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

Was to gofhere aDd force myself into
the house? Nay, ne! But time passed
on, and, as ] says,
IN 1866, THE DIVORCE WAS GRANTED.
I.troabled myself no further. I did not
seerete myself. l did not run away !;
but, within 100 miles Of that woman, l
sat down in public life; and she Mrs.
Hicks,) nor any of her friends, cau- to
day say she ever made an inquiry; that
she ever opened her mouth, notwith-
standing the newspapers were filled with
my name from day to day being twice
elected to the position which T had the
honor to ell on the hill (the Capital
This woman.
NEVER OPENED HER MOUTH.
all this time. When l 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 90 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 at so far as
MALICE AND PREJUDICE
is concerned, do not wish to say any
thing about that. though | eonld say
much. But suffice it 20 say that this
prosecution-if you are pleased to call
it that-grew out Of this, and this alone.
l stood in the way politically Of some
one, I must be gotten out of the way.
In a 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 in
dictment. 1t made but little difference
upon what was convicted, so long as
l 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
tha, 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, Il have an aunt in Augusta who
feels aggrieved7" No, hut 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 l was arrested
npon warran. in the case Of Hicks and
from that time down to this it has been
going on.
IAN 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 It is useless, il 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. / say it is
impossible They pay their spies. They
pay their men. They rnnsack the country
from one end to the other, having all the
money needed at their command. In
this | do not mean to cast any imputa-
tious or reflections upon the District
Attorney or his assistant. l only say
that | a,n tired and worn OFT.
A new trial is spoken of. I do not
know that have any assurances Of any
better result Not that | have acted
wrong in this case Intentionally. your
Honor, but sent to prison at this time,
what could hope il new trial we're
granted this fail. and | returned here
WITHOUT MONEY, WITHOUT FRIENDS.
and was nut upou nv trial for the second
time. These gentlemen District At
torney and his a>sistant) having the
privilege and the means of roaming the
country to hunt up all sorts of witnesses.
it seems to me that l could not hope for
a much better result.
In conclusion, I say that whatever
punishment may fall npon my head. |
stand here to receive it From the
com mmeucemeut Of this affair | have not
shirked.
MARRIED THAT WOMAN
(pointipg to his wife) last August in good
faith. Though the laws Of the country
may annul that, have firm belief
that the laws of God never will. when
whatever punishment that may be in
Aicted by this Court shall have been
served out if We are spared Cunning to
his wife, who rises and receives his ex
tended HANDY 1 return to her. (Mrs.
Bowen here
cLUNa CLOSELY
to her husband } Mrs. Bowen in q
moment or two resumed her seat, at the
request Of her husband.
Mr. Bowen crntiuued-I contend, or
did, that that statute Of limitation was
a sufficient bar to the action OF bigamy.
agree with your Honor that if it had
been proved here that I had deserted