The New York herald., 1876-07-23
THE BEECHER SCANDAL.


FROM THE PLYMOUTH EXAMINING COMMITTEE.
At the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday the following
gentlemen, who we're lately named by the Advisory
Councils committee OF three. a committee 10
investigate the Tton- Beecher scandal =
Judge Nathaniel Shipman, OF Hartford, Conn
Judge Joseph c. Knapp, of Keosaqui Iowa
Judge Samuel B. Gookins, of Terrc Hauts Ind
Hon. j. F. Sargent, OF Concord, n. H.
Asahc Finch, OF Milwaukee, Wis
The Examining Committee OF Plymouth church ap-
pointed from their number the following sub-com.
mlttce to confer with the Committee OF Five In respect
to tho matters to be laid before them
Rev. S. b. Halladay.
Thomas C. Shcarman.
b. y. Blair
Thomas J. Tilney.
In room IL The conference held and the two COM
mittecs commenced the discussion which had been
submitted to them After tho preliminary introduc-
ton, Mr. Tncy the clerk OF Plymouth church. stated
briefly the object Of tho conference and said the com.
mittee no represented was that properly accredited
from Plymouth church. A statement from the Exam
lining Committee was then read to the effect that they
the Committee of Five, empowcrei by the Advi-
sorry Cour ell to take full charge of the matter and to
make such investigation they fit, or they could
decide that tho matter had already been sufficiently in
vestigated, II they considered such the case
Iney were 10 investigate or not Just as they 6t
II they decided TO proceed with examination Of the
matter, the church desired that should be probed 10
the bottom. The Committee OF Five would claim full
charge OF the examination, and carry 1t on at such
times and places as they saw fL The Examining
Committee would do all in their power to aid them in
furnishing them with the names of Witnesses &c.
general conversation then cnsued, and various ques-
tons were askedby the members OF the Committee OF
Five and answered by the representatives OF Plymouth
church The Committee did not indicate that tlmc
what their course would be. The representation OF
Plymouth church then withdrew and left the commit
tee TO deliberate the matter II agreed that
they should meet tho committee at halt-past one.
when it's decision would DO announced. 1t was be-
licved, however. that decision was aimed at, and
that an adjournment agreed to until such timc as
the questions involved in the Bcccher case in
the courts shall have been settled.
THE FOLLOWING LETTER.
signed by Edward Bcecher, 5. b. Halliday, DAVID IT,
Hawkins, Thomas G. Shearmnn B. +. Blair, IL NJ
Clanin, N. W. Robinson and Thomas J. Tney tells
the story Of tho Examining Committee Of Plymouth
church: -
To Messrs. Nathaniel Shipman, S. b. Gookins j. c.
Knapp, j. f. +. Sargent and Asahcl Finch, constr
tuting the commission of five appointed pursuant to
the result of the late Advisory Council -
GKNrLKMEN-The council which was called by PIym-
ouh church to assemble in Brooklyn in February last
for the purpose OF advising the church duties
and policy with respect to the difficulties in which il
has been involved for three years past recommended
the church to appoint an in, est eating comm ssion
from among gentlemen named by that Council whose
duty 1t should be either to try formal charges against
the pastor Of Plymouth church, il such should
be presented, or to hear testimony which |
might throw light upon charges against the pastor
made in other places, although not formally rcstated
before the commission In accordance with this ad-
vice. you gentlemen have been appointed in pursuance |
OF selection made by the committee OF the council 1t
was deemed necessary for your protection and for |
the protection OF witnesses coming before you that
this commission while created by committee |
oil the council and selected by them their own sole
responsibility should, nevertheless be empowered by
the church to act on its behalf Tho church has ac-
cordingly accepted and empowered you as such
commission; for although charges have been pre-.
scnted against the pastor contemplated in the plan
OF tho council, yet 1t has been freely |
and widely alleged that important testimony not |
previously given might be obtained II sought that
the Examining Committee OF tho church and the COM
mittcc of the Council agreed in the opinion that was
advisable to constitute the commission and to make an
effort 10 procure such evidence In accordance with the
second alternative provided by tho result OF Council
the persons who may claim have il in |
their power to give new testimony bearing
upon this case. After diligcnt inquiry can learn
OF whose evidence would be considered compe.
tent In any court OF justice; and II difficult to dis
OF which would be admissible in a of law or
even upon private arbitration, while nj
OF them would DO considered good enough in thcl
field OF newspaper controversy private possp
When the commission ready 10 receive such sngres
tions from shall be glad to furnish It with the
OF all persons who credited by rumor with
ability to give even hearsay evidence having the
the least bearing on the But if we we're
TO give a formal list OF such names at Tho
outset. including in 1t only those who have made
mysterious suggestions of their ability TO toll some
thing INJURIOUS and whose declarations to that effect
have really contributed largely to the general current
OF suspicion tho palpable absurdy OF the list might
excite suspicion OF our good faith.
Hints and nnucndoes of the vagucst and most trivial
nature considered abundanty sufficient for the
purpose of destroying reputation; yet IL the injured
party his friends should attempt to enumerate ando
refutc nnuendoes he would accused of seeking
to divert public attention from important facts to
mind. We SHALL therefore, confne ourselves for tho
present to the names Of persons who have either
claimed allowed it to be CLAIMED them that thoy
have IL In their power to give Information which
spectacle and substantial portion OF the
munity deem to bc material Among such
Mrs. Martha b. Bradshaw are understood
to claim that they have received material confessions
from Mrs. f. r. Tilton duplicating Mr.. Beecher Mr.
Henry c. Bowen undoubtedly claims to have rocovcd
an explicit confession from q ladv whose name he
refuses to pOOlish mp,ica'ng % Nj, Bceeher in an
widely asserted that Miss Susan b. Anthony and
Mrs Elizabeth Cady Stanton have claimed that Mrs
1ilton has made similar confessions to them; but We
have been unable to lind tho least proof they ever
made any such claims, while informed that they
deny having ever done so.
Continuing at length in this style the document
closes as folows:-
Tilton has made similar confessions 10 them, but we
have been unable to find the least proof that they ever
made such claims, while we arc informed that they
deny having done We do assume to decide
the question, but think 1t due TO those ladies' that we
should not mention one report in connection with
their without also mentioning the other. Ono or
othcv ladies' have also been widely mentioned
In the connection; but as we cannot find any
prctence OF authority from them for such q report we
prefer to mention their names to you only In conf
dcncc, especially tho only ono OF them with
whom have been able to commun cate has given
uncQuivocal assurances that the report false,
With the statements of witnesses already examined in
public you are, OF course, familiar Our undisguised
sympathy with our PASTOR founded upon full
confidence his integrity and innocence makes IL
unadvisabe that we should render you that assistance
IN preparing the case and procuring testimony which,
under other circumstances. you would have right
expect While rcgretting that this fact will
Increase your abors and responsibilities. ncvcrihe-
less respectfully suggest that in Of IL, you
should adopt some plan which will keep both tho
and the trial of the under your own
charge without any PARTICIPATION OF ours. We Will
gladly give any information Tor which you may
cali from time to time, but have no doubt
.u.lh