The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-25
BEECHER's BETS.
How One of the Plymouth Pastors Som
Won Money on Cleveland.

NOW OHo Oh the IlymOurh PASTORS Sons
Won Money on Cleveland.
New York morning Journal
The Rev Henry Ward Beecher and his son.
Col William G. Beecher have declared that they
are opposed to gambling in any shape, and express
the desire that the Legislature will kill the bill
authorizing pool selling race tracks. Yester-
day the principal Brooklyn advocates were con-
graduating themselves on the fact that one of
the Beecher family, Henry B. Beecher had not
signed the petition calling for the killing of the
pool bill
Mr. Henry b. Beecher is one of the sons of the
distinguished pastor of Plymouth Church. He
Is in the real estate business on the corner of
Montague and Court streets, Brooklyn, is asharp
man OF business is an admlrer of all manly
athletic sports, can tell the difference between a
good aud bad cigar, and is genial companion.
In politics, Henry is classed as an dependent
Henry IS man who is inclined to back his
opinions with hard cash, and by following his
lnclnations last fall he is said to have won be-.
tween 81 ,00e and $5, 900. Mr.. Beecher was quite
positive that Mr. Cleveland would carry New
York State, and he wagered his money that
way. He captured several large bets-one of
$500 from Leonard Moody, a Republican, who,
like himself. is in the real estate business on a
large scale Mr. Beeeher confident of
Mr. Clevelands election that he said to his
friend, DIR. Brown, one morning:
9Th give you 10 per cent on a bet of $500 if
you can get some one to bet that amount that
Blaine will carry the State of New York.
DIR. Brown WAS in Harry Miler's chop-house
and heard, MIR. Moody offering to wager $500
that Blaine would carry New York State. Draw
ing $23 from his pocket, the Doctor said:
''I'll take that bet for friend Of mine Mr..
Beeeher. and put up $25 to bind the betr
WHAT Henry Ward Beecher, $500s' exclaimed
Mr Moody, in astonishment ''All right, I'll bet
him ST. 000"
'.Mr. Henry B. Beecher the old eentleman's
son, is the gentleman whom l refer to" said Dr.
Brown
Messrs. Brown and Moody each deposited
1926 with the proprietor of the chop house. On
spirit Mr.. Beecfer, made good the wager made
by mis- friend, and sent check for $500 to Harry
Miller
''He put up his check like little man. said a
sport who saw the wager made. He was full
of grit, like his father and / guess he would
have put up all the money in his clothes, if any
Blaine man had tackled him. And he didn't
seem to be bit afraid to leave the stakes in the
hands of man who sold liquor
Ibid he open any wine when he collected his
winnings the reporter asked.
Not at Millers. He sent his book keeper.
Mr.. Shaw. to get the stakes while there was
some doubt about the result of the election.
Miller wouldn't give up until Moody said he was
satisfied. Moody said he would lend Mr.
Beecher $500 il he wanted to use the money!
but he said he would not consent to abandoning
his 500 until he was sure that Blaine had lost
New York. A few days after this he telephoned
to Miller to give Mr. Beecher the stakes"
Colonel William c. Beecher is counsel to the
Society for the Prevention of Vice, and is man
of Roman frmness. 1t is believed, although he,
too. wasa supporter of Cleveland, that if he
knew before the election that his brother had
been wagering money on the probable result he
would have threatened Henry with the serrors
of the law and challenged his vote
Henry is the business man Of the Beecher
family. said one of his friends HE is not the
sort of man TO get up and howl against the pool
bill when petition for its passage is signed by
gentlemen of such such standing as j. S. r.
Stranahan, president of the bridge trustees;
Samuel Mclean, the millionaire warehouseman;
General Slocum, William Van Anden, of the
Brooklyn Eagle; Roscoe Conking, August Bel
mont, Clarence A. Seward and many of the best
citizens of Brooklyn. Let me give you another
pointer on young Beecher He transacted the
insurance business for the Brewers Association,
an organization which represents many millions
of dollars. You won't hear him making any
temperance speeches likely to offend the makers
of lager beer"