CAPTURE OF A BIGAMIST.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 505, 9 May 1879, Page 2

CAPTURE OF A BIGAMIST.

A very clever arrest was made last night by Detective Brown.- It appears that for some time past, in fact since December, 1876, a man named Samuel Cowan has been '• wanted " by the Adelaide police on a charge of bigamy, and j a few weeks ago they were Informed that he! was in some part of New Zealand. When Constable Mack was leaving Adelaide for the purpose of arresting the defaulting bankrupt I Gleich here, he was entrusted with a warraut for the apprehension of Cowan, and was instructed to arrest tho man if he was to be found in the colony. He believed that Cowan was in Christchurch, and set to work to find him there. He could find no tidings of the man, however, aud handed , over a photograph of Cowan to Superintendent James, who ia turn gave ft to Detective Brown. The detective thought he had seen the face somewhere, and after hunting about for a few days ha, as we have stated, dropped on his man ! at Orr & Street's caftt last night, and shortly afterwards lodged him in. the lock-up. It .appears' that on the 21st May, 1871, Cowan, who' was engaged as a professional cook in Adelaide, married a young woman with whom I. he lived for five years. On 18th December,, I 1876, he met another young woman named Emma Earwaker, whom he induced to elope with him, but they were afterwards married. They travelled in different parts of Australia for some time, and about nine months ago came to New Zealand. He started as a traveller in Christcburch, and remained there for some months, but at length he seems to have found out that he was suspected, and therefore he removed to Wellington. When he came to Wellington he began business as a hawker of American books, and and for some time past he has been doing a good business on the " deferred payment " systt.m. . For some time past he. has been living at O.t & Street's flafe, where he paid £5 per week fofinw rooms, and rendered himself rattier obnoxious to his fellowby frequently complaining that they made too much noise for his cjrafort. His rooms were plentifully supplied with " liquid refreshments," there being, amongst other things, a cask of whisky and "a barral of Adelaide wine. He is quite a young man, but with the aid of a razor 'he has considerably changed his looks. We understand that on being arrested by Detective Brown -he admitted that - he' wan tho person named in the warrant, and that the photograph was his. Since coming to New Zealand he has visited several of the large cities, and has done business in each. When his first wife heard that he had run away with the other lady she immediately took steps to have him arrested, but he managed to evade the officers of the law for more than two years. Much credit is due to Detective Brown for the cleverness he has displayed in connection with this case. . J [Since writing the above, we learn that Cowan was married to his first wife in Melbourne, and to his second ia Adelaide, to which, place he went when ho left Victoria. WJnle in< Adelaide he heard that his first wife bad begun proceedings against him, and accordingly he levanted to Sydney, wheoce he came to New Zealand. It appears that over since bis second marriage he has been livipg a most wretched - life, being constantly iv fear of being arrested. He now Wishes 10 get' back to Adelaide wi,th all speed, and he avers that the whofe affair wiil ''end in smoke.". When he was arrested he attempted to make away with bis watch,, hut Detective Brown was rather too quick for him, and secured it.] » t . 'Samuel Cowan was 'bfougnt before Mr. 1 Mansford, R M , this afternoon on a charge of bigamy. Prisoner was not defended. Cent table Mack deposed tbat he was a mem- . bjßr of the Adelaide police force. He produced a warrant for the apprehension of tno' prisoner. He identified the prisoner by the photograph produced, which was brought 'by 'witness from Adelaide. Detective Browne gave evidence as, to the arrest of the prisoner. He read the warrant to prisoner, who said nothing, but oh his way to the. station he admitted that he was tbe person wanted in the warrant, and expressed a hope that he would be sent to Adelaide as coon as possible, for he was sure that th» matter would end in smoke. ■ Prisoner was then remanded to Adelaide.