Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-08-27
seems to Dc careless of all restraint.

to his keeping. But during all this
long correspondence, not a word es-
capes his pen in support of that
verbal confession-not one word.
On the contrary, every time the
subject of the scandal is distinctly
referred to, it is met with positive
and indignant denial Weighed
then, in the scales of impartial
criticism, how does this state
ment of Moulton affect the case
Thus it seems to me: His own word
against half dozen contemporary
denials on thepart of Mr.. Beecher.
His own unsupported word against
all reasonable probabilities, his own
word against Legitimate presump-
tons drawn from the documents,
letters and correspondence in his
possession, and in short, his own
word impeached by other conflicting
statements. But this is not all, for
the mutual friend turns out to be
the friend of only one OF the parties,
and his fidelity to that one is not
wholly above suspicion, as is shown
by the disposition of the money
which he received from Mr.. Beecher.
That the latter paid that $4,000 for
the benefit of Tilton no one will
doubt. The mutual friend admits
that he received it, but he never ac-
quaints Tilton with the fact, but
sends him s. 900 of the money, and
he pretends to account for the eX-
penditure OF $4,000 more of it for
the support of the Golden Age, but
he gives no vouchers, except for the
sum of S40O. He may have ex-
pended the money honestly, but
according to his own language, he
still retains $3.50 of it. 1t is little
singular that in the disbursement of
trust fund, he should have taken
but a single voucher and for the
small sum Of $500. Perhaps he
thinks his own word sufficient. 1t
may be to some, but l should not
be willing to risk a very large
amount on the word OF man who
has told so many different stories.
One word further in regard to the
conduct of this Francis d. Moulton.
He has pretended to play the role
of the Mutual Friend" but the
truth is that he has betrayed Beech
er from the outset. He has been a
spy on the man who trusted him
He was fit ally for the miserable
Tilton. There is natural tie be-
tween these two. Their tastes, in
clinations and habits were similar,
and both, in obedience to the i'm
pulses OF their natures, sought the
society and espoused the doctrines
of Woodruff. 1t is singular to me
that Beecher did not suspect the
fidelity of Mouiton sooner than he
did But men OF genius, like him,
are apt to be trusting and unsuspic-
ious. One circumstance sufficiently
illustrates the character OF Moulton's
mutual friendship. When he learns
that Beecher had obtained Mrs.
Tilton's retraction of her confession,
this mutual friend" becomes eX-
ceedingly excited; with blood in his
eye and pistol in his pocket, he
demands a surrender of that docu-
ment. Why this deep interest in a
matter that could not concern him
personally unless he had some pur-
pose OF his own to accomplish !
Why this extraordinary exhibition
OF passion over the fact that his
friend had secured a statement in
support of his innocence Was he
afraid that his victim would escape
his clutches! 1t certainly looks SO.
His conduct is liable to that con-
struction. 1t might spoil the plot,
so Beecher must be made to give up
that recantation.
What "friend," indeed, this was,
to be sure! But this is not all, nor
the worst OF this mans infamous
conduct, while pretending to be
Beecher's best friend. He is the
confident and go-between. He as
sures Beecher, again and again, that
it is all right, and that his secret is
safe, and yet he suffers it to reach
the ears of Woodhull. 1t has never
yet actually transpired how this no.
torious woman got hold of this
scandal, but it is fair to presume
that the mutual friend told her, as
he was on intimate terms with her,
and was also whispering it to other
persons. In all probability, Tilton
and Moulton took Woodruff into