The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-07-30

to her husband, a few months previ-
ousiy, during a severe illness, when
she feared she might die She affirmed
also, that Beecher had assured her re-
peatedly that he loved her better than
he had ever loved any other woman,
and she telt justified before God III
her intimacy with him, saving the
necessary deceit, which accompanied
it, and for which she frequently suf-
fered in her mind. After the above
named confession by Mrs. Elizabeth
Il. Tilton, she returned to the country
to await such action by her husband
as he might see fit to take. Where
upon, after many considerations, the
chief of which was that she had not
voluntarily gone astray, but had been
artfully misled through religious rev.
erence for Rev. Henry Ward Beecher,
as her spiritual guide; together, also,
from a desire TO protect the family
from open shame, Tilton condoned the
wrong and he addressed to his wife
such letters of affection, tenderness
and respect as he felt would restore
her wounded spirit, and which did
partially produce that result.
Among the letters produ, e is the
one of Jan'y l, 1871, from Beecher to
Moulton, conveying, through the lat
ter, an apology from Beecher to Tilton
an extract from which was printed
extensively short time ago. This is
the letter complete:
"In trust with f, D. Moulton.
"My Dear Friend Moulton: ask,
through you, L. Tilton's forgiveness.
and humble myself before him as do
before God. He would have been
better man in my circumstances than
have been. L can ask nothing except
be will remember all other breasts
that will ache. l would not plead for
myself. | even wish / were dead.
but others must live to suffer. | will
die before anyone but myself shall be
inculpated. All my thoughts are rum
ming towards my friends, and to the
poor child lying there and praying
with her folded hands, She is guilt
less = sinned against = bearing the
transeressions OF another. Her for
giveness have. | humbly pray to God
TO put into the heart of her husband
TO forgive me. have trusted this to
MouitOn in confidence.
"H. W. BEECHnR."
III Tic oOONO lllG ldol
tence and signature are in the hand
writing of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher.
Beecher's explanation of this letter
is that he had advised Mrs. Tilton, in
a certain event to abandon her hus-
band. But aside from the fact that an
exposure of that circumstance would
I,e,,,s7 600 y 4l,,. Ilpoocfe ~, nnl,os aoY
induce Beecher to threaten to make
way with himself before any one but
himself should be inculpated. Tilton
publishes letter from his wife, writ
ten on the 4th of January 1871, only
three days after the apology in which
she Indignantly denied that she has
ever sought a separation from her
husband, and says she has denied it a
hundred times before.
Mrs. Tilton and Beecher have each
been before the committee and made
their several statements, but not un-
der oath, in which they generally deny
all and singular the charges and state
ments of Mr.. Tilton, claiming that the
whole affair can and will be explained
and their innocence fully established,
If Beecher is innocent there is most
wonderful conspiracy of circumstan-
ces against him, which seem to be
overwhelming and inexplicable, but
if he is able to explain and overcome
them he will deserve to retain the ex
alted station he has so long occupied
But if guilty, he deserves to be strip
ped of his ministerial robes and to be
visited with the seYerest penalties of
the law that are meted out to other
aud less noted criminals, Watch and
wait.