The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-22
BEECHER-TILTON.
Extraordinary Statement from
TlltOn Under Oath. b.
ifl F@1TE
Several Letters from Beecher
that Look Bad for Him.
The Story of His Intimacy
with Mrs. Tilton as Re.
lated by her Husband.
Statement of Mr.. Tnton.

.IHl
Statement Of Mr.. Tilton.
NEW YoRK. July 2l.-The following Ia
Mr. Tilton's statement:
Gentlemen ofAs Committee: "nHCi
In communicating 10 you the detailed
statement Of the facts OF the evidence
which you have been several days expect
ing at my hands, let me remind you oil
the circumstances which call this state
ment forth. In my recent letter to Dr..
Bacon / alluded TO an offence and an
apology by Rev. q. W. Beecher. To
whomsoever else this allusion seemed in
definite, 10 Mr.. Beecher 1t was plain the
offence was committed by him. The
apology was made by him. Both acts
were his own and were among the most
momentous occurrences Of his life. OI
all men in the Plymouth Church or in the
world Rev. Henry W. Beecher was the
one man who was best informed concern
ing this offence and apology, and the one
man who least needed 10 inquire into
either. Nevertheless while possessing q
perfect knowledge Of both these acts
done by himself he has chosen to put on
a public afectstion Of ignorance and in
nocence concerning them and has con-
spicuously appointed q committre OF six
OF the ablest men Of his church together
with two attorneys, 10 inquire into what
he leaves you to regard as the unaccount.
able mystery Of this offence and apology,as
il he had neither committed the one nor
offered the other, but as II both were the
mere figments OF another mans i'm
agination; thus adroitly prompting
The public to draw the deduction
that I am person possessed ol
some hallucinAtion or delusion, living
in a dream and forging fraud. Further.
more, in order to cast over this explans-
tion tho delicate glamour which always
lends a charm to the defense Of q
woman's honor, Mrs Elizabeth R. Tilton
lately my wife, has been prompted away
from her home to reside among Mr.
Beechers friends, and 10 cooperate with
him in his ostensibly honest and laudsble
inquiry into facts concerning which she
too, as well as he, has for years past had
perfect and equal knowledge with him
sell. This investigation, therefore, has
been publicly pressed on me by Beecher
seconded BY Mrs. Tilton, both ofwhom ir
so doing have united In assuming belort
the public the non. existence of grave anC
solemn facts into which they have con
spired to investigate ior the purpose not o
eliciling but Of denying the truth. Thil
Joint assumption by them, which hal
seemed to your committee to be in goot
faith, has naturally led you into an ex.
animation In which you expect TO fnC
on their part nothing but innocence, snC
on my part nothing but slander. It Il
now my unhappy duty, from which
have In vain hitherto sought earnestly u
be delivered, TO give you the facts an(
evidence for reversing your opinion Of
this subject. In doing this painful, / ma!
say heartrendiDg duty, the responsibility
for making the grave disclosures which
am about 10 lay before you belongs no
TO mo but first to Mr.. Beecher, who ha
prompted you to this examination, and
next 10 Mrs. Tllton, who has joined hin
in conspiracy which cannot isil to b
full of peril and wretchedness to man.
hearts. call upon you to witness tina
In my first examination by the commit
lee, | begged and implored you not to in
ouire into the facts Of this cas-
but rather 10 seek to bury then
beyond all possible revelation. Happ
for oil concerned had this er
treaty been needed. II Is now too latC
the last opportunity for reconciliation an
settlement has passed. ThisinVeshgatio
J undertaken by you in ignorance Of Ih
dangers against which Mr.. Reeche
, should have warned you in advance wi
> shortly prove itself 10 your surprise
have been an act Of wanton and wicket
folly for which Rev. a. w. Beechel
its originator and public sponsor wi
hereafter find no space for repentenc(
though he seek It carefully and with tear
This desperate man must hold himse
only, and not me, accountable for hI
. Wretchedness, which these disclosures wi
!, carry to his own home and heart as the
have already brought 10 mine / add thS
: the original documents referred to In th
ensuing sworn statement are for the mo
!, mart in my possession, but that the apol
? ogy and few other papers are in Il
|, hands q Francis D. Moulton.
I'll TTI77 t.fl. IfaI Truly Yours, ~
!. rSjpued,1 THEo. TnToN.
TnToA's SWORN sTATEtRNT.
WHEREAS, The Rev. q, ". Beecht
i has inshgated the appointment Of . CON
mitlee, consisting Of six members OF b
Church and society, to inquire and repo
on the alleged aspersions on his charact'
by Theodore TiltoD; and whereas, MI
}. Elizabeth r. Tilton, formerly the vile
6 MIR. Tilton, has openly deserted her hon
d in order 10 cooperate with Beecher In
q conspiracy to overthrow the credibilltTar
8 good repute OF her late husband as nj
o and 0 citizen, therefore Theodore Tito
It being thus authorized and required by Il
d pubiished demand made on MIN by Re
81 d. W. Beecher, and being now and her
q alter released by the act Of Mrs. Tilt
from further responsibility Tor concea