Litchfield enquirer., 1874-08-20
The Verdict.

The Verdict.
 The evidence taken by the Plymouth Church committee ih the Tilton-Beechel case is now in, and the case closed, un. less Mir. MOulton finally breaks his self imposed silence and adds further impor tant documents tO those already adduced by Mir Hilton. Any mere verbal state. ment of his would add nothing to the evi dence now before the committee; for MT. Beechcr's acquital means his utter con- demnatiOn just as surely as it means the utter condemnation of Theodore Hilton. That MT. MoultOn has further important documentary evidence We hardly expect, for Hilton probably copied the letters most likely to condemn Mir. Beecher, and mere emulation of such evidence would scarcely strengthen it.
 1t seems evident, too, that the commit tee are unanimous in holding the vindica- ton of Mir Beecher complete, that the press Is generally favorable to him, that he will remain pastor of Plymouth Church, and that his explanation, if not altogeth- CT satisfactory, will be held by most to bc sufficiently consistent with his letters 10 justify the longed-for verdict, of ''Not Guilty" From this verdict, however, we feel 1t our duty to dissent, and to state such of our reasons, therefor, as our brief space will permit:
 The first great point to be decided, as we look at it, is whether the letters of Mir. Beecher are most consistent with the the. Ory of his guilt, or with the theory of his innocence. The first document, or apol- Ogy. in MOultOn's handwriting, is utterly at variance with the theory of innocence. It speaks of his humbling himself before NIT. Triton, and asking the forgiveness of Mrs. Hilton. when, on his own showing, he had done no intentional injury to the one, had behaved with perfect propriety to the other, and had been falsely and wickedly accused of heinOus crime by both. Mir. Beecher says, however, that he is not re- spOnsible for this 'apology" it was merely a memorandum of a long talk, written down by Moulton, and signed by himself without reading. He says, how ever. that he did express great contrition for having believed stories against Tilton's character that Moulton assured him were false, and for having used his influence decisively with Bowen to have him dis charged from the Independent and Union, thus running his prospects as journalist. Here we strike two difficulties; one that MOultOn should have so atrociously and wilfully misrepresented Beecher's Ian. gIage in committing it to writing, and the other that the latter should have been guilty of the gross carelessness of signing reading it. Still, perhaps there are in the world as great scoundrels as this theory would make MOulton, and as careless signers of important instruments, as it would make Beecher. Under such cir cumstances we naturally turn to the let ters cOnfessedly in Mir. Beecher's own handwriting for more light.
 The letters of Feb. 2, Fl, come next in time. One is to Mrs. TIlton, written, says Mir. Beecher, to inspire her with conf denee in Mir, MOultOn. We give the more important portions:
 MY DEAR MRs HILTON When saw vou las did not expect ever to sec you again. or to b, alive many days. God was kinder to me thar were my own thoughts. The friend whom Go,
 a= Me.
 all friends that ever had, able and willing {, hep me in this terrible emergency of my life His hand it was that tied up the storm that wa. ready tO burst upon our heads. IL does ny sore heart good to see in MT. Moul Ion an nufe1gned respect and honor for you. II wOald kl1 me If he thought otherwise. He vii he as true friend to your honor and happiness a A brother would be to a sisters.
 In hlm we have common groun@ You ant nay meet m him The past Is ended. But i there 10 fukures No wiser, higher, holier flu tures May not this friend stand as a priest ii the nsE sanctuary of reconciliation and medi ate and bless you, Theodore, and my most un happy self.
 We give the following extract from . letter to Mr. MoultOn of the same date:
 Would to God. who orders all hearts, that b, your ald and mediation Theodore, Elizabeth and could bs made friends again. Theodore ztll have the hardest task in such q case: but ka@ Ae not proved himself capable of the nobles thinEss
 wonder if Elizabeth knows how renerously he hascAxried himself toward me? Of course I car can never speak with her again, except with hi, p@rmlHM6nn-anAI \ do not know that even then il ssua14 @@ best My earnest longing is to see her sn the fah sympathy of her nature at rest i, him, and to sec him once more trustinC her an, loving her with even better than the old love am asu1ys sad in such thoughts. Is there an Sas oat Os thas naghts May not a day star arise
 Are not these letters of precisely tn same paTpOrt with the confession? D they not express unbounded gratitude t MoaltOn and to Hilton? They speak mos kindly of Mrs. Hilton, as of a person win was ia common dificulty with him, not a OfOne whose falsehOOd had brought him in to dificaltyi Only short time before h had advised Mrs. Hilton to leave her hus band because of has cruelties and infideli ties. and he had had the direct testimon of yOung girl to the fact of Tilton's wick ed proposals to her. He had ridicule, TilkOn's demand for his withdrawal iron PlymOath pulpit, and had advise, Bowen to discharge himl What. on h; cun showing. had happened to make hin humble himself before Hilton and Monl ton and contemplate death9 Mrs. Tilto,