Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-07-30
BEECH|ER-
Statement of Theodore
Tilton Before the
| Committee.
The MostStartling Document
of the Decade.
The Plymouth Church Pastor
Charged with the Gros-
sest immortality.
BEECHER DENIES The lMPU-
TATl0k.
AND ACCUSES TILTON OF BEARING
FALSE WITNESS.
THE END NOT YET.
AND ACCUSES TILT0N OF BEARING
FALSE WITNESS.
THE END NOT YET.
THE ACCUSATION.

lows:
| WHEREAS, The Rev. Henry War
Beecher has instigated the appoin
ment of committee, consisting of 81
members of his church and society, {
inquire and report upon alleged aspe
sions upon his character by Theodol
TiltoD; and
| WHEREAS, Mrs. Elizabeth r. Tiltol
wife of Theodore Tilton, has deserte
her home in order to cooperate wit
Beecher in conspiracy to overthro'
the credibility and good repute of he
late husband as man and either
therefore,
Theodore Tilton, being thus au
thorized and required, and by put
lished demand made upon him by tn
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, and bein
now and hereafter released by the &C
Of Mrs. Tilton from further respons
bility for the concealment of the trut
touching her relations with Beechel
| therefore Theodore Tilton hereby set
forth, under solemn oath, the followin,
IacGS ana testimony:
TILToN's MARRIAGE.
Flrst-That, on the I'd of October
1855, at Plymouth Church, Brooklyn
a marriage between Theodore Tiltol
and Elizabeth M. Richards was per
formed by the Rev. Henry War
Rannhor which .~.~.~;aen +h;rfnn,
years afterwards, was dlshonored AM
violated by this clergyman, through
the criminal seduction of this wife ant
mother, as hereinafter set forth.
PERFIDIoUs CONDUCT.
Second-That for period Of abou
fifteen years, extending both befor
and after this marriage, an intimat
friendship existed between Theodor
Tilton and the Rev. Henry War,
Beecher, which friendship was &c
mented to such a degree that in cor
sequence thereof the subsequent dis
honoring by Beecher of his friend
wife was a CRIME of uncommon wrong
tulness and per6dy.
THE CRIME.
Third-That about nine years ag
the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher bega
and thereafter continued, friendshi
with Mrs. Elizabeth r. Tilton, 70
whose native delicacy and extrem
religious sensibility he often expresses
to her husband high admiration, viz
ting her from time to time for years
until tho year 1870, when for reason
hereinafter stated he ceased such visits
during which period, by many token
and attention, he won the atfectionat
love of Mrs. Tilton whereby, afte
long moral resistance by her, and al
ter repeated assaults by him upon he
mind with overmastering arguments
accomplished the possession of he
person, maintaining with her thence
forward during the period hereinafte
stated the relation called criminal in
tercourse, this relation being regarde
by her during that period as not GRIN
inal or morally wrong, such had bee
the power of his arguments as a clel
gyman to satisfy Der religious scruple
against such violation of virtue an
honor.
SPECIFICATIONS.
| Foufh-That on the evening {
Oct. 10, 1868, or Whereabouts, Mr.
Elizabeth r. Tilton held an interview
with the Rev. Henry Ward Beeche
at his residence, she being then in
tender state of mind, owing to the RI
cent death and burial of a young chic
and during this interview an act {
criminal commerce took place betwee
this pastor and this parishoner, tn
motive on her part being, as hereinb'
fore stated, not regarded by her {
the time as criminal or wrong; whic
act was followed by similar acts {
criminality between the same partle
at Tilton's residence during pastors
visit paid by Beecher to her on th
subsequent Saturday evening followe
also by other similar acts on variot
occasions from tie autumn OF 1868
the spring of 1870; the places BEN
the two residences aforesaid, and OK
casionally other places to when ~
nastor would invite and accompan
| her. or at which he would meet her
previous appointment; these acts
wrong being on her part from hrst
last not wanton or consciously wlcke'
| bnt arising through binding OF d
moral perceptions occasioned by u
powerful influence exerted over ~
MAD at that time, to this end, by Il
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, as n
trusted religious preceptor and guld
Ffth-That the pastoral visits mac
nv the Rev. Henry Ward beecn'
during the year 1868, became so ir'
ouent as to excite comment; Deing
marked contrast with his known nap
Of Of making few pastoral calls on !, ,
narishoners, which frequency in mr.
Tilton's case is shown in letters VIII
ten to her husband during his aDsens
in the West; these letters giving es
dence that during a period OF tve
sir weeks, twelve different pastor !,
az