Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-09-10
THE BEECHER CASE.
The Investiga ting Committee Make
Their Report, and Declare Mr..
Beccher Innocent.

Plymouth Church brooklyn was
densely packed on the evening OF the
2Sth to listen to the report of the Beecher
Investigating Committee, which was read,
in substance as follows:
In conducting the investigation the committee
state that they had faithfully endeayored 10 make
it thorough and impartial and TO obtain such
facts as were relevant 10 the inquiry from all
nttainable sources of evidence. For this purpose
they requested the attendance of n large number
of witnesses, most of whom had testified before
the committee. one notable exception being Mr.
Francis b. Carpenter
Mr. Moulton had promised TO testify fully but
had failed to do so. He had submitted three
short statements in writing to the committee,
consisting chiefly of the reasons why he declined
TO testify al the call of the committee.
In addition to the evidence of the persons VINO
had testified, they had examined number oil let
ters and other documentary evidence which We're
supposed TO relate to the subject matitr Oh tue
inquiry.
The committee state that the offense as alleged
nv Mr. Tilton during some four years, and until
recently. to numerous persons, in %rltlng ana
Otherwise, was an improper suggestion or soilcl-
fation by Mr.. Beecher to Mrs. Tilton, but as time
passed and purposes matured this charge was en-
iarged to that OF adultery
The committee state that, after having given
the evidence the most careful consideration. they
find therefrom that in 1861 Mr.. Beecher became
editor and Mr.. Tilton assistant editor OF the
Iadependent, and during this relation were warm
Beecher to visit his house A very
friendly relation sprang up between the
wife and family of Mr.. Tilton and Mr.. Beecher,
continuing down to December, is% n or ahese
approved OF by Mr. Tilton. some years peiore
any open trouble appeared between Messrs
Beecher and Tilton, the latter,s doctrines as set
editor aroused so much indignation and opposi
ton in the West as to lead to the starting OF the
Adrance newspaper in Chicago he (IRtonl had
dan thn In IN HrlDtnfcH
and the divinity Of Christ, and his so
.cial views had changed In the direction
offree love, these religious and social changes on
the part of her husband being sources OF great
grief and sorrow to Mrs. Tlton. Mrs Tllton vol
unfairly sought her pastor for counsel ana sym
pathy, and set forth in strong terms the suffering
her husbands course was causing her. IL APP
pears that during these years Mrs. I. mad become
strongly attached to Mr.. Beecher. and in July
1870, confessed to her husband an oyer-shadow-
ing affection for her pastor.
On or about the 10th of December, 1870, Mrs.
Tlton separated from her husband, going with
her children TO her mothers house, she sent
for Mr. Beecher, and made to him statement OF
her suferings. and the abuse which she had re-
ceived at the hands of her husband, which
greatly shocked Mr.. Beecher. He asked and re-
ceyed permission to send to Mrs, Tilton his
sidered better than his own. Subsequently he
agreed in advising with his wife that it was de-
sirablc that Mrs. TiIton , should separate separate
subsequently forced his wife to return to his
house by sending for, and obtaining possession
of, their youngest child, who was SICK with the
Group during Mrs. Tilton's temporary absence
from her mothers house The next day after her
return. on the 24th she suffered miscar-
rage. which resulted in serious illness, contln
uing until after the LIST of January. her physician
being in daily attendance on her from the Gath to
the Both of December inclusive. Early in Decem-
Der, this year, owing to the marked change in Mr.
Titons religious and social views, Mr.. Bowen
felt constrained to give him notice that his serv-
ices as editor of the Independentwould terminate
at a day named in the notice. subsequently to
this notice, and on or about the Goth of December
Mr. Bowen entered into contract with Mr.. Til
ton, by which he was to be the editor OF the brook
lyn DdiLy Union and chief contributor of the
lndependem for hve years; pat wltn,n lew Gass
such information of Tilton's immortality as
himself, Tlton and Oliver johnson, at the house
of Mr.. Bowen. on the 26th day of December. 1870
At this interview Mr.. Tlton sought to retain his
place and Mr. Bowen's confidence b, offering to
Join Bowen in an attack on MIR. Beecher.
This interview resulted lin the letter writ
ten and signed by Mr.. Tilton demanding
that Mr.. Beecher leave Plymouth pulpit and
Brooklyn. On reading. this letter, which was de-
hvered by Mr.. Bowen, Mr.. Bceeher expressed his
astonishment at the receipt OF such letter, and
denounced the writer Mr.. Bowen then derided
the letter, and gave him some account OF the rea-
sons why he had reduced Tilton from the editor
ship of the Independent to the subordinate
position Of contributor, saying that Mr. Til
tons religious and social views were running the
paper, and that he was now considering whether
he could consistently retain him as editor of the
Brooklyn Union or chief contributor OF the hide
pendent.
They conversed for some time, Mr.. Bowen
wishing Mr.. Beecher's opinion, which was freely
given. Mr. Beecher said he did not see how Mr..
Bowen could retain his relations with Mr.. Tilton.
Mr.. Beecher spoke strongly of the threatening
letter and the revelation he had just had con-
corning Mr.. Tilton's domestic affairs.
Mr.. Bowen read the threatening letter and said
he would stand by Mr.. Beecher. and he told Mr.
nnYt 1av n II,
had with Mr. Beecher and of his (Bowen's) inten-
tion to stand by Mr. Beecher.
Mr.. Beecher though he had no doubt that Til
ton would have lost his place, saw that his inHu
ence was decisive and anticipated Tiltons over
throw.
II now appears that on the 29tn of December,
1870. Mr. Tilton having learned the advice Mr.
Beecher gave Mr. Bowen. and which was likely to
bring him face to face with loss Of place and po-
stion, extorted from his wife, then lying i'll of
miscarriage a document duplicating Mr.. Beecher
"a document evineing her love for her pastor and
accusing him of having made an improper soicita-
ton. On the following day he sent Moulton to
Beecher, requesting an interview with Mr.. Beechcr
at Mr.. Moulton's house that evening. Mr.. Beecher
accordingly met Tilton at Moulton's house. Til
ton received him with memorandum in his
hand and proceeded to charge Mr. Beecher with
being. nnfriendly to him, with seeking his
downfall, spreading injurious rumors
about him, undermining him, and adj
Nsing Bowen to dismiss him: injurng him in
his family relations. joining his STilton's)
advising separation, alternating his wife's affec-
tion from him, witt gaining her love more than
any living being, with corrupting her moral
virtue with teaching her to be insincere. lying
and hypocritical, and ending by charging that he
had made wicked proposals to her. Tiltoa then
produced q written paper purpoytia9s to be a
memorandum OF confession made IN July
previous 10 HIM by his wife of her love for Mr..
Beecher' and that he had made proposals to her
of an impure nature.
The committee say II is clear that on the Goth
day of December when the so-called memoran-
DUN OF confession was procured from Mrs. Tilton.
the chief melting cause of that step on Tilton's
part was his belief that Mr.. Beeoher
m thp nr Ms Inn II.