New-York tribune., 1874-09-19
VIII.
THE ORIGINAL CHARGE MADE IN 1870
VIII.

About One-balf of the Committees verdict is
based on another equally remarkable falsehood, winch
shall 80 completely expose that believe the authOrs
of 1t will receive the ridicule OF community Whom
they have attempted to deceive. The ehief argument
by the Committee is that my real charge against MI
Beecher was simply Improper proposals." not "adu-
tery" that they never heard OF charging him with
adultery until trumped up this latter accusation as
mart of conspiracy which Mr. Moulton and were pros
ecupg against Mr. Beecher with slow patience and for
greed Of gain without this argument which comprises
onehaf the Committees report, they would never nave
been able TO make q report at all But shall rip TINS
argument 80 completely out Of the report that that doc
ument will at stroke be torn In twain and the ha
which is devoted to this fabrication will be cast aside as
waste paper.
First TO do no Injustice the Committee let me give
them the chance of stating argument their own
words as follows:
We believe [say they'll and propose to show, from the
evidence, that the original charge was Improper au
yances and that IS time passed aud the conspiracy
deepeDed enlarged into adultery the inpSrtanee
changed then both Tton and Mouon are consplrators
and convicted OF vile fraud when necessarily enas
their influence in this CONTROVERSY. What Is tue PROOF
Itbey addl that the charge IN the nrst instance was
adulteryi
Icannot understand, except on one ground, how MT
Beechers lawyers lsnce they are attendants al MS
church and acquainted with It's proceedlngs' snouu
have had the bolduess TO assume such postion ~ o
above, since they must have known that coud dls-
prove their faacous statement by the official records
Of Plymouth Church itself The one ground ON which
presume they based their daring assertion was their
supposition that l possessed official copy OF the
papers In a certain famous proceeding In Plymouth
Church, which Mr.. Beeeher, with rare hypocrisy oe
scrlbes his attempt to keep me from puDc 'a W
the church." Perhaps Mr.. Beecher ana MS Commntee
thought that in this too, the papers had Oeeh
burned But shall not allow him to escape " SO as
by fire."
Let me explain: A few weeks after Mrs Tlton's
in July 1870 and several months before MI
Beecher's ayology L communicated the fact OF their
criminal intimacy to grave and discreet friend Oh our
family Mrs Martha b. Bradshaw OF BrooKlyn' one VI
the best known and most honored members OF
Church The same information was subsequently gwen
TO Mrs Bradshaw by Mrs. Tlton herself on the oasis
OF this Information In the possession Oh MIS-
Mr. william f. West, o member OF Plymouth Chureh
relying on Mrs. Bradshaw TO be Witness indc'ed e
before the church for circulating scandaous reports
against the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher Mr.. Vests
charges and speclfcations although matter Oh hoso
riety ct the time, have never YET peeh puDnsn'u'
herewith commit TO print for the porpose Oh
ing that the verdict Of Mr Beeohers CousVco s'au'
dsproved In ts chief and central allegation oy 'he
ocal records OF Plymouth Church ITSELF Mr. Beeohers
six committeeman. like Mr. Beecaer himself nave "'d
memories" Lot me not attempt 10 portray tho north
aat,o OF this Comm,tee and their attorneys az readng
the following correct copy Of Official papers adopted oy
plymouth Church Of which the originals are In my pos
session o,,
BROOKLYN. Oct. II, 1873.
n runoxo,, ~, ror Dear SIR: At meeting OF tue
rsamininS Commiftee Of Plymouth Chnrch, held TINS
eveons the clerk the Committee was 20
for ward 10 YOU copy OF the complaint anu speenoa
Hons made sgsost you by Mr William West and was
requested TO notify ysu that any answer 70 ne @
that you misht dsre ~ Offer 70 the committee may W
sant Ia the cisrk on or before Thursday October 2S 1919
Inolosod hand You copy Of the chafges anu Sp'o'A
Aons ons po...ou W. D. w. TALLMADGR. Clerk.
Copy Of Ie charges erd speeeat'ons made oy n..Sm @
r. Eest a0alnSf theodore rIton: charge lheoao,e III
ton q ucmbor OF this church. with having creuisSou s
and promoted scandals derogatory 70 tno in
tag4s Of our pastor snd injurious 10 the reputation o
this church. - ~,
v.< Tn -, ,n,.,xtsv between Theodore Tilton and
the Rev T. l. l. Taylor. D. D.. at the once oi ine 5roox
Iy,. Unio the Spring OF ls7 the saiu m ~
.ya,ed that the Rev Henry Ward beecher preached 10
s.arn ~ van or et Of his msSreeaes every sunday