Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-12-17
~oulTON APOLOGs1ES AND PAYS
COSTS.

OVS1Ss
TO come back to an old story we
NAV be pardoned for calling atten,
t;on to the fact that the first scene in
the court act of the Beecher- Moulton
drama has been played, and Mr..
Reecher is not the looser. Time
makes all things even, and if Mr..
Beecher has been the victim OF a
combination of circumstances, used
by INSCRIPTIONS enemies to weave a
cunning web of guilt about him,
time will reveal the fact and place
Inn right before the world.
But the first scene has been played.
That we may not lose sight OF the
. issue. let us state what was alleged
bv MIR. Moulton and what has been
proven.
In his last statement Moulton
ayerred that Mr.. Beecher confessed
to him his crminality with another
4 than Mrs. Tilton, and told him all
1 the particulars. He (Moulton) there
upon advised him to get denial OF
the story from the woman, which
Mr.. Beecher did, and brought to him
the following statement from the
lady in question:
Some years ago, while under great grief and
excitement / said things injurious to Mr.. Bcechei
70 Mr. Bowen. / always speak strongly, and
then was nearly beside myself, aud used nm
1 measured terms, which presented rather my
feeling than my Judgment. | afierward became
i convinced hat in many things j was mistaken
became satisfied that Mr.. Beechers course
toward me was meant to be kind and honorable
4 From that day to this our relations have been
| cordial and friendly.
Commenting on this, Mr.. Moulton
said:
casual glance at this document shows that
4 Mr.. Beccher not MS successful in this retrac
ton, which he evidently did not dictate, as ii
the case of Mrs. Tilton, and the retraction itself
in its cautious wording, vas SO much more dam
aging as evidence than direct charge of the
woman, that might be contradIcted, would be
/ that ii was thought best that it should not see
the light of day and it has not until now.
Shortly after the publication o.
Mr.. Moulton's statement it became
known that the lady referred to wa,
Miss Edna Dean Proctor, and skt
promptly replied by prosecuting Mr.
Monlton for libel. The case cam.
up for hearing in the United States
Court III Brooklyn on ednesday
last Before calling Of the case
overtnres had been made to Miss
Proctor for a compromise. and this
was finally agreed upon. The terms
were: That Miss Proctor should bt
permitted to deny under oath tn,
statement of Moulton. That tn,
latter should confess that he knew
nothing of the facts save by heresay
and should apologize for the wron!
\ he had done, and, finally, that III
\ should pay the entire costs of th'
\ suit, amounting to something owe
$4,000. This was done. Now lc
us see how the matter stands. Eithe
Mr.. Moulton must Eelieve that Henri
Ward Beecher accused himself OF
crime and confessed it when he wa
troubled and beset with an accusation
OF a similar nature, and when Their
was 10 truth whatever about tn
story-a thing we submit that N
sane man would do or else, believ
ING Miss Proctor guilty, he is We
read y without an attempt to substan
tate the charges without bringin.
MI. Beecher into court, without an
Presentation of those suspicious Cir
Vlmstances which invariably attenc
such affairs to apologize, and consen
o pay this very large sum Of none,
"a = L.. IL NJ