The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-03-02
BEECRER VS.. BOWEN.

BEECRER VS.. BOWEN.
| An Exciting Scene in Assistant Pastor
/ Halliday's Mansion.
| An Associated Press telegram from
New York says: A very exciting and
unlooked-for denouement of the meeting
between Henry G.. Bowen and the
Plymouth Church Examining Committee
took place tonight at Assistant Pastor
Halliday's house.
About s o'clock Mr.. H. G. Bowen, his
SONS Edward and Henry E. Bowen, and
DIR. Ward, publisher of the Ladepe1a-
dent, entered Mr.. Halliday's house, and
in about an hour the door was flung
open, the lights flashed, and loud and
angry voices were heard, the cause of
| which is herewith set down in the words
OF Mr.. Henry e. Bowen
Since the receipt of the committees
letter inviting him to meet him, Bowen
has been busily engaged in preparing
his statement On entering the room in
Mr.. Halliday's house to-day, Mr.. Bowen
| found to his establishment company Of
forty or fifty persons assembled, en-
bracing the members of the committee,
the Chairman of the council in session,
and others. Among those present were
Henry Ward Beecher, who sat in cor
ner of the room behind the door, not in
view of Mr.. Bowen, his two sons, Henry
and William, Oliver johnson, Beecher's
son-in law, the Rev. Mr.. Scovill, and
Benjamin f. Tracy. Mr.. Bowen being
called upon for his statement, presented
and read it. Previous to presenting his
statement, Mr.. Bowen expressed his
surprise at such a large audience, and
asked for the reason of their presence.
He was told that the committee never
| objected to his bringing his friends
| there. The idea was that Mr.. Beecher
had right to bring in any friends he
cared to. The only objection was to re-
porters; that the company came with
the committees invitation, not Mr..
Beecher's. 'sBut," said Mr.. Bowen,
Jr., g Beecher is Chairman of the COM
mittee." To this Mr.. Bowen replied
he had no objection, but the response
bility of publicity must rest with them !;
| that he came there to present his state
ment to the Examining Committee, and
nobody else that he should decline to
give it to the press, and, if published, it
should be by the Examining Committee
and not by him.
| After Mr.. Bowen read his statement,
continued the narrator, Mr.. Tilney in.
quiredif he had any other facts to give,
| to which Mr.. Bowen replied, "That is
all this evening"
| AS Mr.. Bowen was about leaving, Mr..
Blair, a member of the committee, said,
ssI protest against Mr.. Bowen leaving"
Mr.ISherman said: /" Mr.. Bowen, you
will not be permitted to leave the
ROOM
Mr.. Bowen stepped toward the door
of the front parlor, when Mr.. S. V.
White jumped up and locked the door,
took the key and put it in his pocket.
and ash saw Mr.. Bowen looking toward
the door of the other room, Mr.. White
called put, stLock that other door" and
several men jumped toward it. Every
one jumped to his feet, but Mr.. Bowen
was too quick, and got to the parlor door
just before several Of the crowd got to it.
His son, Henry E., followed, rushed to
the door, and called for the press, think
ing that they were there.
Here Mr.. Henry G. Bowen interposed
theoretically, thinking there was going
to be row.
Mr.. Henry E. Bowen continued MY
father was in the hall F; my brother and
DR.. Ward were in the parlor, and | got
on thestoop outside and called for the
press, and the Associated Press reporter
and another rushed up and MIR. Bowen
told them of the occurrence"
Then one of Mr.. Bowen's sons up
braided Mr.. White.
Mr.. Bowen expressed himself very
strongly in regard to the treatment he
received. A a aa
Mr.. s. V. White was visited, and his
VERSIONS substantially this: ''Mr. Bowen
read statement of fifty-two pages, in
which he failed to give names or dates.
It referred to scandals of ten or eleven
years ago. After reading few pages he
handed the paper to DR.. Ward. Then
Bowen stepped toward the door, and Mr..
White desiring to prolong the interview
as much as possible, and being seated
near the door turned the key, Withdrew
from the lock, andput it in his pocket.
Bowen stepped back several feet, and,
surveying the situation, saw a means OF
exit by back door. He darted In that
direction, upsetting chairs and other
/ articles of household furniture in his
fight, and escaped from the house.
Tn this country we declare murderers
/ insane, and having done so set them at
\ 4 - L. Ill