Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-30
Major Nickerson.s Reply,

CHARGES THAT he BRINGS AGAINST HIS wIFE-A
MYSTERIOUS STRANGER IN A MOONLIGHTED BACK
PARLOR.
Azor ii. Nickerson, late major {. S. A., to-day
lied through his attorney. Mr.. Enoch Totten. an
answer to the bill for divorce filed by Emma c.
Derby Nickerson. The paper was sworn to by Mr..
Nfckerson before the United States consular agent
at st. CatharineS, Canada. He makes general
denial OF Mrs Nickersons allegations and said that
instead OF being an affectionate and faithful wife
Tor many years previous to July, $780, when she left
this country, she had been most unkind. and
he had reason to believe had bestowed her
affections upon another man. He denies having
committed adultery with Lena Miller Carter He
declares that the charge that he and Miss Carter
lIved together prior to their marriage. or after the
divorce was annulled, is mallci2usly false In the
spring Of 1873. While living in Omaha he uneypect-
edly returned to his house one night about half
past 10 or II O'Clock and noticed that, although the
'front.' par0r was lighted. there did not seem to be
any one there. Starting to go up stairs he saw
narlor sne Doorway opening into the front
ghted back parlor into the front, and picking up
book seated himself abruptly by the drop-ght
moon-lighted room to the front room, and thence
passed to the hall. where she saw the defendant,
out speakH to b s5 h to s with
view that followed between husband ban 'i and
appearances by saying that She was teaching the
gentleman to waltz. This occurrence gave rise TO
such unpleasant relations that she took their little
daughter and went to California. where she re-
NAMED until August 1878, when the defendant
took her to Fort Van COuver, W.T.. In March, 1879
they came to this city, and the fall Of that year he
separated from her, occupying separate apart
ments until the July following. He denies that
he has lived with her since the fall of 1879 wear
after his arrival in this city a disagreement
arose between them, In consequence of which she
said she would leave him forever and go to Ger
many. taking the little daughter, whom she would
support and educate for a monthly compensation
OF not less than S10O He offered to do the best he
could her and wished to serve out his term of duy
without any publicity being given to the fact of
their separation. Upon that Mrs. Nickerson gave
out that she was going abroad for her health and
to educate her daughter, statement to which the
MAJOR asSented. In the winter Of 1882,
on the ground OF desertion, one OF the
reasons prompting him to this being that he had
received letter from an old servant giving 1nfor-
nation that confirmed the statement that her mar
rlage with him had been one OF convenience and
That SIX months before the marriage she had been
devotedly attached to a married man. He rectes
the well known facts concerning his PHILADELPHIA
divorce and marriage with Miss Carter, and denies
the charge of adultery. He had little to do. he
says with the proceedings in Philadelphia and as it
was the Intention to place him under close military
arrest, so that he could have less to do with the
proposed proceedings, he availed himself OF the
permission given him by the Secretary OF War; and
left the limits OF the United States. Since then he
has resided at Thorald. Canada.