The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-06-21

IN 1865, THE DIvc cE WAS GRANTED.
l troubled myself-no further. I did not
secrete myself l did not run away
but, withiu>100 miles of that woman, l
sat down 10 public life; aud she (Mrs.
Hicks nor any of her friends, can to
day say she ever made an inquiry; that
she ever opened her mouth, notwith-
standing the newspapers were filed with
my name from day to day being twice
elected to the position which T had tbe
honor to gil on the hill (the Capital.
This woman.
NEVER OPENED HER MOUTH.
all this time. When | made up my
mind TO get married, the newspapers
heralded it all over the country. 1t
was shown that no one had any claim
upon me, for no one said word They
all stood mute, and when inquiry was
made of the very man who took that
stand-Hatcher-when inquiry was
made of him he denied to the Counsel
10 Augusta that he knew anything about
it, and here let me say t at so far as
MALICE AND PREJUDICE
is concerned, l do not wish to say any
thing about that, though | eonld say
much. But suffice it 20 say that this
prosecution-ii you are pleased to cali
it that-grew out Of this, and this alone.
l stood in the way politically Of some
one, l must be gotten out of the way.
In few minutes more
THE SCENE WILL CLOSE
with head bowed, evidently much af-
frcted.) So far as politics is concerned,
that is at end They did 40. go to this
woman at the commencement of the
prosecution. They traced up some one
else. They came here and got an iu-
dictmeut. It made but little difference
upon what vas convicted, so long as
| was cotton out of the way.
A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF PARK,
was found, who had said, previously to
that, in her own hand writing, that she
had no claims upon me.
On that Indictment was put on trial
in this very room At the very time
that was put upon trial the District
Attorney had in his hand the same evil
dcnce that he had here; and while he
sat here holding tha. evidence he urged
nv conviction in the Park case on the
ground that Mrs. Park was my lawful
wife.
Hatcher and Christian, the two wit
nesses in the last case. were concerned
here in the first; bat not word did
they say Why. then, did Hatcher not
say, 81 have an aunt in Augusta who
feels aggrieved ?" No, but there he sat
saying TO himself, $50 long as this man
can be convicted. 90 on. They failed
in their conviction. In less than an
hour after that failure | was arrested
npnn warran: in the case of Hicks. and
from that time down TO this it has been
going on.
AN TIRED AND WORN OUT
with this pursuit Of me. The whole
combined South at one time attempts to
fight the Goverumeu' Of the United
States They continued it for four years,
and failed 1t is useless, it is folly for
any one man to attempt that. One
man without money. and perhaps, only
limited number Of friends, to cope
with this Government in prosecution
of this or any other kind. 1 say it is
impossible They pay their spies. They
pay their men. They ransack the country
from one end TO the other, having all the
money needed at their mand. In
lhis | do not mean to cast any impu:a-
iions or reaecioos upon the District
Attorney or his assistant. only say
that a,n tired and worn OFT.
A new trial is spoken Of. dc not
know that have any assurances Of any
better result Not that | have acted
wrong 10 this case Intentionally. your
Honor. but sent to prison at this time,
what could I hope II a new trial we're
granted this fall, and | returned here
WITHOUT MONEY, WITHOUT FRIENDS,
and vas put upon ms trial for the second
time. These gentlemen District At
torpey and his a>sistant) having the
privilege aud the means of roaring the
country to hunt up all sorts off, theses,
it seems to me that l could not hope for
much better result.
In conclusion. say that whatever
punishment may fall npon my head. |
stand here to receive it From the
commencement of this affair hare not
shirked.
MARRIED THAT WOMAN
(pointing to his wife last August in good
faith. Though the laws Of the country
may aunul that, have firm belief
that the laws of God never will. when
whatever punishment that may be in
Hicted by this Court shall have been
served out if We are spared Cunning to
his wife, Who rises aud receives his ex
tended HANDY / return to her. Mrs.
Bowen here
cLuNG CLOSELY
to her husband Mrs Bowen in a
momen, or two resumed her seat, at the
request of her husband.
Mr. Bowen centinued-I contend, or
did, that that statute Of limitation was
sufficient bar to the action Of bigamy.
l agree with your Honor that if it had
been proved here that had deserted
that woman in Augusta, and gone of,
that that statute would not have applied.