The Portland daily press., 1874-08-24

Hilton added further TO the Duruen Vi pIoo
| against Mr.. Tilton, by an explicit denial OF al
his more important statements denial o
| itself is entitled to as much weight as tine
affirmation of Mr.. Til'on himself, but the ties
timony of the wife went further to prove tha'
Mr.. Tlton was commonly guilty OF not Only
acts of adultery, but of brutality and shame IL
his own household.
Thus far. them the testimony was too one
sid ID to admit Of any second conclusion, the u "a
the committee was informed that another OUT
side witness remained to be examined WHOSE
evidence, it was generally stated woud cohVic.
Mr.. Beecher, without any doubt Oh the
charges made against him. III.
witness to come forward, and at length, aller
delaying for almost week, a specific time was W
set for the witness to come forward and nahe
his statement. Upon the day mentioned 'Iio
witness made his appearance and addressed W
the committee some diffusive remarks, emoooy
ing no statement or accusation, but conveying
some covert hints and threats and offering 10
show some letters in his possession. Ihese
letters were seen, and Went no further 10 proTo
what had been alleged than any previously
seen. Indeed they were less to the polnG a!i u
more general than those already shown. nue.
feeling disappointed that fuller statement mad
not been made, the committee could not t eA
further steps to obtain one, and tGereIore
simply went to the trouble of examining the
accused person himself
The statement of Beecher has already peeli
before the public who know its import. IL
sets up general denial and gives full history
from Mr.. Beecher's point of view of all that
took place between himself and the Tlltons. IN
this statement comes to the surface the wrong
so much spoken of in the letters previously
mentioned, and which briefly, Mr. Beecher
says, consisted of some advice given to WIS
Tilton to leave her husband in consequence OF
his treatment of her, and also some counsel
given to Mr.. Bowen of the Union and lude-
pendent to dismiss Mr.. Tilton from his position
on both of these papers. Mr. Beecher states
that afterwards he found that this advice re-
suited disastrously to Mr.. Tilton, and he felt
great pain and remorse at the thought.
One important expression embodied IN TINS
statement struck the committee as worthy OF
remark. where Mr.. Moulton, who was claimed
to have such overwhelming testimony against
Mr.. Beecher wrote to him that he could stand
if the whole case were known tomorrow.
If this may be taken as meaning anything it
means that Mr.. Beecher was guiltless in any
serious manner of doing wrong.
The relations between Mr.. Beechcr and Mrs.
Tilton are explained, and it is claimed that the
relations never exceeded those which might ex
list between the pastor and member of the con-
gregation. The singular conduct and tergiver-
saton of Mr.. Tilton is also dwelt upon IN re-
markable manner and the whole affair describ-
ed circumsGantialy.
The report then goes on to show that
cross-examinaton of Mr.. Beecher developed
no important additional facts and the evidence
in the. case was closed.
The report then briefly and tersely gives the
conclusions of the committee 1t states that
on the one hand they find as the accused per-
son man of well known character against
whom, during ministry of % years, md
life of over go years, not single charge of
lack Of duty, much less immortality, has ever
been made. A man of great Christian good
ness and high principles. On the other hand,
as the aceuser, man OF bad reputation and
whom the testimony has shown to be per-
jurer and adulterer His charges are unsup.
ported by any distinct evidence or corrobora-
tive proof. Many Of his main statements are
fatty contradlcted by other persons of better
character than the accuser, besides the accused
himself. The proof seems almost all on one
side. Titon fails to prove anything except
that wrong had been practiced against him.
Mr.. Beecher manfully confesses this wrong and
shows by his letters that he bitterly regretted
it,
The Committee, therefore, comes to the con-
cluson that Beecher throughout this painful
enquiry has acted in an open, undertaking
manner, while his accuser's course has been
subtle and undetermined, and the finding is
that the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher is entirely
guiltless of the accusations brought against
him.
This ends the report as it now is. Some of
the members of the committee believe it to be
bringing further proof to bear upon the matter
at issue, but it is not certain that any notice
will be taken of a statement which,
in itself, was made in an irregular
and after distinct refusal on Mr..
Moulton's part to make any statement.
The Brooklyn Eagle publishes the testimony
of Tilton's adopted daughter, known as Bessie
before the Plymouth Church Investigating
Committee She says Mrs. Tilton was the
most devoted wife and mother.
The following came out in the cross exami-
ton:
@. Did Mr.. Tilton in any manner attempt
your ruin?
A. Yes, sir.
@. Will you state the circumstances?
A. He did on two occasions while Mrs. Til
ton was away. L don't remember where she
went Horace Greeley was in the house at the
time. l think Mrs. Tilton was in Schohaire.
Mr.. Tilton and were there all alone, except
Mr.. Greeley and the servant. Mr.. Greeley
was there making visit to Mr.. Tilton. The
first time L had been sleeping, and woke to
find myself in his arms.
@. At night or in the day time?
AT night; hardly realized where 1 was
He must have lifted me out of my bed and put
me in his When I woke up 1 found where [
was / asked what he was doing that for. He
said he was lonesome and wanted me to come
and be with him. 1 said that wasn't right, and
went back to my own room. There was moth
ing said about it at the time. When he came
to me a second time and tried to get into bed
with me l got very indignant and as he would
not leave the room L went into another and
locked the door after me- Lad never thought
of locking the door before. 1 left the house the
next day and didn't come back until Mrs Tilton
returned. Afterwards Mrs. L. told me that Mr..
7. mad made confession of this to her and she
wanted to know if it was so. L thought of
telling her several times, but knew she had
great deal of trouble, and 1 thought this would
trouble her great deal more
NIr. Beecher.
Sunday there was great influx of people at
the Twin Mountain House where Mr.. Beecher
preached to an audience of 1900. His sermon
was taken from I'd Timothy, I'd chap, part of
10Th verse. Nevertheless the foundation of
God standeth sure Having this seat the Lord
knoweth them that are His" This discourse
lasted one hour and quarter, and was a gem
eral one. No allusion was made whatever to
the scandal.
Rulnors.
Mr.. Sherman, counsel for Beecher, said
yesterday that when the proper time came
such defence would be entered and made as
would surely vindlcate Beecher in the eyes of
the people and before the law.