National Republican., 1883-04-20
TALES FROM rEwKsnunY.
Miss Bowsn's Character Dsfended:by Gov.
ButIer-NIore Sensational Testimony.

Miss Bowen'a Character Defended:by Gov.
ButIer-NIore Sensational Testimony.
BosToN April 19.--The sensational nature
Of the Tewksbury almshouse hearing yester-
day served to draw large attendance to-day,
and Gov. Butler, on his arrival, was received
with applause.
Mr.. Brown repeated his question Of yestor-
day as to the name by which Miss Bowen was
known in New York. 1t was agreed that
letter from II. s. King, Of Twenty-eighth
street and Broadway, New York, should be
read, but not given to the public, notwitn-
standing said letter is printed. The letter
does not contain Miss Bowen's real name, but
gives history Of her downfall, in which, 1t
SAYS, a well-known citizen was prominent.
1t also states that her father drove her from
home aud then secured her incarceration at
Tewksbury also that he tried to poison
her, but only succeeded in killing her
infant. Mr.. Brown suggested that Miss
Bowen tell her New York name to
two members of the committee aud an.
other person that he should select, and
that they should investigate the manner of
life she led in New York. In answer to
questions by Mr.. Brown, the witness, Miss
Bowen, stated that she had lived at No 20
Lyman street, New York, house Of i'll re-
pute, before her child was born. Various
questions tending to criminate the witness
were asked when the Governor protested
against this effort to blacken her character az
means of weakening her testimony. Mr..
Brown said he proposed TO show up the wit
ness life, and at this point the controversy
between counsel became decidedly acrimoni-
GUS and personal, being on whether the wit
ness should give her New York name to the
committee. 1t was finally decided that she
should and accordingly it was written on
paper and handed to the committe. The wit
n ess thon entered into tho details of hei
life. She said that Nellie Marsh at Tewks'
bury attempted to poison her, the inference
being that her father wanted to get rid ofsher
at tho instigation Of her stepmother, who was
the cause of all her persecution. Much Of the
testimony of the witness had no bearing or
the original purpose for which the investiga
tion was started, and is unfit for publication
The governor asked for the prescription
book of the hospital in 1875.
DIR. Caroline Hastings, physician at thu
Moral Reform socety's establishment testi
fed favorably as to Miss Bowen's physical con
dition at the time Of the accouchment. Mr.
Brown attempted to show to the contrary
Much of this testimony is unfit for publica
tion.
Mrs. Catharine Powers, who was employed
at the almshouse, testified that she took he
six children with her to the institution; tina
her baby was taken from her and thrown int,
bath tub where diseased children had jus
bathed, and was wiped with the same towe
used on those children; and that it was tn,
most horrible place she had ever been in Sh
reiterated the abuses of females in the bath
Ono woman, 70 years old, was beaten with
stick, and all the females had their hair Gu
close and soft soap deluged over them. o.
cross examination witness said she had beer
in Bridgewater for year for alleged drunk
enness. Adjourned.