New-York tribune., 1876-03-02

That | wiiiiuy fabricated them or that i have good
reason know that Mir Beechcr had snncd aS said he
had. refused I. answo any questions publicly which
would expose names, even though lorte was
land here Mr.. Bowen raising his voice 10
OF great energy and force increasing IN emphasis
he went on. rased his eyes from the paper, aud
prOceeded.l After seeing Mrs TlltOn has suffered
re AT no matter what damage 10 myself 10 put any
otAcr woman publicly IN tLe same position. You may
demand il eteinay, but nv sense OF honor fOTbus-
hsSes promptly checked bv the M0teralot me 10 con
seut anu would rather let my 20 down to the
gr4Vo covered with uudeserved shame il has been
with foulest abuse all tnese years. before will do
Chnrci nave already made you proposition. IT
is that before three such honest and Impartial men as
nave mentioned 1 viii without reserve give
all those facts, conceang no cireumstanees
AID names, winch have convinced me beyond the pos
SDility OF doubt Of Mr. Becchers guilt ana so lar
modify my former proposition as 10 say that VIII con
cent to their PUBLISHING all the facts that seem 10 them
best, omjting only the names ana the dtnuryns CIR
cunsanccs. ana tlat VIII agree 10 ABIDE ny lhelt ue
whether Ply mOdth Church or Mr.. BeecIor abide by IT,
agree 10 abide by it, and the Facts can be mad III tnis
way, or imagine by suit OF libel, TO Wnich shall be
compelled 10 respond.
QUESTIONING MIR. BOWEN.
Completing his statement, Mr.. Bowen sat down and
waited The Clerk said The chief objection, as under
stand it, which you raise by this statement just read is
tnat you object to give any name. We have several
questions here which don't involve the giving of any
names Are you willing to answer such questionsi
Better ask the questOns' was shouted from the body
of the house and the Clerk adopting the suggestion.
asked: when first did any facts come to your kowl
edge affecting mimiOusly the moral character OF the
pastOri"
Mr.. Bowen, DR.. Ward, and his sons Immediately had
hurried grouping together ana consultation which lasted
until everybody seemed ready gTOan with impatient
anxiety Then Mr. Bowen replied, amid general burst
of laughter, " VIII you please repeat that question:
The question was repeated and Mr. Bowen responded:
You ask mo whrn facts came to my knowledge; ina,
would imply that knew that amy rumor w'HGh hear9
fact. II yOu wish to ASK me when M hist hcaI1
runOrs tAat floating and in the mouths ot good
many people | am willing to answer that
The Clerk-We viii modify that question, then
Mr. Bhir-Alr. Moderator hope we shall have the
yoetS.
The question was then repeated and again the row OF
heads on the front scat clustered together around the
central bead-hat of Mr.. Bowen bimsef-and whispered
counsel was given At last Mr.. Bowen with the same
delibcraton and COOness-aggrayatn c0olness almost
when contrasted with the intensely eager faces staring
at him from all parts Of the roomrOse and replied
was absolutely convinced in my own mind that there
were circumstances which pointed very clearly to guilt
ABOUT 1857 or 1865"
The Clerk announced the second question: What
were the facts in relation to convictions, Mr..
BOweni"
81 desire Mr.. Chairman" the firm reply, "to
know ii you insist upon my answering the questions
specifically put to me p
The Modcrator-The church has examined Mr.. Bowen
here or requested him to appear here to answer the
questions put to him. This question is simply apartment
MI Bowen-Mr Chairman, it is well known that !
have positively refused 10 answer any questions wioh
would lead to names and Identifying facts, and siill re-
fuse TO do So have a few lines here which would like
to read
awe have had enoughw said distant voice.
The Moderator asked if lie would read 1t in answer to
the quc stiOn1
Mr. Bowen do, as an explanation and full answer
don't want he unreasonable don't want to conceal
the reasons for my convictions. 1t s certainly no benefit
10 me TO be silent, but must and will protect these
names to the best of my Bu if you stil demand
all names and particular and if Mr. Beecher demands
them--do you, Siri
And here Mr. Bowen, turning squarely around, and
looking Mr. Beecher in the face furnished the most
dramatic incident of the evening. There for an in
stant no answer, and Air. Bowen persisted: Il would
like 10 know if Mr. Beechtr demands them =
Mr. Beecher, keeping his seat replied with outward
calmness Wheu you get through am ready for the
question
THE NEW PROPOSITION or MIR. BOWEN.
Mr. Bowen-If YOU demand all the names and particr
lars and if Mr. Beecher demands them, will 40 this
will tonight at this moment meet Mr.. WIN Mockay
Mr. f. H. Garbutt ana Mr.. s. v White, alone, or In the
prcsgnce of Mr. Beecer il hc desires h In the anioning
room and there give them the facts in my possession
which long ago convinced me that hr. Beeeher
il an aduter1r. / shall only request that
these gentlemen shall preserve the names ana iden-
Of them for any action in the leaving That TO their
discretion ana to yours. VIII you accept this Offer
(Cres of No! MOI!
NJ. shca,1nan catching the spirit Of the moment.
promptly moved that these gentlemen be appointed now
a committee to retire Immediately with hr. Bowen and
Mr.. Bcecher, and listen to this statement
Mr. Beechcr-I should like to know whether this mat
ter should 20 secret ! AIN willing to 20 With IN Bowen
before these gentlemen divided may have the oppof
tunitv OF pioclaimiug myself who these persons imp
Gated are Ci OF That's Ii! That's itl Sow The pecu
liar state OF facts is that certain facts are alleged to have
taken place under tho prctcnSc that he viii not give the
name Of the woman who occupied herself 70 long and
IN detail in na1atin to him the Indecent Circumstances
allie ged He leaves thu the names Of not few women
exposed 10 this deadly suspicion II falls on one on an
other and another and the tongues OF men are busy WIN
these names already Now any plan hy which the trbu-
nal is secret and bound to be- though 1t may be thode
best by the irethcrn of the church. don't THINK best
Mr. White and AIr Macbay made both OF them earnest
speeches. insisting that they would have no secrets in
the matter. Mt Garbutt spoke 10 similar effect but MI
Sherman held to the proprey Of passing hls resolution
modifying it, however, by providing that tho ComIhti'e
should have the right Of going to the Ladies' implicated
and giving them an opportunity TO hlsltS TIN story
il thov are alive said he ana don't suppose they are
fLaughterl
Mr. Bowen-I will tonight and This moment meet a
committee three gcnt consisting OF VIM 1ackay,
T. H. Garbutt and s. " White, alone or in the pfesonee
Of Mr. Beecher II he desires H. ~ IN ADJOINING loom ana
thcro give 10 them the facts IN M possession which
lopg ago convinced that Mr.. Bcecaer Is an
adnlterer | shall only require thai those three
gentlemen shall preserve the names sud identifying
circumstances absolutely secret and shall InaFe no
other request them for action IN the case leaving
that 10 their discretion and 10 That Is my propo
sition and my only one.
Mr. ehearman- Here are one or two 9iDendm.nts we
hove One is that instead Of the keep secret" the
4oi,an fx M