The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-17
[Cincinnati Commercial Brooklyn letter.

[Cincinnati Commercial Brooklyn letter.1
In certain mysterious region behind this
Brooklyn tragedy there has frequently loomed
up the figure of Henry G. Bowen, proprietor
OF the religious paper, the Independent. He
appeared in the crosS-eXlmiDaton of the first
witness, Moulton, reappeared in the evidence
of Tilton, was eXcOriated in the most startling
way by Tracy, who subsequently modified the
rancor of his remarks, and latterly he has
come ont with defiance to both sides, pro-
claiming his readiness to be called by the
plaintiff or by the defendant The presence
Of Bowen has been felt, as that Of subtle
malign influence all through the proceedings
What sudden burst Of wrath or vengeance
led him to egg ON TiIton to the wiring Of
that strange le ter to Beecher on the 10Th of
December, 1902 What potencies operated
in his mind to suddenly change him to a
seeming friend Of Beecher and a relentless
foe Of Tilton? These are mysteries which
perpetually arise when one elects upon this
queer case. Bowen seems to be now most
thoroughly condemned by all sides He APP
pears to delight III treating everybody with
duplicity, but ha, met with amazing success
in a financial point OF view.
was employed by him on the Brooklyn
Nnion which he formerly owned, and was in
that position at the time of the 'Silver wed
ding, you know, which was the celebration
of the twenty-ffth anniversary of Beechers
connection with Plymouth church To me
was assigned the special duty of writing up
the whole thing and doing all the reporting
for it. As ] was then entirely ignorant of the
scandal | opened the job with long and |
enthusiastic article about Beerher, for whom |
! really had "a temperate admiration Old |
Bowen down from his residence at
Woodstock early in the week, and he directed
me to take his die alton Of the speech he was
to deliver on the occasion.
What | had heard of Bowen had greatly
preIudiced me against him, and the matter
he dictated to me increased my dislike. Not
knowing what the relations between Bowen
and Beecher were Though they have since
been made apparent enough, ] was amazed
at the cold, heartless, sneering tone in which,
throughout his long address, he spoke of his
pastor and friend. In particular ! was struck
by the coarseness of his language about
Beechers Indianapolis debts about the
m cans that were adopted for paying them off
about Beecher S abject poverty IN those days;
and about the sum of eight hundred dollars
raised to free him 50 far from immediate |
want and the visits of the sheriff. These l
things were dwelt on by Bowen with positive ,
delight rolled as sweet mursels under his | {
tongue I
However, as. when he had finished the die I
up as we'll rs ever you can, | took the lib ,
erty OF tonlng down much of the grossness in +
reference to Beecher; but it was impossible
% neutrallze the spirit of the speech, which y
Vas a g'oritication of Bowen as the inventor, c
l'scoyerer, patented and despiser Of Henry o
Ward Beecher. What pity that | did not
NOW the secret i'll those days What new
meaning all these things would have had. Oh, 4
0 see Beecher soon afterward, at the silver !
a oil
himself on DR.. Storrss shoulder and kiss
nm Oh, TO see Beecher take tho sacrament Oh
rom Beechcr and Bowen take it from Beech
r ! Was there ever such communion !
'ould not have missed seeing that for a dol
lr, and now know what know.
| went up into the gallery of Plymouth
hurch to watch the whole affair. They were,
think. forty plates Of bread and forty cha
ces of wine. Everybody was invited to
boys and girls so that
early three thousand persons must have
ken the eucharist that evening.
AS for Bowen, though he does not seem to
now it, he is no doubt the most thoroughly
stested man III Brooklyn to-day. Have Won
card that he has a mania for arbitration
he Is asked certain price for thing, he
imes much lower figure; then if you de-
ur, he says, let us refer it to arbltrators. He
lies upon the principle that arbitrators gen
ally split the difference, 50 he gets it that :,
UGH lower than the price demanded any L
w. The other day he was talking Of buying
Y house, and after offering lower price
an was asked. he wanted to refer it to arbi-
stors, but | checked him by saying: mo; |
We named the figure. and that is what |
all abide by"
1t has been matter of wonder that neither +
the parties in tho Brooklyn dirt have called
wen as witness. But probably they are
til equally afraid of him.