Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-02-11
HON. G. &. BOWEN.
HIS TROUBLES.

Il ~
M a NY YES.
AAoTHkR SERIOUS CHARGE.
THE MURDER OF COL. WHITE.
he Is CHARGED WITH INsrIeArINs II.
The papers have given the particulars OF the
allegations made against the Hon. q. e. Bowen,
OF South Carolina, first Of bigamy and then of
trigany, and now, it seems that . yet more Sc
riOus charge is laid upon him, that of instiga
ting the murder of Col. william r. White, OF
South Carolina. His sorrows come not
single spies, but in battalions;" bat he muft
not he condemned unheard. for, as in the use
OF the Hon. MIR. Butler, of Tennessee, against
whom charges OF wrong-doing were loudly
made, the evidence, when put TO the test, may
prove TO be worthless.
The following in regard to the last accusation
against Mr.. Bowen Is taken from the Charles
ton Courier of the 9Th instant:
IL will be remembered that on the 7tb OF
March, A. ID. 1864, Col. VIM. Parker White Of
the battalion OF Georgia cavalry, was shot while
sitting in his headq usrters, by a ball from
rifle, in the hands OF some one from the outside
Eli &. Grimee, one Of the command, was ar
rested for theOfence, and there stated that he
had committed the deed, and had been insti-
gated thereto by Q. T.. Bowen, his former cap
tain, and now member OF Congress from this
district. For this Mr.. Bowen was arrested. and
| charge preferred before the military court at
tsched TO Gen. Beauregard's department. On
| ear and escaped, and was never heard Of until
| shsrt time since. Mr.. Bowen never Was tried,
| there being no witness or evidence, but re-
! manned in custody until ct or about the time OF
| ton. Afterwards, he was made, under the Fed
eral authorities, clerk Of the Provost Court,
counsel for the freedmen, and, finally, was elect
Eli q. Grimes Was lately arrested on the an
| davit Of Steele McAllister White, the SON OF
| Col. W. p. White. in Georgia. and was brought
/ committed to isil under Swarrant OF Mr.. Caul-
field, trial justice. upon the following affdavits
made. Grimes L a young man, about "a years
OF age, OF spare figure, some five feet six inches
| in height, and OF dark complexion, hair and
| eyes,
| Personally appeared Eli G. Grimes, before me
N. Canltied, trial justice, in and tor the coun-
ty. and State Aforesaid; says that he is about
twenty-four years OF age, and . resident Of Lee
March ISL, at waccamsw va Island sien near
| Georgetown, s. c., ct the killing OF one William
Parker White, and one Christopher e. Bowen,
life he caused me to shoot and kill Colonel White
was only . boy Of seventeen years OF age; he
| urged me TO il. Colonel White Was Paying some
visits to some young ladies that were on the
Island, and Captain G. G. Bowen fixed a blind
| on the road that he Travelled as though he was
| going to shoot turkeys He loaded gun and
| gave il to me; he told me that should 60 and
shoot Colonel White, either on his going or re-
turning from those young ladies; I told HIM that
l did not want to do it, but he &c. G. Bow en-
said that should do it. l told him the second
| time that 1 did not want to do it. he &c. c.
| Bowen) persisted, and told me that should
| obey him, as he was commanding officer; he
and the S %as snsnS he wSp
| loaded, and told me ID 20 10 the blind and com.
| manded NE positively that shou not let Col.
| White rass without killing him. | went 10 the
I minutes when had taken the lock of the gun,
| ndbroke the main spring of the lock. carr ed
IT back and told him that went TO cock the
gun, and tie main spring got broken; he said
that il was d-n strange hat the main spring
| should get broken by cooking il THE gum he
went and got another gun. and r1ed it up and
| loaded IT, and then liked up another blind on the
| other side OF the road leading 10 the boat load
| ing, and told me that I should shoot him Col
White from that blind. refused 10 do it, and
be then told He that he was coming 10 Charles
ton, and that he would be back on Tuesday
morning, and II | did not kill old White" bS
ile time he q. {. BOwen) would come bach
| that should never see home. ] put of and
studied until Tuesday night, and he &C. O.
| Bowen was TO I've at camp on Tuesday morning
! took the gun that he &C. e. Bowen) gave me.
| The Colonel WAS sitting at hs window 4 could
| have shot hIm through the head or through the
body. or anywhere. but | thought l would
shoot away from where he was, and miss
|
stretched out from him; the ball struck his leg
turned round and walked off and threw the
gun down III = ditch near the house. I went on
10 my quarters then and laid down. Next day
| went to Col. White and stated all the facts 10
him Captain Russell and Lieutenant Platt were
present, and think Capt. Law, OF Savannah,
| Was with mt. Col. White told me that he did
hot blame me for IL, but he said that Bowen " "A
black. hearted scamp. Col. White talked wi it'll
me, and advised me a. though had been one OF
! his children | have alWa said that if Can't.
I u. u. Bowen arrested 4
| forward and make this statement, and hsv
| made this statement in the presence of Mr. W
L. Lar amoIe, and his father, John l.. Laramore,
| and Mr Peter t.aramore, in Lee county Geor-
| gia, in the year loo. and since 1 would no,
| have killed Col. White were il not that were
IN ~ rear OF Z. Z: Bowen taking my own lite. Mr..
| not do it-tbat j., if did not Kill Gel. White
| voluntarily come forward 10 give NV evidence
against Captain Z. g. Bowen, so that he should
| be brought to Justice, and to relieve nv con-
| science, az IT has given me great trouble of
| mind, and heart, too, ever since il WAS DOM
| ! also told my wife, and Mr. W. j. willoughby.
1 IN McDufte county, Georgia, where now live
temporarily lately, ii q. q. Bowen wss arrest.
| ed, and If l knew where Col. Whites friends
were, would write TO them and say where I
| was living, SO that they might know where i
was, and eetmy testimony against q. c. Boxe.
did not want him 10 know where was for fear
that he would have me killed. first got ac-
Lee county, Georgia. He persuaded me to join
the Confederate army. I worked with him
before went in the army, and cursed the day
ever knew him. In this statement have told
the truth, freely and voluntarily, before (isd
and man. Fri 4. Co,yrs
Sworn to and SUBSCRIBED before me, this g s,h
day of February, A. ID. 1871. WA
NJ. CAULFIHID, Trial Justice
The foregoing affidavit was subscribed by the
above named Ell q. Grimes, after the sane was
carefully read to him. in our presence this srh
day of February, A. ID. 1871. =
w.P. LARANoRr.
JOHN A. MUsHrNsToy
f. w. M. MACKRY
sheriff Charleston County.
W.. y. TAHT,
Coroner Charleston County.
SAMUEL j. COATES.