Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-30
A SAD STORY.
Another Illustration OF Wo-
mans Confidence and
Mans Perfidy. Ha
An Ex-QuarterInaster with
Two Wives Makes n Mem
pliis Lady No. 3.

many cluzenb OF memphis viii recOg-
nize the name Of one Capt. Josiah W.
Davis, who, during portion of the war,
was stationed here, his official position
being that of quartermaster in the
Federal army. Nearly two years ago
mot one as stately be wooed and won
Miss Howos, daughter Of the well known
Front street merchant, Mr.. L. Howes,
who, coming from the North, established
himself in business in 1862. The lady
was young, handsome, and possessed Of
no little culture. Residing with her IA
theirs family in Chelsea, she was compar-
atively unknown to society, but those who
enjoyed her acquaintance were enthusi-
astie in her praise, After her marriage
she went North with her husband, bear
ing sincere wishes for a career Of happi-
ness. But il was not her lot to taste
the joys of her new life in their
plenitude. He to whom her loving,
trusting heart had been confded, proved
to be one Of the basest Of mankind. The
man who at the altar swore to love, honor
and cherish only her, was even then a
bigamist, two other women having, with
him, entered into solemn matrimonial
vows. The story of his infamy-of the
fraud wilfully perpetrated upon these
poor women, whose only fault was in
Loving not wisely, but too well, lis
narrated in the Cincinnati Gazette OF
Saturday last. We reproduce it in full.
1t is a sad chapter, but one which we
hope will not be without its lesson. The
experience of Miss Howes should prove
a warning to others. 1t is one of those
melancholy episodes bern of the de-
moralization of the late war, which are
far too frequent. This poor, deceived
lady represents but one of class who
chose not to look beneath the
surface. 1t is sad fact that oar
social laws have become lax to
degree shuddering to contemplate.
Mon make their advent into society with
no other Endorsement than perhaps that
of having served in this or that army.
No one thinks of inquiring into antece-
dents. Parents permit daughters to
receive and accept as suitors men whose
very names they scarcely know, and
whose past lives are to them as sealed
book. Unprincipled Adventures worm
themselves into the hearts of innocent,
confiding girls, who are betrayed into
alliances made in haste only to be re-
pented throughout their entire lives.
Long ago, parents required proper in.
dorsement of men before admitting them
to terms of intimacy in their families.
How many take the trouble to do so
now2 A pleasing face and well attired
person too often suffice-no questions
are asked, We live fast and have not
time to inquire whether those with whom
we link our destines are pure coin or
base metal. Inquiry would have caused
the scoundrel who has embittered Miss
Howes life to stand forth in all his
hideous deformity. His handsome face
and pleasing address were deemed suffi-
cient. But to the story of the Gazette !:
On the tenth day of October, 1865,
Captain Josiah w. Davis, Quartermaster
at Memphis, Tenn, after a courtship of
over three years, married Miss Sarah j.
Winkley, of Aurora, Dearborn county,
Indiana. Captain Davis is about twenty
seven years of age, and the son Of Rev.
William Davis, Professor of Western
College, near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Miss
Winkley is of one of the Oldest and most
respectable families of Dearborn county,
and is at this time about twenty-five
years of age, but from appearance no
person would suppose her to be over
seventeen years of age. After the mar
riage, Captain Davis went on his we'd
ding tour, and took his bride to visit his
father in Iowa. They returned in shert
time, on account of the leave of absence
of Captain Davis having expired, and
the bride preterring to stay at home
while he was in the service. She was
left by her husband at the residence of
her mother in Aurora, IRdiana, who re-
turned to his duties in Memphis.
Shortly after the return of Capt Davis
to Memphis, Miss Isadore Howes, daugh.
ter of Lewis Howes, of Memphis, a highly
respectable gentleman, made known to
Capt. Davis her affection for him, and
he, concealing the fact of his being a
married man, pretended to return her
affection in all of its ardor, and it. re.
suited in q courtship, which continued
until the fall of 1866, he, during the time,
writing almost daily the most afeetionate
letters TO his wife, and in July, 1866,
Capt Davis, having been discharged
from the army (honorably), proceeded to
the residence of his wife's mother at Au-
rora, Indiana. and staid there about six
weeks He frequently spoke of going
into business and setting up at house
keeping with his wife. While be was
there he was engaged much of the time
in writing letters, which be would not
let his wife see. In the latter part of
August, 1866, he told his wife that he
must go south on business, and that as
he would be travelling from place to
place, she need not expect TO hear from
him often. Capt Davis departed. and !
his wife heard from him but seldom |
during his absence. Subsequent events, |
however, showed that he went 10 Mem
phis, Tenn, and completed bis courtship |
with Miss Ida Howes.
On the 9th Of November, 1866, be
married her at the house of her father,
Mr.. Lewis Howes, in Memphis, and i'm
mediatelv started North. While on the /