Guilty

The Marietta Register, Semi-Weekly, June 20, 1884

The trial of Mary E. Hovey, which occupied the court almost night and day for four days, on a charge of perjury, resulted in a verdict of guilty. The penalty is imprisonment for a term of three to ten years. A new trial was asked for and the motion will be heard July 2. The grounds are considered slight and the chances are that Mrs. Hovey will be the second woman sent from Washington County for perjury. Mrs. Hovey's crime consisted in swearing out a warrant for a woman by the name of Kauf, charging her with stealing a watch which at the time was pledged to another party to secure a board bill.

The circumstances occurred some two years ago and were related at the time in the Register.

The case called a great many witnesses into court and in some aspects was scandalous. The defendant is a woman who has flaunted a disgraceful life in the face of decent people in Marietta for many years. A great many, several of them women, were dragged into court by her attorney and felt contaminated by the atmosphere surrounding the case, because they knew nothing bearing upon it and nothing good of the defendant. The verdict was one expected by all who heard much of the trial.

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Mrs. Hovey has not eaten anything since going to jail and says she is sick. Her nervous system has been under a terrible strain and she should giver herself up to a little sleep and healthy nourishment. She or several others have been guilty of perjury and the jury found against her. The result is not less than three years residence at the capital and she should make the best of it.