen of the White House. When they reached the treasury stables they found Capt. Nicholson in a pool of blood, with a 39 caliber pistol by his side. He was still alive and was immediately removed to the Emergency Hospital, where he died at 8 o’clock. He was almost unconscious when found and all that could be learned from him was that despondency was the cause of the act. He was superintendent of the stables and employees saw him write two letters and hour or two before the shooting occurred. These letters were addressed to Indianapolis. Search has been made for them, but as they could not be found it is inferred that he mailed them just before shooting himself, and that they contained reasons why he preferred ending his life to exertion. Another theory is that he was influenced by the articles on suicide that have appeared in a New York paper every Sunday for some time. A whole page has been given to communications, and eminent contributors have furnished their views including Bob Ingersoll. The preponderance of ‘evidence’ has been on the side that it is not a crime to commit suicide when one is in misery on account of poverty or physical disabilities. According to the story told by the employees of the stable, the captain read the paper in question this afternoon. Of a despondent mind, there is no question that the suicide sheet referred to would have some influence.

Capt. Nicholson was an old citizen of Indianapolis. He was a captain of police of the Indianapolis force before it was organized on the metropolitan plan. Soon after the Harrison administration was installed, through the influence of his brother-n

In-law, Capt. Meredith, late chief of the bureau of printing and engraving, Capt. Nicholson was appointed watchman at the treasury building. He was retained by the present administration but transferred to the treasury stables, where he had charge as superintendent. He was about sixty years old and was very popular with among the treasury people, where he was well known. It was largely through his own popularity that he managed to hold on under an administration with which he was not in accord politically. His position was secured. He leaves a widow and a son, who are now at Indianapolis. His remains will be shipped there for interment.

Capt. Nicholson lived in this city for many years and will be remembered as a most popular dry goods clerk in the store of Campbell & Harter. He served through the war as First Lieutenant and Captain of the Twenty second Indiana Battery, which was attached to the Twenty Third Corps and participated in all the battles and skirmishes in which the Corps was engaged. In 1868 h was the republican candidate for recorder of this county, but was defeated by T. N. Myers by 72 votes. He is the father of Meredith Nicholson, of the Indianapolis News, and whose sweet poems have so often graced the columns of The Journal.