WILLIAM THOMAS NICHOLS (WILLIAM HARRISON, JEREMIAH, HENRY) was born Oct 19, 1873 in Drew Co., Arkansas and died Jun 07, 1912 in Arkansas, Jefferson Co. He married MINNIE E WRIGHT Feb 23, 1902 in Arkansas, Ouachita Co, daughter of THOMAS WRIGHT and ANNIE THREADGILL. She was born Jul 1872 in Arkansas, Ouachita Co, and died Sep 18, 1911 in Arkansas, Jefferson Co.
The crime for which he was convicted of murder in the first degree was killing his wife at the home of his father, W H Nichols, about four miles south of Pine Bluff on the morning of Sunday, September 16 1911. He and his wife had been separated for several months and a suit for divorce was pending in the Chancery Court. The court had given him custody of their three children but permitted the mother to keep the children two days each week. The morning of the tragedy Minnie, Accompanied by Mrs. Parnell, a nieghbor, drove to the Nichols home to get the children as ordered by the court. When she arrived at the Nichols home, William T was sitting on the front porch. She called to him
and told him she wanted to get the children. He and Minnie then went to their home across the street and spent some time together in the house. Returning to W H Nichols home, Minnie waited at the gate while the children were getting ready to join her. The smallest child climbed onto the lap of William T and did not seem to want to leave his father. Minnie walked to the porch and caught hold of the child whereupon William T arose and seizing her with one hand, drew his pocket knife and slashed her throat, reaching around her while he held her from behind. She ran to the house of a neighbor and died on the front porch. After the killing, William T fled to the woods and a posse of officers and deputies searched nearly all day for him. Late in the afternoon he returned to his father's home and was arrested while changing his clothes.
He was indicted for murder in the first degree and his trial in circut court began October 17, 1911. Two days later a verdict of murder in the first degree was returned by the jury. A new trial was refuse and the judge sentenced William T to hang January 5, 1912. An appeal to the Supreme Court was taken which stayed the execution but the Supreme Court affirmed the dicision of the circut court and the Governor fixed May 3 1912 as the new execution date. A petition for commutation of sentence to life imprisonment and a delegation of citizens went to Little Rock to plead for the mans life. He was the first white man ever legally executed in Jefferson County.
Minnie's In-Laws did not like her and were very mean to her.
She was a very good musician and taught music in Pine Bluff.
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OLIVE EDNA NICHOLS, b. Jul 03, 1907, Arkansas, Jefferson Co; d. Jul 14, 1974, Drew Co., Arkansas Monticello; m. (1) JEFF MITCHELL, Bef. 1928; b. Abt. 1905, Arkansas; m. (2) ZEB CLAIR HAYNES, Apr 23, 1937; b. Jul 09, 1910; d. Oct 16, 1962, Drew Co., Arkansas
VERNA NICHOLS, b. Sep 17, 1910, Pine Bluff, Nevin Township, Jefferson Co, Arkansas; d. Jan 14, 1911, Pine Bluff, Nevin Township, Jefferson Co, Arkansas.
Died as an infant while parents were separated
MYRTLE NICHOLS, b. Feb 24, 1903, (?)Arkansas; d. Aft. 1950, (?)Arkansas; m. HARRY L TONEY, Abt. 1916, Arkansas.
At age thirteen Myrtle ran away from home, and went to her Uncle Rollie's
house in Crossett to live.
