The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-06-28
Bowen Carried to Jail.

toli0WlhS account OF the closing
scenes connected with the trial Of
Bowen, the convicted bi9amist,
and OK Republican NJ. C. from
South Carolina:
The district courts are furnishing
Of late quite number Of causes
celebres to criminal annals. The
termination of the trial Of G. G.
Bowen, to-day, like the closing
scenes in that Of Holster, 4 few
weeks since. presented many SEN
sations. To The notoricty Of the
prisoner and the curiositics of his
martial experience, which have
attracted general attention to the
cause pending against him, there
WAS added Il public defence by the
cu!pril Of his conduct. and all thc
pathetic sensation that grows out
Of public evidences Of womanly
devotion to i man whom all else
have abandoned.
The court had been opened at
an honr 60 c!ock) unusually early,
and there were but few spectators
to the scene which took place.
Judge Ollu read a tcrsc opinion.
overruliny the motion to suspend
sentence, and then called on Bowen
! to say why sentence should not Le
pronounced. Bowen rose to re-
! spond, but was stopped awhile by
Mrs. kins-Bowcn, who clung to
I him and would not let him stir.
In few moments he qaieted her,
and proceeded to vindicate him
self, declaring that he acted on
the faith Of the New York divorce,
and if that was wrong, 1t was not
his fault, and that he relied like
wise upon the act Of Congress.
which freed from the penalties ot
bigamy parties deserted for r;orc
than five years. lie said
Il am tired ana worn out with
this pursuit Of me. The whole
combined South, at ono time, at,
tempted to fight tho Government
Of the United States. They con.
tinucd it for four years, and failed,
1t is useless, it is a folly, for any
one man to attempt that. Ouc
man, without money, and perhaps,
only q limited number Of friends,
to cope with this government in a
prosecution Of this or any kind, is
Impossible. They pay their spies.
They pay their men. 4hcy ran
sack the country, from one end 10
the other, having all the money
needed at their command. In this,
[ do not mean TO cast any imputa-
,ions or reflections upon the Dis
trict Attorney or his assistant.
| only say that I am tired and
worn out. A new trial is spoken
Of: l do not know that I have
any assurances Of any better re-
suit. Not that 1 have acted
wrong in this case Intentionally,
your Honor, but sent to prison at
This time, what could | hope if a
new trial were granted this fail,
and l returned here, without
money without friends, and was
put upon my trial for tho second
time? These (District Attorney
aud his assistanU having the priv
ilcge and the means Of roaming
the country to Lunt up all sorts of
witnesses, it seems to me that l
could not hope for a much better
result.
In conclusion, say that, what
ever punishment may fall upon
my head, | stand here to receive
it. From the commencement Of
this affair, have not shirked. |
married that woman (polnting to
his wiic) last August, in good
faith. Though the laws of ,hc
country may annul that, I have 4
firm belief that the laws Of God
never will, when whatever pun
i,hmcRt that may be inflicted by
! this court shall have been served
out, if we are spared, (turning to
his wife, who rises and receives his
extended hand,) | return to her.
Mrs. Bowen here clung closely to
her husband. Mrs. Bowen, in a
moment or so, resumed her seat,
at the request Of her husjand.7
"Ono word wsore, and | am
done. To these gentlemen, who
kindly offered to 80 my bail, | am
much Obliged. | have acted by
them, as | have in this whole
transaction, in good faith. To-
day they are relieved. | an truly
grateful to them.
Now, your Honor, I am done
Pass your sentence. You know
the case and the circumstances
that surround it,
The Court-The sentence Of the
court is, Bowen, that you be con-
fined for two years in the Albany
penltentlary.
Mrs. Bowen-(Clingins closely
to her husband, in feeling man
ner, said IN firm yet gentle
. voice:) "1f he did it, I did it. If
he is 10 be sentenced, please
sentence me. You have no right,
your Honor, before God Almighty,
to visit punishment upon him
clone toT what I did him also.
With that record in my hand, /
! stand before this court and before