Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-23
The NiCkeEUOn Divorce Case.
A COUNT.NARTTAL m paoaprcr

As stated In yesterdays STAR, an Investigation
Is now being made by the authorities of the War
department into the alleged scandalous conduct
OF Major A. 81. Nickerson in obtaining q divorce
from his wife. The suit brought by tho divorced
wife to have the decree OF divorce set aside will be
decided by the law, but the ofcals at the depart
ment feel that they also have duty to perform in
UNFOLDING the honor and standing OF the army.
The investigation which Is now in progress will
result, without doubt, in oourt-martial of Major
Nickerson on tina charge Of conduct unbecoming
an oncer and gentleman. Secretary Lincoln
versant with the particulars Of the matter hav.
Ing In their possession many of the letters which
passed between Major Nickerson and his wife As
stated In yesterdays STAR, COL Barr the military
secretary OF Secretary Lincoln, is now in PhIIade-
phia, making an examination OF the legal pro-
ceed1ngS there In the case.
INTEREST IN SOCIAL CIRCLES HERE
The affair has excited great interest here in So
cial circles, particularly among the families
OF army officers, by whom both parties are
well known. The divorced wife. as heretofore
stated Is endeavoring to have the verdict set aside
on the ground that the divorce was obtained by
fraud and perjury. It is claimed that Nlckerson
OBTAINED the divorce by making afidavit that his
wife had deserted him. and that her place of resi-
dence was unknown to him. These statements.
she claims, were false
STATEMENTS OF THE DIVORCED WIFE AND HER
FRIENDS.
The circumstances OF the case as related by the
divorced wife and her friends here, are as follows.
About three years ago Major Nickerson persuaded
his wife to take their little daughter and go to
Europe, for the reason that 1t would be impossible
for them to live In Washington in a suitable style
on his salary, but that II she would 20 abroad she
might live economically and yet an excellent
education for the child, while he could live mod
est bachelor quarters and by not being compelled
means. Mrs Nickerson went abroad AS soon as
she was out Of the country Nickerson, it is
between them fe wrote to her and sent her
money, but after time stopped writing TO her
only to the girl Sk
desire to return home, but such requests were
never granted. and when she became Unfortunate
her husband refused her funds enough at any one
time to enable her to do So About q year ago the
letters and remittances which had been formerly
ssnt to her were directed TO her daughter. She
was at loss to account for the change, and asked
for an explanation, but none was given. few
weeks ago she received q cablegram from her
talned divorce and had married again. She was
horrined, and at once started for home to defend
her honor No personal service, as a matter Of
course, had been made upon her, and the adver-
t1sements which, as required by Law, had appeared
IN the newspapers, had not come to her notice.
Great sympathy for her is expressed By those who
know her, among whom she is recognized as an
unusually prepossessing and Intelligent lady. The
proceedings in the divorce case were conducted with
the greatest secrecy The Philadelphia papers say
the testimony was taken before Henry Phillips
Coleman, an attorney-at-law, as examiner. Major
ISiehOi Sou uiu uOI appear. HIS amQAvlC
was submitted to the examiner. The dispositions
OF several OF his friends were taken, and set out
the fact that Mrs. Nickerson was no longer with
him. The divorce was obtained In the latter part
OF April, and three days afterwards Major Nicker.
son was married to Miss Carter, OF Baltimore
IT IS STATED IN ARMY CIRCLES HERE
that when Mrs. Nickerson first left for Europe her
husband stated to the army offlcials and his army
friends that she was very Ill and 1t was necessary
for her to go abroad on that account When Major
Nickerson was retired it was thought, Of course,
that he would at once join his wife in Europe and
he led his friends TO think that he would do So but
he had no such intention, as subsequent develop
mentS clearly show.
The divorced Mrs Nickerson, who has been IN
Philadelphia since last Friday, said yesterday that
she Old not desire to make any further statement
All that she could say, she declared, she had al
ready substantially said under oath.
MAJOR EICRRRsoNs RECORD.
Major Azor d. N1ckerson entered the army as q
second lieutenant OF the 9Th Ohio volunteers
March II, 1881. In January, 1863 he was made a
captain, and November 30 OF that year he was
mustered out OF service on account OF wounds.
Then he went into the reserve corps as q captain
and was breveted major March Is, 1885, On Feb
ruary 2s, 1885. he was appointed second lieutenant
OF tne l4th regular infantry. and on the same day
was promoted to first Lieutenant July 8, 1858, he
was promoted to captain, and June IL. 1878 he be-
came major and assistant adjutant general He
was retired June g. 1882 Major Nickerson served
for several years as aide-de-camp to Gen. Crooke
Ind was wounded at Antietam and Gettysburg
for gallantry at which actions he vas breveted: