Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-10-01

how heavily his wife's guilty secret pressed |
on her heart particularly at times when ex-
posture was threatened. |
In regard to Mr.. Beecher's charge that Til |
toms attack on him originated in the latter's |
troubles with Henry @. Bowen, he produces
documentary evidence to prove that Bowen |
and he were on the very best Of terms that |
Bowen had made costly presents, including
$500 watch, as an evidence of his apprecia-
ton Of his valuable services. and offered to
engage him for five years at heavy salary. |
He then narrates with minuteness the first
occasion Of the broaching of his domestic
troubles In Bowen's presence, Oliver johnson
also being present at the interview. Bowen
referred Tilton's not going to Plymouth
Church, and wanted to know the reason.
Tilton reminded Bowen first of
his own oft-repeated charges against
to loose behavior with women, and dangerous
to the families of his congregation, and then
told him of the pastors improper behavior
toward his own wife. This, Tilton alleges,
famed Bowen Ito flame of anger against
Beecher. Tilton's statement on this point is
very important and we give it in his own
words:
"AI his past grievances against his pastor
seemed to be rekindled into sudden heat. He
walked up and down mis- library, denouncing
MIR. Beecher as a man guilty of many adulte-
ries, dating from his Western pastorate, and
running down through al the succeeding
years. Mr.. Bowen declared that Mr.. Beecher
had, in the preceding month of February,
1870, confessed to him certain of these adult
cries, and Mr. Bowen pointed out 20 me the
exact spot in his library whereon Mr.. Beecher,
with tears and lamentations. had Gas Mr..
Bowen said) acknowledged to him his guilt.
Mr.. Bowen, in this interview, declared
that he and l owed duty to society in this
matter. and that ought to join him in a just
Il -
ministry to quit the city, and to betake HIM
self beyond the reach of the families whose
homes he was invading like destroyer.
Mr.. Bowen challenged me to write such
demand. and begged for an opportunity to
to bear it to Mr.. Beecher in person, saying
that he would support it by a great
volume of evidence, and would compel it's en-
| forcement. / wrote on the spot the note
mentioned in Mr. Moulton's statement. and
which seemed to please Mr.. Bowen greatly.
just 1 was leaving his house, his last word
to me was: Henry Ward Beecher is wolf
| in the fold, and 1 know it he ought never to
preach another sermon, nor write another
word in religious newspaper; he endangers
families and disgraces religion; he should be
| blotted out
Tilton relatess in detail the interview be-
tween Beechei and himself. in the presence
/ of Moulton. on the night of the 30th of De-
cember. So concerning the pastors alleged
adulteries with Mrs. Tilton, the closing part
OF which we give in his own words:
after delivered my message, l unlocked
the door and said to Mr. Beecher, Now that
| we understand each other, you are free to go
II any harm or disgrace comes to Elizabeth
or the children, shall hold you responsible
For her sake l spare you. but if you turn
upon her, will smite your name dead be-
fore the whole world
"When I ceased speaking, he hesitated to
leave his chair. but sat with bowed head. and
with eyes rveted to the floor. At length
looking up into my face he said: Theodore
am in a dream-I am in Dante's Inferno
~ pointed to the door and said again
'You are free to retire.
I'm going out he stopped on the threshold
turned, looked me IN the face. and asked with
quivering lip whether or not l would permit
him to see Elizabeth once more for the last
time. l was about to answer, No, never,
but remembering my wife's grief, and her ex
pressed wish that his interview could have
taken place in her presence, felt that she
would be better satisfied if l gave him thu
permission he asked and so l said, Yes. you
may go at once, but you shall not chide Eliza
beth for confessing the truth to her husband
Remember what say: II you reproach thai
sick woman for her confession, or utter to hei
word to weigh heavily upon her broker
heart for betraying yeu. l will visit you with
| vengeance. l have spared your life during
the past six months and am able to spare il
again but 1 am able also, to destroy it
Mark me-, I added, Elizabeth is PROSTATE
with grief-she must hear no word of blame OF
| reproach.
"'Oh, Theodore he said Il am in wili
whirlr
AFTER these words he retired from the room
| and almost Immediately Gas Mr.. Moulton has
narrated) accompanied that gentleman to my
house. where Gas Mr. Beecher admits) he fell
upon Elizabeth with strong language that
is. full of reproach and procured from her a
retractiou which ne dictated to her, and which
she wrote at his command,-her tremor and
fear being plainly visible in her handwriting
as shown in the Grdphics fac smile"
Just prior to this interview with Mr.. Beechel
Tilton had made two contracts with Bowen
signing them only few days previous, from
which he was to receive as large a salary AT
the pastor of Plymouth Church-was in fact
in the most independent circumstances-and
hence the subject of financial embarrassments
could not have been the object of the inter
view. This fact, fortified by proof, Tiltor
claims puts an end to that passage in the com
mittee's verdict which Gays: :" 1t is clear that
on the 29th Of December, when the so-called
memorandum of confession procured
from Mrs. Tilton, the chief melting cause OF
that step on Tilton's part was his belief that
Mr. Beecher had caused him his loss of place
business. and repute."
Tllton devotes considerable space to the
statement of Beecher-that he (Beecher) at.
tempted to keep Tilton from public trial 10y
Plymouth church" for having circulated
scandals derogatory to the Christian integrity
of its pastor-and quotes from the church
records to prove that the investigating COM
mittee stultified themselves when they re-
ported that Tilton's original statement ''pre-
sented 10 square issues upon which Mr..
| Beechers guilt or innocence could be tried. "
| Tilton shows that the committee falsiied the
church records, believing that he possessed
no official copy, and concludes under this
head by asking:
| "Why did Mr.. Beecher keep me from pub
| lie trial by the church? 1t was to save, not
me. but himself. 1t was not /, but he, who
feared to be tried, and who put forth the
labors of Hercules to prevent trial. And
with good reason; for, unless Mr..
| Beecher's case in that perilous hour
had been conducted by the present
! Committee of Six, or their novel plan of &C
! quitting at ali hazards. the trial would have
proven him guilty. With wise sagacity, there
| fore, Mr. Beecher sought to keep me from
| that trial in order to save himself from that
ruin. well remember that, at that time, he
spoke OF his anxious and seepless nights, full
Of fear and apprehension at the possible
failure CT his cunning attempt to prevent the
coming on of trial which, at the same time,
he had to pretend to invite J"
Tilton claims that his relations with Mrs.
Woodruff were known to and joined in by
Beecher. and for the same end the hushing
up of the great scandal. Beecher formed her
raraopal acouaiptanca and etrOye. bv his