The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-22

First-0n the 2d ol October, 1855, a
Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, the marriage
between Theodore Tilton and EIi7lbeIh
u. Richards Eai perfpEmgd by Rev
Henry Ward Beecher, which marriage
thirteen years afterwards, was dlshonof0d
and violated by this clergyman through
the criminal seduction OF this wife and
mother, as hereinafter set forth.
Second-That for the period of about
fifteen years, extending both before and
Siter the marriage, an Intimate Friendship
existed between Theodore Tllton and
Rev. Henry Ward BeecheF, which friend.
ship was cenentedto such q degree that
10 consequence thereof, tho subsequent
dishonoring by Beecher oi his friend's
vile was a crime Of uncommon wrongful.
ness and perfidy.
Third-About nine years ago Rev. Il.
W, Beecher began and thereafter con-
tlnued a friendship with Mrs. Elizabeth
Il. Tllton, for whose native delicacy and
extreme religious sensibillty no often cx-
pressed TO her husband o high admiration,
visiting her from time to time for years,
until the year 1870, when, for reasons
hereinafter stated, he ceased such visits,
during which period, by many tokens
and attentions, he won the afectionate
love Of Mrs. Tilton, whereby, after long
moral resistance by her, and after repeat.
ed assaults by him on her mind with
overmastering arguments, he accom-.
plished the possession OF her person,
maintaining with her thenceIorward dur.
Ing the period hereafter stated the rela-
tion called criminal intercourse; this re-.
lation being regarded by her during that
period as not criminal or morally wrong,
such had been the power Of his arguments
as clergyman to satisfy her religious
scruples against such violation Of virtue
and honor.
That on the evening Of October 10th,
1868, or thereabouts, Mrs. e. r. TIlton
held an interview with Rev. Il. W. Beech.
er at his residence, she being then in q
tender state Of mind owing TO the recent
death and burial Of her young child, and
that during this interview an act Of Grim.
inal commerce took place between this
pastor and this parishoner; the motive on
her part being, as hereinbefore stated, not
regarded by her at the time as criminal
or wrong, which act was followed by q
similar act Of criminality between these
same parties at Tilton's residence during
q pastorate visit paid by Beecher TO her
on subsequent Saturday evening,
followed also by other similar acts
on various occasions from the autumn
Of 1868 to the spring OF 1870, the places
being the two residences aforesaid, and
occasionally other places, to which her
pastor would waite and accompany her,
or at " hich he would meet her by prevl-
Gus appointment. These acts OF wrong
being on her part from the first to the
last. not Wanton or consciously wicked,
but arising through q binding Of her
moral perceptions occasioned by the pow.
erlul influence, exerted on her mind at
that time 10 this end by the Rev. II. W.
Beecher, as her trusted religious precepior
and guide. That the pastoral Visits made
by the Rev. Il. W. Beecher TO Mrs. Tilton
during the year 1868 became so frequent
as 10 excite comment, being in marked
contrast to his known habit Of making
but few pastoral calls on his
Pensioners, which frequency in Mira
Tilton's case ls ahown In letters
written to her husband during his absence
in the West. These letters giving evil
dence that during q period Of five or six
weeks twelve different pastoral calls on
Mrs. Tilton were made by Rev. q. w.
Beecher, which calls became noticeably
frequent on Tilton's return TO his home.
That previous to the Aforesaid criminal
intimacy one OF the reasons which Mrs.
Tilton alleged Tor her encouragement Of
such exceptional attentions from Rev. q.
w. Beecher was the TACT that she had
been much distressed with the rumors
against his moral purity, and wished 10
convince him that she could receive his
kindness and yet resist his solicitations,
and that she could inspire In him by her
purity and fidelity an increased respect ior
the chaste dignity Of womanhood. Prior
to the autumn Of 1868 she maintained with
Christian irmness towards her pastor this
position ofresistance, always refusing his
smorous pleas, which were strong and of
repeated, ! and In q letter 10 her husband
dated February 8, 1868, she wrote as fol.
lows: "To love is praiseworthy, but to
abuse the gilt Is sin. Here l am strong "a
resist demonstrations or Vaccinations that
would cause me to yield my woman
hood" -
seventh-ThAtthe first suspicion which
crossed the mind Of Theo. Tilton that
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was abusing,
or might abuse, the affection and rever,
ence which Mrs. Tilton bore towards her
pastor, was an improper caress given BY
Beecher 10 Mrs. Tilton while seated BY
her side on tho floor Of his library over
looking the engravings. Mr.. Tilton, a few
hours afterwards, asked Of his wife an
explanation Of her permission Of such lib.
erty, whereat she al first denied the fact
but then confessed TO 1t, and said she had
spoken chidiDgly to Bsecher concerning
Ii. On another occasion Mr.. Tilton, aitel
leaving his house early in the morning
returned to it in the forenoon, and, or
going to his bed chamber, found the dooi
locked, and, on knocking, the door wa!
opened by Mrs. Tilton and Beecher wal
seen within, apparently much confused
and exhibiting a flushed face. Mrs, Til
ton afterwards made q plausible explana
tion, which, from the confidence reposet
in her by her husband, was by hin
deemed satisfactory. .-.-.
EIghth-ThAt in the spring Of 1870, OF
Tilton's return ffoma winters absence
he noticed In his.Wile such evidences o
absorption other mind In Beecher tha
in short time an estrangement tool
place between her husband and herself
in consequence Of which che went int
the country earlier than usual for he
summer sojoufn. After an absence o
several, weeks she voluntarily returned
TO heFhome IN Brooklyn on the evening
of July 8, 1870, when, and then, anC
there, within o few. hours after her ar
rival, and alter exlcting from her hus-
band o solemn promise that be would d
\ Mr.. Beecher no harm nor communicate
10 him what she was about 70 say, sh
made scircimstantial confession 10 he
II huahAnd, ,of the criminal aria herein be