Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1874-07-30

carry to his own home and hearth. as they
have already brought 10 mine
| will add that the original documents ,'c-
tcrrcd to III the attached sworn statement arc
in my possession. but that the apology and 4
few other papers are in the hands at Francis
Moult"n. Truly yours.
Signed THEODORE TILTO\.
rlIToN> ~wnI> ,TArEMrNT.
uhyo"~. The Rev. Henry Ward Brcchrl
has in>liga'ed the appointment ui II commit
tee. consisting ut six mt mhcrs of his church
N" society. t" inquire and report upon al
! !c-ctt a>p,r-onS u,,un h- character hv Thro-
dnrc Til'rn: and
Whcro'>. Mrs. T!.un. wit, II su,ior,
. Iiltu,i. has deserted h,: nome in u'ucr 10 CO.
oicra'" with Bcrclml IN il conspiracy to
"sc,lhro" he cr,,'ihIity and good rcpu!c Of
her !a;c husband II Il man and acitiIc:,. there
! fore. Theodore Til"n. being thus authorized
! hy the published demand mace upon him bv
II. w. 'rcchcr. and being NOW and hereafter
released hy the act Of Mrs Tilton from fur
thrr responsibility for conccalmrnt Of the
truth touching her relations with Iccchcr.
therefore rhrcdor, T,lton hereby sets forth.
under sn.,lrn oath thc trlnv ,i,r facts and
testimony:
St Tha; on ;lc .d If October. 1856. a,
Plymouth Church. Brooklyn. Il marriage be-
twccn Theodore Iilton and Elizabeth NJ.
Richards was performed by the Rev. Henry
Ward Bcechcl. which ma,r;aCc,hirtecn years
afterwards was di>honrrcd and violated hy
this clergyman through lie criminal >e'!,,c-
ton of this wife anu mother. u hereinafter
81. forth
.!i. That for /" period ot ahuul - Years.
extending beth before and after this marri-
a.r. IN n,iniat, friendship cNStc! between
} 4 ~. 4, e.:
ship wa> rcmcntrl 10 sU, i q degree that in
consequence thereof The Subsequent dl>hon-
crinr hy Rc.Chcr Of his friends wife. was 4
Grim" # unCommon riclt"iu'ncs> "nl per
ti,,y
:'i That about yta:- ago Eccchcy BEGAN.
and thereafter continued. 4 friendship with
Mrs Tiitrn. :ui vi nU>C native dCllcacN and
extreme religious >cns!hili,y he often express
vl t. her husband high admiration. visiting
her from ;llc to time eor years. Until the year
lS.u. when. tor reasons hereinafter stated.
he ceased such visits. curing which period.
~ many tr>cn~ and attentions. hc "o" the
;M,, ,i,'Ii;,,, low =! Mrs. Tiit"". wh.ro'.,
after long moral resistance by her .Hd after
repeated assaults hy him upon hey mind viii,
o,crma>tcring arguments. accomplished pos
session Ot her person. maintaining with her
thcnccto,warl during the period l,nattcr
stated. the relation called criminal inter-
course: this relation being regarded hy her as
II" criminal or morally wrong. such hat. been
the power OF his arguments is Il clergyman
t. satisfy her rclig gioUs sCrupics against >rc!
i violation of virtue and honor
lth. That one cvcn!ny-OCt. 10. 1868. or
thvrcabOu.S-NlrS Tl,On had an interview
with Hccchcr at his residence. she being then
in tender state Of mind owing to the rcccl,
death and burial Of i young child and during
this interview the act uf criminal intercourse
took place between this pastor and this par
i>hrncr: the motive on her part being. AZ
hC,cinhrtorc stated. not regarded Ivy her as
wrong: which act was followed hv Il similar
act Of crm;nali,y between these same parties
at 1it"ns residence. during pastora,c isit
paid hy Bccchcr 10 her on the subsequent
Saturday evening. followed. also. hy other
similar acts on various occasions. from the
autumn ct 1868 70 the spring ct 1870. the
places being the two residences aforesaid.
and occasionally other places to which her
pastor would invite and accompany her, "r
ut which he wol:l meet her hv appointment:
these acts of wrong being. on her part, from
the first to the last. not wantOn or conscious
~ wicked. but arising through the binding
of her moral perceptions occasioncd hy the
powerful influence cNertcd on her mind ut
that time To this end hy Bccchcr, us her trust
cd religious prcccntor AMI guide.
1,h. That the pastoral visits made by Beech
cr during The year 1868 became 80 frequent
as to excite comment. being in marked con-
,rast with his known habit Of making few
pastoral calls on his parishioncrs. which ire
Qucncy. in Mrs. 1iton's case is shown III the
letters written to her husband during his ah-
sencc in the west. these letters giving evidence
that during II period of five or six weeks
twelve ditfcrcn; pastoral calls on Mrs. lilton
were made by Bccchcr. which calls became
noticcably more infrcQuent on his return to
his home.
9th. That previous to the aforesaid criml'!-
al intimacy. one of the reasons which Mrs
Til,on alleged for her encouragement ot such
exceptional attentions from BceCher, was the
tact tha; She had been much distressed win
runners against his moral purity ara wished
tO convince him that She could receive his
kindness and yet resist his solicitations, anu !
that she could inspire in him. hy her pnrity
and fidelity. an increased respect !or Tue
chastr dignity of wOmanhood. Previous 10
the autumn Of 1868 she maintained, win
christian tirmncss. this position ut resistance.
always refusing his aniorois pleas. "h'ch
were strong and oft-repcated. \ letter !" her
husband, dated Feb. :Hl. 1868. she wrote AS
follows: "To love is praiscworthy: but to
abuse the gift is SIM There am strong. No
demonstrations or destinations could cause me
I" yield my wOmanhOOd. -,
9Th. The first suspicion which crossed Tue
mind of Tilton that Beecher was "o"s'nS OF
might abuse the affection and reverence which
Mrs. riltOn bore towards her pastor. WAS an
improper carcss given by Beccher to Mrs.
Tiltou while seated by her side on the h00r of |
his library. overlooking cngrsvngs. Mr.
Til,on. few hours Afterwards. asked h's
wife for an explanation as to her permission