The New York Herald Newspaper, August 29, 1874, Page 3

NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1874—TRIPLE SHEET, ' THE VERDICT Beecher Exonerated by the Plymouth Church People, THE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. An Enthusiastic and Crowded Meeting Last Night. THE ANALYSIS OF THE CASE, The Evidence Reviewed in an Argument. RESGLUTIONS OF UNBROKEN CONFIDENCE, Mr. Moulton Votes in a Minority of One. The “Mutual Friend” Hustled Out by the Pious ahd Police. The Speeches, the Scenes and the Uproar. Plymouth church was last night in a biaze of glory. It reminded one of the Sunday nights @uring the war, when éhe pastor fulminated his Magnificent tempests of oratory which went Through the nation like a thunderciap. Orange street was a mass of humanity all converging toward one central point, and tne doors of the church were 80 completely blocked that advance and retreat were buin equally dificult, and in the midst of all could be heard at times some very Unchristian language indulged in by some very Christian people. Side doors and back doors were no less - dificult of ap- proach—it seemed, truly, as if the whole of Brooklyn wanted to be present. It would be calumny to say that a single member 1 the church in the city remained away from ‘what was intended, since the snap and snarls of the controversy have been overcome, to be a tri- umphant vindication of the great preacher. How he up in the White Mountains must have wished to be present in spirit at this great scene. No one could be there and fail to catch the magnetism of it, The church meant the pastor should be vindi- cated. It 1s even likely that had the Investigating Committee not done so the members would have been cheerfully hooted from their platform. The people cared very little what the outside world tought about—they meant Beecher should be to them, and this was the ¢ whole meeting, is THE SCENE OUTSIDE, however, was nothing to what was to be witnessed ‘Within the whitewashed walls of Plymouth church. The pews were crowded with double the number Of people they were ever meant, by all the laws of compression, to hold. In the aisles the substanti- ality of human flesh was. who.iy ‘gnored, and, as for the galleries, no words ‘would properly convey @n adequate idea of their appearance from below. The organ gallery was besteged by any one and every one, the model choir being ignored in its claims, Around and about on the floor of the church the appearance, from the Mount Olivet reading desk, was intensely interesting. ne could recognize all the old time faces which have been part andparcel of Plymouth church for many years. There were the men and the women who during twenty-five years have stood as the foremost of this great church, loving and admiring their pastor in prosperity and fatth- fal in trial and tribulation—many of these men known through the land for some eminence m commerce, art and industry; the women enthusiastic ascver for the great church which weemed to them a part of their own souls. In all these faces there was no double meaning, no back thoughts, but a determination to support a great man; and one could not help feeling that they ‘would support him, right or wrong. THE MEETING OPENED. Atseven o'clock every seat in the church was taken and still the crowd came. At half-past seven the doors could not be reached; at eight the mect- ing opened. At that time Mr. Thomas G. Shearman, who has been prominent during the whole case as Mr. Beecher’s legal and confidential adviser, went om the platform, called the meeting to order and said that Mr. John T, Howard, having served as moderator at the previous meeting, would act in the same capacity here. Mr, John T. Howard chen ascended the plat- form and said that his duties during the evening were simply to nominate Mr. James ‘l. Freeland as chairman of the meeting. Mr. Freeland thereupon took his seat without any objection being made. He said the proceed- ings of the meeting would begin by the singing of the hymn known as “Beecher,” one of the Ply- month collection. The announcement of this hyma was received with nosmail gratification by the @udience. It was sung with that enthusiasm and unanimity which make the congregational sing- ing of this church remarkable throughout the Christian world. John Zundel was at the organ ‘and rolled out the massive tones with ail the splen- aid capapilities of the great organ. When this was over and the immense audience thaa become seated the Chairman called upon Mr. Darby to lead in prayer, and they all composea themselves seriously to the real work of the meet- ing. There was @ momentary bustie and then all ‘was still. Brother Darby arose in his pew and said in sub- stance :— Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we come here, conscious of our need of Thy Holy Spirit, to worship Thee worthily to-night. ithout this spirit of the Holy Ghost all our efforts are unavai!- ing. We come here wita all our responsibilities, and need forgiveness for our sins, and ask for Thy blessing, that we may worship Thee a8 we ought. May we feel our nothingness, OLord! and the need of the reviving influence of Thy spirit, which aione can bring forth that en- ee area which we s0 much stand in need of, Thou knowest our wants and necessities and Thou wilt give us according to our necessities, ‘Thou knowest the consolation which Thy children ever find in Thee, and that there is no employment in life which can afford happiness without Thee, ‘Thou knowest that we stumole even in the broaa daylight of noon as though we were in the dark, ‘without the light of Thy grace. Then be Thou ever with us, O Lord! and may Thou be ever upper- most in our minds, that we may learn to do Thy wil in all things. Thou did’st lay down Thy iiie for us, aud Thou wilt not refuse to grant that we may realize tne blessings which Thou hast purcnased tor us, Be Thou with us, then, to-night as we continue our services, as Thou knowest the reason which has called’ so many o! us together. We ask Thy blessing upon him who has for so long a time been our teacher and be undershepherd, May he be led by Thee ‘throngh the green pastures to Thy eternal love. May Thy spirit ever be with nim. Bless him and his household, and spare him to us to teach as and show torth Thy power more than ever. Enable him to be the instrument, more than ever, of brin; ny souls out of darkness to divine tru aie oud We bok psig] light when we iy guid: eetar monk, Guidance now and Mr. Freeland then announced that the mempers of the committee would ascend the platform. ‘They did s0, and were introduced one by one, each receiving @ round of applause. They took their seats opposite the audience. The announcement ‘was then made that the report of the vommittee would be maue and that to Mr. Robert Raymond would be givan the duty of reading. This was long ana short of | done from the supposition of Mr. Raymond’s elo- cutionary ability. Mr. Raymond then read the celebrated report from newspaper slips. constantly interrupted by frequent applause. When it was stated that at the first accusation Moulton should have been handed over to the | police the applause was very loud, and the same | thing followed the different portions of tfe report where Mr, Beecher states that God would take“ care of him, and also the extract from Moulton’s letter where he states that Mr. Beecher could Stand if the whole case were published to-morrow, ‘The tuil report is as follows, THE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. To THE EXAMINING COMMITTZgE OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH :— DeaR BRETHREN—The pastor of Plymonth church, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, addressed to us a letter, June 27, 1874, of which the following 1s a copy:— Brooxuyn, June 2, 1874, Gunrixmen—In the present state of the public tceling I owe it to my friends und to the church and the society over which I am pastor to have some proper investiga- tion made ot the