The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-07-12
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE WAY
IN WHICH IT VAS OBTAINED.
Particulars of the Release OF the Great
Bfgamist-Bowen at Home-What he
Says about his Seat In Congress-He
wiuPublish q History OF his Case.
correspondence Of the New York Herald.l
WASHINGTON. ,,July 8.

Friday, June 80, Mr.. Bowen became conV1nc-
ed that If his wife should visit Long Branch
and present to the President certain facts, it.
would, in connection with previous represen-
tationa, have good effect. Accordingly that
evening Mrs. Petlgru-K Kipg-Bowen, in COM
pany with a friend, left for Long Branch,
and arrivedaat the West End Hotel about
10 o'clock. On Saturday she proceeded to the
Presidents cottage and sent her caro- 10 MIS-.
Grant, with whom She has been personally
acquainted for o number of, years past. me
President and his family were at the time ab:
sent from the residence, and the card was
taken to the President, who at once returned
in company with Mrs. Grant. The interview
with the President was hrief, not lasting more
than Eve minutes, but during that time Mrs.
Bowen received the assurance that her nus.
band should be pardoned. and that ne would
telegraph Immediately to Attorney-General
Akerman: to make out the necessary papers.
S1bseouenty Mrs. Bowen saw Mrs. Grant and
was informed that the telegram had been sent.
Returning to the hotel, she seat the following
telegram to her husband:
LONG BRANCH, N. J., July 1-2.20 P. II.
TO Hon. C. G.. Bo,oen, washington Jafl:
Mrs.SBowen left Long Branch that afternoon
for.Washinpton, and arriving here Sunday
morning at once proceeded to tue jail and in-
formed her husband of the success Of her visit,
Ito the effect that the President had ordered
the parlon papers to be made out and forward
ed to Long Branch without delay. The papers
were made out on Saturday atterpoon last ana
sent to the State Department Yy Attorney.
General Akerman: Tae supposluon WIS Sflae sa
strength of this :Bowen's release was predlcated
fby bis friends on the 4th Of July. Mrs: Bowen
visited the State department that day and the
day following without receiving any encour-
agenent. On Thursday she called at the AT
torney. Generals office without receiving any
Information. subsequently she lpet Senator
pardon had come. Being informed That 1t mad
not, Senator spencer.r replied:
"No. and It Ia not going to come. J." :
wHow do YOU know that 3" said Mrs. Bowen.
The Alabama senator, who had just return
ed from pilgrimage to the Branch, Wnere ne
went In hope that ne could lnduce tns Presl-
dent to revoke the commission Of ex-senator
Warner as collector of the port of Mobile, re,
plied. II lust came from Long Branch, and
while there talked with Tom Murphy on the
subject of your husbands pardon. and MT.
Murphy said he and General Porter had come
to the conclusion that 1t was not expedient ior
the President to pardon Mt. Bowen, and ne
will not be pardoned."
promptly telegraphed TO General Porter the
substanceof Senator Spencer's remarks, and
an hour after was informed by telegraph, ."Ps-
ners 90 bv mail Tonight and sure. enough
| ihey did, although they did not reach Wash
ington until last night. They were sent TO tre
State Department this herning, and az, yen
minutes past three o messenger from ,tne State
gspsF5msGt asgpsuDs eoSssnps essS e s ~
ment. Bowen at the time was conVersing WIN
some friends beneath the shade of the jail yard
trees, and one of the party, discovering tnat
the seal of the State Department was upon tne
envelope, cried out, Bowen, your pardon has
arrived at last" 1nsn,
the uartv gathered about the messenger, I'M
natient 10 get at the contents, the warden dis
covered that the. document was addressed 10
United States Marshal Sharp, and having no
authority to release prisoner, the messenger
was directed to tcke the papers to that oHclal,
whose office is but few squares distant 1rom .
the tail. AT half-past three o'clock &, Bailih
Grst arrived at the jail and handed the war
W 'o UNITED STATES MARsaAL's OFFICE
WASHINGTON CITY, -. g, July lSI;
j. c. Crocker, Esq, Warden D. IS. Ja& y. q:
.ns nitsd sates warrant Of pardon for O. g.
|. Bowen, now conhnei In jail under sentence OF
biqamy. Yeu will release the said Q. 9. Bowen
further 1nnar apGa % Saa
'nt' AIRrINpsR SHARP, o. S. Marshal, D. O.
The letter having been read and consratula-
tions passed, Mr.. Bowen repaired to his cell,
where he packed UP his few articles OF cloth.
! ing and bade his keepers good-by He AT
once proceeded to his residence, on Four
teent6 street, near L, and very unexpectedly
surprised his wife, who had become more and
more anxious, as the arrival of the papers had
been delayed Shortly after bis return home
your correspondent called upon the ex-mem'
| ber of Congress and was cordially Welcomea.
The residence of Mr.. Bowen-in fashlonaole
dwelling, which was completed but o few
! months ago. The surroundings were cheer
| ful: but the parlbrs had deserted look, which
| was explained BY Mr. Bowen saying that our
| inc bis troubles his wife had the carpets
removed and most OF the furniture
packed up. In the hall were numer-
Gus boxes marked .C: 9. BoWen' M o.
| unents. A few paintings and engravings
adorned the walls Of the spacious parlOrs, and,
with the exception of half dozen chairs, IN
green reps, there was. but little indication OF
I6ome. In reply tothe question whether ne
| had heard of a requisition, from Governor
Hoffman, of New York, for MS arrest TO an
swer the charge of tampering with the records
OF the courts or New York, IN procuring what
| purDorted to be divorce from that city from
Francis Hicks Bowen the released bigamist
Il
| said:
\ a story was circulated. All that can say ls,
| that am ready to 20 to New York OF my own
! will and answer any questions as a.wltnesS,
or act. If 1t be necessary, in the character Of
defendant. / am sure thnt can fully satisfy
everybody that the divorce Obtained In 1865,
| in that city, was perfectly legitimate and IN
accordance with the application fled"
\ He then went on to explain his grounds Tor
| claiming q diGorce In New York State, and
said thai he was citizen and resident OF New
| York from 1858 to the breaking out Of the war,
and that In 1860 he had already consulted
lawyer in New York, with the view OF obtain.
/ Ing o divorce. 1t was necessary that he should
! visit the South. and believing that there would
| be no war, he remained In Charleston until ne
was unable to return North, was conscripted
and compelled to serve In the southern army.
| Atrer the fall OF Charleston he returned to New
York. never having yielded his citizenship in
that State. and. having procured the necessary
paners. he placed them In the hands of his
LAWYER with whom he had consulted FIVE years
before In regard to the divorce, which was
Granted June j, 1865, Mr.. Bowen contends that
In every respect the procurement Of the dl
yorce was legal, and that subsequently, he was
assured hy parties who knew his former wife
| that she was dead. in regard to hla present
! marriage relations he said that Caleb Gushing
had kindly volunteered to Investigate the
law in the case and settle every question In.
/ yolyed. The whole subject would be
/ thoroughly Investigated by him, and he was
| confident that In the end he could prove thai
he had been the victim Of malicious prosecu
tion. he laid considerable stress on the faci
that he had tor nearly five years acted under