The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-14

and provided and against the peace aud govern
mer OF the United States.
Mr.. Bowen VIII be brought into court tomorrow
70 answer TO the charge OF bigamy. The prosecu-
tion will upon the trial OF the case, endeavor TO
prove that Mr.. Bowen was married TO Miss Tabitha
Parke on the slst OF January, 1850, In Wakulla
county, Fla. that NJ the time OF his marriage
with MIS- 3. Petigrew King In this city, August 81,
1870 sne was then his lawful welded wife; that, al.
though An app,catlon had been filed Ut New Albany,
Ind, for divorce the divorce was not granted until
q date subsequent 10 The marriage Of Bowen with
Mrs. King. Mrs. Tabitha Bowen also alleges thar
she never authorized any attorney 10 answer his pc
tuen Tor divorce, SO that the answer filed In re-
spouse 10 the petition In the Indiana fraud
en- its face. 1t Is understood that Mr.. Bowen
acknowledges his marriage with Miss Parke,
but contends That he was divorced from her
prior to his marriage In TINS city. He also says that
political enemies are at the bottom OF the
prosecution In order, II possible, to prejudice his
claim to q seat IN the Forty-seccns Congress. The
announcement that Mr.. Bowen would probably be
indicted created quite stir among the members OF
Congress day, and was next to the eXcitement IN
the Senate over Senator McCreerys resolution, the
principal toplcof conversation at the Capitol. The
friends OF Mr.. Bowen are confident he win be able
to exonerate himself from the charge made and
prove that IL IS the work OF malicious political
enemies.
Embe xzIeuent by "a Treasury Cierk-Sin-
guiEr Elects of Conversational BnnEiin4.
the trial OF O. G. Edwins, indicted for the en-
bezzement Of 800 In legal tender notes sent to
the United States Treasury for exchange. was CON-
menced to-day IN the criminal court OF the district
OF Columbia. The particulars OF the alleged defal-
Gallons have already been published In the HERALD.
Edwins openly confessed his guilt and was the first
10 make acknowledgment that he had distracted
funds sent 10 the redemption division OF the Unied
Stares Treasury. on being arragned Edwins pleaded
not guilty, and number OF Witnesses were exam
ined for the prosecution, the evidence mainly tend
ing to fx the guilt upon Edwins Of having
taken the amount alleged The counsel for
Tue prisoner summoned number OF witnesses
the previous good character OF the accused,
and during the examination OF these witnesses Mr..
X. 7. Mernck one OF Edwns' counsel, remarked
that II the legal construction OF the law revising
thestatutes relating 10 the Patent once was ad-
bered TO their client could not be held for trial.
The point, In word reyves the whole subject con-
corning what is known as the 'repeal muddle," the
OF Mr. ienckes' questionable legislation
at the last session or Congress- and which was first
made known in this correspondence In September
last The indictment sets forth that the moneys
taken fe.oniously distracted. against the form
OF the statute IN such cases provided. Edwins In
dcted under the provision Of the act Of August 9,
1862 Statutes at Large, Brightey's Digest, page
1854 section hfy-seven, Included In the act
creating the Sub-Treasury, which was enumerated
In the repeating clause appended to the Patent ONCE
bill approved July s, 1870. 1t VIII be remembered
that nigh legal authority has already expressed
opinion as to the legality Of the transaction of pub
lie business under the provision OF acts enumerated
the repeating clause referred TO- but the question
haa hee Ind cial a1 Ii &c
that Edwins' counsel will tomorrow put In the plea
that their client has been indicted under the pro
visions OF an act repealed. The Court is ready TO
near the MOTION to quash the Indictment on this
ground. While the United States District At
torney will not attempt to controvert this line
OF argument IL anticipated thar Judge Cartier will
refuse to decide the merits Of the question and the
counsel VIII then appeal the case TO the court In
bank, where the merits Of the plea will be fully dis
Cussed and decided 1t Is stated that the civil
OF the acts alleged to have been repealed
not affected by the repeating clause, but that The
provisions for the punishment OF criminal offences
must be strictly Construct and therefore Edwins Is
not cupaoe under tho provisions Of the act OF 1885,
ana under which he has been 1naicted. The matter
is on. involving much investigation and interest,
not only to the entire bar Of the District Of Uoum-
bia. but also the executive officers OF the govern
ment, who patiently await the decision OF lhe Su-
preme Court OF The District
Senator Schurz ON General Amnesty.
There Is no prospect at present OF any general am
nesty bill going through the Senate at this session
prominent republican Senator, who has pade a
thorough canvass Of the Senate on THIS dtest1oI
says ne finds nearly iwo-tnirds Of the republicans
against IT, so that when Mr. schurz introduced his
resolution the other day about amnesty, II Vas not
because pc mad the remotest idea OF its lg passed.
but because he wanted to make soeecb m defence
of his course 10 the recent rolltical campaign in
Missouri. MI scnurz will do this on Thurs
-. He is salls 20 be preparing his speech
with great care End It Is believed IL Will prove the
great effort OF his life. He proposes to defend the
doctrine Of general amnesty, upon which the late
eecrion 10 Missouri was carried, and he wili en-.
deayor 10 prove that II the republican party does
not ADOPT this doctrine 1t Will lose all The south
ern states ut the next Presidential cleo
lion. Senator Drake Will reply 20 that
part OF the speech which relates to the
Missouri election, but Il Is expected Senator
Morton viii make the reply to the amnesty part Of
II. He Is OF opinion tnat amnesty, II adopted
wonld prove the ruin OF the republican party, and
that the party has already lost ground by come Of
its members crying out as advocates Of II. The de-
bate IN the Senate promises to be an exciting one
and may run Tor day or two
Pennsylvania Politicians Disappointed with
tis President.
The Pennsylvania delegation is both disguised and
Indignant at the failure OF the President to appoint
J. w. Douglass, from that state, Commissioner Of
Internal Gevenoe. Only last week Judge Scofield
who represents The live district from which Douglass
halls, called upon the President for tine
purpose OF ascertaining what STEPS were
necessary 10 secure Douglass nomination.
Mr.. Scofeld said II 1t was necessary and
agreeable TO the President the whole republican
delegation IN Congress from Pennsylvania would
make formal call upon nm for the purpose OF en-
dorslng Douglass for the place. The President said
he would be glad to see the delegation, and after
some further conversation ScoGed says he left tae
White House with tue impression on his mind that
Douglass would he appointed. SO thoroughly was
he satisfied OF this that he called upon Mr..
Douglass at the Treasury Department and in
formed him OF the favorable interview ne raj had
With the President subsequently nearly every mem