Year: 1871




Bowen, convicted OF bigamy, I'm whose tho motion
for suspension OF sentence argued yesterday, ap
peared In Court with his latest wife, Mrs Pettigew
King Bowen, and Messrs Riddle and Moore OF his
sell The hour being early there but few spectators
In the Courtroom Judge Onn said This Is motion to
suspend the sentence OF law IN this case, and
quence to let the prisoner go at large bail until
eepons taken at the trial disposed Of have heard
a somewhat protracted argument on this question
Quoted with much research and learning, and the
elusion at which have arrived after careful examina
sentence Of the law upon the verdict in this case Posi-
bly, this Court has the TO suspend passing sentence
guilty. by inry but from all authority, it is think clear
that such power should never be exercised unless
INJUSTICE lad S BEEN done the defendant Since the trial
Of this case, have carefully reviewed the exceptions
any in them and so believing, think 1t my
duty TO pronounce the sentence OF the law There
another question incidentally involved In this case which


do not decide, and that Is. whether on pronouncng
sentence in this and when bill OF exceptions has
been fled Judge OF this Court may not suspend the
execution Of the sentence and let the party have bail
been settled by the Court ~ bgnc This question do not
decide. am of opinion II have the power TO suspend
has the same power and have come to the conclu
sion that committed the trial OF the cause,
unnecessary The Judge then asked Mr. Bowen, %DO
wish to anything in addition to what your coun
se mas 'ad' So you can have the privilege oi DONG
STATEMENT OF MR. BOWEN.


Mr.. Bowen rose, and as he did so Mrs. King Bowen
conyusively clung to him but finally ho persuaded her
| to take her seat and said:


"If your Honor pleases-T aware that perhaps any
thing can say would have no effect. will say this


took the step that did last August good faith and
had obtained IN ana S let on me say
| friends that if there was anything wrong in that
my money and obtained that record in 1885 II your
viii SSs w s % os s s o T y go hs
upon this question The entry made in that book, and
the testimony unmpeached IN this Court as 1t stands to-
day is that the whole entry though there are erasres
was in the handwriting OF one person corroborated by
put upon the Further than that, the clerk tes


lied that it the handwriting of clerk in that
to-day uncontradicted. One step further, and I am
DONE that record is concerned One year ago
she (pOinne in the direction of his wife) ncOsed her
money TO the Clerk of that Court, and obtained
Of s t rescP in 9 %s SGpy Se
fault of these men, and the they do business there
side of that as the of Congress- which had
and read and which had shown to lawyers there was
Much has been said about my abandoning woman
in Augusta. If could have opened my mouth could
have shown perhaps why the abandonment or deseron
took place; but mouth closed and 30 was hers


viii say this much Would 1Sye & been willing to have
may have happened in 1882 the difference between us
Was to sit down there in that little town and sarye to
deathi When went, was she to go with inef II she
shown. made every effort that could make In 1862,
and sent messeDgerto her trying to settle this diff
|
door, he told that no such person lived in the house
After persistent inquiry he found person who said her
was intended her. When she told the letter was
from me-. and that was stopping at ho-
| back; / want nothing more to do with him.
Tell him to send me more messages" The next day


in this case The DstrictA ttorney says 1 could
found the woman that could have gone TO her at
Augusta Grant that could but had any encourage
nent at any time after that, that would meet with any
| i
in 1865 the divorce was granted troubled myself no
further. did not secree myself did not run away,
but within miles of that woman sat down in public
lfe and she rs Hicks Of her friends can to,
| her mouth notwithstanding the newspapers were
filed with my name from day TO-, to DAY, ,r
honor TO Ill the hill lthe capita This woman never
opened a her SGG a m s Mng bSraded IL oVey
the country II was shown no one had any claim upon
n9upy was made the very man who took that stand
Hatcher when inquiry made OF him. he denied TO
And here let say. that far malice and prejudice
is concerned do not wish to say ANYTHING ABOUT out mat @
prosecution, If pleased to call it that grew out
Of so some one must be gotten out of the
way. In few moments more t9e


uch affected go far politics concerned that is
at an end. They did not go TO this woman at the com
else they came here and got an Indictment 1t made
but little difference upon what was convicted 80 long
Park found. who had said previously and that IN
herr OU
ttorney had in his hand the same evidence
that he had here and while he sat here holding that ey
dence he urged my conviction in the Park case on the
ground that Mrs. Park was my lawful wife. Hatcher
concerned here in the first but not word did they
Why, then. did Hatcher not say 81 have an aunt in
saying himself long as this man can be convicted
90 on. They failed IN their conviction In & less tnan
rant the of Hicks, and from that time down 70
bia %
time attempted to fight the Government OF the ni'ed
is useless it is folly any man to attempt-that
one man, without money and perhaps only limited
prosecution Of this or any other kind. say il is i'm
possible. They pay their spies. They pay their men
they ransack the country from one end TO the Other
having all the money needed at their command In TINS
do not mean to cast any imputations or reflections
that tired and ont. new trial Is spoken or


do not know that have assurances OF any better
result Not that have acted wrongly IN this case inten-
tOnaly, your Honor but sent TO prison at this time,
and returned here without money and Without friends
and put upon my trial FOR the second time THESE
fhe priyee. and the means roaming the country 70
hunt up all OF witnesses TO me that could
In Conclusion, l say that whatever punish,
inen1 sS From the commencement Of this az
fair have not shirked married that woman olntlng
his wfe last August in good fah TfGmgh p eas tf bs
the laws of God will. When, or whatever PUNISH
ment that may be inflicted by this Court shall have been
served out If we are spared turning his wife, who
rose and received his extended handl return to her.


TMrs Bowen here clung closely to her huspand Dut III


moment or so resumed her seat at the request OF her
husband A.. ..o .,o,,,.o y,
limitation n sufcidnt bar to the actlon Oh Dlgdiy
agree with your honor that II had been pfTSed neo


at had deserted woman in Augusta and had gone
on that statute would not have applied but such Is no
the fact sitting down within 100 miles OF tnat Wonal
ant she refIsipg 10 communicate with me, she never
making solitary inquiry for me during that hve years
say that that statute sufficient bar 10 the lndiet
nent that was obtained here in this Court one WORD
more and am To these gentlemen VINO kindly
M
Inv them as have in this whole transactiOn-ln good
9TH To-day they relieved am truly grateful 10
hnunr 7 am sen