New-York tribune., 1874-08-14
TIE LINE OF DErENcC.


APOLOGY WRITTEN FOR HIS INTERFERENCE IN
MIR. TmTON's BUSINESS AFFAIRS AND HIS ADvIs-
ING A SEPARATION.
At the outset Mr. Beecher reaffirms the explicit
and comprehensive denial to the charges brought
by Mr.. Tilton which was made his first letter TO
the public. Then after a preliminary review of
his relations to Mr.. TiitOn and Mr.
MoultOn, he proceeds with his state
ment in direct narrative. lIo describes bis first
acquaintance with Mr.. Tilton and his subsequent
connection with him on The Independent He gays
that their friendly relations continued until 1866,
when Mr.. Tilton assaulted him in The IudependeRt
political grounds, but their social intercourse was
not broken until 1870. He speaks Of his regard for
Mrs. Tilton and he family, and soemnly declares
that at no interview did anything occur between
her and himself which might not have taken place
with perfect propriety between brother and sister
or between a man Of honor and the wife OF his
dearest friend
His interference in Mr. Tilton's affairs related TO
domestic and business matters. After IIr Tltons
return from the West Mrs Tilton sent young girl
to Mr. Beecher with an urgent request that he would
call at Mrs. Morses. This yonng girl, who
has appeared before the Committee, gave a
shocking account of Mr. Tilton's cruelty
to his wife He called upon Mrs. Tilton at her
mothers, and received from her an account of her
home-life. which he describes as a "night-mare
dreamn He sent Mrs Beechcr to Mrs. TitOn, and
as result of their conferences. he advised sep
aration and settlement of support. lie did not
know at that time that he himself bad anything to
do with the domestic trouble of the family
At this time Mr.. Tilton was in the midst of his
business embarrassments. Mr.. Bowen had been
made to feel that The Independent had been seriously
injured by Mr. Tiltons peculiar religious and social
views He brought to Mr.. Beecher Mr. TIltons de-
mand in writing that lie should wi hdraw from
Plymouth Church and leave Brooklyn. After
reading il Mr.. Beechcr said. This man Is crazy
and "A long conversation followed, during which he
advised SIr Bowen not to maintain his business re-
lations with Mr.. rilton. Meanwhile Iir. Tilton had
eXtorted from his wife short statement in writing
and on the evening of Dec. 80, 1870
Mr. Moulton summoned him before Mr..
TitOn, vino produced a paper purportng
to be certified statement of confession
made i'm July Ii was confession of Mrs. Hilton ;
love for Mr. Beecher and Of the alleged fact that he
had made proposals to her of an improper nature.
Mr. Tilton closed the interview by asking him to go
to Mrs. Tilton and learn the truth from
her lips. Mr. Beecher then describes the
circumstances under which the rctracticn was
written and returned to Mr.. MOulton on the next
evening. Mr.. Moulton asserted that Mrs Iiton had
already recaned the retracton but that Mr. Iuton
had destroyed his wife's first letter. He claimed
that the controversy could be settled without these
papers and, opening his oyercOat took ont pistol.
NJ Beecher describes the mood in which the
apology was written, and his own deep depression.
1t was not a dictation. sentence after sentence.
They wee not his sentences; 1t was not a correct
report IF what he said He analyses the paper
very closely and explains what it was that he really
signed
The circumstances under which the trirartite
agreement was signed, Mg. Tilons relations to Mrs.
Woodruff, and his frequent outbreaks
are explained at great length. The
| letters which ne wrote to Mr. Moulton are
cited and explained. He introduces an important
letter written by Mr. Mpulton on june /, 1873, in
which occur thc words, You can stand If the whole
| case was published tomorrow
At the close of his statement Mr. BeecheracknoWl-
| edges that money has been obtained from MN IN
| considerab, sums 5000 in al - for Mi.
| TiltOn's pecuniary wants. Finally de
mand was made accompanied with threat that
| if 5000 more were not paid, Sir liltons charges
would be laid before the public. Thus he saw was
backmail in in its bodest form. He refused 10 pay
| a cent and challenged the fullest exposure.