Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-08-14
The " Mutual Friend" Before the
Beecher Investigating Conf
mittee-Ke Refuses TO
Tell All Es Knows.
A Tedious aGc HesrisOme Cross.
Examination Nothing In Ii,
nor in tie Statement
Preceding it.
The Committee Evidently Deter
mined on WhiteWashing the
Great Aduiterer Of Ply
mouth Church-A
Filthy Farce.

l ASAAJ Z 0ANNs
NEW YoYI-, AuGcst l3.-Early thi
afternoon, the only fact made public i
the great scandal is that Beecher di,
not make a statement this forenoon
1t is stated that Beecher, in his defense
will admit what might be characterized
as an offeDse, growing out of his init
macy with Mrs. TiltOn. Il is, however
emphatically denied that criminal init
macy of any kind ever existed between
Beecher and Mrs. Tilton. The letters Of
apology in which Beecher expresses
such great cOntrition, are alleged tc
have been drawn forth by a desire ol
BeecheT to make amends for undue in-
reference in the domestic affairs of Til
toms family, an interference that went
so far as to recommend to Mrs. Tilton
separation from her husband. It has
been ascertained that Beecher, sooner
than have even the charge of undue in
reference in Tilton's family go forth to
the public, paid large sum Of money.
The exact sum paid, as well as all the
circumstances connected with its pay
ment, will be fully treated of in Beech
er's statement before the committee.
At this hour it has just been made
known that the Plymouth church inves-
tigating committee net in the back par
lOr of Mr.. Beecher's residence ct ten
O'Clock this morning, and that two
stenographer7 were present. Mr. Beech
er sat with the committee, and made
lis statement from notes which he held.
He answered all questions asked by the
members of the committee upon each
point presented in the charges made by
Mr.. Tilton. At noon the examination
was interrupted by lunch, and was re.
sumed at one O'Clock. At this hour
Beec1er is still under examination.
Those who profess 70 have got tidinCs
of what is going on say that Beecher's
revelations will create intense excite
ment, eXonerate the Plymouth pastor.
compromise certain persons opposed tC
him, and satisfactorily account for hi
persecution, as they hold it to be. The
admirers of Beecher express themselve
satisfied that, once he has spoken, all
will be made clear in his favor, that it
is enough that he has made up his mind
to tell what he knows
The Plymouth church investigating
committee furnish the following report
of its proceedings on Monday night and
last night.
The committee met at three o'clock
in the afternoon. All the mem bers were
present. At about Eve o'clock, Francis
d. MoultOn, vino was expected at the
opening of the session, made his APP
pearsnce, when, with tie consent OF the
committee, he read the following state
ment: 81 submit to you, first, the in
vitation signed by your chairman, July
%, 1874; next, the invitation Of your
chairman, dated July 2Sth, and next,
the invitation of your chairman, dated
August 4th, F." laying copies Of these in
vitations on the table before him.
STATEMENT OF MR.. MoULTON.
Gentlemen Of the Committee:
When l was last before you I stated
that ] would at your request produce
such documents as / had, and make
such statement of facts as had come to
my knowledge on the subject of your
inquiry. fully intended so to do, and
have prepared my statement of facts, as
sustained by documents, and made an
explanation OF all paper that has come
in any way into my possession bearing
on the controversy between the parties.
That statement must, of course, bear
with more or less force on one or the
other of them. On mature reflection,
aided by the advice of my most valued
friends, l have remembered that deter
mination, and ana Obliged to say to YOU
that feel compelled, from a sense of
duty to the parties, to my relation to
their controversy, and to myself, neither
to make the statement nor produce the
documents. When l first became a
party TO the unhappy controversy be-
tween Beecher and Iilton, l had no per-
sonal knowledge nor any document in
my possession which could affect either.
Every thing that knew OF fact or have
received of papers, has come TO me in
the most sacred confidence, to be used
for the purpose of comparing and set
Ting ali difficulties between them,
and of preventing, as far as possible,
any knowledge of their private
affairs being brought to public
notice. For this purpose all their mat
ters have been entrusted to me, and for
none other. II / should now use them
it would not be for the purpose of Teace
and reconciliation, but to voluntarily
take part in a controversy which they
have seen fit to renew between them
selves. How faithfully, earnestly and
honestly l have labOTed to do my duty
to the parties for peace they both know.
The question for me to settle for myself,
and no other, is now ought l do any
thing to aid either party in a renewed
controversy by the use of that which /
received and have used only to promote
harmony? On my honor and conscience
think ought, and at the risk OF what
ever OF misconstructiOn and vituperatiOn
may come upon me- l must adhere 20
the dictates OF my own judgment, and
preserve at least my own self respect.
cali attention again to the fact that
yours is a mere voluntary tribunal, and
whatever do here is done by a volun-
tary, and not compelled witness.
Whether before any tribunal having
power TO compel the production OF testi-
mony and statement of facts | shall
even produce these papers, or give any
of these confidential statements, l re-
serve to myself to judge OF any emergency
which | hope may never come against
my wish, as l never have been 10 sym
pathy with a renewal of this conflict.
A part of these documents have been
given TO the public; in so far as conf
dence in regard to them has ceased, 1t l.
but Just, therefore, and due to the par
ties, that the whole of these documents,
portions of which only have been given,
shall be put into your hands In re-
spOnse to thrice-renewed requests of the
Committee, / have, therefore, copies OF
them, which I produce here and place
in the hands of the committee, with the
hope and request that after they have
been examined by them, they may be
returned to me. Ifany controversy shall
arise as to the authenticity of the copies,
or OF the documents on that point, |
shall hold myself open to speak, with
this exception: except in defense OF my
own honor, and uprightness OF my
course in all this unfortunate and un.
happy business, the purity and candor
Of which / appeal to the consciences of
both partie, to sustain. l do not pro-
pose, and hope l may never be called
upon, hereafter to speak, either as to
facts, or produce any paper that l have
received from either of the parties in
volved herein. FRANCIS d. RIOULToN.
CRoss-EXAAIINATIoN.
These letters will appear in Beecher's
statement, with an explanation of each
cross-examination. After reading this
statement, MOulton was subjected to a
brief eross-examination, as follows:
Mr.. Winslow-Mr. Moulton, the COM
mittee desire me to ask you questions.