The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-03
The Adams Bigamy Case.


BETWEEN COUNSEL.
In the HERALD OF the 2lst inst. we gave 0 notice
of the arrest of Alonzo w. Adams, formerly an
officer in the United States army, on charge Of
bigamy, preferred by Mrs. Hannah Maria Post, of
Jersey City. The affidavit of Mrs. Post ON which
the warrant for arrest issued states that she Is
the mother Of Catherine Ann Van Buren, Post, now
Is years Of age, and wife of Aonzo Whitney Adams;
that her daughter married to said Adams by the
Rev. Francis L. Hawks at Grace church, on the 9th
of May, 1854, and that she is in possession Of evil
dence to prove that said Adams has wife now liv-
ing in California TO whom he married in ls4s.
Mrs. Post submitted the following letter, purporng
to be written by Mrs. Adams No. l. which, together
with certificates of similar import was filed with
her affidavit
SONORA Jan. II, 1855.
MIR L. MAsov-DxAR sR-Schier Garcia writes at my
request what promised to send you. was acquainted
with Mr. Alphonso Adams for the first time about eight
years ago. when raw him with two other gentle men all
belonging to the American army, at Buena Ranch They
called Mr.. Adams, "Cap Adams, and they have recent
in from Beneca, where they had been with COL
| Fremont, an American.
Mr.. Fremont bought large property and had very
rich interest in the mines. Mr. Adams wanted very
much buy large property Of the kind, and said
he to receive large claim Of land from the Ameri
| government. My mother died when was very
young child and my father went north TO Buena Ranch,
| to live with my uncle
Ny fathers business Sacramento San Francisco
| with Adams, calling him friend of gamblers great
gentlemen OF Mexico were very polite to the officer
OF the Americans My father their friend Capt.
| Adams made my acquaintance Then was happy well,
and rich enough
pleased with music he said he would bring his money
and slaves and live in this country, like Hdago Capt
Adams spoke to my father about my property said he
perty was in my own hands go nobody could make rou
BILE with Ny uncle did not agree to the business,
and would change his feelings after my father died.
When was married Capt Adams proposed that all my
money should be vested in rich lands my name oil
mine had become his well mine. aged to this.
So he took Sacramento and San Francisco where
papers brought to the hotel for me to sign my
saw letters from his frends-yery g,ea, people of
America-some OF them to borrow from us, at very
last he said he would live in this city no longer and de-
parted North long time passed. got no letters from
him. determined to send messenger on to him; one
went but could not find him. He never came back to
me. sent letters TO everybody to know where he had
| gone, but no use
friend Of my husband TO tell me he was gone forever
killed in duel All, God what letter was that for
and there would die. My father always said No." but
he would learn facts but one knew Don Aphonso
Adams and talked Of his dsreputation.
wanted my money very much, but none could lind.
Ny father had TO pay much money on mortgag s. lands
We were advised to advertise for the bad man no,
never scorned tc have my in such publications.
Nobody believed Capt Adams dead, but who could knox
was robbed and ruined Iopened my eyes to see only
wrongs and tricks on every side,
All. much better that had died than all this.
Wien lost my father, my best friend my uncle was my
friend more You know all the rest Of my sorrows
Am oil deceived? Captain Adams Is living man, he
would tear the bands that bind another victim to be
60 any good. ELIZABETH MORAN.
II is proper to STATE that the above letter pro-
nounced by the accused an entire forgery. partial
hearing of the case was had before Justice Dawson,
of the Jefferson Market Police Court, on Tuesday
last when Hon. F. p. Stanton, formerly member of
sd fnr
Mr. Adams and Richard Busted, Esq, for the COM
plainant The following testimony was elicited:-
Mrs. Hannah Maria Post examined by +. P. Stan
ton-The certificate filed with my affidavit is not
the original but copy Of it; have the original
certificate with me. (Mr. Stanton desired t. see it,
but Richard Busted, counsel for the complainant,
objected to the production OF the certiicae saying
that 1t was not evidence. and that the demand was
rrelevant) l got the certificate from Mrs. Frazer
do net know where she got it; got the letter
dated Sonora, Jan. II, 1856, from Mrs Frazer; !
statements made in the letter to be true; the org
nal letter has not the California post mark, the
steamers mark on H. ! do not know the handwri
ting: ! received the letter and certificates during
last winter, according the steamers came in;
Mrs. Frazer brought them to me; ordered her to
bring them to me as the steamers came In; gave
this order before got any Of them.
The counsel for the complainant objected TO the
question as irrelevant. Mr.. Stanton SAID Il was
cessary to answer the question, for he intended TO
sriiacy, that he had collateral proof to this effect
and asked this question 10 test the veracity and con-
sis'ency OF the witness. The objection was sustain
CD by The Court.
frederick p Stanton, examined by Richard Bus
toed counsel for the CO rpainant-I reside in Ten
nessee. though Temporarily residing In Washington
am not member Of either house; have known Mr..
Alonzo W. Adams for twelve years; got acquainted
with him in Memphis Tennessee; | was not IN CALI
forna nor Mexico in ls4s; was at Hav ina in 1851
! was not there in ls4s or 40; was in Havana
when was a member Of the House OF Representa-
tiyes Alonzo 0. W. Adams was not IN California in
ls4s. believe he captain in the army, in the
Commissary Department.; he was in the army OF
Gen. Scott, from Vera Cruz to the city OF Mexico;
he came away after the conclusion of peace, and
saw him In Memphis In the fall Of lsts; Mr.. Gentry
and made n speech there early In November, in
lSis, just before the election, and Capt. Adams was
present at the meeting; he was afterwards In the,
winter Of lsip in Washington: be lett Tor California
in the spring or summer Of 1s4y and, 50 far "a |
know, that was the first time be ever was In Cali
fornia: understood from Capt. Adams In November
lS4s, that he had come immediately from Vera Cruz;
] do not know any person called Elizabeth Moran,
nor have | ever seen any person to my knowledge
by that M me.
thomas shanklanj, sworn-I reside in Kansas
Territory; | am now at No. 10 South Third street.
Williamsburg; have been acquainted with Alonzo
w Adcms since ls4s 40, soon af,cr the close Of
the Mexican war; never met him in Pttsburg; do
not know from my own knowledge, o. from any
q ing that he has stated 20 ne that he was In Cali
f. MA In ls4s; know that lie was In California,
BIT do not know when: have frequently conversed
with him upon the subject OF his having been in
California; these conversations commenced about
the time be returned to this city from California: my
relations with him were of an intimate character;
be told me pretty fully of his life in California: do
not know how long be was In the State Senate;
have not seen him to speak with him since October
1855; he has named 10 me several persons with
shom he was acquaintsd in California; he mention
Cd 10 me several Mexican families with whom he
resided; do not recollect their names: do not
know that their names were mentioned, but pre-
SINE they were; do not recollect his naming lsa
tcia Moran person he had known there; he
never told me that he had lived with a woman i'm
California, who not his wife: he never spoke ~
ne about living with any woman in California;
have been TO the house of Mrs. Post two or three
tunes this matter relating TO Adams was talked OF
Mrs. Taphagan and two other ladies' whom I do not
know were In the house at the time OF the CONVEX.
saiion; ! went there once upon the invitation Of
Mrs Traphagan; / did not say % Mes. Post that