The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-25
Major NIcKERsoN,s CASE.
Ready-Made Divorces to Be Had in Penn
sylvania.

Philadelphia Times.
The only evidence, according to the report
filed in court, that went directly to support
Major Nickerson's allegation OF malicious
assertion on the part of his wife, was that
OF john NJ. Carpenter. lis colored body SER
want. Carpenter testified that in 1880 Mrs.
Nlckerson. who was then living with her
husband in Washington, had said that she
was going away. Nickerson, Carpenter swore,
prevailed upon her to remain. y month or
so afterwards, the witness declared. Mrs.
Nickerson again said that she had made
up her mind to go abroad. and that
time the servant answered, "she went
away, taking four trunks and her little
daughter. 1t was in the night time" Mrs.
Nlckerson, however, in her affidavit declares
that she went abroad with her husbands
advice and consent" for the reason, as
stated, that her husband believed that their
daughter could be educated better and at
less expense abroad than in this country.
Moreover, she AYERS, he saw her off, kissed
her goodbye on the sleamer and prom
ised to follow her out as soon as he could OBJ
ter, lived for a time at 900 Cherry street, q
lo~dging-house kept by Benjamin Herr,
where Major Nickerson paid rent for lodg-
lngs for fourteen months-not an extra
fashionable quarter, as alleged by Nicker-
sons friends on Monday. 1t was in evil
0SiASS tiAub AAAC AldIOly III huo a AAClllOCl VI
the most fashionable clubs in Washington,
rented only one room, containing two beds,
one. of which was usually occupied by his col
ored servant. Herr testified as to the Majors
residence here.
A depression in the narrative may be made
here to illustrate the case with which q resi-
dence may be established in this State when
a divorce is sought. The experience OF Major
Nickerson thus becomes highly interesting.
Major Nickerson's alleged city residence was
90S Cherry street.. The house is a narrow,
three-story brick structure and has nothing
of the appearance that would indicate the
habitation of q distinguished army officer.
Its occupant is Benjamin Herr, an aged man,
who said yesterday to a reporter; Yes,
Major Nickerson lived here for fourteen
months. In that time he slept here eleven
times. Once he was absent in Saratoga for
three months. He left me about two months
ago, and just before he departed said: Mr..
Herr, you can do me q very great service
L will do anything l can to accommodate
you | replied. Well he said, I am suing
for a divorce, and | want you to 90 before
the examiner and testify as to my residence
with you for the past fourteen months
Well, l went with him to an Office on Wal
nut street, between Fourth and Fifth, and in
his presence, and in that OF a young lawyer,
| swOre that NiCkerson had lived in my
house and paid rent for fourteen months.
The examination did not go into details.
The Major never met his friends at my house.
He paid well and regularly, and, as | said
before, rarely used his room. AT first he had
the second story back room, but after the
death of my wife, in June last, l gave him
the second story front"
{. NJ. Hough, counsel for Mrs. Nickerson,
had not the least doubt Yesterday that the
divorce would be declared void. ''There is
no direct evidence, except by the servant,
Carpenter" he said, ION the allegation of de-
sertion. Two army officers and a Washing
ton lawyer declared that Mrs. Nickerson was
not living with her husband. and that for
two years preceding the institution of pro.
ceedings in divorce Major Nickerson had been
leading a bachelor life. That is only what
any acquaintance of the Majors might have
said, and does not go to the root of the mat
ter. Major Nickerson. as the Times has
truly said, did not personally appear before
the examiner in the case. He merely signed
the libel. One of the saddest parts of the
case is, of course, the connection with it Of
the lady whom Nickerson married three
days after he had obtained his decree" Mrs.
Nickerson. who has been in town since Fri
day, said yesterday That she did not desire to
make any further statement. All that she
could say, she declared, she had already sub
stantially said under oath.