Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-07
MAJOR N1CKERsoN,s WIVES

= ~ - - 1OOOs
MAJOR NICKERsON,s WIVES.
The Litigation in Court Over His Du.
pOnt Circle House.
LENA CARRIERS STORY TOLD IN AN AFFIDAVIT
SHB CLAIMS TO HAVE SUFFERED NoRA
By NIcKERsoN's DECEIT THAN THE oRIGr.
NAL MRS. NIcKERsoN-A PITIFUL TALE OF
HER woES-How THE MAJOR wooRD AND WON
HER-A CLANDEsTINE MARRIAGE IN BALTIMORE,
AND 4 SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION.
The case OF Emma G. d. Nlckerson agt. A. d.
Nickerson, W. B. Matthews, and Lena Diller Car.
ter 1ickerson, filed June 10th, for the appoint
ment of receiver and an injunction, was before
the Equity Court, Judge James, to-day-Mr N.
Wilson for the complainant, and Mr. b. w. Gar.
nett and c. Robinson for the defendants, Mat
theWs and Lena D. c. Nickerson. The prayer OF
the bill, which was read by Mr. Wilson. is for the
appointment OF a receiver for the rents OF the
house No. Dupont Circle, and to enJoin the sale
or further disposition Of the property pending q
hearing.
A temporary order was made, and to day the
motion was under consideration to dissolve the
order.
Mr.. Garnett read the afldavit Of Lena D. Carte,
Nickerson.
Lena Carterss Affidavit.
The answer OF Miss Lena D. Carter is in the form
OF an af1daviL The paper is signed Lena Diller
Carter Nickerson: but In the preamble the a11i.
ants name is set forth as "Lena Diller Carter
sometimes Lena C. Nickerson." The statement
made In the a1idavit is substantially as follows
She declares at the outset that from March 31sl
last, the date on which the Philadelphia cour,
granted Nickerson divorce, till June 9th, when
the divorce was annulled, the complainant was
not In law the wife Of Nickerson. She says that
Nlckerson, having bought the Rhode Island ave.
nue. property under deed OF trust, held only an
equity OF redemption In 1t, and the complainant
had no right or Interest in it Though draft ol
deed conveying the Rhode Island avenue prop
erty was sent to the complainant in the fall OF 1881
to sign and return, which she did, it was an idle
form.
Nckerson that the property in question on Du.
pont circle was acquired by him In stock specula.
tions and not by the sale OF other property.
HOW SHE c AME TO LIVE IN NIcKERsoN's HOUSE
The aflant then relates how, in the fall of 1892
her mother rented portion OF Nickerson's house
No. Dupont circle, which had been advertised
for rent, Nickerson retaining two rooms in the
third floor and boarding with the family. She
describes his conduct as gentlemanly and proper
and marked with kindness towards every me m.
ber OF the family: She declares also that She
his o at %
has at various times, between the
OF April, 1883, at house No. Dupont Circle, com.
mitted adultery With the defendant, Azor H. Nick
erson. which statement she declares and each
and all statements that this aff1ant ever at any
time committed adultery with Azor H. Nickerson,
Is and are willfully and mallcously false and ex-
plainant towards this aflant who, believing and
conhding In the same man In whom the COM
plainant believed and conflded. and with whom
time trust, belief and confidence In him. has been
equally deceived with the complainant by the
fraud and deception practiced by the said Nicker-
son on this af1ant as well as the complainant, but
this a1ant has suffered, still SUFFERS and during
her whole life will suffer more than the complain
ant from the said fraud and deceit The complain
ant has set aside the fraud and recovered her
rights but this af1ant can receive no redress for
the wrong which the fraud has inflicted on her.
HOW THE MAJOR wooED AND WON her.
The aniant then goes on to recite how the Major
March, 1888, the deferdant, Azor d. Nickerson,
Informed this af1iant that he had obtained that
day divorce in Philadelphia from the complain
ant on the grounds OF desertion; that the COM
plainant had gone to Europe against his consent
and had remained away against his will, although
he, the said Nickerson, was in delicate health ana
subject 10 severe attacks OF sickness from injuries
and wounds received in the service OF the United
States; that the complainant and he had In fact
had not communicated with her since her her. de- eo
parture except to send her occasionally formal
note note enclosing @ money for her necessary expenses;
tained a divorce. He % then hnt' Vent "aa on to to
spa sPsrf urged S1 hss hs to maf 1S5 S ths
should be performed without delay: that it was
almost Immediately that he desired to be married
before he left Washington; he also represented to
this af1ant, in furtherance OF his offers Of mar
hQt foh hfY hoo
her and In many ways assist her family, which he
could not DO simply as friend, and also as an
afrlant that she could remain with her family and
Ill sister while he was In the west and need not
accompany him: he especially urged that this
that he knew that her family would never consent
& to her marrying him because he was a
divorced man, and that his divorce would soon be
generally known, whereas II she married him at
once, then when her mother and family found that
they were married, opposition would be useless
an accomplished fact. He made m any such and
other appeals, representations and entreaties to
this affiant, who, moved by his urgency, plying
tude towards him for his kindness to herself and
family and. trusting and believing in him on ac-
count Of hs'high on1cal position, his age and un-
1mpeached character and standing found herself
not indifferent to his appeals, and prevented by
his haste and requests from consultation with
enced by her feelings, this af1ant yielded to the
opportunities OF the defendant Azor H. Nckerson,
ana consented to marry him on the I'd day OF
April, 1888, without the knowledge OF her family
That this conversation took place in the dining
room OF the house on Dupont circle sister Of this
af1ant being in the adjoining room.
CLANDEsTINE MARIA GR IN BALTIMORE.
That on Monday. April I'd, 1885, the defendant,
NickeTson, exhibited to and gave the af1ant
certificate OF the decree OF divorce duly authenti-
Gated under the seal Of the court; that this certt-
ncate was shown to this affant on Monday morn
ing. and on the same day the aflant left home and
met the defendant, Nickerson, at a drug store;
went with him to the Baltimore and Potomac
depot, In this city, and took the half-past ten
o'clock train for Baltimore; the defendant Mat
thews met the said Nickerson and myself at the
depot In Baltimore and informed us that he had
the license; we then all three drove to the house
Of Rev. j. julius Sans, 207 Gilmore street.
Baltimore, and were then and there married by
him. We re turned home to this city the same
afternoon, reaching here about half-past four o..
m., and drove Immediately home to No. Dupont
circle and informed my mother and family Of our
marriage. at which they expressed surprise and
displeaSure, especially on account OF the manner
in which 1t had been done. This afflant says that
she went to Baltimore to be married at the request
less probability OF the family OF this afiant
after the ceremony had been performed;
this af1iant says that she contracted the said
marriage in the utmost good faith. and withou
the slightest doubt as to the perfect legality good
faith and binding character OF the divorce granted
by the Philadelphia court to the defendant, Azor
II. Nckers0n; that this af1lant had no suspicion
that any question could be made as to the prOpr1.