The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-23

portunity aud weakened by sickness, ] gave
a1letter iinpli Atipg MY friend Henry Ward
Beecher, under assurances that that would
remove All difficulties between me: and my
husband. That letter now revoke. Was
persuaded to it, almost forced, when 4 was
in weakened state Of mind. l regret 1t,
and recall all its statements. desire to say
explicitly that Mr.. .Beecher has never offered
any improper solicitations, but has always
treated me in manner becoming Christian
and gentleman.
"ELrzABErH r. TILToN."
BEEcHER's THREAT OF SUICIDE.
at the time of Mr.. Beecher's returning the
above document to Mr.. Tilton, through Mr.
Moulton. Dir. Beecher requested Mr. Moul.
ton to scall at his residence on Columbia
street on the next day, which he did, on the
evening of January l, 1871. A long inter.
view then ensued, in which Mr.. Beecher ex.
pressed to Mr. Moulton great contrition and
remorse for his previous criminality with
Mrs. Triton, taking 10 himself shame for
having misused his sacred office rs clergy
man TO corrupt her mind, expressing de-
termination to kill himself In case of expo
sure. and begging MIR. Moulton to take pen
and receive from his (Mr. Beecher's) lips an
apology to be conveyed to Mt. Tilton, in the
hope that such au appeal would secure Mr.
Tilton's forgiveness. l
The apology which Mr.. Beccher dictated
to Mr.. Moulton was as follows:
Mr.. BEECHER's APOLOGY.
2Iy Dear Friend Moulton TASK through
you Theodore Tilton's forgiveness, and
humble myself before him as do before
my God. He would have been better man
10 my circumstances than l have been.
can ask nothing eXeeptshe win remember all
the other breasts that would ache. will
not plead for myself. even wish that
were dead; but others must live 10 suffer.
viii die before any but myself shall be ia;
culpated.
..All my thoughts are running out to.
wards my friend, and toward the poor child
lying there and praying with her folded
bands. He is suiltIess, sinned against, bear
ing the trausgressi0n of another. Her for.
ciyeness ! have. / humbly pray TO God
to put it into the heart Of her husband to
forgive me.
Il have trusted this to Mr.. Mou lton in
confidence. II. WARD BEEcHER."
In the above document the last sentence
and the signature are in the handwriting OF
the Rey. Henry Ward Beecher.. !,
MRS. T1LToN coSFEssEs TO CONSPIRACY.
Eleventh.-That Mrs. Triton wrote the
following letter to friend: ,.,r
"174 Livingstone street, Brooklyn, Janui
AIRY 5. 1S71.-Dear Friend: A cruel conspii
racy has been formed against my bus band, I'D
which my mother and Mrs. Beecher hafe
been the CHIEF ACTORS. +, .*Ea Yours truly
....n. .aa. "ELIZABETH R. TILToSla
Twelfth.-Tbat in the fopoMtng month
Mr.. Moulton, wishing to bind rEMry Tilton
and Mr.. Beecher BY mutual expressionspf q
good spirit, elected from them the follows
ing correspondence: ~, ~ nqr .,s;;ri
Mr.. r,rros 70 , Mr. ao ia,1I ss'sIs
Brooklyn, February Z, ls71.-My .Deaf
Friend: In several conversations with, you,
YOU have asked my feelings towards Mr!
Beecber, and yesterday you said the time had
come when you would like 10 receive FROM
me an expression of this kind in writing.
say. therefore, very cheerfuly that notwitb.
standing the great suffering which he has
eiuscd to Elizabeth and myself, bear no
malice, shall do him no wrong: shall dis.
countenance every project by Whomsoever
proposed for any exposure of his secret 10
the public; and if know myself at all shall
endeavor to act toward Mr.. Beecher as !
would have him in similar circumstances act
toward me; and ought to add that your
own good offices in this case have led me to d
higher moral feeling than might otherwise
have reached. Ever yours, aflectionately,.
sTHEoDORE"
On the same day Mr. Beecher wrote to MIR.
Moulton the following:
mr.. BEEcHER TO Mr.. MoCLToNs...,~---s
"Feb,uary 7, 1S71.-Mr. Dear Friend
MouIton: am glad to send you book,
&c. Many, many friends has God raised up
TO me, but to no one has he ever given the
opportunity and the wisdom to seEye me
as YOU have. You have also proved Tbeo-
dore's friend, and Elizabeth's. Does God
look down from heaven on three more un-
happy creatures that more need friend
than these? Is it not an intimation OF Gods
intent of mercy to all that each one OF these
has in YOU tried and proved friend! But
only in you are we thus united. Would to
God, WHO orders all hearts, that by his kind
mediation Theodore, Elizabeth aud l could
be made friends again. Theodore VIII have
the hardest task in such a case. But has he
not proved himself capable of the noblest
thing? wonder if Elizabeth knows how
generously be has carried himself towards
me: Of course can never speak with her
again without his permission, and do not
know that even with this it would be BEST"
Mr.. Moulton on the same day asked Mr.
Tilton if be would permit MIR. Beecher to
address a letter TO Mrs. Tilton, and Mr.. Til
ton replied in the affirmative; whereupon
Mr.. Beecher wrote as follows:
MR.. BEECHER TO MRS. TlLroE.
Brooklun, February Z, 1S7I.-My Dear
Mrs. Tilton When / saw you last did not
many DAYS. God was kinder to me than
we're nv own thoughts. The friend whom
God sent to me, Mr.. Moulton, has proved
above all friends that l ever had, able and
willing to help me in this terrible emergency
of nv life. His hand it was that tied up the
storm that was ready to burst ON our heads.
You have DO friend-Theodore excepted
who has it in his power TO serve you so Vi
tally, and who will do it with such deilcacy
and honor. 1t does my sore heart good to
see in Mr.. Moulton an unfelgneo respect ana
honor for you. 1t would kill me If thought
otherwise. He will be as true friend to
your honor and happiness as brother could
be to sister. In him we have common
ground. You and / may meet in him. Inc
past is ended, but is there no future! NO
wiser, higher, holier future? May not this
friend stand as priest in the new sanctuary
of reconciliation, and mediate and bless The
odore, and my osr unhappy self?
Do not let my earnestness fail of its end.
You believe in my Judgment. l have put
myself wholly and gladly in Moulton's
hands, and there must meet you. This Is
sent with Theodore's consent, but he has
not read it. viii you return it to me by his
own hand! am very earnest 10 this wish
for all our sakes, as such a letter ought not
to he subject to even chance of miscarriage.