Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-25
Bowen Sues the Eagle for Libel.
BEEcHER's DENIAL OF CHARGES

New York, "a. The Brooklyn Argus prints
the following alleged statement made to its
reporter by Henry NJ. Smith, formerly man
aging editor of the Chicago Tribune, who
says that in the fall of 1872 Rev. DIR. Patten.
managing editor of the Advance, called on
him and said
81 have learned that Henry Ward Beecher
is man OF gross immoralities, and that lead.
ing Congregational clergymen of the East
look upon him as dangerous man. The re-
lations of Beecher, Bowen and Tilton, while
the three were engaged in the Independent
office, were very friendly. Suddenly a cold
ness sprang up between Bowen and Beecher.
Bowen went to Tilton and made a confidante
of Theodore informing him that Beecher's
morals we're questionable, and if his record
were to be made public the Independent
would be ruined. Bowen consulted with
Tilton for long time, and there sprung up
between the old man and the boy close
friendship. Finally Mrs. Bowen died, and on
her death-bed made a confession. She told
terrible story, and Bowen's rage and grief was
intense and saddening. At the funeral of Mrs.
Bowen, Tilton performed many kind offices,
and a short time after. Bowen, weighed with
grief. wrote a letter from Woodstock to Til
ton, whic h was a strong indictment of Henry
Ward Beecher. Beecher left the Independ-
learned of his immoral practices"
Mr.. Smith.-''Do you hear any ladies spo-
ken of besides Mrs. Bowen?"
Rev DIR. Patten.-''Yes, Miss Edna Dean
Proctor. Things ran along without any open
demonstration on Bowen's part, until one day
when he induced Tilton to write letter call
ing upon Beecher to leave his pulpit. Bowen
took that letter to Beecher. What passed at
that interview has not yet been made public;
but whereas Bowen went to see Beecher as an
indignant, outraged man, he left Beecher in
exactly the opposite mood. 1t is said by
some that there were financial considerations
that influenced Bowen. 1t is urged on the
other hand that Beecher made revelations to
Bowen, in regard to some Of his children,
that so staggered Bowen that he agreed to
truce. Bowen has made no open charges
since. Ie subsequently endeavored to get
from Tilton the letter written to Theodore
Tilton from Woodstock
The following has been received from Hen
ry NJ. Smith at the Fifth Avenue Hotel:
"Gross misapprehensions and use of pri-
vate conversation of mine, in the Beecher and
Tilton case, appears in the Brooklyn Argus
tonight.
(Signed) HENRY NJ. SMITH"
The Brooklyn Argus also prints the follow
ing statement alleged to have been made to
its reporter by Theodore Tlton. In answer
to the question how dill the remarkable let
ters from Mrs. Isabella Beecher- Hooker and
Rev. Thos. X. Beecher getto Frank Moulton,
Titon, as reported by the Argus to have said
that Reecher gave them to him, Beecher was
greatly alarmed lest Mrs. Hooker should
make some public demonstration.
81 felt indignant myself and we had a
meeting to discuss the subject finally, and
volunteered to deal with Mrs. Hooker.
thought could find her. / went by invita-
ton to see the lady while she was stopping
with Mrs. Phepps in 23rd street, New York.
After dinner | said to Mrs. Hooker, What
have you to communicate to me?' She re-
plied-You know very we'll what I want to
see you for, because you know what Henry
has been doing.
answered, madame, confession is good for
the soul you have nothing to fear from me.
Mrs. Hooker then said, /" am here to
charge Henry Ward Beecher with adultery
with Mrs. Theodore Tllton."
answered, madame, anticipated as much.
am here to charge you with adultery with
Mr.. N, of Washington.
Mrs. Hooker was stunned by my retort. |
then asked her where she heard that Beecher
had been guilty of improper relations with
Mrs. Tilton. She said that Victoria Wood
hull told her. | then assured her that Vic
toria Woodruff told me that Mrs Hooker and
Mr.. Nevens had been criminally intimate.
She sat down on the sofa and cried for several
minutes but she concluded it would not do
for her to enter Plymouth pulpit and denounce
Mr., Beecher for adultery. l Informed Frank
Mouton and Mr.. Beecher of my success with
Isabella, and Mr.. Beecher was very grateful
to me.
The Brooklyn Eagle says that the girl Bes
sic Turner was sent away to school by Tilton
and Moulton to prevent Bowen obtaining her
evidence, and that Beocher's connection with
her school bills was simply that of charity
that Mouton came to him and represented
that he had, as act of charity, paid two quart
ers' schooling out of his own pocket, and
asked Beecher to assist, and Beecher kindly
did so.
Mrs. Morse (Mrs. Tiltons mother said to
a reporter of the Eagle that Bessie had told
the truth.
1t is reported by the Argus that Henry c.
Bowen will sue the Brooklyn Eagle for libel,
damages $4,000, for the publication of an
alleged interview with him,-the truth OF
which he denied.
Mr.. Sherman ofthe council for Mr.. Beech
err is said to have gone to the White Mount
aims to consult with Mr.. Beecher in reference
to the answer in Tiltons suit
Rochester, "a. The Union this afternoon
the result of an interview between one of its
reporters and Miss Susan Is. Anthony, rela.
tive to the statement of Mrs Tiltons servant,
Bessie, duplicating Miss Anthony in an i'm
proper tale, tale with Theodore Tilton. Miss
Anthony denies the whole story, but regards
it too absurd to be worthy of notice. She
says she never heard that the girl Bessie was
anything more than a servant in Mr.. Tilton's
family that she was half an idiot, aui that
Mrs. Tilton repeatedly said she could not
beat into the girl the first elements of truth
Miss Anthony's character is too veil estab'
lished by long years of residence in this COM
munity to admit of shadow of doubt in the
mind of any person here as to her virtue and
veracity.
Concord, N. H., "a. Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher left the Twin Mountain House in the
morning train to-day, arriving at Littleton
about half past ten o'clock. He proceeded
d;rootly IN tho Jaw office of Henry Rinoham