The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-23
An Army Officers Divorce.
MAJOR 4. II. NIcKERsON CHARGED WITH FRA
AM prufr-pv

AND PERJURY.
| \ Philadelphia telegram SAYS: Counsel
/ for the divorced wife OF Major Aver III.
Nickerson, assistant Acknowledgement in
the United States army. made application
IN the common Pleas to-day fora rule upon
I the Major TO show cause why the divorce
should not be set aside. The appica-
ton was supported by an affidavit Of
the lady. charging Major Nickerson
J with fraud and perjury. The appli-
cation was granted, and the rule made
returna5c on Saturday next. The divorce
was obtained in the latter part OF April.
/ he matter has been made more serious by
\ the fact that three days after the decree
had been awarded the Major was married
again. The act OF Assembly requires a re-
sidence OF one year in the State to give 4
court jurisdiction. The Major, IL is al
legged, had a residence In this city for four
teen months. which. il is said. be visited
only eleven times during that period. Ma
ior Nickerson married a Miss Carter, Bal
timOre SOccty-wOman. The first Mrs.
Nickers0n is a near relative OF the historian
Bancroft. She met Mr.. Nicker,on In Cali
fornia, where she lived with her mother,
about twelve years ago. They had one
child, daughter.
Mrs. Nickerson and her daughter sailed
in 1880 for Bremen, Germany. Her de-
parture. she said in her affidavit Yesterday.
was with the advice and consent OF her
husband. The Major. she declared. prom
lsed that he would follow her abroad rs
soon as he could obtain leave OF absence.
She waited for hm. bat he did not come.
As the months went by she grew fretiul
and lonely. She begged him 10 take her
home. but he would not. At first she at-
tributed his refusal 20 pccuniary troubles.
and 10 WAS long aiterward. she SAYS. that
she learned be did not want her any more.
Their correspondence was frequent and
regular until about year ago. About that
time. however, the letters and remittances
that had been formerly sent tO her were
directed % her daughter. she was 20 a
loss 10 account for this change. She asked
for an explanation. but received none. and
he wrote % her no more. About three
weeks ago she received q cable dispatch
from her mother informing her that Major
NickcrsOn had obtained q divorce from her
and married again. She was Mortified. she
SAYS. and determined 10 return home At
once and defend her honor. She arrived
in Philadelphia ON Friday last. The next
day she consulted lawyer. She learned
that the allegation against her liz
her husbands libel was descrii0u.
She had abandoned her husband, it wa,
aveITed. and preferred 10 reside in
Europe % living with him. No personal
service. Is q matter Of course. had been
made upon her. and the advertisements
which. as required by law, bad appeared
in the newspapers. had not come 10 her nc
tice. The proceedings, according 20 nm
outrageous custom which prevails in the
Common Pleas courts. were conducted
with the greatest secrecy so fIr as those
who had not received an intimation from
the inside were concerned. The testimony
was taken before Henry Phillips Cole
man. an attorney at law. rs examiner.
Major Nickere0n did not personally ap-
pear. His affidavit was submitted 20 the
examiner. The dispositions OF several Il
his friends were taken, and set out
the fact that Mrs. Nickerson was no longer
with the Major. when what WI, regarded
rs sufficient testimony bad been taken the
matter was submitted TO judge Arnold for
approval and a decree drawn mp. The
Judge. however. wisely sent 10 back. Fur
ther testimony was then taken and decree
made. \ few day, after that Maior Nick
erSon was married again. The allegations
made In the libel. the divorced wife declares,
were false.
Mr.. Coleman. the examiner. speaking
about The matter to-day, said: " | was eX-
trcmely careful 20 see that the requirements
OF the law were followed. 4 clear and
strong case seemed 90 have been made ont,
and this newand serious turn surprises me.
/ cannot ,ee what the upsh0t viii be- 81
las w Petit. Of the law iirm OF Reid &
Petit. bv whom Major Nickerson's ease
was conducted. said " Major Nickerson
had strong ease. His own testimony was
corr0b0rated by that If several other peo-
pie of excellent -tandiEg.'