The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-08-22

them excepting so far as their own late
disingenous nntruthfulness in their
solemn statements, may lower them IN
the estimation of the world. l reserve
to mvself the right to hereafter review
the statement of Mr. Beecher in contrast
with the facts as shown by documents
herewith subjoined, and Others which |
have ut my hand, the production of
which did not seem 10 be necessary until
some portion Of the published evil
dence of Mr.. Beecher demanded the
[Signed.] francis d. MoULToS.' i,
Statement Of Francis ID. MouIton.
Gentlemen Of the Committee:
need not repeat to you my great sor-
row to feel obliged te answer your invita-
tion, and with the permission of the par
ties to put before you the exact facts
which have been committed to me, or
come to my knowledge in the unhappy
affair under investigation. In so doing
| shall use no words of chsracterizng OF
anv of them, or ofthe inculpation of the
parties, nor shall l attempt to ascribe
motives. save when necessary TO exactly
state the fact showing the occurrences,
their acts ofomisSion and commission to
be interpreted by themselves,
in growing conversation or narration.
|, of course, can, in most cases, give only
the substance of these facts, and will at
tempt to give the words only when they
So impressed themselves upon my NINA
as to remain in my memory, and OF the
latter only 50 much rs seems To me ma
teral.
Knew TiltOn Intimately.
I have known Mr.. Theodore Tilton
since 1850, intimately, in the klndeSt re-
lationS of social and personal friendship.
have known the Rev. Henry Ward
Bcrchcr since 1869. and then casually rs
an acquaintance and attendant upon MS
ministration up to the beginning OF
the occurrence of which | shall speak
Seeing Mr.. Tiltons valedictory rs editor
of the independent on the 22d of Deccln-
Der, 1870, | inferred that there had been
some difference between himself and
Henry G. Bowen, proprietor, but learning
that Tilton had been retained rs contrl-
hutor to the journal, and editor
Of the Brooklyn Union, Of which
Bowen was also proprietor, supposed
that the difference were not personal
or unkind. Up to that time, although |
had been frequent visitor at Illton
| house and seen himself and Mrs. lllton
undrrall the phases of social intercourse,
! | had never heard or known Ofthc slight
! est disagreement or unkindnesS existing
bctu cen them, but had believed their
martial relations to be- ofthc most en-
ceptionally pleasant character.
On the 26th day Of December, 1870,
being ut Mr. Ttton's house, he came
home from nn interview with Bowen and
told me with some excitement that he
had Just had II conference with Bowen,
and that in that interview Bowen had
made Il certain accusation against Beech
er and had challenged him (Tilton), aS II
matter of duty tothe public, to write All
open letter, which Bowen WAS to take to
Bcechcr. of which he showed me
the original draft which is as follows:
BROOKLYN, December 26, 1870.
Henry Ward Bcecher:
SIR:-I demand, for the reason of
which YOU explicitly understand, that
YOU Immediately cease from the ministry
of Plymouth Church, and that you quit
the city of Brooklyn as a residence.
TSigned.1 THEODORE TILToN.
Tilton explained that the words, "tor
reasons which You explicitly under
stand" were interlined at the request of
Bowen, and he further stated that he told
Bowen that he was prepared to believe
his charges because Bcccher had made
improper advances to Mrs. Tilton.
MOuItOn Surprised.
Surprised ut this. | asked him, WHAT
when he replied, Don't ask me; | cant
tell YOU" / then said, as it possible
you could have been so foolish a. to sign
that lcttcrFon the strength Of Bowees rs
,rrtiun. and not have Bowen sign it too,
although, aS You say, he was TO carry itp
Bcccher?" He answered, Mr. Bowen
rave me his word he would sustain the
charge, and adducc evidence 10 prove
them. whenever called upon | said,
Il fear that YOU will find yourself mis-
taken. Has the letter gone? He an
,wcrcd. Bowen >uid he would take it
ina,noJi,,.I,.
'"',''''',"tv'!'i r,,uoI c.,n, pooobor
nI'gtM"b"d nnwo ba6 dn"r i["y 20 hac""so ON the
t''"' p',N''i n"' r'r,',,.; W., Ro"obo. ,.,,.,
nrSt %' '"l.',"'{ I",a"M;ns ',;, 't' az h,.
me '"t r"pi II, Jo aJ,,a, -, tLo ,;no ,N nn an
N'ie,''l"""''... i''s,, ,t, ~ Int,n ,ho. ,hn
'hNtI"Ioi nnu =" ,n' 90 ,,'' ~, ~. Tntnn
on the fifth of the same month. | insert
mere Inc T,o ,"i',M, 't ,nodn , ~ thc,ime giv
!'''> ""rNe S'"t'u " az. 9" ,aada. a '
I'S Inv ''u' ""." y , ""- |.,..
Demand that beeeher e"'' '"e '
pr.
BRooKLYN, December 20 lsZ.
Theodore TlIton informed me t"-d"y
that he had sent a note I" hr; heecher'
of which Mr.. Bowen was the bearer, de-