Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-07-24
NEW YORK. .July 2l, 1874

NEW YORK, July u, 1874.
The Tilton- Beecher trouble is, apparent
ly, as far from settlement as ever. The
most curious thing in the matter now, is
the sudden separation of Mrs. Tilton from
her husband. Mrs. Tilton went before the
committee appointed to investigate Mr..
Beecher, and give her testimony. What
she testified to the committee only know,
but it is understood that she denied dis
tinctly and explicitly that Mr.. Beecher
had ever offered her an indignity--in short
that the statement of her husband was
false.
At all events, she returned to her home
and told her husband that in consequence
he had taken, their paths in life would
henceforth be apart, and she left him, pro-
badly forever.
Of course, this is all conjecture, but the
probability is that the Beecher party knew
what Mrs. Tilton would testify to, which
accounts for their jaunty confidence in
their ability to crush out Tilton. But what
becomes of Mr.. Beecher's confession? me-
thinks hear one ask. Easy enough. Sup
pose the astute Henry Ward Beecher
should affirm that he signed it under COM
pulsion or suppose that there is nothing
direct in it. Suppose when it comes to be
read it is found to be, we'll, anything but a
direct confession of a specific attempt upon
the person of Mrs. Tilton and suppose
Mr.. Beecher should swear he never signed
anything of the kind. 1t strikes me he has
the Tilton people. AT least he has them
so far as Plymouth Church is concerned,
for those people are bound to believe in
him anyhow.
There is another thing Mr.. Beecher can
do. Suppose when he gives in his testi.
mony he is asked, "What about that con-
fession which you gave Tilton, in which
you wisi,oia, you were dead ?'' He will
probably answer Theodore was at that
time running very wild. He was having
affairs, as was supposed, with various wo-
men, and Mrs. Tilton came to me for ad-
vice. Believing that the reports were true,
did advise her to course which, as af-
terwards found, was unjust 20 Theodore.
Therefore l made him the apology which
he has since published. My zeal for Mrs.
Tiltou did get me into an awkward posi-
tion.r
This story Mr. Beecher's friends are cir
culating at this time. One thing may be
depended upon, viz: if the thing is posi-
bic, Mr.. Beecher will be completely exon
Grated by the committee. They will not
bring him in guilty of anything.
The Tilton family have seen great deal
of Trouble. Theodore is an excitable, i'm
petuous, impulsive man, who has wander
ed after a great many strange gods, and
a few strange goodnesses. Itis said at the
time he was standing side by side with the
Woodruff faction that he was accustomed
to take the Woodhull to his house, despite
the fearful protests of his wife, and insist
upon her being recognized as woman fit
for the companionship of any woman on
earth. This it is justice to him to say he
denies. But it is true, beyond question,
that he was infatuated with the doctrines
of the woman, if not with the woman her
self, and that that fact, judiciously and
skillfully managed by his mother-in-law, q
lady of very certain temper, made his home
an uncomfortable place. Theodore felt
that he was acting upon principle in CIV
ing countenance to the Woodruff, while
Mrs. Tilton felt that giving her any counte-
nance whatever, was an outrage /; and the
mother-in-law, who possesses enormous
capacity for trouble, ragged between the
two, serenely happy in the row that was
developing.
Then Beecher got into it. 1t was charged
by Tilton that he attempted to outrage his
wife, and another element of discOrd was
hurled into the already shaken home. Til
ton and his friend Moulton compelled
document from Beecher confessing his
guilt (the same, 4 portion of which was re-
Gently published by Tilton) and settle
ment of troubles, financial and moral, was
effected between Beecher, Bowen and Til
ton. Mrs. Woodruff was sent to the right
about, and it did seem as though every
thing would 60 on serene.
But DIR. Bacon and Plymouth Church
would not let Theodore alone. They want
ed him out of the way, and to that end
they kept continually poking sharp sticks
at him. Theodore is not the man to poke
sticks at, sharp or otherwise. He has
trick of turning and pushing with the
horn, and fearfully sharp horns he carries.
He did turn and did gore not only the pur-
suers, but the man whose good name the
pursuers wanted TO shield. His mistake
was in not punching deep enough. l am
satisfied he has it in his power to strike