Ray Chase contacted Edward Nicholson to find out what became of funds made available from a post-season charitable game between the University of Minnesota and Ohio State University. The funds were sent to the now- deceased Governor Floyd Olson. Chase was on the search for misuse of the money. These events were the subject of a story in the St. Paul Dispatch, a local newspaper.

Rather than Chase going to the head of athletics, Nicholson found out the information for him immediately.  He made no comment beyond giving him the information.