Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-09-03
THE BEEcHER SCANDAL.
second Statement Of Francis ID. Moul-
tom.

ton.
Tho compromised statement of Francis d.
Mention in reply to the statement of Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher, was given to The public on the
stst n is formidable document, comprising
ahout twenty columns of ordinary newspaper
tyne. The salient portions only are here given.
~ Mention prefaces his statement with an ex-
,Isnatory card in which he details the circum
stances which called it forth. He had been
friend of Mr.. Triton from boyhood and had always
Entertained for Mr.. Beeeher the warmest
admiration In 1870 he had learned
That Mr.. Beecher had given Mr.. Tilton grave
canse of ofiense, and because he believed the rev.
eistion of the scandal would undermine the foun-
daiions Of social order and blast the prospects
and blight the family of one of the most brilliant
men of this generation he had labored assidu-
nsIy 10 keep 1t concealed and effect a harmoni-
ons settlement OF all difficulties This labor had
Continued for four years, and when IL had failed
10 accomplish what was desired, Mr.. Beeeher had
SEEN III to visit on him (Moulton) the penalty of
his own wrong doing, and at the same time de-
handed that he should tell what he knew, as it
would Justify his attack on him.
Mr. Heecher in his statement had said that he
brouqht this investigation without Monlton's
knowledge or advice. Even while mourning
what seemed to him the uDwisdom OF the pro-
ceedings he had done all he could TO avert the
catastr0phe lie had denied the united and pub
lie appeals made by both Beecher and Tilton to
produce the evidence in his possession, but he
had stated that clearly in an emergency he should
sneak in defense of his own integrity, IL assailed
Nv the published accusation OF Mr.. Beecher his
own selfrespect made it imperative that the
:. truth the whole truth and nothing but the
truth should be told, and he therefore gave
10 the public the statement he had
prepared for the committee but which at the
earnest solicitation of the friends of Mr. Beecher,
he had withheld. Its publication was not in the
interest of either party, but solely for his own
protection against public accusations which az
fected himself personally. He profoundly
orieyed at the necessity which seemed to compel
The publication, but his grief was alleyiated by
the fact that the disclosure could scarcely work
more harm TO Mr. Beecher at the present time
than il would have caused him in January,
1871 when, but for his interference, the public
would most assuredy have been put in posses
sion OF the whole truth. The statement to the
committee here follows:
Mr. Mouton, after recounting the fact OF
his acquaintance with Messrs. Tilton and
Beecher, and his admiration of their
genius. says that up to the date of Tiltons
Vaedictory as editor of the IpdepeRdent
he had been frequently visitor at Tiltons house,
and had seen himself and Mrs. Tilton under all
phases of social intercourse, but had never
heard or known of the slightest disagreement or
unkindness existing between them, and believed
their marital relations were almost exceptionally
pleasant.
On the 26th of December Mr.. Tilton, returning
from an interview with Mr.. Bowen, told him that
Bowen had made certain accusations against
Beecher, and had challenged TiltOn to write an
open letter demanding that he should cease his
ministry at Plymouth Church, which Bowen was to
deliver. He told Bowen that he believed his accu-
sations against Beecher because he had made i'm
proper advances 10 Mrs. Tilton. He afterward
learned from Mr.. Beecher that Bowen had deliv-
or two after Mr. Tilton informed him that when
he told Bowen that he was going TO call on
Beecher he came up to the office in great anger
and told him that If he should say to Beecher
what he (Bowen) had told him concerning his
(Beechers) adultery he would dismiss him from
the I7tdependent and the Union. Titon told him
he had never been influenced by threats, and he
would not be in the present case, and subse-
quently received Bowens letter of dismissal.