rumors, insinuations or charges made Respecting my conduct as compromised by the Inte pub- ications made by Mr. Tilton, I have thought that both the church and the society should be represented, and I take the liberty of asking the 1ollowin; serve in this inquiry and to do that which truth and Justice may require. “I beg that each of the gentiemen named will consider this as it it had been separately and Personally sent to hitn. namely :— v1 - Sage, Augustus Storrs, From the Church—Venry Henry M, Cleveland. From the Sociely—Horace B, Claflin, John Winslow, 8. V. White. I desire you, when you have satisfied yourselves by an impartial and thorough examination of all sources of or to the church, such action as then may seem to you right and wise, HENRY WARD BEECHER, Willingness to serve in the grave matters so re- ferred to them, Mr. Beecher sent the following let- ter to the Examining Committee of Plymouth church :— Jury 6, 1874, Dxan Breraren—I enclose to you a letter in which I have requested three gentlemen trom the church and ree from the society of Plymouth church (gentle men of unimpeachable repute, and who have not been involved many of the trials through which we have passed during the year) to maxe a thorough and impartial examination of all charges or insinuations against my good name, and to report the same to you; and I now respectfully request that you will give to this committee the authority to act in your behalfalso. It seemed wise to me that the request should proceed from me, and without your foregoing knowledge, and that'You should give to it Authority to actin your behaif in so fi asa thorough Investigation of the ‘facts should be con- cerned. HENRY WARD BEECHER, ‘Thereupon the Examining Committee duly au- | thorized tne committee named In the letter of June 27 to act in their behalt also, SORRY BUT WILLING. Second—Your committee cannot here refrain from referring to the inexpressible regret which they in common with all good men feel, that un- controllable circumstances have made it necessary to discuss in the most public manner the unhappy scandal which is the subject of the present inquiry. But accepting the situation as we found it when we entered upon the high and solemn trust thug imposed, we have been profoundly impressed from the beginning with the grave im- portance of the work before us, For a considerable time vague and indefinite rumors were in circulation touching in a vital manner the Christian integrity of our belovea pastor. But poring had appeared from a known responsible source in @ tangible form uutil the letter of Mr. Theodore Tilton to tne Rev. Dr. page Which was published the 25th day of June, pT It was the appearance of this letter that movea Mr. Beecher two days atterward to request imme- diate investigation. It will be seen by the terms of such request that some proper investigation is asked for by him of the rumors, insinuations or charges made respecting his ‘conduct as com- pinned by the late publications made by Mr. on. ton. We were invited to make an impartial and thor- ough examination “of all sources of evidence,’ ba to advise such action as may seem right and wise. THOROUGH AND IMPARTIAL. .. Third—In conducting this investigation we have faithiully endeavored to make it thorough and im- partial, and to obtain such facts as are relevant to the inquiry from all attammable sources of evi- dence. For this yurpose we have summoned or requested the ardhidance of the tollowing persons to testy belore the committe:—Mrs. Eliza. beth R. Tilton, Mrs. HB. W. Beecher, Sam- uel Wilkeson, John R. Hi per Theodore Tilton, Samuel E. Belcher, Mrs, N. B. Morge, Oliver Johnson, Rey. R. 8. Storrs, D. D.; Dwight Johnson, Isaac H. Bailey, Mrs, Putuam, John W. Mason, Rev. W. W. Pation, Mary (. Amés, Richard P, Buck, Francis B. Carpenter, Albert ¥. Norton, Thomas M. Vaill, E, M. Holmes, N. B. Morse, Mrs. Mary B. Bradshaw, Joseoh Richards, Miss Elizabeth A. Turner, Francis W. Skiles, M. D.; Charles Corez, M. D.; Dr. Minton, Miss Oakley, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Ovington, Mrs. Wallace, Rev. S. B. Halliday, Thomas G. Shearman, Benjamin’ F. ‘Tracy, Francis D. Moutton, Franklin Woodruff, John W. Harmon, Rev. Henry Wara Beecher. Most of the persons named have attended as réwptested before the committee. One notable ex- ception is Francis B. Copy aee Mr. Francis D. | Moulton promised to testify fully, but has tatied to doso. He has submitted three short statements in writing to the committee, consisting chiefly of reasons why he declined to testify and of promises to testify at the cail of the committee. The com- mittee have called him three times, with tne re- sults stated. In addition to the evidence of the persons | named we have examined a considerable number of letters and other documentary evidence which, in some way, were supposed to relate to the sub- ject matter of inquiry. We have held in tue prose- cution of our imvestigations twenty-eight ses- sions. A VAGUE CHARGE. Fourth—Mr. Tilton, in his letter to Dr. Bacon, published on the 25th day of June, 1874, states that knowledge came to him in 1870 that Mr, Beecher had committed an offence against him, which he jorebore to name or cbarac- terize; and in the same letter iutroduced What he alleged to be extracts from a letter signed by Mr. Beecher and dated January 1, 1871. Tuis alleged letter, the whole of which appears in Mr, Tilton’s subsequent statement betore the com- mittee, has come to be known as the letter of apology. When this contmittee commenced its labors there was therefore no allegation before them except such vague allusion to an offence of some sort sald to have been committed by Mr. Beecher against Mr. Tilton, and for which, accord- ing to the same authority, he had apologized. It will thus be seen that the question before the com- mittee, then, was what, if any, offence had Mr, Beecher committed against-Mr. Tilton. TILTON’S INDICTMENT. Fifih—At an early period of the investigation Mr. Tilton was called before the committee and made an extended written statement, and, in a sense, specific charges, which showed that the offence referred to in the Bacon letter, so called, was, as Mr. ‘lilton now alleges, adultery with his wile, Mrs. Elizabeth R. Tilton. By this statement so made by Mr. Tilton the fleld of inquiry was somewhat enlarged by the alleged facts, letters anda circumstances therein set forth, It is proper in this connection to state that tle offence, a8 alleged by Mr. Tilton, during some four years and until recently to numerous persons, in writing and otherwise, was an improper sugges- tion or soltcitatton by Mr. Beecher to Mrs. Tilton. But as time passed and purposes matured this charge passed and matured into another form and substance. The offence committed by Mr. Beecher, as now alleged by Mr. Tilton, 18 stated substantially in the third and fourth subdivisions ot hie statement before the committee, The charge, in effect, 18 that Mr. Beecher at his reat- dence on the evening of October 10, 1868, or thereabouts, committed adultery with Eilzabeth R. Tilton, wife of Theodore Tilton; that this “act was followed by a similar act of criminality be- tween the same parties at Mr. Tilton’s residence on the subsequent Saturday evening, followed also y other similar acts on various occasions, Jrom the autumn of 1868 to the spring of 1870, the Places being the two residences aforesaid, and occasionally other places to which her pastor would invite and accompany her, or at which he would meet her by previous appointment.’ The remainder of Mr. Tilton’s extended state- ment is made up of citations of alleged facts and circumstances which he seems to consider rele- vant and important as evidence sustaining his charges as above stated, The committce have given the evidence their most careiul consideration, and find therefrom that in 1861 Mr. Beecher became editor and Mr. ‘Tilton assistant editor of the Independent, and that pis Roe relation they became warm and inti- mate friends. On or about 1863 Mr. ‘Tilton began to urge Mr. Beecher to visit his (Tilton’s) house, and he became more intimately acquainted with Mr. Tilton’s family. He urged him to do much of his editortal writing in his study, as it was more convenient to write there than at the office of the Independent. Mr. Beecher visited his house and a Iriendly relation Sprang up detween the wite and family of Mr. Tilton and Mr. Beecher, which continuea down to Decemoer in 1870; that the Iriendly relations existing between Mr. Beecher and Mrs. Tilton were always well known and un- derstood and met with Mr. Tilton’s cordial ap- proval. Some years before any open trouble ap- peared between Mr. Beecher and Mr. ‘Tilton ni (Mr. Tilton’s) doctrines, as set forth in the Jnde- jt, of which he had become editor, aroused a storm of indignation and opposition in the West, where this paper was widely circulated. Alter much discussion this led to the starting of the Advance newspaper in Chici to su. persede the Indepei . Mr. Tilton, while | editor of the Independent, & leading religious newspaper, had come to deny the inspiration ot the Scriptures and the Divinity of Christ. Bis social views about this time also underwent a rad- ical cuange in the direction of free love. This marked change in toe religious and social views of Mr, Tilton was a source Of great grief! and sorrow to Mrs. Tilton, Mrs. Tilton seemed to be a very religious woman—amounting ‘almost to enthasi- asm—and when this change occurred in her hug During the reading he was | wentlemen to | 1 | on the 26th day of December, 1570, evidence, to communicate to the Examining Committee, | The committee named having signified their | ; could retain his relations with Mr. Tilton. band she paturally sougnt her pastor for counsel a She set forth in strong terms the an suffering her husband's course was causing her. It | now appears that during these years Mrs, Tilton became strongly attached to Mr.’ Beecher, and, 10 July, 1870, confessed to her husband an overshad- owing atfection for her pastor. VHE FAMILY RUPTURE, On or about the loth of December, 1870, Mrs. Til- ton separated irom her huspand, going with her children to her mother’s house, She sent ior Mr, Beecher, aud on. his visiting her she made to him @ statement of her sufferings and the abuse which she had received at the hands of her busband which greatly shocked Mr. Beecher, He asked and | received permission to send to Mrs. Tilton his wile, whose judgment in such masters ue con- sidered better than his own, Subsequently he agreed im advising, with his wile, that at was desirable that Mrs. Tilton should separate irom her husband. Mr. Tilton, however, subsequently forced his wile to return to his house by sending for and ob- taining ponseence of the youngest child, who was sick with the croup, during Mrs. Tilton’s tempo rary absence irom her mother’s house, Sue suffered a miscarriage the next day after her re- ture, on the 2ath, which resulted 1n a serious ill- hess, continuing until alter the Ist of January, her Physician being in daily attendance on her irom the 24th to the 30th of December inclusive. Karly in December, this year, owing to the marked change in Mr, Tilton’s religious and social views, Mr. Bowen felt constrained to give him notice that his services a8 editor of the Independent would ter- Minate at a day named in the notice, Subsee ped to this notice, and op or about the 20th of ecember, Mr. Bowen liad entered into a contract with Mr. @ilton by which he was to be editor of the Brooklyn Daily Union and chief contrioutor o1 the Independent {or five years; but within a few days after making this contract Mr. Bowen received such intormation of Lilton’s immorality as alarmed him, and led to an interview between himself, Tilton and Oliver Johnson, at the house of Bowen, ‘ At this inter- view Mr, Tilton sought to retain his place and Bowen’s contidence by otfering to join Bowen in an attack on Mr. Beecher, in the insolent letter which Mr. Tilton wrote and signed on ihe 27th of December, demand- ing that Mr, Beecher leave Plymouth julpit and Brooklyn, That evening Mr, Bowen, on his way home, delivered this letter to Mr. Beecher. Mr. Beecher, on reading it, expressed ms astonish. ment at the recetpt of such a ietter, and denounced its author. Mr. Bowen then derided the letter and gave him some account of the reasons why he had reduced Mr, Tilton from the editorship of the independent to the subordinate position of con- tributor, saying that Mr. Tilton’s religious and social views were ruining the paper, and that he was now considering whether he could con- sistently retain him as editor of the Brooklyn Union or chief contriputor o1 the Jndependent. They conversed for some time, Mr, Bowen wishing Mr. Beecher’s opiuion, which was treely given. Mr. Beecher said he dia not see how Mr. Bowen Mr. Beecher spoke strongly of the threatening letter and the revelation he had just had concerping ‘til- ton’s domestic affairs, Mr. Bowen read Tillon’s threatening letter, and said that if trouble came he would stand by Mr. Beecher, It seems that Mr. Bowen communicated to Mr. Tilton, on the following day, the conversation had with Mr, Beecher and his intention to stand by him. Mr. Beecher, though he had no doubt that Tilton Would have lost his place, saw that his influence was decisive,-and anticipated Tilton’s overthrow, It now appears that on the 29th of Decem- ber, 1870, Mr. ‘Tilton having learned the advice Mr, Beecher gave Mr, Bowen and which was likely to bring hum face to face witb loss of place and position, extorted irom his wile, then lying ill of miscarriage, a document implicating Mr. Beecher—a document evincing her love for her pastor, and accusing bim oO! having made an im- roper solicitation, On the following day he sent loulton to Beecher, requesting an interview with Mr. Beecher at Mouiton’s house that evening, Mr. Beecher accoraingly met Tilton at Moultun’s house. Tilton received him with a memorandum in his hand, aod proceeded to charge Mr. Beecher with being uniriendly to him; with seeking, his downfall ; spreading injurious rumors about him; undermining him and advising Bowen to dismiss him; injuring him in his family relations; joining his (Tilton’s) mother-in-law in producing discor in tl jouse; advising @ separation; alienating his wile’s attection from im; with gaining her love more than any living being; Wit! Sopenpting her moral virtue; with teaching her to be gi cere, lying and hypocritical, and ended by charging Tilton eo that’ he made wicked préposals to her. then produced a written paper purporting 10 @ memorandum of a@ confession made, in July pre- jous, to pia py his wise, of her love for Mr. eecler, ahd Yhdt he had made proposals to her of an impure nature: Mr. Tilton, in the twenty-second sub-division of his statement before the committee, referring in time to December, 1870, States his grievance and cause of complaint of Mr. Beecher touching ‘Til ton’s business relations with Mr. Bowen in these words :—‘‘That he (Mr, Beecher) then participated in @ conspiracy to degrade Theodore Tilton before the public—by loss of place, business and repute,’ it is clear that on the z0th day of Decemper, when the so-called memorandum of confession was procured from Mrs, Tilton, the cnief inciting cause Of that step on Tilton’s part was his belie: that Mr. Beecner had caused him “loss of place, busi- ness and repute,’? if MR, BEECHER’S WEAKNESS, Mr. Beecher says this charge of impure proposals fell upon him like a thunderbolt. Could it be he sible that Mrs, Tilton, whom he had regarded as the type of so much moral goodness, should have made such false and atrocious statement? Tilton requested Mr. Beecher to repair to his hot where Elizabeth was waiting for lim, an learn from her lips the truth of the stories in so tar as they concerned her. The inter- view was had, and resulted in a written re- traction of the charges of Mrs. Tilton, who seemed in great distress. @ sort of postscript