The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-21
What Mr.. Bowen says About his Expulsion-
Beecher's Friend Pratt.

Henry G. Bowen shows no disposition to
talk about bis expulsion from Plymouth Church
" IL the church AFFORD TO sxpel IN O." he says,
II am perfectly satisfied to CO." He explains
that his refusal to meet Mr.. Bcecher and II. l..
Pratt. Chairman OF the Plymouth Church Com
mittee, was because of Information that reached
him about the character of the latter person. 1t
was to Mr.. Pratt on two consecutive evenings
late last month that Mr.. Bowen told the bot
tom facts !" Of Beechers guilt. After the whole
had been narrated, DR.. W. II. Ward ascer-
tained that Mr.. Pratt had on more than one
occasion announced his determination TO hear
and believe nothing against Mr.. Beecher, and
had declared IL TO be his intention TO "put
down " any one who spoke against his pastor in
his presence. This, in itself, convinced Mr..
Bowen that Mr.. Pratt was unit to serve as a
juror IN the trial OF Beecher, aud what he after
ward heard STRENGTHENED this conviction.
At the meeting In Plymouth Church on May
~ Or; War, a. Mr.. Bowen's counsel, declared
that MIR. Bowen had lost confidence in Mr.. Pratt,
who, he believed, had "deteInined TO shield
beecher at ANY cost DR.. Ward called MIR.
MI. Bowen would not go into his and Mr..
bteehers presence without witness OF his own
Bowers reason for believing Mr.. Pratt unwor-
thy Of confidence, but DIR. Ward 1T To reply
week later, "a the following letter 10 the gen.
tleman himself:
Mir II. l.. PRArr-kv bear 81 As rea iSi G |
have made Inquiries TO the basis Of the information
when ed Mr.. Bowen to withdraw Ihough with no
knuNicdge Of the fgcts) somewhat OF the full conn.
s n @ rae shGS S . assS
been specially Intimate personal friend of Mr. Beech
tr ana MS chosen associate duriug two summers
Twin Mountain House; that you have said at your
tsble, before witness, whose VIII give You II
you deslre that don't allow any one here to say
word against Mr. beech,rj II any does, put him
down al OnCe, aud that this Of
the tr-atlnant received by Mr.. Moult0n When lie ap-
peartd before Plymouth Church.
Also, that after long litigation have been
Quircd within lew months TO pay to your brothers
widow The tum of ABOUT us 900 with all costs the
being the aNard Of Judge Brigham Of Boston Ia The
case where you had retained as administrator other
",t nioneis WAY should justly have been gwen to her.
NciJ respectfully. WILLIAM HAYES WARD.
DR.. Ward re ceved from legal firm In Boston
the information which justified hun IN making
the above statements In his letter. Ephra ~ l..
Pratt Of Beverly Mass, died In February, 1869,
and, with his wfe's consent, Henry l.. Pratt ue-
came the administrator OF the estate. he de-
ceised brother had been AN inventor and manu-
facturer OF machinery, and lett little shop at
10 Sudbury street, hled with models and ma
Chinery. Nh. Pratts most valuable Inventions
had not been patented. His administrator got
out letters patent for them, and went earnestly
into their manufacture. During years service
as administrator OF tue estate ne made no re
turns to the widow, his sister-ln-law, and at the
instance of her friends he was obliged To resign.
Two SUITS we're begun To recover the proceeds ~
the manufacture and sale OF the deceased Pratt's
inventions, one suit Dy Mrs. Epnraim L.. Pratt,
his sister-in-law. and the other by Judge Choate,
whose duties CORES pond to those oil the Surro-
gate In tins state. Both actions resulted favor
ubiy for the widow, Judgment being obtained
for her.