The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-01-15
ON THE RAGGED EDGE AGAIN
BEECH Err IS TIRE G1YTENED
WITH II BIG LIWSUII',

rho Life Of Christ" which was Thrown
Higher than Kite,' by Theodore
Illton'S VirtuouS Indignation, now
Bids Fair to Cost tho Plymouth Pas
tor a Round Sum Of Money.
The following spicy account of a
now trouble that has como, or threats
ems to como, upon tho Row rend
Horny Ward Bcecher, is given by
tho Now York Stt,s
Beccher's ''Lifc of Christ" it will
be remembered, went up like a
kito.
The other day it came back like a
boomerang.
In brief, Bccchcr is called upon
to pay back $4,000 and tho royalty
thus far received, and damages to
tho amount Of 100000 will be do.
mandcd from him.
Such was the emphatic bombshell
which burst in Brooklyn tho other
afternoon.
It appears that in 1868 Beccher
entered into contract with Mcssl S.
y. B. Ford IL Go. to writo lfo of
Christ in two volumes. 1Io was to
have $4,000 cash down, and q Ger.
tain royalty besides on every volume
sold. 1t was stipulated that he
should begin at once, and go on
finishing tho work in eighteen
months, or rs soon us soon thercaf-
ter as practicable.
Boecher began to write, and tho
Fords spent money lavishly in pic
turos, cngravings, presses, paper
and composition.
Orders flooded tho mail bags.
1t looked rs though fortunes were
to be made on the instant.
Thon Beecher Jagged.
Copy didn't como to hand.
Money was spent in car fare, sta
tionery, postage stamps and shoe
leather to induce tho reverend au i,
thor TO hurry up.
The first volume was finished, and
sold well.
But copy still Jagged.
In other words, although nearly
ton yoors arc passed and gone, the
second volume is only half written,
the publishers arc in bankruptcy
and litigation is on the table.
Mr.. Ritter, the assignee, offer ed
to sell all the firms effects, among
which was the "Life Of Christ" A
man, then unknown, authorized the
assignee TO pay S2,50O for tho work
ut private sale. On consultation
with the registrar in bankruptcy,
the assignee usccrtained that he had
no power to sell it privately. Then
he was authorized to bid up to that
figure at Il sale by auction.
The parties naturally interested
in securing this prize were tho
Fords, Bccchcr, and tho Christian
Union Publishing Company. The
Fords wore not in position 10 pur~
chase. Bcccher was out of town,
and was to be out of town all wcok,
and Tommy Shcarman, who repre-
scntcd the Publishing Company,
failod to tako any interest in tho
mattor. They all seemed to over
look tho fact that the contract was
part and parcel of the assets to be
sold. 1t is understood that ono
bright legal luminary decided that
Beccher. was not responsible because
the Fords had failed to publish, but
that was knocked a great deal high
er than tho kite by tho mild
remark that even the Fords couldn't t
very we'll publish what had not yot
been written. Another sage coun-
selor insisted that the statutes Ct
limitation would protect Beccbor,
but tho fact, nevertheless, remained
that the contract was O. scaled in-
strument, and, therefore, binding
for twenty yoars.
Meanwhile timo was gliding swift.
ly, and tho day Of the sale drew
near.
Not so any of the tribe of Beccher.
The desks, md chairs, and sofas
wore sold, and presently, GLOW
much am ! offered for 'Tho Life Of
Christ 2" asked tho auctioneer.
"What goes with it ?" asked an