Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-13
THE CASE OF HON. Mr.. BOWEN.
HAS HE TWO WIVES OR ONE
OR NONE?
He is Indicted for Bigamy by the Grand
Jury.


The readers of TIE STAR will doubtless re-
member the following item which appeared OF
the Goth August last:
QUESTIONABLE WEppISG.-The Church of the
Incarnation is to be the scene Of afashionabe we'd
representative in Congress from the second Soutn
Carolina district. will lead 70 he altar Mrs. King
formerly Mis- Pettigru. The occasion will doubi-
less call out quite large attendance of the friends
Of IN" happy pair
The marriage, for SEINE reason. did not take
place on the next dav, but two days after the
following marriage license was issued from the
Clerks offic of this District:
To any Minister of the Gospel authorized TO cele-
brate marriages. IN the District Of Columbia greet
ing:-You are hereby licensed to solemnize ths
rites of marriage between Christopher y
Bowen, of South Carolina, and s. Pettigru
King, of South Carolina, if you lind no lawful
impeachment thereto; and having so done, you
are commanded TO appear in the Clerks office
certify the same. Witness my hand and the
seal OF said court this 3lst day of August, 1870.
(Signed,l X. j. MEIGs.
The following certificate was in day or two
filed up in the Clerks Office:
i, r. w. Lowrie, minister of the Church of the
incarnation, hereby certify that by authority
OF license OF the same tenor as the foregoing,
solemnized the marriage of the parties afore-
said on the 3lst day OF August, 1870, at the
church, in the District Of Columbia.
(Signed,) r. W. LowRIE.
little church above named at O'Clock in the
afternoon, Hon. A. n. Zevely accompanying
the bride, and Col. F. q. Moses, Of South Caro-
lima, the groom, and after receiving the con-
CALCULATIONS of their friends, they left on trip
North, and on returning to Charleston Mr..
Bowen entered on the canvass for his re-elec-
ton.
On the 5th of September there was a f,utter
in fashionable circles here in consequence OF
the appearance Of the following paragraph in
The STAR
"a MEMRER OF CoxepRss Cu.pernw-,u ar~
hMY:EThe Ionic, lille Courier Jo,rnat, Of Friday
Of he Of aon ihis sj'
Representative from South Carolina to Miss Petigru
init for divorce sS n h the
Ohsneery Court By Mrs Taeitha Bowen, of this
Charieston, s9nih Caro,in The petition for d.
voIce filed by Mrs. Bowen, but the div orce has
has, in his haste to wed, committed bissmy.
few weeks ago the initiatory steps were
taken towards bringing this case of alleged big
amy before the courts here, and the documen-
tary evidence from Louisville and Indiana
having arrived here was sent before the grand
jury, before whom Rev. H. W. L0wrie, who per-
formed the marriage ceremony, also testified,
and few days ago a presentment was M sde
and to- day the grand jury found "true bill"
hR. BowEN's "FIRsT."
Bowen, it appears, was married to Miss Tabitba
Parks on the 3lst OF January, 1850, in Wakula
county, Florida, and lived with her some years
Subsequently q change came over the scene of
OOhestlC DISS, anu on tne Atm or DruarV last
Mrs. Bowen, then residing in Louisville filed
petition for divorce, which is still pending
charging her husband with adultery. In August
last he visited her in Louisville, it is stated. On
the 18th of that month the records of an Indiana
court show, 1t Is stated, that petition was filed
in the name of Tabitha Bowen against the Hon.
G. G., and an answer was filed on the same day,
and in thirteen DAYS afterwards the decree was
made; but as Mr.. Bowen was married to Mrs
Pettigru on the 31st of August, il would appear
that the marriage took place prior to the decree
of divorce.
In'tbis Indiana case the petitioner charges the
husband with cruel treatment and failure TO
provide for her support. 1t is further alleged
that Mrs Bowen (No. y asserts that Bowen
employed the counsel
ON Roth SIDES
in this (Indiana) case, and that she did not sign
OF swear to the petition, and further, that the
decree in this case was passed ON testimony
taken prior TO the filing of the bill.
SO much for the allegations on that side.
On behalf OF MIR. Eowen it is ged til at this
whole charge Of bigamy is the work OF political
malice, and comes I, om interested motives. 1t
is asserted in his behalf that the records OF the
Indiana court will show that he was legally
divorced
BEFORE HIS MARRIAGE
with Mrs. Pettigrue, and that the documents to
prove the fact are on the way to this city. 1t
is also alleged that he was not legally married
to his first wife.
Mr.. BowRN's RECORD.
appearance, ard very decided abilities. He was
born in Rhode Island, January 8, 1892 removed
to Georgia IN 1850; studied and practiced law;
removed to Charleston in 1862; in 1861 was
elected to the constitutional convention of South
Carolina, held under the reconstruction acts OF
the 39th and 10th Congresses; was elected to the
10th Congress; and was reelected to the 4lst
Congress, and is contestant for a seat in the
next Congress.
THE INDICTMENT.
Tha
Indictment; "District of Columbia, County OF
Washington, to wit:-The grand jury of the
United States of America for the county OF
Washington aforesaid, upon their oath do pre-
sent: That Christopher T.. Bowen, late of the
county aforesaid, gentleman, on the 3lst day of
January, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty, did marry one Tabi-
tia PaIke, and her, the said Tabitha, then
and there had for his wife; and that the said
Christopher q. Bowen being so married to the
said Tabitha "a Aforesaid, afterwards, and
during the life of the said Tabifha his wife, TO
wit on the LIST day OF August, in the year of our
Lord enc thousand eight hundred and seventy,
at the said county of Washington, in said
District OF Columbia felOnlously and unlaw-
fnlly did marry ard take to wife one Susan p.
King, and TO her, the said Susan, was then and
fhen and there married, the said Tabiths, his
former wife, being then alive, against the form
of the statute in such case made and provided,
and against the peace and government. of the
United States. Signed Geo. r. Fisher, L. s.
Attorney for ID. T.. This bill is endorsed 80 U. s.
against c. G. Bowen. bigamy. Witnesses, Chas.
Matthews, ID. l.. Henderson, X. w, Low RE.
True bill. j. e. Wilson, foreman. Deer Is,
1870"
Gee