New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-18
OLIVER JOHNSON or THE SCANDAL.


BrrcmEg rxcEPT THAT FURNISHED By BOWEN,
Triton. AND MOULTON.
TO the Rdjtor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Will you allow me space i'll your columns LOT
brief explanation in regard to priNale anu 'o'i-
Dental letter written by me to Mr. Henry T. hoWen
On Jan T. 1871! OF the object AID sprl' VI th''
letter / am 10y means ashamed III WIS
written to rebukc what j Thought wrong
done to an old friend, III tuning
him ont of employment without ho'lce'
and in violation Of promise made trlhyseil 'nu'
leaving him without means of earning bread ior lis
family. The letter shows. what all my intimate
friends knew before. that at the time wren wrote
il was giving credence to the accusations brought
against MIR. Bcechcr by Mr.. Bowen and Nh Hilton.
On this point lew words of explanation are F
Iuired .
From lime 1865. TO December. 1870, was man-
,oine editor of The independent Al certain time
lu1pg that period do not now recoilect the exact
lane-Mr Bowen had a difference with
Mr. Reecher in regard to some pusi-
ness affairs. After this. at various times
ne declared to Inc that lie could nj any time
f he chose. drive Mr.. Beecher oui Of Brooklyn, III
,inuatinc though not in so many words ahhmnR'
hat he was guilty of adultery. On Inc last occasion
when he made this threat iii my presence Said TO
MIN as nearly a. can now recoliect my Words MI
Bowen YOU have again and again told me that Tor
Gears Won have had knowledge of ot'tnSes commit
ed by Mr. Reecher, which. if they ShoHd he dis
,losed would inevitably lead to his expulsion from
she pnlpit Now. if YOU should make your threat
,ned disclosures after delay OF so many years, would
oot vour own conduct need explanations Nouu
NOT men De likely 10 ask how il has happened
hat YOU did not long ago arraiGn HIM before the
Church Wodld they not Gouht you: word. when
L.. r.Jt I,at nj
nave been constant worshIper and commitment
in Plymouth Church, paying a high premium for
two of the most eligible seats that NJ Beechcr has
often been a guest in your house; that YOU called
him TO the cditorshp of The iRdopcadpt and finally
that when yOur wife died you sought his 'ihcial
services and that he baptized your infant end, the
font standing OF her coffin - To tins Nj. Bowen
made no reply save a gesture of unpatlcnce-he
blushed but spoke not a word. Some time atter
this he told me that he had had settlement OF MS
business troubles with Mr.. Beecher, and for some
time afteryard he said more 10 me about driving
him from BROOKLYN
II was subsequent to this believe thai Mr.. Iilton
Informed ne that Mr.. Bcecher had committed an
outrage upon himself and his family. Mr.. Iilton
had often spoken to me of Mr.. Boweus inslnuatlons
and threats. and il seems probable to me now that
from these he got the hint of working MP a charge
on bis own account, founded upon his wlies ac-
knovledced affection for her pastor. Near the
close of 1870. after Mr.. Tlton had retired from
The IndcpfpdCat and made new contract with Mr..
Bowen as special contributor to the paper, the
latter one day called me into his private room,
opened before me budget of evidence that had
come TO his knowledge of immoralites on the part
of Mr.. Tilton and asked my advice. told him the
stories even if partially true. might per
haps prove to be much exaggerated. and i adj
vised him 10 take step against Mr. Iliton
until he had given him an opportunity to defend
himself He expressed desire to see Mr. Hilton III
nv presence and for that purpose an interview was
arranged To take place Dec. 26 al Mr.. Bowens house.
In the course of that interview NJ lilon told Mr..
Bowen that Mr.. Bccchcr had made an improper pro-
posal to h, wife. which she had rcpclled. Mr..
Bowen was thcreup0n deeply excited lie caught
eagerly at Mr.. Titon's allegation, and mt once It,
nswed his own attacks upon Mr.. Bce"hcr, declaring
that he had known for years that he an hahiual
adulterer, &C.. &c. Mr.. Bowen proposed that Mr.
Tilton should write a letter to Mr. Beecher demand
ing his retiromcut from the pdpt winch. if recol
lect Alright they were both TO sign. II was arranged
between them. however after ! withdrcw-Or Mr.
Tiuon informed me-that Mr.. TiltOn should sign the
letter and that Mr.. Bowen should deliver 1t and
back il M with statements and demands OF his own
Mr. Bowen assured me before left that he would
take no step against Mr.. Tilton before consulting
me- But he was false alike 10 Mr.. 1iton and myself
Instead of supporting Mr. Tilton's demand upon Mr.
Beecher he told the latter when he delivered the
letter that ne did not know it, contents and when
he found in Nh. Beechers words and manner no cVi-
dence of guilt and heard from him still further CYL
dence of Mr. Tilton's immoralitee, ne forgot his
own grievances. if lac had any, made renewed
promises of friendship 10 his pastor and at once
NJ rif Wit a ia nm
It was under thc~e circumstance that | wrote the
private letter published in IN" Sun confess with
regret and modification that. upon purely pdrte
evidence | then thought that Mr.. Bccchcr was
guilty. MI Bowen and Mr. Tilton had not then
been revealed to IN their true characters.
Tho only written evidence which i had
seen was what Mr.. 1ilton said was a
copy of his wife'- confession. the terms
of which / do nol DOW remember. am not sure
whether il was before after ! wrote this letter
that Mr.. Tilton OF MI. Mouton showed me what has
been called Mr.. Beecher's Letter Of Contrtion"
] was not then, nor am now in possession of any
evidence beyond what wa, disclosed ia court and
weighed hy the irry. My opinion rested solely upon
the affirmation OF M. Bowen, Nj. 1ilton, and Mr..
SGOulton.
| had no free and full conversation with Mr..
Beecher fer 4 long time after this hut watched him
closely and found him acting always ike a man III
uOcent of the crime Of which he was accused. On
the other hand, found Mr.. Tilt0n involving him
self in falsebOOd and tIcachery day by day,
and j camo slowly to the frn conviction
that Mr. Beechcr was the object of foul
conspiracy. After Mrs. Woodhull empiicd what DR..
Bacon aptly called q bucket of slops" on Mr.
Beeoher l had interview with him. in which he
told me that her statements were UNANIMOUSLY false
that he should reply to accusations coming from
such source, but that If any responsible and