The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-15
Davenport.
The Nichols Insanity Case,


at ten o'clock this morning, at the Court
house in Davenport, before Commissioners
DR.. w B Middleton, E. Block and w. FL.
Gabbert; r. D. Congdon for the defense
and Judge Fl. H. Benson for the plaintiff
The court house was filed with people
from the three cities and every word that
was spoken by the several witnesses was
eagerly listened to by those present.
After few introductory remarks by the
attorneys the first witness. D. w. Taft, was
called and testified us follows; I reside
in Rock Island am employed as clerk for
Buford Il Taylor / have been acquainted
with Geo, G. Nichols (my father-in-law)
eighteen years; have known him to have
two epileptic fits. The first was in Wis
consin eight years ago; his wife called me
to assist her in carrying him to his bed, |
he was then sitting in rocking chair; he !
raved and frothed at the mouth. He had |
second fit two years ago when living on
Ripley street; after coming to, he abused his |
wife and children. Last Sunday Mr.. N.
visited my house and during my absence
choked and otherwise maltreated his wife.
had him arrested but did not prosecute
on account of this trial. l thought it best
to have all settled here. He also choked
and kicked my wife on Sunday. She is in
delicate condition, and still suffers from
the treatment received at his hands. Mr.
Nichols acts like crazy man, and is con-
tinually talking about what he calls the
adultery of his wife. He goes so far as to
accuse all of his children with licentious-
ness. lived with the family seven years,
in Wisconsin. We had trouble there, in
family affairs.
I Hroca u To-
his wife: that idea originated in his brain;
| was not driven away from Wisconsin on
account of criminality with his wife. New
have worked for different parties in Rock
Island and Davenport, and was always
known by the name of Taft. If | was
called by any other name it was not by my
say so. In answer to question
by Atty Congdon, if his (Taft's) broth
er did not several times find him in bed
with Mrs. Nichols, he said No" The
balance of his testimony was OF no special
importance.
Mrs. Mary Nichols, wife of the defend
ant, was then placed on the stand, and
said: Il have been his wife for twenty
six years, and am yet; L was married to
him at St. Paul was acquainted with him
about three months before our marriage :;
the courtship was by letters written for
him by his brother1 suppose by the
composition) causing me to believe that
was going to marry talented man was
woefully mistaken; Nichols is maniac
on the subject of adultery he accused me
of the crime in less than year after our
marriage his mother was afflicted in the
same way; she never had good word to
say in behalf of any of her sex she went
so far as to try and make out
that her own daughter was bad.
There was no living in the house with
her on account of fault finding etc., Mr..
Nichols has a cousin in the Iowa Insane
Asylum on the same ground:
: Cross examined He is So years of age
The first time he had fit was eight years
ago. Immediately after returning from a
trip he complained of dizziness. turned
white in the face and frothed at the
mouth. I called DR.. Roundy, whe treated
, him and brought him to his senses in
abont thirty minutes. We kept it quiet
on account of his business. He has a
, violent temper and would often say that
| thought more of other gentlemen than
, did of him. Mr. n has repeatedly taken
axes, hatchets and pokers to bed with him
: and in the night would awake, jump
i from the bed and walk about the
house with one of these deadly weapons IL
:. his hand and would say that be was going
: to kill us ALL He has kicked and chokeC
!. NE and | have become we'll accustomed t.
his treatment. He has partially provided
for the family until within the last two
E years. He would say to me Il am goine
crazy" would say 20 fudge, and try
to quiet him. Only last Sunday he calico
e me prostitute and called the girls vile
name, and an hour afterwards wanted t.
e be reconciled and asked NE to live witt
him again. | resented all his approache
:. and he renewed his vile language until h
e was elected from the house. He said tina
= my oldest daughter was worse than my
self and called me every vile name b
e could think of.
d In answer to question if she hadn'
u drawn pistol and threatened to blow hi
5. brains out, she said: Yes, He came t
f. my store and accused me of infdelity, an
g said that he would ruin me in business
: and also showed me letter which h
u claimed to have intercepted. drew re
III volver to try and compel him to give u
the letter.
% The revolver, large sized Colt, wa
III then shown the commissioners also tn
es letters; but, on objection raised by Judg
Benson. the commissioners, after consults
IT, ton refused to allow them to be put
evidence at this time. The remainder {
her story continues in this same strait
We condense it so as to give the salier
points.
tie Mary n. Nichols, the next witnes
k testified to her father being subject to fts
L. I1o1 -
| can remember, and at times woul
&c choke her and accuse her of things thi
= she was not guilty. | advised ma to leaN
" him years ago He has also said to II
u that was as bad as mother and I no
defy any one present to say that he eve
L. saw anything wrong with me, or ever hea!
n, intimated anything wrong about me. "
RI had to lock the doors, and when he cou
, not obtain admittance he would rave, NAL
10 loud noises and try to batter down II
in door; not succeeding in this he would ca
ry the police and when the officer made h
I'D appearance my father Il don't like to oW
him as father would say this is
hs house of i'll fame
he Cross Examined: Last winter he SCI
al us barrel Of -four, corn meal and d-es
sc ed hog, but they were not good and Y
70 could not use them. They were sent
- Rock Island and sold. GShe also admittt
y gs that her father had hauled to the hous
b be last winter, three cords of wood and OIL
ne load of kindling.
~ Lucy Nichols: am twenty two. TT
III defendant is my father. | have seen hi
in several fits. Cannot name time
on place. His actions were that of era
he man. Before goingsinto one of those Fl
he he would abuse and call us ali har