Page 4 Advertisements Column 6

Evening Star, Issue 2938, 19 July 1872, Page 4

Strange Incident.— The following incident in the life of Nichols has been related to the Sydney Morning Herald by a gentleman whoso brother is one of the persons connected with the circumstance, and will be found interesting, as showing what truth a jest often co .tains. About twelve or thirteen years ago, Nichols, who had got into some trouble in Sydney, came to Windsor, and was employed in a butcher’s shop. Whilst there Nichols attracted the attention of many of the young men about, by his cleverness in many ways, and particularly his expertuess in platting, ticing, and making knots ; and one day in the course of conversation ■in which he was explaining what he called “ the hangman’s knot,” he said to the brother of our informant, half in jest, half in earnest, that he (Nichols) expected that he would one day be hanged with such a knot as he was making then, and when it took place he hoped that his friend would come and witness his execution. Nichols left Windsor soon after, and during the years that have rolled away since then, the two actors have been far and wide through the world, and it is therefore not a little remarkable that the first time they met again, Nichols stood upon the gallows with the hangman’s knot beside his ear, and the other was a witness of his execution. Nichols did not recognise the gentleman referred to, but he may probably during his incarceration, awaiting execution, have had some recollection about “ the hangman’s knot ” twelve years ago.