Year: 1874

CONSULTATION OF THE sUB-COMMITTEE-THE ELE-


MENTs-MR. wINsLOw AT WORK UPON THE AR


GUMENT AND CONCLUSIONS - MRS. BEECHERs


TESTIMONY.


The members of the subcommittee Of the
Plymouth Committee of Inquiry had an informal
consultation yesterday about the report which they
are to prepare Mr.. WnslOw having returned from
Shelter Island and Mr. Cleveland having come back
from his visit to Brooklyn, Conn. They now think
that the report may be finished in time to reach
Plymouth Church on Friday evening The MEM
bers of the Committee discussed last week the shape
in which the result of their work should be pre-
sented. Three plans were considered, as one OF
those who had been in conference said yesterday.
One was to give the testimony, accompanied only by
brief statement of the conclusions of the Commit
tee another was to sum up the chief features or
the evidence and to give with this summary the
Committees argument and conclusions. The third
plan, and the one which. the Committee concluded
to adopt, was to give the evidence or, at least all
the essential points of it, to set forth in another
part Of the report a review of the main points
brought out in the testimony, with the Commuters
argument, and finally to present the Commuters
conclusions. To Mr. WinslOw was committed the
inception of the work in preparing rough draft OF
the argument and conclusions. This the subCom-
mittee will consider and modify as may seem to
them best The whole Committee will then be
called and any suggestion made by any member
concerning the report will be entertained. When
the Committee have passed upon the report 1T VIII go
to the Examining Committee of Plymouth Church.
and by them be presented as their report. With
them will rest the question in what way the mass OF
testimony shall be given to the public. 1t is thought
by members of the Committee that it will be printed
in bulky pamphlet for the use of the church. As
matter of course the testimony will not be read at
the Friday evening meeting, and 1t IS yet uncertain
whether the mere conclusions of the Committee VIII
be read or their summary the testimony and argu
ment be also given If it be found practicable to
finish the work in time for the Friday night meet
inc sufficient notice will be given, in order that there
NAV be a full attendance of the members OF the
church.


1t was ascertaned from members of the Commit
tee that among the important testimony III the
Forthcoming report that of Mrs. Beecher would be
given in full. Mrs. Beecher among the earliest
witnesses Examined by the Committee, and was
before them for about an hour Her testimony bore
upon what had been said to her by Mrs. Illton as
well as on other important matters in the case She
spoke lightly of the many letters expressing love
which had been sent to Mr. Beecher by women.
These she said, Mr.. Beecher always turned over to
her, caring nothing about them.


Mr. Winsow has already done considerable work
upon the report although he has not received the
evidence which has been in Mr.. Shearman's hands
for preparation for publication. This will be sent
to him soon. Ii Is not probable that the Committee
will hold any meetings till the subcommittee Is
ready to report to them.