to the re- traction she demed explicitly that Mr. Beecher had ever offered any improper solicitations to her, that being the only charge made by Tilton or referred to in the statement about the confession in July. On the next evening Moulton called at Mr. Beech- er’s house and went up into his bedroom. He said that he and Tilton had learnea that Mrs. Til ton had given the retraction. He expostulated and said the act was unfriendly and would not mend matters, and that Mrs. ‘fiiton had already recauted the retraction; that Tilton bad already destroyed his wiie’s irst paper of confession, Moul- ton claimed that Mr. Beecher had acted unfairly ; that all difiiculties could be settled without such papers and that Mr. Beecher ought to give it up. excitement. He made no verbal threats, but dis- played a pistol and laid it on the bureau near which he stood. The paper was given to him, and a(ter a few moments’ talk he left. 1t 18 an amaz- ing pity that at tuis juncture Moulton was not handed over to the police. Jt would have saved much that iollowed, whith is deeply deplored, Mr. Beecher’s distress at the situation was voundless, He saw the peril of being even falsely accused, He blamed himseli tor much that had occurred. He could not teil how much of the impending trouble could be attributed to Mrs, Tilton’s undue affection for him, which it was his duty to have re- pressed, “My earnest desire,” he says, “to avold @ public accusation, and the evils which must ne- cessarily flow irom it, and which have now re- sulted irom it, has been one of the leading motives that must explain my action during these four years in this matter.’ While in a morbid condi- tion of mind, produced by those dis- tressing dificuliies, Moulton again called on him. His manner was kind and cores. He Besieged, however, to believe that Mr. Beecher ad been seeking Tilton’s downiall; had leagued with Mr. Bowen against him, and by his vice had come near destroying Tilton’s family. Mr. Beecher expressed many and strong regrets at the misfortunes of that family. Moulton caught up some of these expressions and wrote them down, saying tuat if Miton could see them there would be no trouble in procuring a reconciliation. Tnis paper, which is dated January 1, 1871, was intrusted by Mr. Beecher to Moulton’s keeping without reading it, nor was it read to him. ‘This paper, sometimes called the apology and sometimes the coniession, is 1n no proper sense Mr. Beecher’s production, ora correct report of what he said. jo man will belleve, for instance, that Mr. Beecher said, ‘{ humble myself before him (Tilton) as 1 do before my God.” Another sen- tence, “Her forgiveness I have.” Mr. Beecher states 1¢ Was not said, nor the sembiance of it. Pausing here, a very important question arises in this connection. To what does tne apology refer? It deciares Mrs, Tilton “guiltless,” and yet Tilton Says it reters to adultery, which Mr. Beecher de- nies. Without now considering the weight of credit to which the respective parties are entitled where there is a conflict between them, we be- lieve, and propose to show from the evidence, that the original charge was improper aavances, and that as time passed and the conspiracy deepened, it was eniarged into adultery, A CHANGE OF BASE. The importance of this is apparent. Because if the charge has been so changed, then both Tilton and Moulton are conspirators, and convicted of a vile jraud, which necessarily ends their miluence in this controversy. What is tne proof that the charge in the first instance was adultery? It is sald that it was, and that the memorandum in the hands of Tilton, in his wife’s handwriting, was to suctyeffect. But this is denied by both Mr. Beecher and Mrs. ‘lilton, and the written paver is not pro- duced, It is said iurther that Mr. Beecher con- lessed the fact of adultery. But this again 1s de- nied by him, and such’ alleged conlession is inconsistent with the retraction he recetvad that evening from Mra. Vilton, If he had contessed what service could the retraction render? Why procare one at all if, as alleged, Mr. Beecher had that eveniug confessed aduitery to Tilton and Moulton, or to either? What; then, was the charge preferred on the evening of December 30? We answer it was improper advances, which, of course, Mr. Beecher denied. What occurred in the matter of retraction tuat eveniag, and all the subsequent conversations, acts and letters of the Various persons directly concerned in dealing with the scandal are consistent with this view, and with no other. The retraction procured re- ferred to improper advances, and to nothing else. Is it nee the main offence had been charged Mr. Beecher would have been satisfied with any- thing short of a retraction of that? There ts @ sort of postscript to the retraction, in Which the charge of improper advances is ex- pilcitly dented—thus showing, we submit, that this Was the charge that was in the mind of both Mrs, Tilton and Mr. Beecher and no other offence. But look turther. Mr. Tilton in the last four years has many times said, verbally and in writing, that the charge was the lesser offence. This 18 tm- portant under the rule that where a complainant bas made different and Inconsistent statements of the offence he alleges his credibility 1s damaged and This interview resulted | Moulton was under great apparent | { 1m most canes destroyed, In the written statement of the offence shown to Dr. Storrs by Tilton and Carpenter, which was made in Mrs. Tilton’s bandwritiny, ander the demand of her busband, who 88 he dictated the precise words cha;acter- izing the offence, the charge was an impure pro- posal. This statement Mrs. Tilton retracted, aud days she protested against 1t as false When signed, id aiterwards saw Dr. Storrs and told bim br. Storrs, in a letter to the committee, confirm the retraction, In the manuscript prepared by Tilton, which he called “the true story,” the odeuce Was stated to be improper advances, This “true story” Tilton was fh the habit of read- ip@ to newspaper men, mends and to others, without, i mach discrimination, considering how anxio' he professed to be not to make known iis secret. Mr. Beecher testified that he met Tilton on the ferry boat about two weeks alter the pubit- | cation of the Woodhull scandal, and they taiked the matter over, He says tat Tilton was at frst | | mysterious and oon-committal, but on their way | bome in Brooklyn Tilton invited bim into his house, where the “true story” was exhibited to Mr, Beecher, and a prolonged conversation was had Whiten lasted until midnight, and during ail wis not one word was said or binted by Tilton that he | believed Beecher had committed adultery. On | the contrary, he asserted his unsbaken ‘confi- | dence in his wile’s purity, and complained only | of tue improper solicitauon, Ex-Supervisor Har- | mon, wiio, like Mr. Beecher, is one of our well | known and reputavie citizens, testifies to sub- | Stantially the same experience with Tilton as to | , the nature of the charge. Mr. Harmon goes further, and testiies not only that filton read to him tue “trae story,’ in which there was no allegation of | adultery, but that iiten descrived to bim his first | interview with Mr. Beecher on the evening of | December 30, and then intormed Mr, Harmon that | i | he at that time charged Mr. Beecher | with the offence of improper advances. | Mr. Tiarmon explicitly states that in aii! his conversations, which were numerous, with Tilton tor more than two years, he at no .tine | alleged adultery as the oveace of whicn he com- | plained. The testimony before the committee | | | | shows similar statements by Tilton to various | other persons up to within @ recent period. The further laet that Tilton treated the matter during jour years a3 an offence which could be properly | apologized ior and forgiven 18 wholly inconsistent | With the charge in its présent torm. | Tilton, tn is | written statement, complains that Mr. Beecher | “abused his (Tilton’s) forgivenness.” It 18 