The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-26
A STARTLING REPORT.

ShAOuhueu HumOr OF the Assassination
of Henry Ward Beccher-Mr. Beecher's
house Besieged by Anxious Inqulrers,
Etc. Etc.
The city clocks had scarcely announced the
hour of six yesterday afternoon, when report
OF the tgravest import and the most startling
character agitated the whole community. A
rumor was circulated with telegraphic rapldity,
that the eloquent divine of Plymouth Church,
the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher had been assas
sinated. The report was relieved by no details
of the horrible event and the people to whom
1t was announced, seized with awe and wonder.
had to saliate their curiosity by taking refuge
in maze of speculations on the origin an cause
of the terrible homicide.
The report created throughout the metroDolis
general expression OF profound sorrow.
In city of million of inbaDitants, who are
RECALLED daily with truthful sensations and re-
cords OF bloody deeds, report, false or true
Will receive credeuce and iucite comment The
rumor travels from lip to ip, tillits source Is lost
and 1t becomes for the time being, fact in the
Judgment OF The populace, till it is declared erro,
neOus. Such was the case in relation to the
report of Mr.. Beecher's death which was,
happily, without foundation.
MR.. BEEoHER's BROOKLYN MANSION BEsIRGED.
The public anxiety to hear some authentic de-
tails of the alleged tragedy was evlnced in many
ways All Mr.. Beecher's friends in this citv
were sought out Tor the purpose of ascertaihing
the cause OF The deed, but they were unahIa to
shed any light upon It. Aware of the fact Jhat
II the murder had taken place those i'm AR
Beechers mansion in Brooklyn must have
Deen made aware of it, hundreds of the ad-
mirers OF the divine proceeded there, but they
discovered that the occupants were in blissful
ignorance of the occurrence. As each success.
slve group OF visitors left the house they were
succeeded by others. till midnight sent the last
audience OF anxious inquirers to rest
THE REPORT
in its travels had many transformations. and NJ
last took definite shape. We will give ii as it
was narrated to us by one who heard II after IL
had passed from Harlem TO the Battery. and
across to the City OF Churches.
At four o'clock this morning, said our as
founded informant, heavy series of raps were
given at the front door of Mr.. Beechers house
10 Peekskili, which had the effect OF wakening
the whole family. Mr.. Beecher rose from his
pea and proceeded down stairs, when he un-
,ocSeo ine door. while there he was accosted
By tall and able-bodied man, who thus ad-
dressed him:- -
''ATe you Beecher"
"Yes, sir.r
The divine had scarcely uttered the affirmative
when the stranger fired; a ball pierced his heart,
and he fell dead ON the threshold of his own
mouse! In few minutes the family, alarmed
by the discharge OF the pistol, rushed down
stairs TO the scene OF blood; but they were too
late, Mr. Beecher was no more.
nave also heard, continued our informant
that while the body of the eloquent minister
lay where 1t first fell, Theodore Tilton, who had
just arrived to solicit Mr.. Beecher's presence at
great meeting, knelt frantically beside the
remains, and UNCONSCIOUS that he was address
Ing stark corpse, begged forgiveness for his
attacks on the departed preacher in the Eade.
pendent! Having ascertaiRed that the lips OF
his friend were mute forevdr he found, 10 his
horror, that the blood OF the dead man was upon
his shirt, and he rushed up stairs hastily TO the
linen"
,"Did you hear anything further2r we asked
YES" he replied, ''there are a thousand
rumors about the murder. | heard n man
say he believed MIR. Beecher was killed In
order that he might die in the Republican faith!"
Our informant thep lett to repeat this story TO
Others.
THE HEARTLEss CANABD DISCOVERED.
In order to make assurance doubly sure our
reporter visited Mr.. BeeCher's house in Brook
lyn, and the Hudson River Railroad depot
and found that the report was a heartless false
hood. In addition, we received despatch from
PeeksBlll, stating that the rumOr was happily