Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-19
Leon Nichols Family
Troubles Given Airing
Young Woman in the Case

IOuuS VOAnoAs "
The family troubles Of Leon Nichols
and his wife, Maggie Nichols found
their way in the municipal court room
Saturday afternoon and claimed the
attention Of Judge Lancaster for some
little time during which he endeavored
to eliminate them, but 1t could be said
that his endeavors were wholly unsuc-
cessful. and it yet remains to be seen
inst what the outcome will be. as the
disturbing element between Nichols
and his wife is a young woman, Mrs.
Elnora Rowe.
Nichols and the Rowe woman. the
latter only IS years Of age. were ar
rested Saturday afternoon. she being
taken in Augusta by Police Officer
Mckinney, while Nichols was taken
at Hallowell by City Marshal Bacon OF
that city. after which Officer McKen-
ney went to Hallowell and brought
Nichols to this city. When Nichols
and Mrs. Rowe were brought into the
courtroom they were on complaint OF
Mrs Nichols arraigned on the charge
of wanton and lascivious behavior, to
which they pleaded not guilty.
Mrs. Nichols, in the course Of her
testimony, complained that her hus-
band had abandoned her that Satur-
day morning, together with their two
year-old child and had gone with his
belongings, claiming that ne would not
come back. She then went on to make
certain statements relative to the re-
| lations between her husband and Ell
nora, who work in the same shoe fac
! tory at Hallowell, which were not
wholly complimentary to the two re-
spondents, and if true were entirely at
variance with the laws OF the State of
Maine. Mrs. Nichols was somewhat
tart in her reference to Elnora, and
perhaps not without reason.
| Nichols did not have great deal to
say. He admitted that he had left his
wife and baby Saturday morning and
gave as a reason that he did not like
to be fighting all the time" When
asked by the court how much pay he
made a week he replied "$12." but af-
terward qualified the statement by
saying that he made extra money, and
then admitted that his pay would av-
erage SIS per week He also admitted
that he intended to pay something to
his wife, even though he had left her.
He denied however his wife's charges
regarding his relations with Elnora,
and said that he had not called at her
house.
Mrs. Rowe was called to the stand
and said that she was IS years old.
She admitted that she knew Nichols
and they worked in the same room at
the shoe factory, but that she did not
care any more for him than she did for
other men in the factory. She also de-
MED that he had been to call on her,
and regarding his sitting in the car
seat with her on the way to Augusta
she admitted that he had. but added
that others had done the same thing
When asked by the court if she could
read and write, she admitted that she
could not, whereupon a relative ven-
tured the remark that they had moved
Il times during the past 10 years,
which did not allow the girl much time
for schooling.
| At the conclusion of the hearing the
court decided not to pass upon the
matter just then, and continued the
hearing until 4.30 Saturday. March
! 81, supplementing the statement with
warning to Nichols and Mrs. Rowe
to keep away FROM one another.
Other matters before the court were
two cases of intoxication in which the
two respondents were given a sentence
of IS and costs or 80 days in Jail.