Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-16


CHARGE OF BIGAMY-To-day, in the Crimi-
nal Court, Judge Macarthur, the case of WIN.
SemnIes. charged with. bigs my, was taken up;
MeSsrs. o. ID. Barrett and f. A. Williams for
defense. The accused is young man about %
or . years OF age, and when arraIgned on the
indictment, charging him with having married
on the 9Th of August, 1869, one Anna Javins
and while she was living, or the Gath of August,
-, ,o marrying one Martha 4. Fowler, he
called as the first witness; but at this point the
defense entered plea in abatement, and asked
TO withdraw the plea OF not guilty-on the
ground that the name OF the accused is William
Samuel Semmes, and not W VILLAIN Semmes. The
court granted the leave, and the government
fled a demurrer to the plea.
The Judge said that he did not understand
that il was necessary to have the middle name,
and he sustained the demurrer. The defendant
plead over not guilty, and jury having been
Rsr. ". L. Ha,gIey was sworn, and testified
that he was a minister of the Methodist church;
that on or about August 2.th, 1869, he married
defendant and Miss Javins, and he identified
them.
ON cross-eSamination witness stated that he
performed the ceremony esrly in the morning.
Rsr. HR. Mullen testified that he married de-
PENDANT and Miss Fowler on the 9th of August,
1852.
Mr.. l.. p Williams, assistant clerk, identified
the records OF the licenses and return.
Mr.. HarTison Ja~iHS, father of Mrs. Semmes
No. j, testified that his daughters name was
Anna.
The argument closed and Mr.. Barrett opened
Tor the defence, claiming hat the prisoner was
not in condition TO contract a marriage. he
being OF family in both branches or which
there Is insanity.
tilted that on the sth day OF MAY next he will
be 3 years of age. He has been s'pretty reck-
less Of nights since he was II years of age often
talking OF different girls when he was between
q sleep and a slumber; had heard him talking
10 IN object just before him. "Alsays talking
OF this woman, that woman or the other wo,
man."
Mr.. Harrington.-what kind of insanity is
your defence, Mr.. Barrett?
Mr.. Overwhelmingly, and he proceeded
TO explain.
Witness continued:-He (the prisoner) was
dark under the eyes; he lived with the irst wife
from SIX TO twelve months: when he was IL there
was marked change in his conduct; about six
months before be fell OF cart and struck on
his head. The grandmother of the defendant,
for ten or twelve years past, has hardly been
able TO tell one OF her children from another;
witness has brother and sister who are insane.
Col. DElGny, of Alexandria, testified that il
was q notorious fact that the prisoner was an
imhecile; had seen him passing along talking to
himself and gesticulatiDg; knew that his uncle
was insane; witnesses headquarters were the
residence of the defendants father from the
early part Of 1861 TO the time in 1852 when Mos
Dr.. y. p. HartigGn testified that he examined
the prisoner and found him an lmbecle; hardly
responsible being; his pulse was lI2, which
would ordinarily indicate fever, but his hands
On cross-examination witness said that the
prisoner was partial imbecile, and although
be knew right from wrong, he did not regard
him as a responsible being. He wouldn't hes
itate to send bill to the accused if he had
charge against him.
DR.. TEilio s. Verdi testified that he had ex-
amined the prisoner and found him of weak
mind.
DR.. c. III. Nichols. superintendent OF the gov
eminent hospital for the insane, testified that
the Impressions made by the testimony and his
observation Of the accused were that he Is an
imbecile, with strong hereditary tendencies to
insanity.
The case was still in progress when our report
closed,