The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-08-29
Continued Fam Flint Plg..

IL the course 0! events, 6nd especiAlyl
Ia December, 1870, Beecher received The
impression from TiltoD and h0ulton that
be hsd esrSnged MB. TIlton's affections
from her husband, and the possibility that
such iGc, IS this might be added 70 the
responsibilities then resting upon Beecher,
Wefe-Gs be expressed II in hH letter Of
February 5ih-in part one Of the envi-
runmenLs that surrounded him. This was
70 him the occasion Of deep grief and
anguish. Mr.. Beecher conceived tbs.
possibly be had been derelict in his duty,
be the strong man and pastor, In not re-
pressing 81 once any undue affection l0r
him on the part Of this distressed Chris
iiA1 woman, who wAs yearninR for gym
p.ihy that she found not in her OWE
household, and We cannot but express our
regret 81 the two errors into which, II Is
apparent, Mr., Beecher fell. While We
recognize the appalling disaster which
seemed imminent when he was COP
troDied bya pEotessedly injured husband,
with charge on the part o! h!: vile Of
Sn impure proposal from him 10 her, q
disaster which threatened TO brand with
AoAnAy uAuS h1ILuF huAOGRu yC4i5 VI
public service as philAntbropist and q
minister Of God, had maintained the most
honoTed plsce in the worlds esteem; yet
We ieel that in az hour Of such demorali
zItion Is this calamity justly works thSt
the pastor should have sought counsel
from Christian men OF his own brother
hood rather than rely on the counsel Of q
msn Of whom he knew 50 little and whose
character, as the sequel proved, he 20
sadly mijudged; and ii Is SlSO apparent,
from Mr.. Beecher's own statement, In
view Of the profound sorrow in which be
was plunged and the expression which
he gave TO his feelings, that he had erred
in not guarding 90 closely his relations
with the family Of Mr.. Tilton that there
could be no possibility for tear on his
own mind even Of an undue affection by
Mrs.. TiIton for him through any heed
less friendlhip or agency Of his.
Mr.. Tilt0n in his statement before the
committee speaks OF his home as one OF
unusual harmony-"an ideal home" bu,
upon hts cross-eIAminAtion il clearly Sp.
peAEed that il was anything but hsppy OF
harmonious. The truth as 10 this is ma.
ierisl, both as affecting Tillon's credibility
aud az showing the character Of Mrs.
Til.on's domestic troubles and the 10.
haenceS that reached her daily life. Her
pAiniR testimony reveals jealous hus-
band; accusing her OF infdelities with
different men, Of eXsrtiDg sensual in.
tlence upon all. she declares that her
husband had frequently compelled her
when sick to copy or from his dicLs!ion
write confessions, which she herseli did
no, understand and in her despsiriDg con.
tiiign Of mind cared little about. At
times be threatened her, locked
her up and declared himself
ashamed Of her presence when
among friends whose society was more at.
t!aClve 10 him. Her account reveals him
tull Of selfish actions, Indifferent 70 her
wants, neglecitul in her illneEs, and forcing
women into her society till sometimes she
hed Tor peace to the graves OF her chill
cren, Mrs. Tilton declAyes he did not
hesitate 10 svoT his right 10 commit sdul
terry on his featuring tours whenever he
chose, and yet IN season and out We find
this man drbbling out his charges against
his wife. This is q dismal revelation from
the ideal home, but one cannot read it and
believe il possible that she has invented
this recital Of her husbands character and
life.
This sCcounto Of the domestic misery OIL
the IIton family is coToborsted by the
testimony Of several witnesses, and very
fully by Misc Elizabeth A. Turner, who
is DOW % years Of age, and was an in
mate Of the family Syears. This young
woman is teacher Of music in ladies
seminary in Pennsylvania She is q per
son OF unusual intelligence, and her ap.
pearslce and manner before the Com
mittee impressed all who heard her tes
lily, that she was sincere and reliable
and well understood the facts Of which
she was speaking. The condition Of thi;
family in connection with the distressing
circumstances referred TO. and that appear
10 the history Of this difficulty conspired
70 make the occasion one full Of peril, not
only 10 Beecher but 70 others whom he
fell bound 10 protect 10 the
last moment, 70 cay nothing Of the
grest interests Of his beloved Plymouth
Church and other interests Of high con.
Germ, all Of which must be involved j!
publicity should be given 10 the false and
scandGlous matter that was seeking ex.
preston from the heated and malicious
mind Of Theodore Tilton. viii innocent
men pay blsckmail, will innocent men
and especially Clergymen, fglt as for
their lives 10 suppress al injurious scan.
dal, even though It be born Of cxtor,ion
tAlseRood, and revenge: These are ques
tlOns that unhappily history has too often
answered in the affirmative. 1t ia easy
nov thst we zee what manner Of men
TlLtOn and Moulton are, TO wonder tina,
Nr. Beecher should intrust any interest oi
his to their keeping. When We look
back upon the record made by
this sad story we feel like visiting even
upon the suffering head and heart OF our
beloved pastor the severest censure, and
this not the less because we revere and
love him and know that no man in all
our land is mere beloved, 1t is, we nigh,
say, because he Is SO beloved, because tina,
10 him centers 30 many and 80 grea, in
terests Of church and humanity; because
he stands today foremost among men Of
master minds and eloquence and power
that we chide him in no uncertain word!
for imperilling so much and so often the
precious interests contided 10 him by The
God who made him aud who, we have
mistaken faith 10 believe, will deliver
him from all danger.
The charge made by the sccuser is one
easily preferred and not easily disproved
1t is not enough for the accuser TO ay
l, make this charge; now let it be dis.
proved or taken as confessed" All tri.
bunsls, both ecclesiastical and legal, in
their wisdom, have required, in deter.
mining charges Of this kind, such proof Of
facts and circumstances as point unnis-
taka6ly 10 the guilt Of the accused, and as
are not consistent with any theory oil in.
nocence.
Lord Stowell, as cited by Greenleai,
one OF the best writer's known 10 our
jurisprudence, and especially on rules Of