believed NO case O1 adultery on record can be produced where an injured ‘husband, upon learning of lus Whe's infidelity, bept the fact to himself for six months, and then, after private com- | plaint to the offending party, receives and accepts an apology jor the oifenco, and declares it forgiven—and this followed by a restor- ation ol the courtesies of friendship. All these and | other considerations hereatter to be reierred to, show that 1n no event couid the oifence have been the crime of adultery, it might have been the charge 01 the lesser oifence, but it 1s not conceiva- ble that ‘Tliton, in view of his cond believed even that, Still further, that the so-catled apolozy | was not for the main oifence, Tilton humseif in his | cross-examinaiion clearly proves. Mara his words! He says that the day after it was procured he was in Moulton’s room and there met Mr, Beecher, when the Jollowing scene occurred :—‘He (Beecher) burst out mto an expression of great sorrow to me, and said he hoped the communication which he had sent me by Mr. Moulton was satisiactory to me. He then and there ‘toid Mr. Moulton’ he had done Wrong, not so much as some others had (re- Jerring to his wife, who nad made statements to Mr. Bowen that ought to oe unmade), and be there volunteered to write a letter to Mr. Bowen con- cerning the jacts whtch he had misstated.” Here is clear light as to what the apology does not reier to, It disposes of the apology forever as a paper reierring to adultery. it refers to nothing of the kind, If the wrong done to which Mr. Beecher re- fers was adultery how could these words be used in reference to it, ‘He had done wrong; not so much as some others?” The absurdity of such a claim is clear. Those words and the apology are aus- ceptible of but one construction. They refer, as Mr. Beecher says, to his deep regret for statements which he und his wife had, under certain ioforma- tion a tew days before, made to Mr. Bowen, which led him to execute & purpose already entertained of removing Tilton trom the Brooklyn Union and the Independent. It appears also that the next day Mr, Beecher did write the letter to Mr. Bowen which Tilton says be volunteered to write, ant RDS relerred to Tiiton’s business troubles’ with wen, MOULTON’S POSITION. Next consider Moulton’s course with @ view of still 1urther testing What was in hts mind as well 43 in Tilton’s as to the character of the offence. if Mouiton understood the charge to be adultery, then he is eutitled to the credit of the invention or discovery that this crime could be the subject Of an apo.ogy, and a ready forgiveness and recon- ciation On the part of the offender and the in- jared husband. That Moulton did not believe or understand that the offence was adultery is shown by the same class of evidence that has been cited im reference tq Tilton. He repeatedly declared to many persons there was no adultery. Fortunately we have a statement in writing setting orth Mouiton’s estimate of the nature of the oiltnce. Mr. Beecher wrote a letter dated June 1, 1373, to Mouiton, in which, among other things, he com- plains of ‘Tilton’s threatening and inconsistent duct, and declares his purpose to waste no e energy in trying to satisly Tilton, who at this time was complaining of tne publication of the tripartite agreement, so-calied. in this letter Mr. Beecher says:—‘My mind is clear; 1 am notin haste; I shall write for the public a statement that will bear the light of the Judgment day. yd will take care of me and mine.” These are not the words of a guilty mind. Moulton replies on the same day. Publicity was no part of his projound policy, and he hastens to object. At first he writes these words, “If the truth must be spoken tet itbe, I know you can stand if the whole case was published to-morrow.” Apparenuly tearing this might rather tend to determine Mr. Beecher to publish tho whole case than otherwise, he crossed out these and other lines with a pencil and commencea anew. In this new effort on the same paper these words Occur:—“You can stand it the whule case were published to-morrow.” Moulton was right, ‘The pity is tuat Mr. Beecher did not publish | forthwith, ana so become once more iree and end the machinations of ‘tilton and the mutual friend. These two, whatever else they wanted or designed, did not believe their | purposes would be then subserved by publicity. ‘Tilton soon became gracious and kindly. But what shall be said of Moulton, who now asserts for the first time that adultery was the offence? Is it possible this man 18 so low in bis moral perceptions as to believe that a minister of the Gospel, and that too of Plymouth Church, could stand up be- fore his churca and the world against the crime of adultery? No, Tilten says his wite was possessed of the idea that adultery with her pastor was all right and no sin, That she did not discover her mistake from reading St. Paul, but Grifith Gaunt, But we have no evidence that this hallucination haa reached and tainted the diplomatic mind of | Moulton. It is right that we should say here that we do not believe the sinless character of adultery was @ dogma believed in or even known to Mrs, Tiltom except perhaps as a notion of the Wooabull | school, of which her husband had become a disci- ple and shining ght, and with which she had no sympathy. There is but one fair conclusion to be drawn from Moulton’s letter of June 1 to Mr. Beecher. He knew that Mr. Beecher had been Jalsely av- cused of impure advances, and that le desired in his inmost soul to suppress the scandal. Yet i! the simple truth were published he. could stand, Knowing this, he said so, Whatever Moulton may say now, s1NCe bis malice has been excited by cer- tain exposures, 1s Of little consequence, He now openly stanas with Tilton where he has secretly been irom the beginning. We conclude, theré- fore, in view of these facts and circumstances, that the original charge of impure advances, false though it was, has been dropped by these ac- cusers, and adultery at this late day has beeu sub- stituted as an alterthought. We brand this per- formance a8 @ iraud that ought to end all contro- versy as to the innocence of Mr. Beecher. Pur- suing the narrative a little further, we find Moui- ton, who first appeared as Tuilton’s iriend, ater procuring the igen a apology quietly becomn to be @& very plaustuie more vigor of will than conscience, One thing is unfortanately Clear, that {rom this time on he oun- trived to obtain and hold the confidence of Mr. Beecher, both in his ability and purpose td kee the peace in good faith. There was certaluly roo! for an honest peacemaker. Mr. Beecher knew he had been falsely accused of an impure offence, and that a reputable woman by some means had been induced to make the accusation. It is true the charge had been withdrawn and ite force was in a sense broken. Still the fact remained—he had been accused, BERCHER “STANDING OVER AN ABYSS.” Mr. Beecher naturally {elt that the situation was critical. For him, @ clergyman of world-wide faae, to be even falsoly accused was a calamity. ‘to pre- vent publicity would save a still greater calamity- He ielt—and in the light of results may we not say he was right ?—that a. public charge of such an | offence would, as he expressed it in, his letter to Moulton of February 5, “make a con- flagration.” From reasons of malice and A it became apparent that Tilton was preparing, 0 made a deadly assault upon him, his Mr. Beecher belteved it was bis supreme duty to pre- vent by all possible honorable means. © Moulton professed to deprecate Tilton’s purpose aud de- clared if Mr, Beecher would trust to him he could and would prevent it, “And so now began a series of letters and steps under the direction and ad- vice of the diplomatic mutual friend, having for their object, as Mr. Beecher believed, the suppres- ston of the scandal and the restoration, in some measure, if practicable, of Tilton to position and employment, In passing judgment upon the means employed to secure these results itis fair to remember that all through these four years Mr. Beecher was per- forming great labors and had more and greater responsibilities apon Nim than at any other period of liis life. Moulton said, “Leave these disagreea- ble matters to me, { will sce that Tilton acts right. Iwill keep him in control. it is true in certain moods he is threatentn; id unjust. But he soon recovers and is kin id reasonable.’