The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-23

ever constituted. Except a court OF law9
but on the contrary I have dlvulged the
above statement solely BECAUSE of the openly
published demand forit made directly to me
by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecber, aided and
abetted by Mrs. Elizabeth Z. Tlton.
These two parties, these alone, and not
your committee, baye by their action pre-
vailed with me. No other authorities or in:
huence except court of law could have
had power enough to have extorted from me
the above disclosures. For the sake OF one
of these parties gladly would have con-
tiDued to hide these facts in the future as
have necessarily striyen to do in the past !;
but by the joint action Of Mr. Beecher and
Mrs. TiltOnI can withhold the truth only at
the price Of perpetual infamy to my name,
in addition TO the penalty which I;already
suffer in the destruction of home oncesaS
pleasant as any in which you yourselves
dwell. Respectfully, n,
THEODORE TILToN.
What Mrs. Tilton Said to the Committee.
From the Brooklyn Eage.I
1t may be interesting for. the public to
know, in q general way, how Mrs. Tilton
appeared, and what she said when she gave
her testimony. Itshould be understood be-
foreband that two of her intimate personal
friends were with her on the occasion, and
that we violate no faith in reproducing this
matter, as neither Mrs. Tilton nor her friends
make any secret of what she said or did. !
As soon as Mrs. Titon came into the room
in which the committeerWere sitting, with
out waiting to be asked anything, she at once
began her story.
She said that she'expsrienced asense of re-
lief to find herself before an authorized tri-
bunal to which she could safely speak the
truth, and the whole truth. She had, she
said, too long forgotten herself in this trou-
BILE that she had all along believed that no
one who knew her personally would believe
wrong of her, and she had therefore trusted
herself to her reputation, and had in every
thing exerted herself to save Theodore, if
possible.
A FAITHFUL WIFE.
She affirmed solemnly that her husband
.alnne possessed her heart, her affections, and
she should then and always do all she could
to bring him back to the path of right. When
Theodore first brought home and showed to
her copy of the Golden Age containing the
reply to Bowen's letter, she told him on the
spot that she could not stand by the state
ment made therein; that the limitations That
there had been anything wrong between her.
self and Mr.. Beecher were not true.
Mrs. Titon further said that she reyered
and respected MIR. Beecher, as they all knew.
She was then asked directly by the commit
tee whether anything improper ever oc.
Cured between her and Mr.. Beecher of any
sort, kind, or description, in the nature OF
criminal intercourse, or any suggestion OF
any such thing, and she answered with great
firmness, "never." She said that the whole
trouble, so far as she was concerned, arose
from the perversion of a conversation which
she undertook to repeat to Theodore as hay
ing occurred between Mr.. Beecher and her
self. "
Further on this head no details were given
or asked for, and it is understood that should
it be necessary Mrs. Tilton will again go be-
fore the committee and give further partlcu-
lars in this connection.
FORGIVENESS.
Mrs, Tilton, in the course of her testi-
mony, made use of frequent expressions OF
her family and her husband. she, among
other things, uttered The significant remark,
II know Theodore has bis faults, but DO
not think he will retain them when he gets
through with this difficulty" seeming 10 in.
dictate the belief that her husband would
come out of the furnace of affection tried
and purified. She appeared to still cling TO
him in confidence and hope. 1t was eVl.
dent to those who saw her manner and heard
her language when before the committee
that she then had no idea Of leaving Triton.
She told the committee that she should go
right home and tell Theodore precisely what
she bad said and done, and the committee
advised her to do so by all means. 1t Is per-
fecty well known now that she did 80. she
found him reading in bed. She told him
what had hsppeIed, and he arose, dressed
himself, and said With q dramatic air, 3Now
I leave you forever"
FIcELINEss.
he left the house, was absent thirty-sIx
hours, and returned again TO make up win
her and to express his confidence in her.
Mrs. TiGon was 80, delighted over this that
she wHete letter to her friends telling them
that Theodore was. in better frame OF mind,
and shat she has passed the happiest day
with him she bad seen for years. Soon after
this he had another attack Of iii.humor, anC
thsa for the irst time she told him that she
could not live with him If he pursued the
course he threatened with regard to attack.
Ing Beechss. sit is wroDg, said she, IN
I truthful, and will not live With you unless
you stop it." Mrs. TiIton did not 90 before
| the committee until she had taken the advice
Of her friends, including her stepfather
judge Morse.
TIE manner OF Mrs. Tilson when before
the committee was exceedingly impressive
end the scene was one for painter. Sns
gave the committee the impression, OF q deep
{ " spiritual woman, and almost, II MOI quiIe
d religious enthusiast.
Tilton,s Statement Criticised.
NEW YORK, July, 21.-It appears that To,
statement or Triton, as published today, 7
not complete. As long; ago as February
1s8s. and before that date, Tilton says o.
knew MIR. Beecher was endeavorins 10 cor
rnnt his wife. Mrs. Tiiton told 1er nus
hand vet he allowed it to go on. On Sni!!
j 80, 1870, Mrs. Triton confessed adultery, an
her her husband said nothing until Decemo !,
I95,h. She continued to attend Beecher
4 church. On that date Tilton himself w.
called upon to meet Bowen TO clear Nun sc
1 OF immoral charges. For six months ne kel
!, the secret, and then spoke 70 Bowen OF Il
!. immoral propositio
Il He and Bowen then turned or Beeehe
and Bacon carried o letter to BE echer askir
!. him 10 resign the pastcrate. aone days I
!. forwards Tilton sent thror lgh Aonlton
I make & complaint to Mr, feehers