Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-14
FROM NEW YORK.
The isoccher Scandal.

New York, Is. Mr.. Beecher's letter to his
committee of six church members, requesting
them to investigate his character against Mr..
Iilton s allusion to an offence and apology in
his Bacon letter, has elected the following re-
ply by Mr.. Tilton;
No. l0i, Livingston ST., Brooklyn,
July 10, 1874.
To the Investigating Committee:
Gentlemen-When on Friday last met
you at your invitation, the appointment of
your committee had not then been made
known to the public. You sat in private ca
pacity. Moreover, one of your legal advisers
had previously given me hope that if on my
appearance before you | would preserve jul
dicious reticense concerning the worst as
poets of the case, might thereby facilitate
through you such moderate public presenta-
ton of Mr.. Beecher's offence and apology as
would close rather than prolong the existing
scandal. l rejoiced in this hope and prompt
ly reciprocated the kindly feeling which was
reported TO me as held by you all toward my
self and family. Accordingly when | met
you in conference, my brief statement was in
substance the two following points:
First-That my letter to Dr. Bacon was
written, not as an act of aggression, but of
self defence. arising as therein set forth from
great and grievous proyocation by your pas
tor, your church, the Brooklyn council and
the eX-mOderators' criticisms Of my suppoied
conduct all uniting to detame me before the
world, and to intict upon me an unjust pun
ishment for acts done by another.
Secoud--Ihat having by that letter defend
cd myself so far as thought the occasion re-
CURED me to carry my reply, felt unwilling
to proceed further against Nj. Beecher with
out further public provocation or other neces
sity.
Such necessity is now laid upon me by
Mr.. Beecher himself, in the publication of a
direct request by him TO you to inquire otfc
tally into his character as affected by his of
fence and apology to which | referred He
thus offers to me direct challenge, not only
before your committee but before the public,
which l hereby accept
| therefore give you notice that shall pre-
pare full and detailed statement in accord
ance with the terms of your committees invi-
tation to me to furnish such facts as are with
in my knowledge, touching matters which
compromise the character of Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher
| shall be ready to lay this before you with
in week or ten days, or as soon thereafter
as shall find myself able to set the numer
Gus facts and evidences in such strict array
as that can cover them each and all with my
oath to the exact truth, sworn before mag
istrate.
await the appointment by you of a day
mutually convenient for my presentation of
this statement in person before your commit
tee. Meanwhile shall make my present note
to you public, because Mr.. Beechers letter,
to which this is preliminary response, has
been made public by him.
With great respect,
am truly yours.
fIUEnnORV IlITDN
Vice President Wilson was in this city to-
day.
The Orahgemen celebrated to-day by pic
mic and excursion.
Geo Parker died to-day from stab wounds
inflicted by Charles Willlns carly in June.
Williams has been under arrest since the
fight
Three desperate robbers, Geo. Lent. Chas.
Tracy and Herman Beck, walked out of
Hampstead Jail Saturday afternoon.
Saratoga Is. The following entries are
made for the single scull race on Wednesday
Yale, Ausley Wilcox; Cornell, +. l.. Phil
lips; Harvard, l.. Devins.
George IL. Mitchell, of the firm of Mitch
ell Bros, of Saratoga, shot and killee him
IF at Friends Lake, to-day.