? As time passed along it was evident that Tilton was most troudlesome when he was unprosperous te pane aa eee eee 0 “1083 Of pent ness” Is significant. At tumes Mr. Beecher became discouraged, as indi- man, — with ing, uses strong words and emotional expressions. This 18 and always has been a marked quality of his mind, second, in this sore trouvle he was dealing with Tilton, who had shown himself at times fickle, malicious, revengeful and mercenary. In the light of these facts there is not @ letter from Mr, Be » MOr an act of his, how- | ever tl-judged, through these tour years of anxiety | and griel, that cannot be accounted for upon the | plain theory that he was fighting to suppress an outrageous scandal which consisted of a taise a cusation against him made by a reputable woma: and, further, that he was endeavoring to help a man whom be felt he had unduly injured in business matters upon representations which he was alterwards made to believe, chiefly by Moul- ton, were not well iounded. The statement of this branch of the case would not be complete without reference to the fact that Mr. Beecher had a warm friendship for Mrs. Lilton, which began in her early womanhood, and that Mrs. Tilton, reciprocating this friendship, began, as her domestic troubles cume ov, to look more than ever to Mr. Beecher for sympathy and advice. That this feeling, on Mrs, Tilton’s part, became, under the circumstunces, so strong as to diminish the proper influence that belongs to every good husband ts not unlikely, In the course of events, and especially in Decem- ber, 1870, Mr. Beecher received the impression from Tilton and Moulton that be had eigen Mrs. Tilton’s. affections from her husband. The possibility that such a fact as this might be added to the responsibilities then rest! upon Mr. boecher constituted, as he expressed it in his let- ver of February 5, 1m part, one of “the environ—- ments that surrounded him.” ‘This was to him the occasion of great grief and anguish, Mr. Beecher conceived tuat possibly he had been derelict in duty—he, the strong man and pastor—in not re- pressing at once any undue afiection for him on the part of this distressed Christian woman yearn- a sympathy that she found not in her house- old. A MILD CRNSURE, And we cannot but express our regret at two errors mto which it ts apparent Mr. Beecher fell. Walle we recognize the appalling disaster which seemed imminent when he was confronted by a professedly tujured husband with @ charge on the part of his wife of an impure proposal fiom him to her—a disaster which threatened”to brand with infamy @ Dame which, through years of public service as philanthropist and minister of God, had maintaimed the most honored place in the world’s esteem—yet we eel that tn an hoar of such demoralization aa this calamity m‘ght justly work, the pastor should have sought counsel irom Christian men of his own brotherhood, rather thau rely upon the counsel of a man ot whom he knew so little and whose character, a8 the sequel proved, he so sadly misjudged. And 1t 1s also apparent from Mr. Beecher’s own statement, in view of the profound sorrow into which he was plunged and the expression which be gave to his feelings, that he had erred tn not ‘uarding 80 closely his relations with the lamily of ir. Tilton that there could be no possibility for fear in his own miud even of an undue affection by Mrs. Tilton for him, through aay heediess Iriend- ship or agency of his. TILTON’S IDEAL TOME. Mr. Tilton, in nis statement before the commit- tee, speaks Of hts home as one of unusual harmony, “an {deal home.” But upon his cross-examination it oleaty appeared it was anything but a happy or harmonious home, ‘The truth as to this is material both as affecting Tilton’s credibility and as showing the character of Mrs. Tiiton’s domestic troubles, and the infu- ences that reached her daily life. Her painful testimony reveais a jealous husband accusing her of infidelities with different meu-and of exerting @ sensual influence upon all. She de- clares that her husband bad frequently compelled her, when sick, to copy, or from his dictation write, confessions which she herself did not under- stand, and in ler despairing condition of mind cared little about. At times fe threatened her, locked her up, and deciared himself ashamed ol her presence, when among triends whose society was more attractive to him. Her account reveals him fall of selfish exactions; indifferent to her wants; neglectful in ner fitness; forcing disreputable women into her soctety, till sometimes sne fled for peace to the graves of her children. Mrs, Tilton declares he did not hesitate to avow his right to commit adultery on his Peeuaiia tours whenever he chose. And yet, in season and out, we find this man dribbling out his charges of dishonor against hig wile. This is a dismal revelation from the ‘4deal home ;” but one cannot read it and believe it possible that she has invented this recital of her husband’s character and life, This account of the omeatic misery of the Tilton family ts corroborated by the testimony of several witnesses, and very fully by Miss’ Elizaveth a, Turner, who 1s now twenty-three years of age, and was an inmate of this family eight years. This young woman is & teacher of music In a ladies’ seminary in Pennsylvania. She isa person of un- usual intelligence, and ber appearance and man- ner before the committee impressed all who heard hér testily that she was sincere and rellabie, and well understood the iacts of which she was speak- ing. The condition of this family, in connection with the distressing circumstances referred to, and that appear in the history of this dimiculty, con- Spired to make the Occasion one full of peril, not only to Mr. Beecher, but to others whom he feit bound to protect to the last moment, to say | Rothing ot the great interests of ms beloved Plymouth church, and other interests of high con- cern, all of which must be involved if publicity | shouid be given to the false and scandalous matter that was seeking expression trom the heated and malicious mind 01 Theodore Tilton. BEECHER’S BLACKMAIL, Will innocent men pay blackmail? Will innocent men, and especially clergymen, fight as for their lives to bd, hag an injurious scandal, even though it be born of extortion, Jalsehood and re- venge ? These are questions that unhappily his- tory has too oiten answered in the afirmative. It 18 easy. now that we see what manner of men ‘filton and Moulton are, to wonder that Mr. Beecher should intrust any inter- est of his to their keeping, When we look back upon the record made by this sad story, we leel like visiting, even upon the suffering bead and heart of our pastor, the severest censure. And this not the less because we revere and love him and know that no man in all our land is more be- loved. It is, we might say, because he is so be- loved—because that in him centres so many and 0 great interests of Church and bumanity—be- cause he stands to-day foremost amovg men of master minds, of eloquence and power, that we would chide him in no uncertain worda for imper- iling so much and so often the precious interests contided to him by the God who made him, and who we have nnshaken faith to believe will deliver him from all dangers. ‘The charge made by the accuser is one easily preferred, and not easily disproved. It is not enough for the accuser to say:—“L make this charge; now let it be disproved or be taken as con- fegsed.” All tribunals, both ecclesiastical and legal, in their wistiom have required, in determin- ing charges of this