The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-03-01
Local -ItcKRH5-

ed IN Richmond, and sent to this city on a
charge eff bigamy. Bowen reached Ports
mouth on Tuesday, and was committed to
jail by Mayor Grice, for examination, which
examination took place at the Town Hall,
Yesterday. The charge against Bowen is
that he had married young lady in Ports
mouth last fall, and at the same time had an
other wife living in Gloucester Point, New
Jersey. AS this, when proven, is a clear
case of felony, the laws of this common
wealth are, in all cases when it is possible,
pat in force and the guilty party brought
to Justice. Whether the said Bowen is gull
ty or not, is more than we can say, nor is it
Our business to express an opinion; we only
give the testimony as it was rendered before
his Honor, Geo. W. Grice. The prisoner
having been brought into court took his seat
by the side of his counsel, Mr.. Il. G. P. Cow
per; the following witnesses were then sworn,
and the examination commenced, G. B.
Dufield, Chas. Wilson, Alexander Morton,
VIM. Il, Lyons and F. A. Undertake:
Mr.. Mortos--Said he knew John Bowen
in Baltimore, also knew him at Gloucester
Point, about ten years ago, knew that he
kept house nine years ago at Gloucester Point
n J.,-used, to board at his house at one
time, that is he got some OF mis- meals there;
he W as considered married man-there was
a lady in the house who was called Mrs.
Bowen-worked in the same establishment
with him and knew him very we'll
had never heard him call her his wife; one
day he had fight, went to him, told him
he was doing wrong, and asked him what
his wife would say, judged from his manner
and &c that he didn't care-his wife had
one child at this time, had never heard him
call it his child the woman was the house
keeper and was generally considered his
wife. Dick Goats and his wife boarded there
at the time, and had heard them call the
housekeeper Mrs Bowen, his father recog-
nized her as his wife also-cannot say they
occupied the same chamber-his general
character was pretty bad-never saw their
marriage certi6cate-kn the child was
hers, cannot say whether the child was his
or not-knew no other Bowen who kept
house in Gloucester Point-know the prison
er well and know him to be the same man
Whu kept house at Gloucester Point.
G. b. Dateld-Had been employed TO
prosecute suit for divorce between Bowen
and his last wife, had in his possession an
extract from the record book of the church
when Bowen was married, this extract was
TO the effect that the marriage ceremony had
been performed between Phmby Justice and
John Bowen, some ten OF twelve years ago;
this extract came into my possession through
my Investigations, for the purpose of an APP
plication for diyOrce-got the extract from
the clergyman of the church, when the min
lister who married the parties formerly of.
tciated it was signed by-Crouch and Han
nah and Margaret Crouch, who were the
daug hters of the minister who performed
the marriage ceremony-dOn't know any
thing Of the parties further than have
learned since have been employed as coun-
gel for the application for the divorce.
Charles Wilson--Some time last fall went
TO Gloucester Point to ascertain if Bowen
was married to any one there; found plenty
of people who knew the fact; saw his wife
and three children, and found the marriage
certificate, of which | took copy. This
certificate stated in effect that Ph9by JUS
rice and John Bowen were married. His wife
described him to me as the inventor of
bolt making machine, and stated that she
had received money from him while in Ports
tsouth; she lived at Gloucester Point the
lst of October; had three children, the eld-
est of whom appeared to be nine years of
age. | went on to find out if he was mar.
NJ
left here the last day OF September, 1859,
and saw her in the afternoon of the next day
think the lady whom | saw is about thirty
years of age. Gloucester is small village;
the certificate of marriage was in her pos
session; one of the three children was small,
Just crawling round the room; she said she
hoped to God he hadn't deserted her when
told he was married again, she acted like any
other woman would under like circumstan-
ces, and expressed hope that he would
caive no personal injury, but that the injured
parties would allow the law to take its
course; don't recollect what she stated when
she saw him last; she said in my presence
that the children there were his all the PEG
pie about there believed that she was his
wife; many OF them knew where he lived
and pointed out his house they all looked
upon and regarded her as his wife. Salem,
where they were married, is about 40 miles
fellow Gloucester Point, and the parties who
saw them married, lived al Salem ; the GER
tificate was printed, and then filled up with
ink ; it was signed by clergyman named
Crouch and witnessed by Hannah and Mar
garet Crouch it was dated December, 1S49
and she stated that he was nineteen years
old when be married her, don't know wheth-
er the laws of New Jersey allow parties to
marry before they are of age or not saw
five or six persons who believed the fact that
they were man and wife; went on there to
ascertain and get proof of Bowen's mar
rage believed that We had evidence enough
of the fact when we left. Bowen was ar
rested in the city Of Richmond while was
on there; he was arrested Saturday night,
and reached Richmond in company with
Mr.. Timberlake Sunday afternoon, when we
fesnd he had been discharged; paid my own
expenses on there and back out of my own
money vas not employed by MIR. Timber
lake, put wNut on as his friend, to assist him
to collect the desired proof of Bowen's mar
riage to wonlsn there.
Wm. II. Lyons-pemember to have seen
Bowen at Gloucester fsint, N. j., seven or
eight years ago; he was tIen blacksmith
or bolt maker, and living at Gloucester
Point; he went by the name OF Jno Bowen;
would take him to be about % years of age
at this time; never was in his house have
passed there frequently, and have heard that
he kent q boarding house have hea I'd mao