The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-09-10

or harmonious home. They then cite Mrs. Tilton's
evidence on this point and say her account of the
domestic misery in the Tilton family is cOrrObo-
rated oy the testimony OF several witnesses. and
very iully by Miss Elizabeth A. Turner, who is
now twenty-threc years of are and was an inmate
Of the family eight years.
The committee then ask: Will innocent men,
and especially clergymcn, fight as for their lives
to suppress an Injurious scandal. even though it
be born OF cxtortiOn faschoOd and revenge!
TINS question had been too often answered by
history In the affirmative. 1t easy to wonder
that Mr. Beechcr should trust such men as Til
ton and MoultOn, now that their characters are
sevcrcst ccnsurc upon Mr.. Beechcr for importing
the precious interests confilcd to him through
the confidence reposed in them.
ferrcd and not easily disproved. 1t is not enough
for the accuscr to say: II make this charge;
now let it be disprovcd or taken as confessed
truth or faislty OF such charges. such proof of
facts and circumstances as point Enthusiastically
to the guilt of the accused are not con-
slsteht with any theory of innocence. The COM
mittcc then cite "Grccnlcaf on Evidence to
substantlate the proposition, and then go on
to say that mere is nothing whatever disclosed
eused parties have ever been found together un-
der suspicious circumstances. such as in some
some secret way, to avoid exposure and obscrya-
spondcnce. Mr. Bcechcrs wife testified that she
opened arranged and read all letters that came
to her husband, except those that came to the
Christian Union Office and the church. and those
were opened by others. and hence conclude that
the usual facts and circumstances indicative of
wrong doing are utterly wanting in this case The
case then rests upon mere words and assertions
supported by no circumstances whatever that arc
the usual indications of adultery.
Tilton says he knows the fact from his wifcs
confession and from her subsequent confession to
Moulton and her mother. But Mrs. Tilton says
pcrious. malicious husband and by fraudulent
means, the prctensc being that she must say
something i'll order to cXtricatc him from his
business pcrplexties. She made to believe
that there was some conspiracy Matching against
her husband The fact that she withdrew the
charge when Mr.. BcecLcr first confronted her. on
the evening of Dec. 30, together with the further
fact that she has ever since denied the truth
the charge when free from the dominating IN
| iucnce, of her husband, was referred to and
specially commented upon by the committee
The source of the scandal was the ALLEGED words
of Mrs. Tilton. which she explains in such man.
| ncr as to deprive the allegation Of all force and
credit
| Then comes Mr.. Bccchcr. who solcmny de-
| clarcs that whatever words by whatever means.
had been drawn from Mrs. Titon by her husband;
he is innocent of any aud all improperly toward
| her. whether relating to improper advances or
| adultery.
| The committee did not propose to defend the
course OF Mrs. Tilton. On any theory of human
showed that. under the influence Of designing
husband, when in condition of mental alteration,
she had at least passivcly made charges of i'm
| attention had been called to the great wrong she
had done she quickly rctracted them in sorrow
and pcnitcncc. Eminent physicians appearing
before the committee had testified that such
duct on the part of Mrs. Tilton being subjected
to the influence referred to, was not inconsistent
with an honest mind. As illustrative of this
letter published by Mr.. Moulton. purporting to
have been written by Mrs. Triton. i'm which she
says she il a perfect coward i'll Tltnn> presence.
and that lit Is physical mpoSSihility to tell the
Il SUBSEQUENT
in which she says: with all my womanS
soul l am innocent OF the crime of inn
mcnt also. which was prepared under the drcc'
ton Of Mr.. Tilton and Mr.. Carpenter. and taken
to DIR. Storrs in 1872 Mrs. Tlt"n shows that she
was made to believe that a conspiracy had been
formed against her husband. subsequently in Il
letter. she is found asking the forgiveness of Mr.
Ercchcr for the suticrin"s she had caused him
confessions made by his wife I" him. but they
were obliged to receive his statements on
this point without C, corroo"ra,i"n: u On
Turner she told her husband that it was a Ii,
that she had confessed to him her intimacy with
Mr.. Bccchcr. This witness was the same person
to a bonrding.school to get rid of her. becaus,
che had heard Tilton make charges against her
Miss Turner and Mr.. Tilon both agree in sayin!
away. because she had stated to he
friends that Tilton had twice attempted
intimate relations with her during the absence
VI
losing place and position because Of his socia
views and practices. and feared the publicity "
this girls statement The sum Of s;o% o was IL, in
the committee say the absurdity of supposin:
that Mr.. Becchcr would invest that sum to re
persons t" leave town: to whom Mr.; Tilton h''
Persons to whom Titon had talked i'll some form
| of the scandal were too numerous to justify al
body whose wealth could no, be counted by mill
| ions. just Miss Turner leaving 70
school Mr.. Tilton procured from her with tn
od hs Ti1s letter rny NJ ,n rGp"ffs
conspicuously as manufacturer of evidence.
