The New York herald., 1874-07-28
A BROOKLYN VIEW.

Opinions Of the People amd the Bar Of
the Published Testimony OF Theodore
TiItOn.
The publication OF the FIRST instaiment OF the
testimony taken by the Plymouth Church Investi-
eating COmmittee--Lhe examination OF Theodore
Tnton-was the overwhelming anu ALI absorbing
subject OF comment in the two cities yesterday,
aud appeared to eDgrOss attention and distract
the pubic mind from the consideration OF all
other topics Each question and answer OF the
vOluminOus transcript OF the oficial stenogra-
piers notes was read and analyzed and weighed
IN all possible bearings. The inferences were as
varied as the bias of the reader upon thls that
and the other point. On one point alone was the
verdict unanimous, and that was that 1t is an
ngly case for ~! concerned and oul blot on re-
hgion and society IN the City OF Churches
The action Of the Investigating Commit
tee In onsetting the capital sought TO
be made by the publication OF the
several statements OF Mr.. Tiiton by giving to the
world the Whole OF that genteman's testimony
was very generally approved as the correct thing
10 do in the premises, in justice to the parties
concerned and themselves rbe failure of Mr..
TitOn TO remember the date Of the ankle sceneo
at Mr.. Beecher's residence, while Mrs. Titon and
the pastor OF Plymouth were looking over the en-
cravings, was regarded as a very weak admission.
What man Of honor could obliterate from his
memory" said citizen to the writer, ''recOllec-
ton OF the period OF such an act OF indecency, If it
had any existence In factf think there are none,
so that l. or one; refuse to accept that incident
true. believe that ..:.. -.
TiLroN, HAVING THE ADVANTAGE OF Mr.. BEECBER,
by reason OF the knowledge OF hts Platonic anec.
ton for Mrs. 1it0n, kept thar knowledge within
himself and exercised it for his mean, selfish
interest when he found H. available The
committee asked him whether previous 10
announcing his discovery to MI. Beecher he had
not fallen into trouble with his employer, Mr..
Bowen, OF the hadepeode,a and U,ion and Tilton
acknowledged that he had. He knew the inru-
ence he could exercise in his behalf, and there
brought his hitherto secret weapons to bear upon
his victim. The committee asked him whether, as
a matter OF fact, he dn not accept the apology OF
Mr.. Beecher and forgive the offence. and he replies
that he did accept the apology with as much
iarreness as he thought 1t was possible FOR a
Christian man To assume. The offence stated
against Mr.. Beecher and which Tllton gave Mr..
Storrs was written, he testified, by Mrs. Titon.
he said :-"It began In this way, that on a certain
day IN the summer Of 1870 she informed her hus-
band that Mr. Bcecher had asked her to be wife
to him, together with all that this implies; she
was very solictous to make it appear that she did
not accept his proposition, and, happily, In read
that THIS did not accept his PROPOSE
uon." This statement, ne admits, was
written with his assist t8nce. Now, sir,
IRON my reading anu digest OF the testimony pub
Ilsned to-day ia'l to detect anything, weighing
all the circumstances OF the case that Is sucient
in my mind to warrant any prejudice against Mr..
Beecher, whose word is certainly as deserving OF
popular credence as are the uttersnces OF the ex-
editor OF so many Journals even upon the exhibit
OF the sworn but uncoroborated testimony Of the
latter.
FALSE rRIHspsBIP.
"ODe thing thai has struck me as peculiar during
this sad scandal case Is the strange conceptions OF
friendship and purify remarked a prominent
merchant wne discussing the case. "Mr. Tilton
was asked whether his relations and feelings to-
ward MI. Beecher since January L. 1871, when he
lett the V"o' had not been friendly, and
he replied, Yes, SIR; my relations and teel-
iDgs toward him since January, 1871, wnen he
made the apology, down to the time when the
church began to put out its right hand and take
me by the throat were friendly What awful
friendshpl surely poet never sung OF such.
save me rom my friends was never SO strongly
brought out as hitting prayer, | think as in this
at the friendship OF Maverick, which induced him
10 surreptitlously Obtain copy OF the statement
against his wishes, publish 1t broadcasJ TO the
world envy the possesser no such friendship
and Ia trouble would have none OF it II 1 could
guard against IT, IT, Is somewhat remarkable thar
though .ilton quoted extensively the letters OF
his WIFE, written prior TO the time he said that she
admitted the intercourse began, he had not any
letters 70 show that were written since that time
or durng that time. People viii begin to
doubt that there are such letters extant as the
Beecher letters OF apology, to which MI. Tiiton
aludes unless ne submits the originals for lnspec-
ton, which he refused 10 do before the committee.
1t IL hard TO cOncle Mr.. rltons assertion OF i'm
p,cit faith N the white, unsuhsd soul Of his wife
and his 0ecaratlon VI her laGk pf chastity ~ beE