New-York tribune., 1874-11-21
iDEMAS BARNES ACQUITTED.

TRIAL ON THE INDICTMENT FOR LIBEL-No ATTEMPT
MADE TO JUSTIFY THE CHARGES AGAINST THE
LATE MRS. BowEN-TEsrIMoNY OF HENRY C.
BwEN, HIS SONS, THE WRITER OF TIE ARTICLE.
AND oTHERs-No MALICE AND HENCE AN AC-
QUITTAL-
The case of the People against Demas
Barnes proprietor OF The Argus charged with hbeng
the character of dead wife OF Heury C. Bowen was
called yesterday morning in the Brooklyn Court or
sessons Judge Moore presiding The indictment against
Mr. Barnes charged that lie published article IN Tho
Argus on Aug. "A, in which 1t WAS stated that
Mrs. Bowen her death-Jed MADE con-
fession to Mr.. Bowen which drove him nearly
wild with rage grief Il further CHARGED that
the article conveyed the impression that t!s alleged
confession WAS the statement OF improper Intimacy
existing between Mrs. Bowen AMI the R:v Henry Ward
Beecher. The article, with sem:-editJriIi comments,
was in the shape of interview aai ". 4ryus
por:er with Henry NJ Smith OF CncdsJ IIe Court or
Sessions room crowded every part when the case
was called. Among the Interested spectators wero
Henry C. Bowen aud his sons C.areIcs Bowen and
Heury T. Bowen, Theodore Tlton. ex Judge Morris.
Demas Barnes, Augustus Mwerck, DeWnt G.
Ray, aud Sheriff Williams. Dstriet-AttoTney W'nslow
and Assistant Distct-Atorney Moore appeared for the
prosecution. aud d. r. Barnard for the de;e1dan The
arst u men drawn from the panel OF Jurors
selected Us jury Among the Jurors was George Sed-
dons the prize-hghter, whose encounter with Arthur
Chambers, another pdgills WOa lVf u!n sobsderaoio
notoriety few months ago.
The Dstr!ct-Attorney, in opening the case, briefly
stated the allegations ,de in the libel. AMI character
izod the article as and brutal He stated that he
had been given 10 understand that TIE deenidni would
not make any effort that the state Ds made
in the article which Drough; about tue Indictment wefe
true He believed that could no; be held respon-
sible for the o! agent audit Dir Barness agens
perpe,rated The bal without Mr. Blrness knowledge,
then tina, MAJ er sAould De taken iIto consideration.
TESTIMONY OF HENRY c. BOWEN.
Henry C. Bowen was the hrst witness called. He tes
t,aed as follows: live al NJ % WoS-s: have re-
sided IN Brooklyn thirty la 1868 aud before
aud siuce the proprietor Of The Independent, .
weekly newspaper the year 1868 Lacy N. Bowen was
NV wife she Is now deceased SIZE died Ia March, 1873
there chidreo sons ana torce daugnters;
Henry. ward aud Clarence are nov li,ns they are
was connued her bed about two weeks she died sud-
denly mOath after her eonnnetneat vas presens
last hours she unable to tax at anS
she was unable TO speak from 10 in the
morning; she was suffering paralysis OF tue throat
and size; communicated BY signs; her MUD
seemed 10 Oc clear; was VITA her every day in her
skness during her last hours she made staeIn
confesson refrr.pee, or insinuaton that she had
United adultery With any one sac mate none whatever;
way y wife TAINTED with Mr.. Beecber and had
beru for mauy years, had my lrela,ions with him
,aere is no foundation whatever for the ALLEGATION that
met Mr. Beeeher some DAYS after ny wes death aud
ConNerecU VIII on ~ hsteoh
OF Chicago II Is not true that any ennity sprung up
between Mr. Beeehertnd myself IN regard 20 This mat
ter NY wife told no story whaever there Is no truth
in tue allegation that Mr. Beecher left The Independent
account Of his immortality with my wife there 10 no
truth Ia the allegation that brought Mr. Beecher
note requesting hn TO leave the pulpit account Of hs
in Ilorshes Win 10y wife Mr. smith, meniioued In the
Int ryiew called my ofhee after tie paofcauon
OF the l,b,l. -
about Is Oh - leIs old The death Of ny wiie EIwafd
was apou: Two years younger. C!arence TWO years
younger than t""rd my wiie ao I,, ..c
been ted ever slnce be come 10 Dtovkyn aooue
las. un I,C laln.d with the defendant MI BirIes;
nave ,e ACQUAINTED with him u or Is years; our re
tous were rndlv previous " the hoe; ~ ne yank