The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-07-15
The BeeCher SCandal--T he
investigation.

+. ID. MOultOn, Of Brooklyn, the Trend
and contidant of both Mr.. Bccchcr and
Tilton, in response to the invitation of
the Bccchrr investigating committee, np-
pcarcd before that committee last even
inc and made the following statement:
Gentlemen Of tie CUmntjttee-l appear
before YOU ut your invitation to make II
statement which have read to Mr.. Til
ton and to Mr.. Beccher, and which both
deem preferable and the fairness and pro-
prictv Of which, 50 far IL | am concerned,
they both concur. Thcpartirs in this case
are personal friends of mine, in whose
behalf | have cndravorcd to act us UNI
pire and pcaccmakcr for the last four
wears, with conscientious regard for all
interests involved. l regret for your
sakes the responsibility imposed on m"
of appearing here tonight. If say
ANYTHING must speak the truth. d"
not believe that the simple curiosity of
the world Mt large or even Of this COM
mittee ought to be gratifcd through any
rccitations by me of the facts which ar"
in my possession, necessarily III conn
dcncc through my relations to the par
ties. the personal differences of which |
am aware, as chosen arbitrator, have once
been settled honorably between the par
ties and would never have been revived
except on account of the recent attacks,
both in and out of Plymouth Church,
made on the character of Theodore Tiltnn,
to which he thought reply necessary.
II the present issue must be- settled it
must be-, in my opinion, by both parties
themselves, either together or separately
before your committee, each taking the
responsibility of his own uttcranccS. As
| am fully cOnverSant with the facts ana
| evidence, | shall, aS between these par
ties, if necessary, deem it my duty l."
state the truth i'm order To II final settle
mcnt, that the world may be we'll inform
ed before pronuuncing it, Judgment with
reference to either. therefore
suggest to you that the parties first be
heard and that ifthcn You deem IT nee
essary that should appear, | will
do So to speak the truth. nothing hut the
whole truth. | hold tonight as ! have
held hitherto the opinion that Mr.. Beech
cr should frankly state that he had com
mitted I'm oiirmS" against Mr.. Tilton for
which il was necessary To apologize, and
for which he did apologize, in tn" IAN
guagr Of the letter, part of which has
been quoted; that he should have stated
promptly that he deemed it necessary for
Mr.. Tlton to have made the defense
against DIR. Leonard Bacon, which he did
make. and that hr Mr.. Bc"chrr, should
refuse to be- party t. the r"-opcnlng Of
/ ,b f,1 If ln hoI ,,ul,. hi.
statement h. would have stated no more
than the truth, and it would have saved
him and You the responsibility "ta fur
then inquiry. 1t is better now that tn"
committee should not report and
in place Off report Mr. Bccchcr himself
should make statement which | have
suggested. or that if the committee does
. report the report should bra rrcomm"n-
dation to Mr.. Bccchrr Ia make such a
statement.
This paper wa, not satisfactory To- the
committee.
A member ofthc committee - inform
ed Moulton and they assured him that
they wanted from him detailed state
ment of all he knew in thi- matter.
They told him that he must submit to Il
thorough cNaminatiOn...-
Moulton positively declined to do this.
He expressed the most tender sympathy
and regard for Bcccher, but declared that
his warm friendship for Tilton was such
that he could not hear him abused with
out making every effort in his power t.
Justify him in hi course.
The committee expressed their firm
determination to Mr.. Moulton to make
an investigation as searching rs possible.
They have learned that an effort
Is being made by Beech"r
friends to compromise the matter.
They will resort to no such proceeding.
If the investigation meetings must go
"n, all facts ubtainablc are 10 be
brought out before the members Of III"
committee who will make q report; this l.
certain. The Brooklyn 4rg',s say: I'VE
have from the highest sources an admls-
sion that the friends of Mr.. Beecher are
endeayoring 70 effect compromise.
. which shall prevent the publication Of u
lengthy statement promised by IlIton.
! Theodore Tiltons wife has been before
the committee. she has given evidence
contradictory Of that of her husband :
version of the matter. 4 disagreement
has resulted between man and wife, and
Mrs. Tilton has now left her husband.
1t is now established beyond shadow OF
doubt. that Tilton was not aware "t
the existence of an investigating cons
mitttee in Plymouth Church. till after
Mr.. Tilton had appeared before the COM
mittee to give her testimony. Her
appearance before the same was
brought about BY intimate friends Of Mn
Tilton, who are we'll known attendants
at Plymouth Church and ardent admirers
of Mr.. Beecher. 1t app-ars that after
the publication of Mr.. Tiltons letter ad,