The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-25
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
AN EXTRAORDINARY AND DOUBLE
CHARGE OF BIGAMY.

very singular of Grim. con-, including charge
OF b'gamy was brought up for hearing yesterday after
noon, before Alderman Augustus ID. TAR The par
ties accused were VIM. Wood and Mary c. Bickne
and the gravamen of the charge against them on the
part OF the Commonwealth consisted Of their having
been married the 29th Of July last, the having
husband, and the other wife, living at the time
We regret to learn that Wood had once been con-
sdered highly respectable and moral man. Mary G.
Bcknell the wife of John Bicknell, the mate Of
ship now lying at Baltimore.
Mrs. Margaret Wood, the legal wife of the male
defendant appeared witness and deposed that she
had been married to him some years previous to the
29lh Of July She stated that Mrs. Bicknell in the
absence Of her husband boarded the house with
herself and Mr.. Wood and that she had at times OBJ
served what she considered, too close and familiar an
intimacy between them This lady gave her evidence
IN very clear and feeling manner. She neither up
braided her falhless husband did she in any way
insult the woman, who had SO deeply injured her. On
the contrary she exhibited much fobesnce throughout
and said that notwithstanding all that had taken place,
she would again receive her husband homo, if be would
return to his duty and her affections,
The Rev. r. G. Allen. Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. was next examined and testified that the par
ties accused were duly married by him on the 29h Of
July last, and certificates that effect produced
Before the ceremony was concluded however, il ap-
pcared from this gentlemans testimony, that some
what singular incident occurred. After warning the
defendants in the usual manner OF the solemn nature Of
the contract they were about to engage in, and its
binding character, both sccording the laws Of the
land and the laws Of God--he observed that Mary c.
Bicknell gazed him in an expressive and agitated
manner On looking at her attentvey, he remembered
having known her when q child, and he said " Why,
Mary istha. you Does your mother know you going
to be married."
She replied !" My mother knew it would take place,
but did not expect il yet"
"Are you single? r.
Eyes have been widow these Eve months"
They then married.
According to the evidence Of Anne Macomb and Ju-
dah Thompson it further appeared that they proceeded
to Kensngton. where they took room and said they
had been man and wife for four years.
We informed, in addition the above testimony
that Wood had been suspected before Of an improper
intimacy with Mrs Bcknell, and that proceedings
twice instituted against him in his church. The evil
dence, however, sufficiently strong to convict
him.
The result Of the examination before the Alderman
was that both the defendants held to bail in $500
each, the charges Of adultery and bigamy
be preferred against them the Court Of Criminal
Sessions.
This has excited intense interest in the District
Of Southwark; and during the examination large
concourse of assembled in front Of the Alder
mans Office, who expressed their dsapprobaton Of the
conduct Of tho accused, in no very gentle terms.