New-York tribune., 1875-02-03
TILE POLICY OF SILENCE ABANDONED.

DIR. Fullcrt0n-lt IS not CHARACTERIZATION dI all
II is simply omitted To the witness want to call your
attention after the publication OF the
woodhu scandsome proposition to countcract it Do you
recolect such intcryew-such meeting! A. do, Sir
@ State you please when it took place. near as you can
recoect, A. To the best Of my recollection, about
fostnigh. less after my interview with Mrs.
Hooker and the suppression OF her attempt Mr.
Beecher came to Mr. Mouton's study and / was
present and he said that in his judgment the time had passed
when silence concerning the Woodruff scandal wise pol
icy there much camOr the part Of the public as
manifested the press much inquiry in his church and
congregation so many demands made upon him by his
friends that the pressure was getting to be unenduraDe
He said that he thought at that late day which
was Gyo or six weeks after the publication Novem-
bcr the 2i-he said he thought that no card OF denial
would then answer but that plan might be devised to ex
plain TO the public 10 give to the press, what might
have been-what the public might regard as the true
nucleus Of the scandal and his suggestion was this
| remember he said People argue in this way, not
that tho Woodruff story true because Its extravaganza Is
against but that they naturally say Where there so much
smoke there be fire. and that though that story
not true nevertheless something be true in other words
under the surface the story which pubhed there must
be something OF black and damnable character. Now,
he said "supposS we should appeal 10 that sentiment
in che community; suppose for Instance that come
reputable paper speaking semociay authorized by the
parties in the -case-say TIE NEW YORK TRrBUSE-should
ground for Mrs Wo0dhus pubcaon not the ground which
she stated but that that ground existed in certain stories which
Mr. Henry c. Bowen had told ayear or two previous against MI
Beecher aud which Mr Bowen himself had in written
instrument six months before namely April %, lS'2 re-
traced Nov" said he, suppose get some semeditora
uerancel not signed by names to that eject tat
there was this ground for those stories Let that be
stated and le Us cut from the rpartte covenant the
section which Mr.. Bowen signed roractng those stories
and let put that into the newspapers 1t VIII SATISFY
public curiosity; people will WELL we always kne" there
must be something in the Woodhu story and we know
what It Is COLLECTION Of stories which Bowen has told and
which Bowen has retrcted Mr. Bocher suggested that as
device IN the middle OF December 1874 to meet and counter
act the Woodruff tale.
O. Now what said reply to that suggestion A. Mr.
Beecher asked Mr Moutons opinion Of and Mr Moulton
turned and said Theodore what is your opinion" said
My opinion Of Il that it will be fatal policy" Mr Beecher
asked why SID "n the first place Mr. Bowen did not
willingly sign The dpatc covenant and he has always said
since "a his friends making hesitation in the
statement that ne did not ract anything that that covenant
was so loosely drawn that he could drive coach and four
through II that the retc,ion retracton that any law
yer could pick it to pieces that he had signed at Cahin
reouest and that it was denial practically sad further
more that IL Nr. Bowen the same man tncn
that had known him be in years previous and thought
knew him as well any other man did, for l had
served with him fifteen years said IL" you drive Mr. Bowen
to the wall evidence In his possession against
you he will and fight and be may strike death blow
before you are said Beware how put Bowen in
corner unless you that he has evidence" Then
followed discussion a. to whether Mr. Bowen had any evidence
Mr. Beecher said that Mr. Bowen could not possibly bring
any evidence against him Of any Of the general charges that he
had made and only danger that he apphended was that
in certain particular there might be scrap Of writ
ing he didn't whetheE there Then followed al n
teryiew Sir which think have no right to repeat.
No don't mention that interview 1t is an interview with
,ula Mr. A.
O That brings me to December 1927 A Pardon me Sir
we are already in December that last interview
O Well that brings later in December II you recolect
anything else that occurred that other interview you may
mention it, What else occurred at that interview if there is
anything, A. have my doubts whether have right to
state IT, The substance OF it that request made to
me by Nj Beecher 10 ascertan--
@ No don't want that part OF It. II there anything
else omng that you may what was A. No, Sir
nothing else
O. supposed that was ALL will call your attention. then
later day in December in which the letter Of Mrs Tton
Dr. Storrs was consideration you recOec such in
teryew. A. Yes, Sir.
O Relate what occurred at that timo
Mr. Eyarts-Was Mr Beecher present.
Mr Puerton-Yes, Sir
The W,ncs-Toward the close OF December had an inter-
view with Mr. Beecher and Mr. Mouon at which discussion
was held as 10 the proprcy and feasibility Of publishing
statement which had meanwhile devised with view to Offset
and confront the Woodruff The subsequent stages Of
that interview way Of making plain, except by
tive OF the facts which nteryened
Q Well, state nothing except when Mr. Beecher was
present A. told Mr. Beecher that the suggestion which he
had made weeks before-a few days before perhaps
fortnight before-as introducing the parte covenant
OF into proposed card TO the public had led
me to consider the proprety Of publishing at all events
OF writing story considerable length including that
covenant and including certain other documents in the case all
ha
tory solution Of the original OF Woodruff scandal without at
the same time conessng the whole truth told him that his
suggestion Of publishing portion OF that covenant had inspired
me to the preparation OF document in which the entire
covenant should be included together with other papers
told him. furthermore had consulted that subject with
Rev Dr. Storrs OF this city; that l had gone to
him as a good man, a calm man, and wise man,
and had asked him what, in his Judgment the pub
lie sentiment OF BrooAlyn required at my hands
in this business and that DR. Sorrs had advised TO act
calmly TO put together the facts and papers and documents
In shape in which they could be proved and then submit
them him. and after had given him facts in that accurate
shape he give the best judgment that he could FORM
told Beecher that in pursuance OF that suggestion had
once or twice seen Dr. Sorrs, and that one occasion
had requested Mrs Tion go with but she had prefer
red no. s but had written statement or letter which
had shown to Dr. Storrs had included that letter thus
written by Mrs Tlton to Dr. Sorrs-thaI had Included II In
the proposed statement which meant for the public
V One mOhehti III tHs COhhcS'iVh "A' W PV'o W yV"
TO identify rather the paper already In proof refer to EK
hbt g." You may 90 with the narrative then, Mr. Ton
Mr. Beach-The last you said that you had included that
letter in your proposed statement A. Yes, Sir.
Mr. Fulerton-we will ask you this question, did you
refer to Ezabeths letter. dated December 10TH 1872
mencng "In July, 1870 prompted by my duty" &c; A.
Yes Sir; that Ia the letter
@ Very we'll that Identifies IT. A. Mr. Beecher uttered
exclamation somewhat this eectI think In these Identical
words Oh Theodore, OF all men the word'I wish you
had kept clear Of DIR. Storrs." / told him that l
had gone 70 Dr. Stons because I thought that man
in the city OF Brooklyn more thoroughly understood
,hD of pltv md