New-York tribune., 1874-08-18
MORE UNPUBLISHED TESTIMONY.


MORE UNPUBLISHED TESTIMONY.
AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY john W. HAKMAN-
HIS FREQUENT CONVERSATIONS WITH Mr.. TIL
TON-MR. BEECHERs oFFENsE NEVER REFERRED
TO AS MISUNDERSTANDING TO OTHER SCAN
DALs-wHAT WAS IN MR.. TuToNs TRUE STORY.
The last witness to appear before the Plymouth
Investigating Committee, before Mr.. Beecher made
his statement was John w. Harman of No. $40
Broadway. He had recently returned from the
West where he had been during the progress Of the
investigation and was examined on Wednesday
evening lie testified that Mr. Tilton had held sew
eral conversations with him about the trouble in
his family, and had accused Mr. Beecher of making
improper proposals to Mrs. Tlton several Occa-
sions. Mr. Tilton had never said that Mr.. Beecher
was guilty of adultery with his wife, confning his
charges, far as his family was concerned, to
the lesser ofieuse Mr. Harman furnished n TRIBUNE
reporter yesterday with full outline OF his test-
mony, aud added details Of conversation with Mr..
Tilton, and of his own knowledge of the case which
he did not give when he appeared before the Com
mittee.
Mr.. Harman became acquainted with Mr.. Tilton
in the Fall of 1870 by the introduction OF stewart l.
Woodford Mr.. Harman was at that time Super
visor and active in political matters IN Brooklyn.
Mr.. Tilton and he were both interested in certain
lines Of political effort and they became intimately
acquainted, Mr.. Harman often visiting Mr.. GiJons
house by the latters invitation. Mr.. Tilton told
him Of hls discharge from his positions The IBdc
pendent and The Brooklyn onion Immediately after
the event When Mr.. Harman asked for the reason
Mr.. TiltOn answered that it grew ont of some old
scandal. Mr. IIannan did not question him. and in
subsequent conversations he never by inquiry u-
yited confidence or sought fuller communication.
One day in April 1872 according to Mr.. Harmans
story, he and Mr.. Ilton were together al ii. j.
Boney's restaurant in Broadway, when without
provocaton. Mr.. Tllt0n told him long story about
Mr. Baecher and his relations with Mrs. Tiit0n. He
said that Mrs. TiltOn had come to him IN losOt he
mentioned the date exactly Mr., HarInan does not
remember it-and said she had something to tell
him; that there had been something wrong going
on which she could not suffer to 20 further. but she
made as a condition of disclosure that Mr.. lllton
should promise to do no violence 10 the person whom
her admissions would impcate Mr.. Tiiton said
that he gave the required promise and that then
Mrs 1ilton told him that Mr. Beecher had repeat
edly made improper proposals TO her in the course
Of his visits. Mr.. Tlton said that he
afterward told Mr. Mouton Of Mrs. 1ilton's
declaration. and that he suggested that Mr Bsecher
should Dc brought to his house and there charged
with his alleged wrong-dOing. Mr. MOl!tJn went
for Mr. Beecher and after dissnading him from at
tending tie Plymouth Church prayermeeting As
set forth in Mr. Beechers statement, brought him TO
the house where Mr. Tton was awaiting lim Mr.
Tilton told Mr. Harman that he received Mr.
Beecher coldly. The door locked and the key
pOcketed and then Mr.. Tilton said thar he accused
Mr.. Beecher of making infamous proposals to Hrs.
Iilton, adding that she had c0nfe 'ad the fact. Ia
Mr. TIltons narration it was stated that Mt Beecher
thereupon fell upon his knee, cried like a child, and
81. =. f-tf
ordinations like the following: " How cJald do
this thingi How co;ild 1 wrong YOU so, VINO are
my children, whom [ marredr Mr. Tilson
said nothing to Mr.. Hrman Of Mr.
Bcechar's going from Mr. Moulton's house and OBJ
tanning from Mrs Titon the retraction OF her con-
fess.on, nor Of the in which Mr.. MOuton eX-
tOrted that retract0n from Mr. Beecher he made
no reference to the library scene or the bedroom
scene which he afterward described in his state
ment, nor in the whole conversation with Mr Har-
man, which lasted three hours, any subsequent
conversation with Mr.. Harman, until after ais state
meut appeared, did he alege that Mr.. B.echcr had
committed adultery with Mrs. TIlton. lie did say
in that conversation and IN Others, however, that
Mr. Beecher had committed adultery with other
women in Brooklyn. In a conversation last Fall
with Mr. Harman he made a very explicit narrative
Of that character claiming that NJ. Beecher had
Brooklyn, and that he got confirmation Of tnat con-
fession from the woman herself. At various times
when with Mr.. Hartman Mr. Titon spoke of Mr..
Beecher's improper conduct To his wife, and said
that he had letters from Mr.. Beecher which al
mtted the fact One of these which he reld 10 lir.
Harman-be thinks without giving datc-closed
somewhat in this way God helping me, VIII be
purer man in the future" Mr.. IiltOn also showed
Mr.. Harman the letter which nc wrote to Mf. Bowen
Ill January. 1871, in which the assertions which Nj.
Bowen made about Mr.. Beecher are brought up.
Mr. Harman said that he was very mach startled
and distressed by what Mr.. TiltOn told him He had
always had a high opinion OF Mr. Beeeher, and was
determined not to believe him guilty OF wrong with
out the sureSt evidence but the apparent sincerity
of Mr. Tilton when he told him of adulerous acts of
Mr.. Beecher which he said he had confessed to hIn.
and there was so much of circumstance and of seem
ing truthfulness of detail about his statements that
Mr. Harman felt greatly perpexed. and was contin-
ually vexing himself with the thought Could 1t be
possible that Mr.. Tilton invented these details !"
The Woodruff statement came out IN the Fall Of
1872, at time when Mr. rilton absent from the
city making speeches. Mr. Harman went to see
him as soon as he returned, and besought him. for
the sake of his family and his own sake, to put an
end to So terrible scandal If he could. lie would
hardly be able to live in Brooklyn II tins story went
undened or unexplained by him. said Mr. Hafnan.
for people were saying that he mast nave lufhisueu
the story To the Woodhulls Mr. Tilton said: This
thing is driving me TO madness aud my family to
beggary;" but IN answer 10 Mr. Harmans repeated
appeals, asked what he shoald do II lie could not
deny it Mrs. Tilton he said was 80 devoted 10 the
church that she would rather sec herself and her
family crushed than make truthful explanation.
which would destroy Mr.. Beechers reputation and