The Portland daily press., 1876-02-24
BOWEN'S LAST.
HE MAKES HIS STATEMENT.
And the Committee Object to His
Leaving.
Whereup0n He Escapes ThrOush
a Back Door.
HIS SONS ACCOUNT OF THE ROW.

NEW YORK, Feb 23-A very exciting and
unlocked for denouement of the meeting be-
tween Henry G. Bowen and Plymouth church
examining committee took place tonight at as
sstant pastor Halliday's house on BROOKLYN
Heights
About 8 o'clock Mr.. a. G. Bowen. his sons
Edward and Henry E. Bowen, and DR.. Ward.
entered Mr. Hallday's house, and in about an
hour the doors were flung open and lights flash
ed, and loud dn angry voices were heatd, the
cause of which is herewith set down in the
words of Henry e. Bowen: Since the recei nt
of that letter Mr.. Bowen has been busily en-
gagged in preparing his statement for the COM
mittee On entering the room of Mr.. Halli.
days house tonight Mr.. Bowen found TO his
astonishment compeny of forty or fifty per-
sons assembled, embracing the members of the
committee, the chairman of the council in ses-
slor and others. Among those present was
Henry Ward Beecher, who sat in the corner of
the room behind the door, not in view OF Mr..
Bowen, his two sons, Henry and William, OH
yer johnson. Rev. Mr. Scoville, Beecher's SON
in-law, and BENZ. F. Tracy.
Mr.. Bowen being called upon for his state
ment presented aud read it. Previous to pre-
senting his statement Mr.. Bowen expressed bis
surprise at such large audience and asked for
the reason for their presence. He was told
that the committee never objected to his bring
Bowen had right to bring in any friends he
cared to. The only objection was to reporters,
that the company came with the committee s
invitation, not Mr.. Beecher's.
but" said Mr.. Bowen, jr, 'Beeche- is
chairman of the committee
To this Mr.. Bowen replied that he had no
Objection, but the responsibility of publicity
must rest with them, that he came there TO
present his statement to the examining COM
mittee and nobody else, that he should declipe
to give it to the press, and if published il
should be by the examining committee and not
by him.
"After Mr.. Bowen read his statement" con.
tinued the narrator, "Mr Tiney INQUIRED if he
had any other facts to give, to which Mr. Bow
en- replied, that is all this evening" As Mr..
Bowen was about leaving, Mr.. Blair member
OF the committee, said Il protest against Mr..
B0wen's leaving"
Mr.. Shearman said, "Mr Bowen, you will
not be permitted to leave the room.''
Mr. Bowen steppd toward the door Of the
front parlor when Mr.. S. V. White jumped up
and lock. the door, took the key and put it ia
his pocket, and as he saw Mr.. Bowen looking
toward the door of the other room, Mr.. White
callen out Lock that other door," and several
men jumped towards it. Every one jumped to
their Ieet, but Bowen was too quick and got to
the back parlor door Just before several of the
crowd. His son Henry followed, rushed to the
door and called for the press, thinking that
they were there. Henry E. Bowen continued
My father was in the hall, my brother and DR..
Ward were in the paror, and 1 got on the
stoop and called for the press. The Associated
Press reporter and another rushed up and Mr.
Bowen told them of the occurrence. Then one
OF Mr.. Bowen's sons upbraidad Mr. White and
the other said, "Mr. White has made an ass o.
himself and will be sOrry for it,