reportedly poisoned. In 1913, Nielsen refused to pay a $36 per year business license for doing manual work as an automobile mechanic. He was arrested and taken before a judge on July 11. As with the dogs in 1904, Nielsen pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial. He argued that the ordinance unjustly compelled him to pay a license while blacksmiths, carpenters, and brick masons were not subject to such a license. According to the Oakland Tribune, Nielsen "the artisan" stated in court that if the judge "would pay a license for being a judge, he would be willing to pay for repairing automobiles." He was released on payment of a $50 cash bond. Nielsen argued against paying for a business license by stating that his garage was simply a repair shop. The Alameda Daily reported that Nielsen argued that he did "not do a garage business, nor deal in supplies or commodities ... and that the only money he receives is what he earns repairing cars." Nonetheless, classified listings indicate that Nielsen regularly sold vehicles from his garage before, during, and after 1913. Second marriage Nielsen's first wife Hansine died in San Rafael, California in 1925, and Nielsen remarried on April 14, 1933. At the age of 78, Nielsen and his former lodger Lilly Palmer, 47, married in Reno. Reno was known as a place for California couples to marry without waiting the three days required by California state law. The couple separated February 11, 1941. Nielsen pursued a divorce suit, charging Lilly with cruelty. At this point Nielsen was retired without income, and supporting his son Adolph, now blind. Meanwhile, Lilly, "a large strong woman of approximately 52 years of age, was earning $150 per month by using the house as a convalescent home. The judge denied Nielsen's request for $65 per month pending the divorce trial, but granted him temporary alimony of $150 to cover his attorney fees and issued a restraining order to prevent Lilly from "conveying or encumbering any of the community property." Six months later, Nielsen dropped his divorce suit 10 minutes before the trial was set to begin, settling with Lilly out of court. The divorce was never finalized, and Lilly was listed as Nielsen's widow in his obituary. Nielsen was buried in Oakland's Mountain View Cemetery under a headstone with both of their names. Lilly is not buried with him. References