Mr.. TlltOn. when before the committee. whrI
ter, seemed t" think that the otfcnsc of Griffith
gatlnt was adult terry. and accordingly relied upo,
the letter a.. incontrovertiblc evidence of hi
| charge. In this he II mistaken.
Ii was Il principle Of common law that mar
ried woman cannot commit or be held to commi
crime perpctratcd in the presence of her hus
presence and influence amount to durcss. ant
that she is. therefore. not responsible. Whcthc
or not it was necessary to invoke this rule of lay
to excuse Mrs. TiltOn. it could be seen in wha
Mr.. Tilton was able to cxtort from her withou
| her vOlition or real assent something of the rca
sons which moved the early cXpoundcr of tn
| English common law to assert the doctrine r.
ferred to.
The committee having reviewed the evidenc
proceed to contrast the characters of Mr.. Tito
and Mr.. Bcecher. In respect to the former tn
makes 70 bold Il face: He had lately become
very different man from what he was formerly re
ported to he. Signs of dc.cneracy have set il
munity. After his cspousal Of the new MARTA
philosophy his downfall was rapid and complete
| In sketching his career an able writer says: " L
indorscr of Victoria G. Woodruff. and lends hi
name to a biography of her which would hav
, sunk any mans reputation anywhere for r"mmo
sense. Such book is tomb from which
. author rises again. Such is the accuscr
The accused is Henry Ward Bccchcr the paste
. Of Plymouth Church, who has been clergyman
living in the clear light of MONDAY. before hi
people and all men. a life Of great Christian ust
iulness and incessant work. 49,. Those who, who hay
abroad. report nothing of his life or convcrsatlo
but what comes of purity of soul.
We are asked by Tilton and Moulton I" bclicv
that Mr.. Bcccher, with his long and useful lit
and high character to sustain him. j: unworth
Of confidence, regard or respect. Christian cha'
actcr and great services. which arc usually con
, sidcrcd a tower of strength and defense, whe
one is assailcd, arc to go for naught, according T.
Mr.. Triton. We are invited to give up this ma
and send him and his good name and family I
. the vortex of moral destruction. We arc to d.
this upon what: Upon some wild, absurd an
contradictory assertions Of Mr.. TiltOn. who in al
i this work does not succeed in Disgusting hi
. malicious and revcngefml designs: No Tribunal
. administering justice ever held a charge Of adu
, terry proved by mere alleged words. written O
spoken, that are denied and not connected wit
| circumstances anu appearances poihtlhS "hhiis
takably to the guilt of the accused.
! Upon review of all the evidence relied on b
the accuser, the committee conclude that he III
tcrly fails to sustain the charges made and max
! the following statement of conclusions:
l. We find from the evidence that Rev. Herr
Ward Becchcr did not commit adultery with Mrs
, Elizabeth Il. Tilton either at the time or time,
: or at the place or places set forth in the third an
, fourth subdivisions of Mr.. Tiltons statemcn,
, nor at any other time place whatever.
, 2. We find from the evidence that Mr. Becchc
has never committed any unchaste or imprope
. act with Mrs. TiltOn, nor made any unchastc o
, improper remark, proffer, solicitation to hen
Of any kind description whatever
D. If this were a question of error OF ludg
ment on the part Of Beccher it would be easy +
crticise, especially in the light of recent events
In such criticism even in the extent of rcgrc
, and censure, are sure no man would joi
more sincerely than Mr.. Bcccher himself.
4. We find nothing whatever in the eyidcnc
that should impair the perfect confidence of Ply
, mouth Church or the.WOrld in the Christian char
!, acter and integrity of Henry Ward Beechcr.
And now let the peace of God. that passeth al
/, understanding, rest and abide with Plymouth
, Church and its beloved and eminent pastor, s.
much and SO long afflicted.
HENRY W. SAGE,