kind, such proof of facts and circumstances as point unmistakably to the guilt of the accused, and as are not consistent with any theory of imnocence. Lord Stowell, as cited by Greenleaf, one of the best writers known to our jurisprudence, and especially on rules ol evidence, says In every case almost the fact isinferred from circum: stances that iead to it by fair inference as a necessary conclusion ; and unless this, were the case, and unless this were so held, no protection whatever could be given to marital rights. What are the circumstances which Jead to such a conclusion cannot be laid down univer- saily, though many of them of a more obvious nature and of more frequent occurrence are to be found in an- Clent books: at the sain time It is Impossible to indicate them universally, because they may be infinitely diversi- fled by the situation and character of the parties, b the state of general manners and by many other incl- dental circumstances, apparently slight and delicate in themselves, but which imay have most 1mportant bear- ings in decisions upon the particular case. The only general rule that can be aid down upon the subject 1s, that the circumstances must be such as would lead the guarded discretion of a reasonable and just man to the concluston; for it is not to lead a rash and intemperate judgment moving upon appearances that are equally capable of two interpretations. Greenleaf further illustrates the kind of evi- dence required to prove adultery as follows :— Adultery ot the wife may be proved by the birth ot a child and non-access of the husband, he boing out of the Feaim. Aduitery of the husband may be proved by ba OF DGtH | MBO partiog the, mutaal.| Feri a auuiieroie intercourse: add oy ite DIPS weal character in these proceedings, appears | ‘enance and acknowlegment of a child. A married man going into a known brothol raises asuspicion of aau- tery, to be rebutted only by the very best evidence. iis going there and remaining alone for some time in a room with a common prostitute is sufficient proof of the crime. ‘ihe circumstance of a woman going to such & Place with a man furnishes similar proot of adultery. Cheat re pointed, byt useful this id Puidaucs BY eke pfecédents ond principles it is essential to observe that there is nothing Whatever disclosed by the evidence that proves that the accused parties have ever been ound together under any suspicious circum- stances, such as in some unusual house or place, or consulting together in some secret way to avoid observation and exposure. There is no proof of clandestine correspondence nor attempts in that direction, Mr. Beecher’s letters were, as a rule, opened, arranged and read by his wife. She tes’ fies that she has read and answered as many aa 1,000 in three months, Such as reached the Christian Union office were opened by others, and those that went to the church were opened, by the direction of Mr. Beecher, by the ‘clerk, before being placed on the desk. No sort of restrictions were imposed as to his letters, The usual facts and circumstances suggestive of wrong doing are utterly wanting in this case. What then does the case, as put by the accuser, rest upon? We answer, Upon mere words and assertions, sup- ported by no circumstances whatever that are te usual indications of adultery. MRS. TILTON’S CONFESSION. Tilton says he knows the fact from his wife’s con- fession, July 3, 1870, and from her subsequent con- tessions to Moulton and to her mother, Mrs, Morse. This is thus answered:—First, that Mrs. Tilton says im offect that this consession, whatever it was, was extortea from her by an im- perilous, malicious pusband, and by means tat, in & moral sense, were fraudulent. Pretences were made that she must someting tO ex- tricate Theodore out of his business perplex- ities, She was made to believe there was a conspirac, ainst her hushand, The tact that are,” ‘Tilton withdrew the charge when Mr, Beecher first confronted her alter he had heard of it, on the evening of December 30, is in order in this connection, together with the further fact that she has ever since dented the truth of the charge when iree irom the dominating influence of ner husband. She explicitly deni that the charge was adultery. We now see h cated in his letters to Moulton, coming before the committee with expressions Much has been sald, and not without some jus- | of yy that at last she can come and fice, of the extraordinary Words and tenor of Mr. | spe: the truth; and in the most solemn Beecher’s tetters. But tn interpreting these let- | manner she denies absolutely the cnarge,and ters it must be remembored, first, that Mr. | pi set jortn facts and circumstances Beecher. under the excitement of dean feal- | which demonstrate that this unnappy woman hag | for years been the ic victim of extorted false. hoods, Tilton’s allegations that she coniessea to her mother, Mrs, Morse, i8 pronounced false by the mother, who testified betore the committee, The source of Lue scandal then, is alleged words of Mrs. Tilton, which she explains in such a magner as to deprive the allegation of all force and credit. Then comes Mr. Beecher, who solemnly declal that whatever words, by whatever means have been drawn from Mrs, Tilton by ber husband, he 1s innocent of any and all impropriety towards her, whether relating to improper advances or to adultery, It ta nut for the committee to defend the course, of Mrs. Tilton. Her conduct, upon any theory of human responsibility, is indefensible. Our hope is that it may be made clear, as the testimony affords much reason to believe it may be, that this dis- tressed woman was so beset by her designing hus- band, when in states of mind differing little, if at ail, irom mental aberration, brought on by iimess. d domestic sorrow and gloom, as to induce her, least passively, to make a charge of Improper! advances by Mr. Beecher, But when lier attention, was pointedly called to the great wrong she had: done she quickly toox it back in sor tence a8 follows :— ooyY Sea, Drcesnen 90, 1870. Wearled with importanity and weakened by ie T gave a letter implicating my friend Henry Ward Beech~ ef, under assurances that that would remove. all difil- culties between me and iny huspand. That letter I now. revoke. I was persuaded to it—alinost forced—when was in a-weakened state of mind. Lregret it and recall all tea statements a i AON. le say ¢xplicity Mr, any improper ry exp Beechor has never offered @ manger ation, but hes alw: coming a Christian ted vec kted mae ine ELIZABETH R. TILTON, There is medical testimony before the commit- tee, given by two eminent physicians, Drs. Min« ton and Corey, to the eifect that such cases of mental power and domination by a husband of strong will over # wife weakened by disease and domestic trouble are not infrequent. Dr. Corey,, who is eminent and has had Jarge experience in. mental diseases and phenomena, says such conduct’ on the part of Mrs. Tilton, when subjected w the influences referred to, is even consistent witt. an honest mind. We observe tuat Moulton parades a letter purporting to have been written by Mrs. Tilton to him (JJ), in which she says she is “a perfect coward in his (Tilton’s> presence,” and “it is a physical impossiuility for me to tell the truth.” In another letter, same to same (KK), she says, “With all my woman’s soul, I am innocent of the crime of impure conduct alleged against me.” In her statement, procured. under the direction of Tilton and Carpenter, of December 16, 1872, and which was taken by them to Dr, Storrs, Mrs. Tilton shows that she was made to believe that a con- spiracy was formed against her husband. Her words are :—“Six months afterwards (that ts, alter July 3, 1870), my husband felt impelled by the circumstances of u conspiracy against him, in which Mrs. Beecher had a pare, to have an interview with Mr. Beecher.” ‘U'nis ret to the interview of Tilton witn Mr. Beecher,, aes by Moulton on the evening of De in two lines, in the handwriting of Mrs. ‘Tilton, 