Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-02-24
HON0GlAY. BIGinY Or TRIGiMY
THE BOWEN ROMANCE.
~ LN'TEREsTLNG CMSPrER.

The readers OF the Courier Journal are so in
umatey acquainted with the circumstances of
the disclosure, the trial and peculiar acquittal
or the Honorable z. &. Bowen, Congressman by
grace OF the reconstruction laws from the Com
monwealth OF South Carolina, for the crime of
Sigsm No.. or migamy, Is the case may be accepted,
that the following interview needs no preface
nearing that Mrs. Tabitha Bowen, according
TO her own statement and the gene ally receiye1
opinion, or Mrs. Tabitha Parks, with the accept
ance OF the Hon. Bowen's statement, had Ar
rived IN the city on Saturday, after the trial At
washington, reporter OF the Csgrier- Journal
rang the bell at her residence, just above the
corner Of Second aad Jefferson streets ana in
quired II he could see Mrs. Bowen. After some
barley Mrs. Bowen came into the hall. and. in
Producing himself and his profession, the pro-
A large, masculine looA ing woman dressed in
some sort OF figured stuff, with black overdress
and lace collar. with pink ribbons interlaced,
Il tnis Mrs. Iabitha Bowen, but with kind,
homely manner, with evidence of having
knocked around the world somewhat and With
not all, for6idding appearance.
II, 81 really DO not know, p said she; that have
think once before told you al knew
AN interview with yourself was published in
The Cosrier- Journal last summer, believe, but
you KNOW that there Is report going the rounds
that MI Bowen tried to bny you of at the tria,
the other day i'm Washington, and IL wouldn't 10
any naIm 10 let the world know as 10 its truth"
wen" said Mrs. Bowen, 81 siidn't know that
that at any rate
"of course. But how did sou happen to meet
Mr.. Bowen at first
"Well, YOU see. met him in Florida. and he
courted me, and my people were opposed to my
marrying him, and 30 We run away to Newport,
Florida, and got married, and there we settled
down on q plantation, and lived mighty happy
and comfortable for long time. That was in
90. Now, want to tell you that Mr.. Bowen is
| aperfect gentleman, with q few exceptions, and
always treated me mighty well. Why he was
The most ingenious fellow YOU ever saw; he
could DO anything, and was as HANDY as ever /
saw man. Well, towards the end Of the war
he was taken prisoner and sent 10 Charleston,
and there a young woman, q widow, used 10
bring him comfortable things, and they gst
home on the plantation. and used TO write me
that be had no money to support nae in Charles
ton. This was after the close of the war;
What was he doing them"
Well, he was praercIng law and attending
10 The freedmens Bureau, which he was A
Confederate before and then turned Union.
and not money, and 1 never once thought tha
woman was what was the matter. Finally,
raised money enough 10 go 10 Charleston, with
out letting hlm know, and went TO the Postofice
there To- get his address. 1 cot his number and
rang the bell, and a woman came 10 the door
and Just then. sir, the whole thing flashed over
say anything, and sat dOwA i'm the parlor ali OF
| a fever. and chills shook me like death. told
the woman that | was ill, so as to keep from
telling downright lie, and she took me up
stairs TO her room. When got little better /
pumped the whole thing out OF her. how she was
supporting Bowen and he had never been mar
aud told her to tell Bowen 70 come down to see
me at my hotel. Well, he knew right on from
the descfi Upton that it was me, and came down
TO the hotel and told me all about II, -
What did YOU do?"
" 1 didn't raise any row, and Bowen used 10
come to see me every other night. This went
g Well, about the trial at Washington. When
did you see Bowen before that
" He came to see me last August, before he
was married to Mrs King, to arrange about the
ing he WAS married TO me, but his counsel and
my counsel over in Indiana said that they could
seven Gays before he married her. But he was
SO awfully in love that he wouldn't wait tail he
got the news
:" You knew that he was married."
"ies: L saw II in the papers. Well, he came
here again about two months ago"
:" lie did? Well, he tried TO impeach your
SSh has and said lie visited you, bat not A.
:. Yes, and that's the only thing that would
make me tell on him. Now, sir, ] will Just tell
YOU that when he came TO see me last, two
months ago, he didn't want 10 be known, but 1
took care to let enough know about his being
with me-
did he give you any money"
"Yes; In the last year he has sent me about
81 500, besides paying the allmony arranged
= Well, he treated you well in that. But
bow about his putting YOU on on another man.
my life. He was well-appearing Young fell
low, with good face, but he never looked me
once in the face during the whole trial. Now,
sir, to tell you the whole truth, knew this
whole plan when Bowen visited me two months
ago. lie told me that 10y this plan he could
arrange everything, provided 1 assented.
Well, indirectly let him believe would do
it, for was afraid of him, and wanted to get
from him some Of the money that Was nv due
why? ls he dangerous character ?''
Now tell you, sir, 1 have read novels in
M IA md I INN hat A. n.
when be is desperate. He said TO me, when we
were in Washington, { IL 60 to the peniten-
tiary, there will be still one left for you to CON
tend with meaning that II was Mrs. King, 'and
she'd have revenge If had staid one day
longer in Washington would have had them
both arrested on peace warrant"
what sort OF woman il this Mrs. King? I
have heard that your husband didn't make a
good exchange"
:" 40, sir; If he hadn't married that woman 1
don't know as would have produced that mar
rage certifcate. Nou see, cir, she was what YOU
call last woman, and can prove that when
the newspaper report said she was i'll in little
room out Of the court room. she was laughing
and carrying on scsndalously. 1 was in the
next room to her with the door open, waiting to
be called to give my evidence, and could hear
hsr 81; ; every man that paced through and
she came through the room where was know
ing it was me, though never was introduced to
her hsrl che behaved hsrself % badly and twisted
who was with me said something or other about
the court was even ashamed,
"Well, Mrs. Bowen, this husband of yours
hos treated You 20 meanly, In marrying this
woman and then defaming your Character. that
should think YOU would have NO hesitation an
exposing him: Have you ?"
NO; ST., haven't; and you may write down
just What say. II was agreed betw cen us two
lnonths ago, j being Influenced by pecupisry
ana fearful reasons, that this mans name Who
should swear that he had married me should be
Jonn Wilkinson, and that was the name that
the black moustached young fellow gave in
Warrington. He swore that was living wi tn
Bowen at the time, and that L, fearful Of come
time breaking up with Bowen, sent for him
sWilkinson) and gave him 500 to marry me.
That be never saw me before, and never saw me
after that day that he had married me.- Well.
now, I must tell You that two or three year,
amer Bowen and I were married, there vas
some doubt About our being really married, and
sent 10 the Judge At Newport and got cur mar
riage certificate. Bowen didn't Know that I
had IL until two or three wears after but be
never doubted that would stand BY the story