Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-12

could rely on was such notes as he had
made from time to time from writings OF
yours. which you had written to me, to be
read to him, and passages which he caught
from my lips in shorthand. Mr.. Tilton
has seen only part of the papers in my
possession, and would be more surprised
to learn the entire facts of the case than
you can possibly be. What idle rumors
may have existed in newspaper offices l
know not, but they have not come from
me. In closing your letter you say: "
do not ask you to place before the commit
tee any papers which Mr.. Tilton may have
given you, but l do demand that you forth
with place before the committee every pa
per which l have written or deposited with
you" In reply, l can only say that I can
not justly place before the committee the
papers of one of the parties without doing
the same with the papers of the other, and
cannot do this honorably, except either
by legal process compelling me, or as by
consent in writing, not only of yourself,
but of Mr.. Tilton, with whom l shall con-
fer on the subject, as speedily as possible.
You will, l trust, see a greater spirit of
justice in this reply than you have infused
into your unusual letter of August 4th.
Very respectfully,
FRANCIS ID. MOULTON.
Mr.. Tilton gave his consent and request
that Moulton go before the committee with
his documents, and thus both parties wish
ing it, Saturday evening was set for Moul-
ton to make his decisive disclosure The
time of hearing was however postponed to
Monday for the convenience of some
members of the committee.
Moulton made his statement Monday
afternoon. 1t has not been made public.
The latest surmises about what it was are
given in Tuesdays dispatches, and if true,
he has declined to shed any particular
light on the case. We give the dispatch,
which may be the truth and may be Il lie
The Brooklyn Eagle, which has become
an authority in the Beecher case since the
appearance of Thomas Kinsella in the bust
ness, describes MoultOn's statement as
follows: The statement is neXpectedly
brief, making not more than five or six
foolscap pages, not closely written. Moul-
ton saws in substance that all he knows
about the difficulty between Beecher and
Tilton was intrusted to him in confidence
with all the documents he has been furnish
ed relating directly or Indirectly 10 the
case. He has known Mr.. Tilton since
1857 and became personally acquainted
with Beecher in 1869, mainly through this
case. Notwithstanding the fact that he
has the consent of both Beecher and Tilton
to tell all he knows about the case, and to
furnish all the documents he has in rela-
ton to it. and the additional fact that he
has been twice summoned before the COM
mittee, he SAYS that he cannot in conscience
and as a man of honor disclose the conf
dences which have been placed in him. He
claims to act as Il peacemaker, to settle II,
and all that he has done has been Gone in
that direction. Without his knowledge
and against his knowledge and against his
wishes certain documents connected with
the case had been furnished, mainly
through Tilton, and in the statement made
before the committee. So many of the
original documents as he has copies of,
and which have been made public, he felt
under obligation to place in the hands of
the committee, if necessary MOulton had
copies of all these documents made, and
he handed these copies to the committee.
holding himself ready to produce the or
iginals when the committee desired to YER
ify them. Beyond this Moulton was not
willing to made any statements nor dill he
feel himself justified in honor or in CON
science in producing any documents, save
those quoted by Tilton in his statement.
1t appears from a hurried comparison
made by the committee that Tilton, in
quoting the documents, changed them to
suit himself. In some cases only part Of
the document is quoted and various signif
icant passages were omitted. In one case
a letter is divided by Tilton and made TO
seem as if there were two letters, appa-
renty for the purpose of cumulating testi
monv The committee look on these
charges as very significant and rs bearing
on Tilton.
Mqulton was briefly cross examined. last
night, and he maintained the same posi-
ton. He reiterated what appeared III his
statement, that if any attempt was made
to assail his position rs Il friend of both
parties or to question his honor, he might
be under the necessity of making further
statement.