Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-09-24

inal intercourse with Mrs. Tilton. and YOU have
done great injury to Triton otherwise, and 1
say further in my published statement - that
he confessed and denied not. but confessed"
as he did not deny this charge 80 explicitly
made by me. Whatever differences have
made from his words at other times, he GER
tainly could not have mistaken mine at this
time. When speaking of the relations of men
and women, criminal intercourse has
but one legal or literary meaning, even
to clergymen. 1t, however, seems necessary
that l should go still further, which
l do, and 1 say that on that even
ing he confessed to me his relations
with Mrs. Tilton in language 30 vivid
that could not possibly mistake or forget it,
He said: my acts OF intercourse with that
woman were as natural and sincere in the i'm
preston of my love for her as the words of en-
dearment which l addressed to her. There
seemed to be nothing in what we did together
that l could not justify to myself on the
ground of our love for each other and I
think God will not blame me for my acts with
her, know that at present it would be ut
terly impossible for me to justify myself be-
fore man."
This is impressed Upon nv mind because it
was the first enunciation or justification of the
doctrine of free love that [ had ever heard
Not only on the occasion of handing back Mrs.
Tilton's retraction, and when giving me the
letter OF contrition of Jan. l, 1871, did he par
ticulariZe with regard to the feelings that infu-
enced kim to do as he did with Mrs. Tilton. but in
many of the conversations l held with him
he strongly sdverted to the absorbing love
which he felt for the woman, and to the joys
OF his intercourse with her, which he always
justified because of that love.
Ii my testimony is to avail anything in this
matter, here connect it now fully to the
statement heretofore made by me, which l
then softened by emitting details of language
which thought it best for public morality
should be suppressed, and call attention to
the fact made in my previous statement, that,
in the presence of myself and another tcitness
whom l still feel reluctant to bring forward
(of course not Mr. Tilton), both Mrs.
Hilton and Beecher admitted, in Ian
guage not to be mistaken, that con-
tinued sexual intimacy had existed be
| between them. and asked advice as to the
course to be taken because Of it.
Moulton next deyotes himself at great
length to the exposure of alleged disreputable
transactions with other women. This is the
most important part of the statement, and
relates particularly to the long-suppresed
charges of Henry G. Bowen against Mr..
| Beecher, which Moulton AYERS were charges
of adultery with five different women, in
GLIDING one charge Of rape. In regard to the
latter charge, Moulton says that Beecher con-
| fessed to him the act of criminal intercourse,
but denied having used violence, aud alleged
that the woman, though unmarried, Z" had
| had previous experiences of the came
sort" This revelation. Moulton says, was
made to him twelve DAYS after the
confession of adultery with Mrs. Tilton, and
while be was engaged with Ii. B. Clatlin and
others in settling up Tilton's difficulty with
Bowen. He told Beecher that unless he
wished to remain in Bowen's power he must
get from the woman in question retraction
of the charge. This he (Beecher) undertook
tos do, and he brought Moulton paper from
the woman, which was not retraction, but 9
statement that she had made a certain charge
| against Beecher to Bowen which she regretted
that she was now on friendly terms with
Beecher. This letter Moulton publishes with
out the signature. The language imputed to
Beecher in this narrative is perfectly disgust
ing.
In regard to Beecher's alleged contempla-
ton of suicide, Moulton says:
Having made an allusion TO Beecher's pro-
posed suicide, it may be well for me to state
here the full circumstances of his confession
concerning his proposed design. He told me
and showed to another in my presence, that
he had within reach in his own study poison
which he would take if the story of his crime
with Elizabeth should ever come to tho
public. He told me of visit which he had
made to a photographers gallery where ht
learned that one of the employees had mistaken
glass of poison for glass of water, and. hav
ing taken and drunken it. had fallen dead with
scarcely time to drop the glass. Beecher sait
that was what he wanted for himself and under
the plea of making some Photographic expert
ments, he procured some of this same poison
from the photographer. which lie told me b.
intended to use if an intimation of his crime
should be made, and then he said sit would
be simply reported that Beecher died Of apo
plexy; but God, and you, and 1 will know
what caused my death" If those who blame
me could have looked into his grief-stricker
face and listened to the tones of his voice il
great emergencies, in which he said there wal
no refuge for him but in death, they would
have felt impelled to do as generous ant
open-hearted q service as l prscticed TOWARD
him. 1t would have taken a harder hear
than mine, being witness of his sorrows, mo-
to forget his sins.