The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-28
MOCLTON ASSUMES THE OFTEN
SIFE.
How Mouiton Became the Mediator
Between Beeeher and TiltOn.-Mr.
MOuit0n Speaks in the Harshest
Terms ofthe Plymouth Pastor.

graphic tii-, Itch from its correspondent,
George Al red Townsend, in which Mr.
Moulton details more fully than he has
vet done the confessions which Mr..
Beecher made to him of his adnlteries
with Mrs. Tilton and others. He also
makes some interesting statements con-
cerning Mr.. Beecher's conduct in other
matters. In explaining how he had be-
come mediator between Beecher and Til
on, Mr. Moulton says:
Tilton had been wearing kind of wo
full, wretched face for some time. The
night | drew Beecher to see him was the
night he told me his trouble. My heart
at once jumped TO those poor children,
myself being deprived of as much fami-
Iy as have desired, and | struck right
out on a line of policy, natural as 1t
harmony. | had no need of either of
those men; no time for years of arbltra-
ton; no curiosity as to their secrets. The
reason | cannot make the evidence ex-
onerate Beecher is, that he is the guilty
party He was before 4 libertine and
minister; he is now a liar and a sneak.
No word can be coined until the day of
eternity to describe the mans peTfdy to
me BY the advice of attorneys he has
brutalized this issue to the last degree
and made the only noble deed of years,
a subject of accusation of a blackmail,
against man whom a week before he
clasped in his arms and called the no
bIest friend God ever made for him
9. Do you mean that in assisting Mr..
Tilton's paper surreptitiously, through
you, he was serving Justice? A. Yes; l
say that having crushed that man like
his household, and then meanlv having
him discharged by Bowen to keep him
poor and uninfuential, Mr.. Beecher
could do no less in his contrite moments
than to help Tilton's paper to get on its
feet. He has now sworn away that soli-
tary act of atonement by calling the
thing blackmail. There is no hell he
has not aroused. Ifhe believes the Chris
tian religion he is damned man.
Mr.. Townsend asked Mr.. Moulton
what Mr. Beecher had related to him of
the direct adultery with Mrs. Tilton;
how he explained himself on the subject
of debauching a friends wife, and if it
was his conscience that cried out in such
anguish, or only cowardice for his repu-
tation? Said Moulton:
In all his talk on that question he
proclaimed that he had sinned because
he could not help it; that he loved Eli
zabeth and was loved by her, and that
he could not feel the enjoyment of this
love to be a sin. He said that his wife
had made his home a hell, where he
found neither appreciation nor sympa-
thy, and that she drove his relatives and
her own family away. She was jealous,
wrote him anonymous letter; disliked his
popularity, and followed him like a
Nemesis. He found pleasant bower at
lliOiI l1OHSt; was PACuNAy
and affectionately received. There he
read his manuscripts to Mrs. Tilton, had
the benefit of her criticism, which, on
such topics, was good; and finally, per-
feet communion of souls arose between
them and they fell to the earth in the
very exaltation of piety. Beecher said
God conld not punish a man who led his
domestic life at home and was tempted
by such comforter as Elizabeth. He
told me they both prayed over their sin;
and were assured that it had not the de-
precation of Heaven. This particular
conversation Beecher held lying on his
bed. He seemed to think Tilton never
had any original rights in the matter of
his wife, who had made misalliance
with nature not spiritual enough for
her
To the above description of Mr.. Beech
er's confession the secret letters of Beech
er adjust selves-impassioned, re-
morseful, poetical, and yet with twink
lie intrigue, as where he says, being ab-
sent somewhere, under scoring the words
''you are admitted here;" again, "God
made a very sweet thing in you;" again
"After all this weary agony, know we
shall walk together in Paradise The
letters Of Mr.. Beecher from which these
extracts are given were found by Mr..
Tilton on Saturday, two weeks ago. He
found these letters in Mrs Tilton's copy
of "The Life of Christ" presented by
Beecher. Tilton, as bounded by his
pledges to Moulton, took them immedi-
ately to the latter. He delivered them
to him in Mr.. Townsend's presence to
Mouton at the breakfast table.
Gath-Mr. Moulton do you think Til
ton will live through the long fight?
Moulton-I do; he is very frugal and
regular in his living. He does not smoke
at all. He breakfasts light and drinks
der ordinary circumstances, a self-sus-
tanning mind, fine health, and he has
manners and speech of cousummate de-
iicacy. / never heard him utter word
that could not be heard in parlor.
Gath-Was Mr.. Beecher equally cir
cumspect?
Moulton-No; the great animal. He
once confessed to me m after of adultery
with lady, which was the vilest ever
heard. 1t is same lady, I think, as she
to whom Bowen referred when he de-
nounced Beecher TO Tilton. The story
goes that this was damsel of some lit
erary fame and personal graces who had
been intended by Mr.--for his wife. |
While he was her patron Mr.. Beecher
seduced her. He denied part of the
circumstances in my presence, not deny
inu he crime and the denial was GOA rSer