Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1874-09-02
REPORT OF THE DEECIuER INvES.
TIGATING COMMITTEE.
From the Gold Hill News, soth.l

Al last the long aWalteu report OF tno
plymouth Church Investigating COM
mttec is given to the public. As was
10 be expected, and rs could hardly
tee selected by Henry Ward Beecher
to investigate and report upon charges
against himself, report that he is an i'm
nocent and much injured man. Tilton
says Beecher went est-hiding," and
Elizabeth says he didn't. Moulton
SAYS Beecher confessed his criminality,
and Beecher says he didn't. There
are some remarkable admissions made,
even in this report of l}eecher's friends.
For instance, that Mrs. Tilton had
"become strongly attached to Beecher,
and in July, 1870, confessed to her hus-
band an OUerShadoWing aBcction for her
PASTOR" 1t isn't made quite clear what
this "oyershadowing affection" ell
tertaineC by married woman for an
other wonan's husband, meant; but
the Beecher Committee unanimously
conclude that it wasn't such an atfec-
ton as to induce "neSt-hiding." The
committee also report that atterward
Beecher .sagrced with his wife in ad-
vising Mrs. Tilton to leave her hus-
band," and that she Mrs. ~ did so,
but was forced to return because Til
ton wouldn't let her keep her youngest
child with her. The committee dis
cuss the various evidence given them
ut great length, and conclude as fol-
lows:
First-We find from the evidence,
that the Rev. Henry Ward Beccher
did not commit adultery with Mrs.
Tilton, either at the time or times, or
at the place or places set forth in the
third and fourth subdivisions of Mr..
Tilton's statement, nor at any other
time or place whatever.
Second-We find from the evidence,
that Mr.. Beecher has never committed
an unchaste or improper act with Mrs.
Tilton, nor made any unchaste or inn
proper remark, protler or solicitation
to her of any kind or description what
ever. In reference to Mrs. Tilton's
course the committee say it is not for
them to decide upon her conduct or
upon any theory of human RESPONSE
biity which is indeiensible. They.
however, show that she was greatly
under the influence Of her husband.
To such an extent, indeed, as to make
her hardly responsible at all times for
what she did.
The report is signed by all of the
committee, and was read before an au-
dience of over 5000 persons. The tel
egraph gives the following account Of
the scene which ensucd:
After reading the report it was
adopted with a unanimous shout, and
a scene of the greatest enthusiasm fol-
lowed. Mr.. Moulton was present, and
during the speech of Mr.. Raymond
who was called on and who spoke of
Moulton as having tried to poison the
minds of men against Beecher-the
mutual friend rose to his feet and
shouted, excitedlv, "Iou are liar.
sir!' Great excitement followed, and
there were loud cries of 'Put him
out!' "Put hlm out!' ''For shame"
etc. MOultOn rose to his feet and
shouted, 81 dare any of you to put me
out"
The following resolutions were also
unanimously adopted:
Rcsolrcd, That the evidence before
the Examining Committee not only
does not afford any foundation for put
ting the pastor of this church, Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher. upon trial; but,
on the contrary, establishes to the sat
iSfaction of this church, his entire in
nocence and absolute personal purity
with respect to all the charges now or
hereafter made agains: him by Theo
dore rilton.
Bcxoircd, That our confidence and
love for our pastor, so far from being
,lin,nished,is heightened and deepcncd
by tine unmerited sut1erings which he
has so long borne, and we welcome
him, with sympathy more tender and
trust more unbounded than we ever
felt before, to his public labors
among us-to our church, our families,
our homes and our hearts.
At the close of the meeting the doN-
ology was sung and the people began
TO disIerse.
Moulton, who occupied a seat at the
reporters table, was hustled consider
ably on his way out and there were in
dications that had he not been
protected by the police, violence would
have been offered him. On reaching the
door he was hurried to a carriage, and,
with policeman on each side vi the
steps, driven rapidly away and the
people dispersed.
The yindication of Mr.. Rccchcr may
suffice to set him right with his con-
gregation, hut it will not with the
world. Nothing but his complete ac-
uuittal by a jury of his coun,rymen,
selected not by himself, but by prop
or law officer and the usual guarantees
of challenge Oil the part of both par
ties, can, in our judgment, rest ,re him
to the confidence of the people. We
candidly confess that while our sym
pathies are and have been with Beech
or in this trial, while we have hesita.ed
to believe in his guilt, the evidence
against him has been so staggering
that we have scarcely dared to hope
that he could explain it away: and
after reading carefully the report of his
committee we are no better on, save in
the fact that these men. presumably
honest aRd honorable, and having OPP
portunities to compare and weigh all
the evidence submitted far better than
the outside public, unanimously vindi-
cato their pastor. The report, as it
comes to us, falls far short of such a
raSIllt