The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-23
RICHMOND. MONDAY MORNING, JULY

A CASE OF INCORPORATION AND PO-
LYGAxY.-Yesterday morning, Peter w.
Carey, q sergeant in company &, Second
battalion, Eleventh United States infantry,
was brought before Recorder Regnault to
answer the charge Of unlawtully marrying
Henrietta Johnston, negross.
Several witnesses were called up and
sworn. The question then arose as to
whether the house in which the parties
were married was within the city limits or
not. 1t was stated and ascertained that
the house in which they were married was
within the limits, but that the house in
which they had their "fandango" was be-
yond them. The license was procured in
Henrico county. The case was then pro-
cecded with and the evidence taken.
Richard Nowlan, soldier, testified that
on the 10Th instant, between the hours OF
6 and ! o'clock, at the invitation of Carey,
he started with him to go to 0 wedding.
He went to house on Cary street, within
tie corporate limits of the city, and staid
there until IL o'clock, when Carey was
married to Henrietta Johnston, a mulatto
woman. Tho minister was mulatto man.
Saw him have paper, but witness did not
know that il was a license. Witness had
known the prisoner for a year, and did not
know whether he was married or not.
Sergeant Major Coleman, Eleventh
United States infantry, testified that the
prisoner had informed him several weeks
since that he was going to be married to
Henrietta Johnston. He did not notice
particularly the names on the license,
and could not say positively whose they
were. He knew nothing of the marriage
except from hearsay.
Charles Campbell, soldier, testified that,
upon hearing of the wedding, he informed
Lieutenant Fields, ofthe Eleventh Infantry,
about it, and was told by him to take means
to stop it. Lieutenant Fields had received
letter from Carey's wife, in Boston, while
the regiment was at Fort Powhatan, asking
him to grant her pass to come and see
her husband. Witness answered the letter
and sent her pass, by order of fLieutenant
Fields.
Subsequently, letter was received from
second wife in Boston asking for pass.
This was also granted. He did not know
whether the wives came to see their hus-
band or not. He did not sec the parties
married.
- Mckicl, soldier, was present at the
marriage, and testified to the same facts as
Nowlan had.
The Recorder asked the prisoner if he
wished to ask any questions. The pri-
soner said that he would like to say few
words. This favor was granted him, and
he spoke as follows:
81 am like all soldiers, reckless and wild,
and when ! once get started, 60 heap
further than is right some times. About
the 18th of June got on tear, which lasted
six or seven days, and during that time |
got license to marry this yellow girl. l
gave it to her afterwards and told her to
store it away. About the 18th of this
month got on another tear, and married
her"
The Recorder asked him if he was mar
ried. Prisoncr.-"I might be called mar
ried. married when was twenty years OF
age. I staid with my wife three years,
and at the end of that time we parted on
account of her recklcssncss and so forth"
Campbell, the witness, here stated that
Sergeant Holmes, Of his regiment, had GER
tilicatcs Of the prisoners marriage to two
women. He also stated that Colonel
Houston had requested that the examina-
ton be postponed until letters and papers
important in the case could be obtained.
The Recorder preferred that the priso-
ncr should be tried on charge of polyga-
nv, and he would therefore postpone the
case until Friday next.