Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-18

6Otn georgia ana iowa S!iVeS 0o'o'e
He Married Ohio Girl - Nickerson
Was Only Witness for Defense IN
Pickaway County, Ohio, Court OF
Common Pleas.
Rev. William II. Nickerson. formerly
pastor Of the Colored Baptist church OF
this city, later of Columbus, o., was
found guilty of the crime of bigamy IN
the court of common pleas of Pick
away county, Circleville, o., late
Thursday afternoon. The jury was out
just forty minutes, after receiving it's
instructions following a plea from the
prisoner in his own behalf. Rev. Nick
erson was his only witness, and by
riage, prior to his union with Miss Luz
lu Gilmore. of this city, was secured.
This has been suspected for some time,
but the information leading to positive
proof could never be obtained, altho
efforts We're made in this city to secure
it.
Rev. Nickerson's wives, in their or
der named, and places and dates Of
marriages to same, are as follows:
Hattie Benefited, Arlington, G., 1888.
Lulu Gilmore, Marshalltown, Iowa,
Feb. Is, 1903.
Myrtle Zimmerman, Circleville, O.,
March 90. 1904.
Nickerson Makes Own Argument.
Rev. Nickerson made his own argu-
ment in court Thursday afternoon, be-
fore the jury was given it's instruc-
tons. He had testified, and was the
only witness for the defense, that he
had married Hattie Benefited, at Ar
lington, Ga, in 1888, and that she was
living at the time Of his marriage to
Miss Gilmore in this city. 1t was also
shown by Prosecuting Attorney
Charles Gerhardt, of Pickaway county,
that wife No. 2. Miss Gilmore, was liv-
ing at the time he was married to Miss
Zimmerman, in Circleville, and that on
March %, 1904, the date of the third
marriage. a divorce had not been
granted either the second wife or Rev.
Nickerson. In his argument before the
jury Nickerson alleged persecution, and
gave the history of his life, tending to
show how he had struggled for an ed
.ucation, and how he had worked for
the downtrodden of his race. He asked
consideration on account Of his color,
and claimed that he thought he was
divorced from both the Georgia wife
and the wife in this city at the time Of
his Circleville marriage.
Efforts were soon begun to discover
the whereabouts of Rev. Nickerson,
in order to prosecute him on a charge
of embezzlement. Information, in the
meantime, had been placed before the
grand jury by the trustees of Nicker-
sons former church, and an Indictment
returned. Nickerson was arrested at
Columbus, and Sheriff Hutson returned
the prisoner to this city, where he was
lodged in Jail. The case was later dis
missed because of lack of sufficient
evidence.
Discover New Vito.
When Sheriff Hutson went to Col
umbus he made the somewhat start
ling discovery that Nickerson had
again married. and was living in Col
umbus with comely young woman,
who was formerly Myrtle Zimmerman,
Of Circleville. The latest acquisition
of the preacher, in the wife line. was
but Is or 16 years Of age. He married
her at Circleville on March %, 1904,
Rev. A. ]. Brooks, of Circleville, per-
forming the ceremony. After Nicker-
son was discharged here, Charles Ger
hardt, prosecuting attorney of Pick
away county, Ohio, Of which Circles
vile is the county seat, took upon him.
self the task Of prosecuting Nickerson
on a charge of bigamy. Nickerson
was arrested at his home at midnight
May II. On May Ia he was arraigned
in justice court at Circleville, waived
examination and was bound over to
the October term of the court Of COM
mon pleas, to await the action Of the
grand jury. He was unable to fur
nish bonds, which were fixed at $3.50,
and he has been in Jail since that time.
On October 10, the grand jury Of Pick
away county formally indicted the
prisoner, and the case was reached
Thursday. Prosecuting Attorney Ger
hardt has been very vigorous In his
prosecution, and has been working
under many disadvantages. 1t was
necessary for him to have assistance
from this city, which has been fur
nished him by County Attorney North
up and others. The colored people Of
Columbus, members Of Nickerson's
church, realizing that their new pastor
was bad man, furnished funds to as
sist in his prosecution.
Sentence has been deferred by the
court at Circleville, and the usual
three days. at least, will elapse before
judgment will be pronounced.
History of the Case.
The case of Rev. Nickerson has been
watched with much interest locally.
During his pastorate Of several years,
of the little colored church on Bromley
street, Nickerson became we'll known
among the church people of the city,
dabbled little In politics. and became
acquainted with many of the business
men in a business way. At his we'd
15ding, celebrated on the night of Feb
ruary Is, 1908. great many we'll
known people of the city were present.
including q number of prominent busi-
ness and and professional men. A
wedding in colored society was some
thing of a novelty, and attracted more
or less curiosity.
Shortly after his marriage Rev.
Nickerson gave up his work as pas
tor here announcing that he expected
to devote his time In study at the
Central University of Iowa, a Baptist
UNCONVENTIONAL school, at Pella- He