The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-08-20

TIE End of The Scandal. -s-
The World of Friday says that with
the examination of Beecher the day
previous, the committee virtually fin
ished their sessions for taking testi-
mony and that at the end Of bis cross
examination they decided to close the
investigation, but they will permit
Mr.. Moulton to explain away the
blackmaiIing operation which Mr..
Beecher lays at his door, should he
deem it necessary. Tine preparation
of the report in the matter has been
committed to a subcommittee COM
posed of Messrs. Sage, WinsloW
and Cleveland and it is expect
ed that their verdict win be rem
dered to Plymoth Church Society, at a
meeting to be called for that purpose
on the 9th inst, or the Friday fol-
lowing at furthest. 1t is expected
that the report will be favorable to
Mr.. Beecher. Still, whatever the
committee may say there are a very
large class in community who viii be-
lieve Beecher guilty. b ~ Wo7'
We have purposely RETAINED from
filling our colums with the details of
this dirty affair, aud believe with Mr.
Beecher, that Hwhoever is buried
with it, it is time this abomination be
buried below all touch or power of
resurrection" The whole matter, in
nutshell, is about this: .asaz< z.ao
The distinct charge is made by Til
ton against Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
that Beecher had been guilty of crim-
inal intercourse with his, (Tilton's).
wife. This charge is made under oath
and is supported by the alleged con-
fession of Mrs. Tilton and series of
letters written by the parties accused,
confrmatOry Of the allegations. This
is the case againt the accused in the
shortest possible words. -
On the other hand Mr.. Beecher has
made a long-Winded statement in
which he claims that his only offence
against TiIton consisted in the fact
that he had used his influence to oust
him from the editorship of the Inde-
pendent, and had advised his wife to a
separation from her husband. He
claims that thisis the whole face and
front of his offending -only this, and
nothing more. On this account he
dictated to Moulton the apology to
Tilton in which he declared he would
die rather than that others should be
inculpated. 1t was this that filed
him with remorse and regret. AL
though he knew that Mrs. Tiiton. had
made confession Of her guilt to her
husband, he had not the least suspic-
ion that this note, or memorandum,
trusted to the mutual friendsp Moul-
ton, had The slightest allusion to this
charge, and he unWittingIy signed it
without either reading it or hearing it
read. He had In his possession atone
time anOte fromh his alleg d-accomplice
in criminality, note furnishing the
only possible proof of his entire in
nocence of these charges, bat this he
surrendered under menace in his own
bedroom to this "mutual friend" who
charged him with having obtained it
in mean and Hnderhanded manner,
aud yet he continued TO retain Moul-
ton as confdant. and maintain with
him The most friendly relations for a
long time thereafter, never charging
or dreaming that he was the victim of
yillainous black mailing schemes in.
which this confidential friend, as he
now alleges, was the principal actor.
Possibly these things may be consist
ent with the theory of his innocence,
but people must not be blamed if they
think there is lame attempt to cover
up glaring rottenness with pretty
thin coating of whitewash. =
s-A--------
1T is said that Moulton has not told
all he knows. That's what's the mat
ter; and what people can't understand
is, if not why not. The charges Of
blackmailing which Mr.. Beeeher pre-
fers against him win rightfulfy have
some impression upon the public
mind unless he steps to the front and
speaks not only in his own defense but
tells "the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth" Somebody is
acting villainous part in this affair.
and il is admitted on all hands that
Moulton knows who It is. Let him
speak out and defend himself against
Beecher's accusations, or, by his con-
tinued silence, admit their truth and
his perfdy.