The New York herald., 1874-07-28
A TALK WITH MIR. SHEARMAN.


The following conversation between reporter
ana one OF Mr. Beecber's most trustec friends will
disclose further traits 10 the progress OF TIM
peculiar case:-
Prom the BROOKLYN ArCus.l
when the Af0us representative drove up the
earri agewav leading to Mr. Beechers country seat
ne lnduiged grave doubts az TO being able u
see the reverend gentleman Of whom he was III
quest Under the advice OF Mr.. Shearman Mr..
shearnan esteems Mr.. Beecher's friends. The
summons OF the reporter was responded TO by
To the opinion that Mr Beecher could not be seen,
as ne was In strict retirement.
would he be kind enough to state II he knew
when Mr. Beecher would go the cItyf
MI beecher was undecided when he should go
down. he should 90 when the committee sent for
him and not before
II the Colonel would be kind enough to convey
the reporter card 10 Mr. Beecher with the state
ment ttiat III was not desired TO ''interylewh Mr..
Beecher bpt simply to secure an answer to a
COUPE OF specific questions, ne would confer a
lavOr.
The Colonel would do So though the errand would
prove Irnitiess. Mr.. Shearman would see the re-
porter. however, If be would answer
Tne reporter agreed TO the substitute, adding
the mental promise that when he got him ne d
make nim answer" and patiently awaited the
coming oi
- WITHIN ten minutes that gentleman appeared.
He was very busy, he said, mucR pressed i0r tiine
and could spare but a few moments.
II fpossiole, the reporter would like to get an as
surance IN regard TO MS statement from Mr.
Beecher in person.
That woaid be impossible. AS Mr. Beecher saw no
one.
that Mr. Beecher was closeted with World repor
ter, whom he had sent for less than half an hour
before; which little circumstance was well known
to the Argus representative.
Mr.. Shearman could not say whether there was
10 be
ANY WRITTEN STATEMENT
or not. That was for the committee to say. IF
they chose to tell Mr.. Beecher they wanted one he
Was Mr.. Shearman to be understood as arirming
ina tnat no written statement was TO be submitted TO
was IN course OF preparation2
Mr. Shearman smiled. He was not aware OF any
statement. II there was Mr. Beecher would nave
nothing 10 DO with its publication that would he
for
THE coMxYTrEn
he (Mr. Sbearman deprecated this intense
publicity. II the committee had determined TO
publish all the testimony they had acted very
restraint. would mention names and say Things
derogatory TO various individuals, which, while
Every member OF the committee would be liable
Tor libel II these names were not eXpunged from
the testimony before 1t was printed. me papers,
too, that printed these names would also be neld
liable. The papers must take tins risk ii they
would print the testimony There had been alto
gether too much publicity already.
MI. Shearman believed IN Mr.. Beecher's tri-
uniphant vindicatonY
Most decidedly. Under any and all circum-
stances
And that Mr. Beecher wouid shine still brighter
by reason OF tins clearing away OF every thing
Certainly.
In that event, then, it must be acknowledged
that the Argus had done Mr. Beecher the greatest
favor OF his ilfeY
Weii-Yes.
Was there any truth in the matter published In
Saturdays Graphic, purporting to be an abstract
Of Mr.. Beecher's statement
That was q graphic invention. As soon as Mr..
Beecher's statement was ready ior the press there
would be no favor shown.
Then MI. Shearmsn could say there was 10 be a
st8tementY
No: he could not. But there were 20 manv ab
surdltleS banded about IL was absurd to call
THE COMMITTEE MR. BEECHER'S FRIENDS.
Three OF them were such but the other three were
strong friends or MI. 1Itou and one OF them he
used TO leave all his money with when he went
Iecturing
Another absurdity was in calling Mr.. Tracy aud
Mr. Hill Mr.. Beecher's counsel. They were nothing
Of the KIND One member OF the committee en-
gagged Mr. Tracy AS counsel for the committee
while Mr.. Hlll IS retained by another member to
look after his personal safety and interest. Mr..
Beecser does not see any OF the gentlemen. or
the outcome OF the investigation there could he no
shadow or doubt. The committee had already
more than enough before IL to clear Mr.. BeecheT.
II was necessary, however, to look into some OF
Mr. Tllton's dongs and TO inquire as to some
oil his friends, and there was rcaiIy very little else
TO do.