Omaha daily bee., 1883-05-25
The Court Martial of Col. NiCk6r-
son a FOregOne Conclusion,
The Divorce from His Wife
Obtained by Falsehood
and Perjury.
A Cargo of Pauper Mormons
to be Investigated and
Probably Sent Back.
Tho Baton Rouge Land Grant and
Other Matters.
NICKERsON's A 8
Dispatch TO THa BRR,

Special Dispatch to THs BEE.
WASHINGTON, May "a Judge Ad-
vocate Barr, who was sent to Phila-
delphis by the war department. to
make examination of the judicial pro.
ceedings and all papers In tho Nicker.
son divorce case, has returned and
will forthwith prepare a report to be
submitted to the adju.ant general.
The investigation, ohicsrs say, cannot
fail to result In the court-martisi of
Major Nickerson, for conduct unbe.
coming an officer and gentleman.
roINTs IN THE CASE.
Col. Nickerson Ia q major on the
retired list of the army. He was an
officer of volunteers at Gettysburg,
and was shot through the body. He
was taken up for dead, but survived,
and was again wounded when, as an
officer of the regular army, he entered
the service against the Indians on the
western frontier. Hi, gallant service
and the influence of General Crook
secured for him promotion to the ad-
jutant generals department. He
came here from the department of the
Columbia a few years ago and went
on duty, but he was not dinposed to
yield proper obedience to the authori-
ty of Adjutant.G General Drum, and last
year he asked to be- placed on the re-
tired list. Col. Mitchell, of General
Hancock's staff, succeeded him In the
aajutant .general's department.
Nickerssn has been something Ct q
swell here. He is a member of the
Metropolitan club, and has gone much
into society. He owns a house 'front.'
ing on Dapont Circle, near the resi-.
dence of Mr.. Blaine. He has involved
himself In a most Unpleasant scandal
by procuring a fraudulent divorces from
his wife, q most estimable lady, and
marrying a young woman In Baltimore,
whom he has brought to his house here
as It's mistress. A letter was to-day
addressed to him from the war depart.
ment, ordering lin not to leave the
city except with the permission of the
secretary of war. Ia order to obtain
the divorce NickerEon stated to the
court that his wife had deserted him
and that he was O resident of Phila-
delphia. Neither statement had a
particle of truth. Mrs. Nicksrson has
sent tho whole correspondence between
herself and her husband homo from
Europe, and Is herself daily expected
y a.....1 IL ~ FORK.
She went to Europe with her little
daughter over three years ago at the
urgent solicitation of Nickerson, who
argued that they could educate the
daughter more cheaply In that way.
He told her that II she remained here
they would be subjected to q large
expense by having to keep house and
entertain freely, but If left alone he
could live quietly In bachelor quar-
ters, while she In Europe could also
live cheaply, and could go to different
points where the best teachers In Ian
guages and other accomplishments
could be obtained for the daughter.
Mrs Nickerson fell into the trap and
went abroad. As coon as she
was out of the country Nick.
erson began to plan a
severance of the relations
between them. He wrote to her and
sent her money, but after q time
stopped writing to her and sent letters
only t. the little girl. It is said that
Mrs. Nlckerson wished to return, but
that he refused to send her funda
enough at any one time to enable her
to do so.
The correspondence shows an artful
scheme to mislead and cheat his wife.
His hope must have been hat when
she discovered the fraud she would
consent to 1t, and let him remain with
the newly married wife. But Mrs.
Nicksrson sent his letters to the sec.
rotary of war, and Nickerson will un.
doubtedly be dismissed from the
army.