Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-17
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ESPECIAL TELEGRAM IT THE DIsPArcHt
WATERvILLE, Me-, November 16-The
Supreme Court room in this city was well
filed this morning at the opening Of the
case of Nichols versus Nichols This was
suit for $1,000 damages for alleged assault
and battery and imprisonment in dog pen.
The plaintiff is Delbert Nichols and the de-
fendant is Mary E. Nichols, his sister, both
of this city.
Some time during July Delbert Nichols
was missing, and after search of nearly
day he was found in dog pen, with door
closed and secured from the outside Some
Of Nichols friends took him to live with
them, and now he is endeavoring to obtain
satisfaction for tortures which he claims he
has been compelled to suffer. Nichols is q
little light-headed, and is therefore looked
upon with considerable pity by the public
generally.
CHARGES OF GREAT CRUELTY.
In his opening argument for the plaintiff
Lawyer Phlllbrick very clearly stated what
he was to prove for his client. He was to
show how the plaintiff had been beaten and
punished by the defendant, and now he had
been securely fastened in dog pen, and fur
thermore, how he had been generally treated
more like a brute than q human being
Mrs. Clarinda Wood, an aunt of the plain
tiff, was the first witness called for the
prosecution. She testified TO the fact that she
had seen plaintiff harnessed 70 a cart con-
tanning dressing, which he was hauling
about the farm, while a man was driving
him, Just as one would drive a yoke Of oxen.
He remembered the discovery Of DeIbert
Nichols fastened in the dog pen, and testi-
fed that he had lived at her house since that
time. The plaintiff had quite large ridge
across his shoulders, the result OF q blow
with stick, also scar running erossWayB
of his wrist.
Horace Wood testified to finding Delbert
Nichols last July, securely fastened in a dog
pen by 5 feet in size. He opened the door,
and when he asked Delbert why be was
there, Delbert said Don't kill me r.
This so overeame him that he did not touch
him again, only to carry him to the City
MarshaPs carriage.
MORE OF THE SAME.
Ariel Southland, an uncle Of the plaintiff,
testified very nearly as Wood did. Mrs.
julia White testified to being present at the
Nichols house one time last spring. when
Mary Nichols beat Delbert Nichols withthe
handle of a broom because he would not
come into the house to get pail Of water for
her.
Mrs. Gulliper, sister of the plaintiff, tes-
titled to the mans general life. He was not
always foolish His father died when be
was but Is months old, and for three years
OF more the witness cared for him. He was
then as other children, and after that time
he changed. He does not act foolish now.
He acts more like drunken man.
Harry Simpson. aged IL. saw Mary
Nichols strike Delbert with lathe, srT
hard, because he would not hold the plate
for the dog to eat of Of
David Simpson, Jr., aged 16, said he saw
Mary Nichols beat Delbert with stick
about the size Of fence picket, three or
four times in succession across the back, and
also strike him with a switch in the face
fully three times very hard. Bert Southland
testified to finding the plaintiff in the dog
pen.
At this point Court adjourned to Monday,
when the case will be continued. Some in
teresting testimony is looked for when court
reconvenes, as both the plaintiff and delan-
dant will be on the stand.