16 will be seen tt was under the influence of startling statements of conspiracy against her husband that Mrs. Tilton was moved to appear to act on this occasion, We find her subsequently, in a letter, asking Mr. Beecher's “iongiveness for the suifer- ings she bad caused him.” TILTON MANUFACTURING EVIDENCE, We hear much irom Tilton of confessii by his wife tohim. We are obliged to rv ve his statements on this point, if at all, without core roboration, But on one occasion, when ‘Tilton was assailing his wife, we learn from the testimony of Miss Elizabeth A. ‘Turner in what manner ‘lilton’s accusations were met by his wife. Question—"Da he (Tilton) at any time on this day say that she had made any confeasion to him in regard to Mr. Beecher?” Answer—“He said she had confessed! to him that she had been criminally intimate with Mr, Beecher; she (Mrs. Tilton) was present when he said that and ashe said, ‘Oh, Theodore, how can you tell that child’ such’ hase lies? and then she burst out crying.” Question—“When at Answer—“This all occur: on the day that we went back, in the fall of 1870." This was the day when this witness testifies thata scene of violence occurred. The witness, believing that Tilton was about to strike bis wife, interfered to save her, and was knocked down by Tilton. This Witness is the same person who, it is said hy Tilton and Moulton, was sent to boarding school to get rid of her because she had heard Tilton make charges against Beccher. It is further said that Mr. Beecher wasso unxtous to have her leave town and keep away that he paid some $2,000 for her school expenses. ‘There ig no douot the $2,000 were paid, but for quite another purpine. Miss Turner and Mrs. Tilton both agree Saying that it was Tilton’s plan to have her go away because she bad stated to her iriends thaw Tilton had twice attempted intimate relations with her while in bed and during the abscnce of Mrs. Tilton in the country. Tilton was fast losing place: and position because of nis social views and prac~ tices, and feared tho pabuotty of this giri’s state. ment, who at that time was twenty years of age. The absurdity of supposing that Mr. Beecher would invest $2,000 apiece to get persons to leave town to whom Tilton had been peddling his scandal against him is transparent. Person to whom Tilton had talked in some form of the scandal, sometimes in one shape and then in ane other, were too numerous to justify an investment, of $2,000 on each of them by anybody whose wealta could not be counted m4 millions. It should be noted that just as Miss Turner was leaving for the boarding school ‘ilton procured from her, with the aid of his wile, a Jetter denying the reports of bis improper liberties. Here agala We find Tilton a manulacturer of evidence. THE FRAIL BLIZABETH. Tt is not for us to pass jadgment on Mrs. Tilton upchnaritably. She has suffered unparalieied trials. Moulton quotes her as saying in a letter to him, ao we have seen, that it was physically impossible for her to teil the truth in her husband's presence. It will be noted that the pretended confession wat obtained in that presence, and, further, it wag when she was away from him und irom home, at Schoharie, stated her to be like thatt of Catherine unt—an undue aifection for her’ pastor. In this letter to her husband she Bays: fel _unfalteringly that the lovo { felt and received harmed no one, now even you, until the ea veer vision dawned upom me.” And again:—“Oh, my dear ‘Theodor though your opinions are not restful or congeniat to my soul, yet my integrity and purity are » sacred and holy thing tome. Bless God with tor Catherine Gaunt, and for all the sure leading: of an all wise and lass Providence.” ‘This letters was written Juno 29, 1871, about a year alter tha pretended confession, In no sense can ita words be construed as referring to adultery, Tilton, when before the committee, whem reference was first made to this Schoharic letter, seemed to think that the offence in the story ot “Griffith Gaunt)? was adultery, and accordingly relied upon this letter as incontrovertible evi-r dence of his charge. In this he was mistaken. It is @ principie of the common law that o mars Tied woman cannot commit or be held to commit a crime perpetrated in the presence of her hus- band, aad this upon the idea that the husband’s resence and influence amouat to auress, and hat she is, theretore, not responsible. Whether it1s necessary to invoke this rule of law to excuse Mrs. Tilton or not we may see tn what Tilton was able to extort from her without her volition or real assent, something of the reasons which moved the early expounders of the Knglish com- mon law to assert the doctrine referred to, We have now reviewed, as briefy as we could, the evidence betore us, re are many facts and dee tails we have not discussed. We have cited tha more important of these and discussed the salient points. We have carefully examined the evidence relied on by the accuser to sustain the charges we are asked to believe. NAUGHTY THEODORE, Finally, who is this accuser, that he makes so bold a face? We may learn from the testimony, as well as by common report, without descending to unpleasant eae or personalities, that Theo. dore Tilton has in recent years become a very dif- ferent man from what he was formerly reputed ta be. He will hardly deny that. Both before and after his espousal of the new marital philosophy signs of degencracy were setting in which have made him discredited man in this community. in the new rdle his culmination ang downfall are well stated in recent words by an able writer who, in sketching his career, says that, “In process of time he comos before the world ad the indorser of Victoria C, Woodhull, ana lends bid name to @ biography of her which would have sunk any man’s Teparaqion, anywhere for commou sense. Such a book @ tomb irom which na author rises again.’ Such is the accuser. OUR PASTOR. Who is the accused? itis Henry Ward Becchers The pastor of Plymouth church has been a clergy< man with harness on forty years. Twenty-sevea of these years he has been here tn this churen, which, as all the world knows, has so 0! bee! stirred to Se deeds and toa better Ile by his juent ministrations, This man has veen living in the clear light of noonday, beiore his people’ and before all men, a Iife of great Christian use- fulness ‘and incessant work. None Lave known, him but to admire and love him. They wha have been most intimate with him home aud abroad report nothing of Bb Ie conversation but what comet of purity of — soul. we are ask by Theodore Tilton and his coadjutor, Moulton, to believe that this man, with bis long and usefal It: and high character to sustain him, t¢ unworthy ol our contidence, regard or respect. Christian chars: ter and great services, which are usually consid« tower of strength and defence when onc is assailed, are to go for naught, according w Mr. Tilton. We are invited to give up this beloved and eminent man, and send him and his name and lame into the vortex of morai destruction., We are to do this, upon what? Upon some wild, absurd and contradictory assertions of Mr. Tilton, who in all this work does not succeed in disguising his malicious and revengeful designs, NOT PRO’ No tribunal administering justice ever held a charge of adultery proved by mere alle; we written or spoken, that are denied and not con- nected with circumstances and appearances point+ ing unmistakably toe th lt of the accused. Upon a review of all the evidence, made with am earnest desire to find the truth and to advise what truth and justice shall require, we feel bound to state that, in our judgment, the evidence relied on by the acouser utierly iails to sustain the charges made. We herewith submit a complete stenograpnio copy of all the evidence before the committeds, with some unimportant or irrelevant exceptions. Statement of Conclusions. First—Wi from theevidence that the Rev. Henry Wars becuer did not commit adultery witty CONTINUED ON TENTH PAGE, ere