The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-06-21
Gloss Of shsBoWen Bigany Case.
Deesaoa t Jaage 0Pfian- : Speech Of tile
Rrisoasr-He Hopes for q Pardon.

ASh1N9toNl -. ~ 49,
Upon opening Of .he Criminal Court
this morning, ex-Congressmau 6. G.
Bowen, convicted of bigamy, in whose
case the motion for suspension OF
sentence vas argued yesterday, appeared
in Court with his latest wife, Mrs. Pet
tigru King Bowen, and Messrs. Riddle
and Moore, of his counsel. The hour
being early, there were but few specta-
tors in the court room.
JUDGE oLIN's DECISION.
Jude Olin said this is motion to
suspend the sentence of the law in this
case, and, as consequence, to let the
prisoner go at large on bail until the
exceptions taken at the trial are dis
posed of by the Court in banc. I have
heard somewhat protracted argument
on this question, conducted with much
research and learning.
The conclusion at which l have
arrived, after careful examination OF
this question, is that it is my duty to
pronounce the sentence Of the law upon
the verdict in this case.
Possibly this Court has the power to
suspend passing sentence for any crime
charged ip an indictment after the YER
dict Of guilty by the jury, but from all
the authorities it is, think, clear that
such a power should never be exercised
unless it was clearly and manifestly
apparent to the Court that Injustice had
been done the defendant.
Since the trial Of this case, l have
carefully reviewed the exceptions taken
on the trial to my rulings, and am
unable to discover any error in them,
and so believing, think it my duty to
pronounce the sentence of the Law.
There is another question incidental
ly invol7ed in this case which | do not
decide, aud that is, whether upon pro-
nouucing sentence in this case. and
when bill Of exceptions has been filed,
judge of this Court may not suspend
the execution of the sentence and let
the party to bail until the questions
raised by the bill of exceptions have
been settled by the Court in banc. This
question l do not decide ! am Of the
upiuion if l have power to suspend the
execution Of the sentence, auy Judge OF
this Court has the same power, and as
have cowe to the conclusion that l
committed DO error on the trial of the
cause, an application to mc to suspend
the sentence would be unnecessary.
The Judge asked: "Do you wish to
say anything. Mr.. Bowen, in addition
to what your counsel has said ? If SO,
you can have the privilege OF doing so.'
MR.. BowEN's REMARKS
Mr. Bowen arose, and as he did so,
Mrs. King Bowen convulsively clung to
him, but fuaily he persuaded her to
take ier seat, and said:
Ifyour honor pIeases, I am aware
that perhaps anything can say would
have no effect. l will say this, and
perhaps all that l shall say; In this
transaction l took the step that ! did
last August in good faith, and for sever
al reasons: First, l had relied upon the
record l had obtained in New York ;
and here let me say to my friends that
if there was anything wrong iu that
record j. vas the fault Of those parties
who took my money and obtained thar
record in 1865. If your Honor will
bear with me one moment / will go over
that point, as perhaps it is the last time
l shall say any thing upon this question.
The entry made 10 that book, and
the testimony, unimpeached, in this
Court, as it stands to day, is that the
whole entry, though there are erasures
there, was in the handwriting of one
person, corroborased by the expert that
the Assistant District Attorney himself
put upon the stand.
Further than that, the clerk Testified
that it was in the handwriting Of the
clerk in that Office who died three years
ago. That testimony stands to day un-
contradicted.
One step further, and am done. so
far as that record is concerned. One
year ago she (poiutiug in the direction
Of his wife) enclosed her money to the
clerk of that Court, and obtained copy
of that decree, and on that copy she got
married.
IF THE RECORD IN NEW YORK WAS
-. WRONG,
i. is the fault Of fthose men, and the way
they do busioess there. | am now done,
so far as the record is concerned.
Outside of that, the act Of Congress,
which I bad seen and read, aud which |
had shown to lawyers, there was bat one
universal opinion in regard to. They
all said that that covered the case.
Much was sail about my
ABANDONING THE WOMAN IN AUGUSTA.
If l could have opened my mouth, |
could have shown, perhaps, why the
abandonment or deseriion took place.
But my mouth was closed; SO was hers.
will say this much: ! would have
been willing to have had her open her
mouth upon that Question. Whatever
may have happened in 1S52-,he diff
ference between us a. that time do
not plead as aug exteuuaticn-
A BOY OF 18 AND A MOTHER OF 80
] say | do not mean that. Working
for living, toiling every day, Was to
sit down there in that little town aud
starve to death? When I went was she
to 90 vita NE? If she did not go whose