The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-09

Francis HICKS Bowenn the released bigamist ssd:-
al have not, and do not know how such story
was circulated. All That | can say Is, that
am ready 10 goto New York of my own viii and
answer amy questions ~ witness, or act. II It be
necessary, In the character OF a defendant. am
sure that ! can fully satisfy everybody that the
divorce Obtained IN 1865, IN that city, was perfectly
legitimate ana IA accordance with the application
nlcd.r
lie Then went on to explain his grounds for claim
ing "A divorce IA New York State and said that he
was citizen and resident OF New York from 1865
10 the breaking out or the wal, and that In 1860 he
had already consulted lawyer IN New York. with
The view Of obtaining a divorce. II was necessary
that he should visit the South and, believing that
there would be no war he remained Ia Charleston
until he unable TO return North, was con
scripteG and compelled to serve in the Southern
army. After the fall OF Charleston he re-
turned 10 New York, never having yielded his
eitiLensnip ia that State, and having procured The
necessary papers, he placed them in the hands OF
his lawyer, with whom he had consulted five years
before. In regard 10 the divorce which was granted
June /, 1865, Mr. Bowen contends that in every re-
spect the procurement OF the divorce was legal and
that subsequently he was assured by parties who
knew his former wife that she was dead. In regard
10 his present marriage relations he said that Caleb
Gushing had kindly volunteered to investigate the
law in the and settle every question involved.
The whole subject would be thoroughly investigated
by him, ana he was conf dent thar Ia the end he
could prove that he had been the victim OF mall
cious prosecution. He laid considerable stress on
the fact that he had for nearly nve years acted I'M
der the conviction that he was divorced from
Frances Hicks Bowen, ana denied any criminal in
tent in marrying Mrs. Pet,igru King. In proof of
the esteem OF those who knew him he SAID that the
petitions for his pardon were numerous aud came
from various quarters. One was signed by Governor
Scott, OF South Carolina, and Oil the State officers
under him; another ~ the merchants Of Char
lesion, third by voters OF MS Congressional
district, and another by the leading business
men OF TINS city, Besides" remarked Mr. Bowen,
'sihe President is fully satisfied that acted sim
cerely, and that never would have married Mrs.
King had l not believed that had been lawfully
separated from my first wife,"
Concerning the election OF Bowen from the
Second South Carolina district and the alleged
scheme of DE Large, his opponent, TO deiraud him
OF his seat III Congress through false returns made
by the county Commissioners OF Election In that
district, Mr.. Bowen remarked that in one
county there the three commissioners who
conspired TO defraud him OF the election
Were now serving out q sentence OF two
years each in the Pententary for perjury. The
testimony filed before the Committee on Elections
Of the House OF Representatives would fully sub.
stantate all that he had claimed, while additional
evidence was being collected every day to contest
the right of De Large TO the seat to which he was
elected. Mr.. Bowen states that while the prosecu-
cution of his case for bigamy was pending he was
assured If he would agree to discontinue c0ntesting
the light OF De Large TO his seat that proceedings
N his case would be stopped at once. or this
Bowen says he has the proof, ana this was
undoubtedly of the strongest reasons the Presi-
dent had for pardoning him to-day "NOw, that
am liberated" he said, 81 win continue evil
dence in favor OF my seat III Congress, and am con-
hdent from the testimony already In and to be pro-
,duced that will be awarded my seat "
Mrs. Petugru-King-B Bowen here interrupted the
conversation, in an atiecttonate manner excusing
her intrusion by the remark that she sorry to
part from him after her trials, even for short
time. but business required her to run down town.
'See." she said to me, show careworn my poor hus-
,band looks. His hair, once glossy black, Is now
siver gray-thc result Of six long months Of perse-
eu.ion'
His hair lie gray, bnt not with years;
Nor grew IT white in single night,
As mems have grown from sudden Tears.
Mr.. Bowen states that he VIII prepare for publca-
", at his earliest convenience. complete history
hts case, and INTENDS in every respect to conform
he law.
aIcation In the Savannah Custom Hon.e.
i, 10 special agent OF the Treasury Department re-
=, vs. defalcation to the amount or 81 600 in the
=, E House at Savannah, Ga. Eight thousand
,ar XQut OF the $1,000 are covered by false vouch
ar VI the balance is put down as extra charges
cb IRE not authorized by law. IT Is said that an
:, =, being made to raise funds in the North to
10 q, od the amount of the defalcation.
Civil Service Reform.
mo C,x TbService Commission to-day resumed the
cussion W. .no q"es'ion VI opeh 0o'hVe'"''e eA-
,no,,on The commission has been engaged
CO. sar Gmeet ,ng in a thorough discussion Of
svs,em which approved by all profound
,aents Of be subject ana which is now adopted
England il is a system which determines by
mnent,ve examination, open TO all applicants,
person VIII Ds"ai' ieoo'e '''o "pPoni'"ien'' anu
,,cn ,heret ne, entirely reforms the present
,ar,.an mo, nod OF appointment by patronage.
!, dining tho , kbate a formidable difficulty to the
on,on q, IN. competitive system OF selection
,hts corntrv n " been presented in the suggestion
a, tho des,gnau 81 OF person for appointment by
,oord which is not established by the constitu-
mo, annoin,inp power would virtually vest the
,no,,,nant in a body unknown to the constitu-
M Unon this moi nj the Board proposed to con-
=, tho At,orrev &c ueral of the United States A
,,oh,a commupic ation was received from Mr..
49,, Corsu, Genera, k.of the Swiss Confederation,
,a,,vo ~ inc civil service OF Switzerland. A
rr,aors o1cr was n, received from George Z.
-, ,,,e nse n, uluable documents Oh civil
yice.
Western Ra ~'"Ho. Aa~es'
Commissioner Pleasant sn'iaS hao oeio'e MIN u
lestion respecting The II s'hies vi ihe Lake Snore
~ son,hern Michigan lailroad Company TO an
,sossmont which has recei u!y been made upon the
go, ~, co,nons falling We within the last I've
on,hs OF 1870 and the first HVe niop'4is Vi 1871,
-, 20 a ,,r,ber assessment uade on dividends of
- como ner,oa Concerning this the attorney OF
~ poara made ann,icat,on TO ttne Secretary OF the
ooa,,,, Tar a remission , the said taxes.
orn,,no IN s,az o21 and request is made
the Commissioner that the CO N.o''ou Vi fc'ehue
stayed until the question OF sisDh"J nss oeeh
oa,aoa ,no, saia anpeal and IMPLICATION for re. |
,ss,or IN Wow of snecIa, ins vrDctions OF the |
ocro,arv ot tho Treasury prey, Ssly issued, the |
omm,ss,oner of Internal Revenue Noes not deem IL |
ro,or 20 Gran, tho reouest The Instructions OF |
II kfac IN