New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-24
HENRY c. BOWEN'S CHARGES.
THE PROMISED STATEMENT.

RIcHARDs-HIs REFUSAL TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
BY THE C0MMurEE-LocKING THE DooH-
ME-. BowEN's ALARM AND PLIGHT.
In accordance with previous appointment
Henry C. Bowen appeared before the Examining
Committee Of Plymouth Church last evening" "','
made statement of the facts IN MS posseSe'o, III
regard to MIR. Beechers case. Besides 'he neinD.
of the Committee, there were present. "i
Rsscbcr,s SONS. William and Henry, oliVer
Iohnsop Cen. BENJAMIN F. Tracy, the Rev.
N, Strong of Minnesota; DR.. Wclcott ol
- Cl.velopd Ohio: DIR. Talcott of Bangor, Me-;
prof Paine the Rev. Dr. Parker of Hartford, Conll'
the Rev. Joseph III. Twitchell, the Rev. ). Morgan
smith Deacon Holmes of Montclair, and Others
Those gentlemen were invited to be present, as IL
had been understood that Mr.. Bowen would be ac-
companied by the Rev. William Hayes ward oil Inc
Independent and by his sons.
The Rev. DIR. Edward Beecher occupied the chair,
and the session of the Committee was opened with
orsyer by the Rev. S. B. Halliday. Mr.. Bowen, with
hi, sons and Dr. Ward entered the room about
o,clock and was asked by Mr.. Tilney, the
Clerk OF the church, to present any
facts in his possession i'll relation
TO Mr. Beeeher's case. 1t was also suggested that
MIR. Bowen should first state whatever facts were
known TO him of his own knowledge. Mr.. Bowen
expresscd his surprise at seeing so many persons
present who were not members of the COMMITTEE.
Mr. Tiney said in reply that the Committee had hot
objected to the presence of Mr. BOwen's reporter
and he thought the same courtesy should be ex-
tended. to Mr.. Beechers friends. Mr.. Bowen then
said that his communication was to the Examining
Committee of Plymouth Church, and the RESPONSE
b;litv of its publication would rest with them.
ynember of the Committee stated that they
did not propose to publish Mr.. Bowens
statement, and any responsibility as 10
its publication must rest Mr.. Bowen's shoulders.
Mr. Bowon then presented written statement OF
great length. part of which ne read in person and
part of which read. at his request, by Dr. ward
The statement itself could not be obtained for pub
lication but the substance, as stated by different
members of the church who listened to it, was as
foows
uwas "A d that Mr. Bowen began by stating that Mr.
Beecher guilty of adultery, hyeoeIisy d pejury.
put no adeneeu d ao nor names with on. exception
when he SAID that Mr.. and Mrs Joseph H. t'!cnards
adultery Que case which Mr.. Bowen brought forward.
in which he stated that he knew Iady VINO
than year-altnough names were given and II" date
except that it more than ten years ago-was cor
Mr Bowen's first wife, although In his suit against IN.
brooklyn Ares he asserted ON oath his wlies nnocenoe
10 her were false Tue statement was said Oy member
of the Committee be disconnected rambling del nsc
OF MIR Bowen for believing the charges against Mr.
Beecher. ard for continuing his connection WIN inc
church.
III.
mont, he started TO leave the room. Questions were
put TO him by Mr.. Tney and Others, and, as he
reached the door, S. V. White who stood there
turned the key Mr.. Bowen and his sons
passed through the back-parlor door INTO
the hall and thence into the street,
amid considerable confusion. Threats OF defiance
were hurled at the members Of the Committee by
Mr. Bowers sons, who also called 10 the members Of
the press collected in the street tiat violence
was beng used against their father. On the
other hand, it is said that the door was
locked in playful manner, and that
it was the desire of the Committee to obtain fur
ther information from Mr.. Bowen. After the scene
of excitement had closed, the Examining Commit
tee went into secret session for discussing what fur
ther action the church sould take in reference 10
the charges of Mr. Bowen.
About 10 o'clock s. " White came from Mr.. Halt
days house. and being confronted by several report
ers invited them to his house, where he gave the
following account of Mr. BOwens actions before the
Committee:
On being invited to give his statement Mr. Bowen be
ran 10 read from manuscript which had evidently been
prepared for hum by DIR. Ward of The independent for
after be had read two or three pages he called Oh me s
ment was contained In about 40 pages OF manuscr p,
se nS Wss Sished Mr. Bowen started to leave
room when Mr. Blair OF the Committee called 10 Lin 10
soppe Snesops lie replied That ali tonight gentle
men," TO question by another member he said that no
names OF persons alluded to in his statement,
but that he would be willing, to give
them 10 Committee pledged secrecy and confidence
Az he making for the door, Mr. White, who was sit
ting near It, turned the kew sin sortlye way as he
moment longer" Thereu?on scene, half tragic ana
made for the door at the back paror upettns
his PERCEPTIONS flight camp stool bleh stoodn his way
into into the street His son, Henry p Bowen, called
loudly for the members OF me press, u I,yss
nliah %
Beacber md his niOns dared to lock the doors on
usl" Edward Bowen covered his fathers retreat. anu
shaking his fist in the faces OF the astonshed spectsGr
he said. Il tell yOu. YOU shall hear from tbis,
No action Mr. Bowens statement has been taken by
the Committee. but i was MI Whites o9h IN INA. M
Bowen will be obliged TO give some proof OF ms shte
Inepts TO criminae Mr. BeecLer and compel MN
10 leave the church, Mr. Bowen VIII he turned Out o
the church.
Areporter Of THE TRIBUNE called upon Henry c.
Bowen after the adjournment of the meeting lie
made the following statement:
He had responded TO the TO appear before the
Committee and upon entering the parioIs uI MI HAM
tonishcd 10 ma forty persons assembled be-
sides Committee they were members OF the church,
behind the door screened from the view OF Mr. Bowen
aud locked attentively at the ceiling, now ana tnen
brt aSing the spell with yawn. O1yer Johnson sat
beside HIM. looking ineDtly upon the noor ana neither
OF them apparently took any notice OF MI BOWL M
Bowen was then called upon for his statement, whlch
was then presented AM read. IL occupied nearly an
hour Previous presenting the statement MI Bowen
expressed much surprise at NEE ing 30 large an an-
renee and asked Information 10 the cause OF t. lie
told that the Committee never objected 70 mr.. b2"
assumed the privilege Of bringing ms friends ie ony
objection being TO the admission oil repfes u M
but the responsibility OF publicity VI the statement "a
other matters would rest with them.
conclusion OF the reading OF tho statement, Mr.
Tney sad TO Mr. Bowen, Have you any 0ter Irte 10
give to t1is Ccmmitteef" Mr. Bowen replied, That Is
oil for this evening". .
ing the house he would protest against It, Mr. Shear
fhena ALI I. Bowen