The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-22
Continued from first page.)
ton he won the affectionate love of Mrs
Tilton, whereby, after


the period hereinafter stated a relation
called criminal intercourse, this relation be
ing regarded by her during that period a
not criminal or morally wrong, such hat
been the power of his arguments as q cler
eyman to satisfy her religious scruple
against such violations of virtue and hon
or. That on the evening of Oct. 10, 1868
or thereabouts, Mrs. Elizabeth r. Tiltol
held an interview with Rev. II. w. Beech
er at his residence, she being then in :
tender state of mind, owing to the recen
death and burial Of a young child, and
during this interview the criminal inter
course took place between this pastor and
this parishioner, the motive on her part
being as hereinbefore stated not regarded
by her OF the time as criminal or wrong,
which act was followed by similar act of
criminality between these same parties at
Iilton's residence during a PASTORAL visit
paid TO her on the subsequent Saturday
evening, followed also by other similar acts
on various occasions from the autumn OF
1868 to the spring of 1870, the places be-
ing the two residences aforesaid and occa-
sonally at other places to which her pastor
would invite and accompany her or at
which he would meet her by previous APP
polntment.
THESE ACTS OF WRONG
being, on her part, from first to last, not
wanton or conscientiousy wicked but arts
ing through the binding of her moral per-
ceptions occasioned by the powerful intu-
ence exerted on her mind at that time to
this end by Henry Ward Beecher, as her
trusted religious preceptOr and guide.
That the PASTORAL visits made by Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher during the year 1868
became so frequent as to excite comment,
being in marked contrast with his known
habit Of making few PASTORAL calls in his
parish, which frequency in Mrs. Iiton 8
case is shown in letters written her hus-
band during his absence in the W est these
letters giving evidence that during the pc
riod of five or six weeks twelve different
PASTORAL calls on Mrs. Tilton we're made
by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, which calls
became VIGOROUSLY inirequent on Tilton' S
return to his home.
That previous to the aforesaid criminal
intimacy, one reason which Mrs. Tilton al
legged tor her encouragement of such ex-
ceptional attentions from Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher was the fact that she had
been much distressed with rumors against
her moral purity and wished to con
vince him that she could receive his kind
ness and yet resist his solicitations; that
she could inspire in him by her
PURITY AND FIDELITY
an increased respect for the dignity of
womanhood. Previous to the autumn of
1865 she maintained with christian frmness
towards her pastor this position Of resist
ance, always refusing his amorous pleas,
which were strong and oft repeated. In a
letter to her husband, dated Feb. 3, 1868,
she wrote as follows TO love is praise
worthy, but to abuse the gift is sin.
Here am strong No demonstration or
fascination could cause me to yield my wo-
womanhood ' That the first suspi-
cion that crossed the mind Of Theo-
dore 1ilton that Henry Ward Beecher
was abusing or might the affection
and reverence which ' Iilton bore to-
wards her pastor, was
AN IMPROPER CAREss
given by Beecher to MR. 'Iilton while seat
ed by her side on the floor of his library
overlooking engraving Mr. Tilton few
hours afterwards asked lis wife for an ex-
plation Of her permission of such liberty,
whereat she at first denied the fact, but
then confessed it and said she had spoke
chidingy to Mr.. Beechcr concerning it.
On another occasion I'ilton, after leaving
his house in the early morning, returned to
it in the forenoon aud on going to his bed
chamber found the door locked, and when
on knocking the door was opened by Mrs.
Hilton, Beecher was seen within appar-
emily much confused and exhibiting a
flushed face Mrs Tilton afterwards made
plausible explanation which, from the
confidence reposed in her by her husband,
was by him deemed satisfactory
That in the spring Of 1870, on Tilton's |
return from winters absence, he |
noticed in his wife such evidences !
OF absorption Of her mind in Beech
er that in short time an estrange
meut took place between her husband and
herself, in consequence Of which she went
into the country earlier than usual for the
summer sQlourn. After an absence of
several weeks she voluntarily returned to
her home in Brooklyn on the evening of
July }, 1870. When there and within a
lew hours after her arrival, and after cy-
acting from her husband solemn promise
that he would do Rev. Henry Ward Beech
or no harm, nor communicate to him what
she was about TO say, she made
CIRCUMsTANTIAL CONFESSION
10 her husband Of the criminal facts
iubetore stated, accompanied wiz ere
from Beechers argunents "a citations
with her to oyeroom" and reasonines
SCI upieS agalh' ner long maintained
and de"'' .. yielding to his desires,
airing that she had committed nc
.rong to her husband or her marriage
VOW, quoting in support of this opinion
that her pastor had repeatedly assured
her that she was spytIcss and chaste
which she believed herself TO be. She
further stated that her -uSual intercourse
with him had never proc lied from low OF
vulgar thoughts, either Ul her part or his
but always from pure affection and higf
religious love. She stated furthermore
that Mr.. Beecher hali.ualiy characterized
their intimacy by the term nest hiding.
and he would suffer pa. and sorrow if bi!
hidden secret were ever made known
She said her mind wa. often burdened by
the discretion necessary igr her to prac
tice ID order TO prevent discovery and that
her conscience had many times impeIed
her to throw of this burden OF enforce,
ialsehood by making
: FULL CONFESSION 10 HER HUSBAND
so that she would 10 longer be hvini
before him perpetual lie. She said tina
she had been on the point Of making thi
confession few months previously durin
a severe illness, when she feared she nigh
die. She affirmed also that Beecher ha,
assured her repeatedly that he loved he
better than he had ever loved any othe
woman, and she felt justified before GO'
III her intimacy with hin, save the Deces
sary secret which ace0i anied it, aBC
which she frequently sun red in her mind
Thai after the above named confession
byI Mrs. Elizabeth r. Elton she returned
f.sAa ksal