Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-27
.UPPLENGENT-
THE REECHER SCANDAL.
Additional Statement of Frank
KEOuItOn.

The Compromised statement Of Francis d.
MOultOn, in reply to the statement of Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher, was given to The public on the
21st. 1t is a formidable document, comprising
about twenty columns of ordinary newspaper
type. The salient portions only are here given
Mr. Moulton prefaces his statement with an eX-
planatOry card in which he details the circum
stances which called it forth. He had been
friend of Mr.. TiltOn from boyhood and had always
entertained for Mr.: Beeeher the wZarmestt
that Mr.. Beecher had given Mr.. Tilton grave
cause of Ofense and because he believed the rev.
citation of the scandal would undermine the toun-
dations of social order and blast the prospects
and blight the family of one of the most brilliant
men of this generation he had labOred assldu-
Ousy to keep it concealed and effect harmonl-
Gus settlement of all difficulties. This labor had
continued for four years, and when it had failed
to accomplish what desired, Mr.. BeeCher had
seen fit to visit on him (Moulton) the penalty OF
his own wrong doing, and at the same time de-
manded that he should tell what he knew, as 1t
would Justify his attack on him.
Mr.. BeeCher in his statement had said that he
brought this investig' ton without MoultoHs
knowledge or advice. Even while mourning
what seemed to him the unWisdOm of the pro-
ceedings he had done all he could to avert the
catastrophe. He had denied the united and pub
lie appeals made by both Beecher and Hilton to
produce the evidence in his possession, but he
had stated that clearly in an emergency he should
speak in defense of his own integrity, If assailed.
BY 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
to 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 at
feCted himself personally. He was profoundly
grieved 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 it would have caused him in January,
1871. when, but for his interference, the public
would most assuredly have been put in posses
sion of the whole truth. The statement to the
committee here follows:
Mr.. MoultOn, 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
yaledictory as editor of the independent
he had been frequently visitor at Iiton's 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 Goth 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
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 to Mrs. Tilton. He afterward
learned from MT. BceCler tlaJ Bowen ldQ QGllV-
cred to him the open letter referred to. In day
or two after Mr.. Titon 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
(Beecher's) adultery he would dismiss him from
the Independent and the Union. TiltOn told him
he had never been Influenced by threats, and he
would not be in the present case, and subse-
qUently received Bowen's letter of dismissal.
On the evening of the 30th of December Tilton
TO him and said that bV his Wlfp'S request
he had determined to BeeCher, in order to
show to BeeCher the confession of his wife of in
tercOurse between them, which he CTilton) 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-
Yious in writing, which writing he (TiltOn) 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 handad to him (NIoul-
tom to read. TiltOn wanted him to go
down and ask Beecher to come up and see
him Cflton) at Moulton's house. He went and
said TO Beecher: = Mr.. 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 to your rela-
tiOns with his family He then called to some
one in the back room to go down and say that he
should not be at prayermeeting, and Moulton
and Beccher went out together. 1t was stOrming
at the time, when he remarked: There is ap-
prOpriatenCss in this storm, and asked MOutOn,
= What can do? what can l do?'' He said:
" Mr.. Bcccher, am not Christian, but, if you
serve you They then went to Moulton's
house, and he showed him into a 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
Moulton to 90 walk with him. They walked to
Mr.. TiltOn's house together. On the wav he
said: This is terrible catastrophe. 1t comes
upon me as if struck by lightning"
Beecher went into Tilton'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,
bc e od him he woG because P0f fhe
interests of women, children and fami-
lies were involved if for other reason.
That ended the interview that night. During
this evening nothing was said by Beecher as to
the truth or fasity 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 Tilton, 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 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 TitOn came to his house
anu informed nlIl 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 reCantatiOn and re-
traction of her confession. He said for that act
he would : smite him. that there could be no
peace. He said: = You see that what [ have told
y you OF the ,Ineanness OF that man 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 60, which statement was confirmed
by Beecher himself and Beecher left him
Tor that purpose. Moulton said to Til
ton: Now. don't get angry: let us see if
even this cannot be arranged. I will 90 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 h0usa
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 truthfuIIy and
honorably toward him. He further said:
= Mr.. Beecher. you have had criminal
intercourse with Mrs. TltoI, You have