Abstract:
Earl Nickols, his wife and 2 small children were cremated at their home when it burned 5 miles
east of Glasgow on the Edmonton road. Mrs.
Nickols had a hole in her skull the size of a half dollar. A 5-months old child had a crushed skull. The
father and another child were found headless near the mother's feet. Dead was Mrs. Nickols, child
Earline, 3; Windal Huston, age 5 (these found in a closet). A shotgun was found by Mr. Nickols and two
empty shells.
Stories say that Mr. Nickols came home Monday to attend business and get medicine for a sick son. He
was seen in his auto in front of his house between 12 and one oclock by Mrs Gus Williamson. Mr.
Nickols called to her and told her his wife wasn't home. He was also noticed by L E Morton and T J
Abner, working nearby. The latter two were the first to reach the home, 30 minutes later when smoke
was seen. They began carrying out household goods which had to be abandoned. Three other children,
Oval, 11; Joe, 8, and Harvey, 6 were at school. It was believed that Mr. Nichols went insane per the
Coroner W M Watkins, that he killed his wife and children - put all their bodies in the closet and then
shot himself. He had appeared despondent and was not in good health. No financial worries were
known. He was a son of Mr and Mrs H B Nickols of Slick Rock. His wife was a daughter of Richard Shirley
(who was in Charleston, IN with a son when this happened.). Mr Nickols left a sister, Mrs Myrtle Dotson
who lives with her parents. She is survived by her father and two brothers, Abby and Hadie Shirley, both
of IN.
Services were held at the Baptist Church by Rev. J. A. Easley and J L Piercy, interred Glasgow Cemetery.
The children were all buried in one casket.
Earl C. Nichols 1891 - 1927
Earlene S Nichols 1924 - 1927
Polly L Nichols 1894 - 1927
Wendell H Nichols 1927 - 1927
Nellie Snoddy Hatcher scrapbooks.
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