The Portland daily press., 1874-08-14
THE GREAT SCANDAL.
MOultOn's Full Statement.
MIR. BEECHER SPEAKS!
A Biography Of Theodore Tilt0n
Interesting Disclosures, Etc., Etc.
Interesting Disclosures, Etc., Etc.
The Chicago Story Pronounced a Fabri.
cation.

cation.
NEW YORK, Aug. 13.-In the dispatch of
Townsend to Chicago paper. dated last Sun
day evening, he states that he went from Til
toms house to that of MOultOn, on Sunday, and
had an interview, the details of which alleged
interview he telegraphed, containing some most
extraordinary statements. Although Frank
Moulton declines to say anything relative to
this or any other publication relative to him.
self, only stating that his statement which has
been given to the committee is the only author
lied and authentic utterance from him, yet it
has been to-day ascertained from a gentleman
who was with Frank Moulton from the time he
arose in the morning until late on Sunday
evening, that no such interview as alleged by
Townsend was held with Frank, and the party
thus stating does not hesitate to pronounce the
whole thing, so far as it relates to Frank
Moulton, wholesale fabrication.
Mr.. MouIton Speaks.
Frank Moulton says, in response to a query
as to the authenticity of the interview of a
Western newspaper reporter with him, that the
statement he had submitted to the committee
should be regarded as the only one he desired
to make in connection with the subject which
he was prepared to stand by, and could en-
dOrse. He said also that the assertion by law
yer Sherman that he tMoulton) had insisted
upon the committee keeping his statement
secret, was false. He had made no such com
pact with the committee, and the committee
are and have been entirely free to publish it.
Moulton's Ofcial Statement.
The following is the exact copy of the pro-
ceedings of the Beecher investigating commit
tee on Nc nday night:
TwENTY-THIRD SESSION.
BROOKLYN, Aug. ID.
The committee met at P NJ. All the
members were present. About 8 o'clock Mr.
Francis D, Moulton, who was expected at the
opening of the session mades his appearance,
when with consent of the committee he read
the following statement:
Gentlemen of the COmmittee-When I was
last before you, stated that would at your
request, produce such documents as had and
make such statement of facts as had come to
my know ledge on the subject of your inquiry.
[ fully intended SO to do and have prepared my
statement of facts as sustained by the docu-
ments and made an exhibit of all the papers
that have come in any way into my possession,
bearing on the controversy between the parties.
That statement must of course bear with more
or less force upon one or the other of them.
On mature reflection, aided by the advice of
most valued friends, have reconsidered that
determination and am obliged to say to you
that feel compelled from sense of duty to
the parties of my relation, to their controversy
and to myself neither to make the statement
nor to produce the documents.
When first became party to the unhappy
controversy between Beecher and Tilton, 1 had
no personal knowledge nor any document in
my possession which could affect either.
Everything that know of the fact or have re-
ceived of the papers has come to me in the
most sacred confidence, to be used for the pur-
pose of composing and settling all difficulties
between them,-of preventing, SO far as pos
sible, any knowledge of their private affairs
being brought to the public notice. For this
purpose ali their matters have been entrusted
to me, and for none other. If 1 should now
use them, it would not be for the purpose of
the peace and reconciliation, but to voluntarily
take part in a controversy which they have
seen fit to renew between themselves. How
labored to do my duty to the parties for peace,
they both know. One question for me to
settle for myself, and no other is: Fought 1
to do anything to aid either party in a renewal
of the controversy by the use of that which 1
have received and have used only to promote
harmOny?' On my honor in conscience think
I ought not, and at the risk of whatever mis-
construction aud Interpretation may come upon
me, must adhere to the dictates of my own
judgment aud preserve at least my own self
respect.
call attention again to the fact that yours
is a mere voluntary tribunal and whatever I do
here is done by voluntary and not compelled
witness. Whether before any tribunal not
having the powerto compel the production of
testimony and the statement of facts, L shall
never pEOuuCc euOSC pdpCAo VI give dLy VI lutSc
confidential statements. 1 reserve to myself to
judge of the emergency, which l hope may
never come against my wish as / have never
been in sympathy with renewal Of this con-
fict. A part of these documents have been
given to the public. In SO far my confidence in
regard to them has ceased. 1t is but just, there
fore, and due to the parties that the whole of
those documents, a portion of which only have
been given, shall be put into your hands in re-
Spouse to the thrice renewed request of the
committee. I have therefore copies of them
which shall produce here and place in the
hands of the committee with the hope and re-
quest that after they have been examin-
ed by them that they may be returned to me.
If any controversy shall arise as to the anthem
ITCHY of the copies or of the documents on
With this exception, except in defence of my
own honor and the uprightness of my course in
all this unfortunate and unhappy business, the
purity and candor Of which 1 appeal to the
consciousness of both parties to sustain, do
not propose and hope may never be called up
on hereafter to speak either as to the facts or
to produce any paper that have received from
either of the parties involved herein.
(SigLed) FRANCIS d. MoULToN.
1.-THE letters will appear In Mr.. Beecher's
statement with an explanation of EACH.
=. CRoss-ExAMINATIoN.
After the reading of this statement, Mr..
Moulton was subjected to brief cross-exam-
ination as follows:
Mr.. Winslow to Mr.. Moulton.
The committee desire me to ask you some
questions, Notwithstanding the position you
take here in your written statement. You
were well aware, as you show by the invita-
tions which the committee have sent you, that
we are in good faith pursuing an investigation.
You well remember that we were appointed by
the pastor of Plymouth Church with the sane
ton and approval of the examining committee
of that church to inquire into all these matters,
relating to the alleged grievances of Mr.. Tilton.
The letter of authority that comes to us is not
limited. No restrictions are put upon us of
any kind. We are invited to examine all the
sources of evidence, and we looked upon you
as one of the principal sources of evidence.
We have waited some two or three weeks to
get your testimony, and l am sure express
the feeling of the committee when l express a
sense of disappointment at the position you
take. OF course we know that we are not a
court with compulsory powers. We are as you
state mere voluntary tribunal. You can do
exactly as you please. We await your pleas
ure, but what desire to know in behalf of the
committee whether you have SO deliberately
formed this purpose as to make it beyond re-
call as things now stand?
Mr.. Moulton-In reply to what you have
said, ana with reference to my appearance, l
have SO far as you are concerned IN this COM
mittee. call your attention to the language
of YOUR own invitation, namely this: We earn
estiy request that you bring ali the letters and
documents in your possession which are re-
ferred to by Tilton in ais statement before the
committee. comply with the request of this
committee and produce copies of the letters
referred to by Mr.. Tiltop, the authenticity of
which am ready within few moments to
establish.
Q.-Do you mean to have us understand, Mr..
Moulton, that you have personally compared
the originals with these copies so that YOU
know Of your own knowledge that they are
correct?
Al mean to state exactly what have
stated.
Mr.. Winslo~-You have not stated anything
on that point.