On the evening of the Both of December Tilton
came to him and said that by his wife's request
he determined DBeclGf.
show to Beecher the confession Of his wife of in
tercourse between them, which he (Iilton) had
never up to that time mentioned TO Beecher, and
the fact of the confession of which his wife had
told him that she had never told Beecher; that
her confession had been made in the July pre-
vious in writing, which writing he CTilton) had
afterward destroyed, but that his wife, fearing
that If Bowen's accusations against Beecher were
made public the whole matter would be known
and her own conduct with Beecher become eX-
posed, had renewed her confession in her own
handwriting, which Tilton handed TO him (Moul-
tom to read. Tilton wanted him TO go
down and ask Beecher to come up and see
him (Titon) at Moulton's house. He went and
said to Beecher: MIR. Titon wants you to come
and see him at my house Immediately" He asked
what for. MoultOn replied: " He wants to make
some statement to you in reference 10 your rela-
tions with his family He then called to some
one in the back room to 60 down and say that he
should not be at prayer-meeting, and Moulton
and Beechcr went out together. Ii was stOrmiDg
at the time, when he remarked: There il an APP
propriateness in this storm, y and asked Moulton,
s Mr.. Beecher, am not a Christian, but If You
wish, will show you how well a heather can
serve You" They then went to Mouton's
house, and he showed him into chamber
over the parlor, where Mr. Tilton was,
and left them together. In about an hour Mr.
Beecher came down and asked him ifhe had seen
the confession of Elizabeth. He said he had
Said Beecher: This will kill me-" and asked
Mouton to go walk with him. They walked to
Mr., Tilton's house together, On the way he
said "This is a terrible catastrophe. 1t comes
upon If struck by lightning
Beecher went into Titon's house, and Moul-
ton departed for his own house Within an hour
Beecher returned, and shortly after left for his
home, Moulton accompanying him. When they
arrived at Beecher's house he wanted Moulton
to stand by him in his emergency
and RroG1rdd bm 6 neiausd t6e
interests Of women, children and fami-
lies were involved, If for no other reason.
That ended the interview that night. During
this evening nothing was said by Beecher as TO
the truth or falsity of Mrs. Tilton's confession
nor did he inform him that he had obtained from
her any recantation of the confession. Moulton
returned to his house and had some conversation
with Tton, in which he told him that he had re-
cited to Beecher the details Of the confession of
his wife's adulteries, and the remark which
Beecher made was: " This Is all a dream, Theo-
dore'' and that was all the answer Beecher made
to him. Moulton then advised Tilton that for the
sake of his wife and family, and for the sake of
Beechers family, the matter should be kept quiet
and hushed up.
The next morning Tilton came to his house
and informed him, with great anger, that Beecher
had done mean act; that he had gone from the
interview of the night before TO his house and
procured from Elizabeth a recantation and re-
traction of her confession. He said for that act
he would " smite him. that there could be no
peace lie said: . You see that what have told
you of the meanness of that is now evil
dent" Tilton said that Beecher, at the inter
view of last night, had asked his PERMISSION to
go and see Elizabeth, and he told him he
might go, which statement was confirmed
by Beecher himself, and Beecher left him
for that purpose. Moulton said to Til
ton: g Now, don't get angry; let us see if
even this cannot be arranged, will go down
and get that retraction from him." In the even
ing Moulton visited Beecher, and told him he had
done mean and treacherous act, treacherous,
first. toward him, from whom he wanted help, in
that he did not tell him on the way TO his house
the night before what he had procured from Mrs.
Tilton and that he could not expect his friend
ship in this matter unless he acted truthfuly and
honorably toward him. He further said:
t.Mr. Beecher, you have had criminal
intercourse with Mrs. Triton. You have
done great injury to Tilton otherwise.
Now, when you are confronted with 1t, you ask
permission Of the man to again visit his house,
and you get from that woman who has confessed
that You have ruined her q recantation of the
truth for your mere personal safety. That won't
save YOU AT that Interview Beecher admitted
with grief and the fact Of his sexual rela-
tions with Mrs. Tilton. He said that Mrs.
Beecher and himself, without knowing OF the