The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-08-29

OF such letter, and demanded its author
Mr.. Bowen then derided the letter, and
gave him some account of the reasons
/ why he had reduced Tilton from the ed
itorship Of the Indspendentto the subor-
dinate position of contributor, saving
that Mr.. Tilton's religious and social
views were running the paper, and that
he was now considering whether he could
conscientiously retain him as editor of
the Brooklyn Union and chief contribu-
tor Of the Independent
They conversed for sometime Mr..
Bowen inviting Mr.. Beechers opinion,
which was freely given.
Mr.. Beecher said he did not see how
Mr.. Bowen could retain his relations
with Mr.. Tilton. Mr.. Beecher spoke
! strongly of the threatening letter and
the revelation he had Just had concern
Ing Tilton's domestic affairs. Mr. Bowen
read Tiltor's threatening letter and said
that if trouble came he would stand By
| Bcecher.
Bowen Tells TiIton.
1t seems that Mr.. Bowen communi-
Gated to Mr.. Tilton on the following day
the conversation he had with Beecher.
and his intention TO stand BY him.
Mr.. Bcecher, though he had no doubt
that Tilton would have lost his place,
saw that his influence was decisive, and
anticipated Tilton's overthrow.
1t now appears that on tho 29th Of
December, 1870, Mr.. Tilton, having
learned the advice Mr.. Beecher gave
Mr.. Bowen, and which was likely to
bring him face to face with the lOss Of
his place and position, extorted from his
wife, then lying i'll of miscarriage, doc
ument duplicating Mr.. Beecher; a docu-
ment evincing her love for her pastor,
and accusing him of having made an
improper solicitation. On the following
day he sent Moultou to Beecher
requesting an interview with Mr.. Beccher
at Mr.. Moulton'a house that evening.
Mr. Beecher accordingly met Tilton, at
Moulton's house. Tilton received him
with Il memorandum in bis hand and
proceeded to charge Mr.. Becchcr with
being unf'iendly to him, with seeking his
downfall. spreading injurious rumorS
about him, undermining him, an! ad-
vising Bowen to dismiss him, injuring
him in his family relations, joining his
(Tilton'sy mother-in-law in producing
discord in his house, advising Scpara-
ton, alternating his wife's affection from
him, with joining hor love more than
any living being, with COrrupting her
moral virtue, with teaching her
10 be insincere, lying and hypocritical
and ending by charging that he made
wicked proposals to her
Titon then produced written paper
purporting to be memorandum Of u
confession made in July previous to him
by his wife, of her love for Mr.. Beecher
and that he had made proposals to her of
an impure nature. Mr.. Tilton in the
22d subdivision Of his statement before
the committee, referring in time 10
December, 1870, states his grievances
and the cause of the complaint Of Mr.
Brccher touching Tiltons business rcIa-
tions with Mr.. Bowen with these words,
"That he. Mr.. Bcechcr, then participated
in conspiracy to degrade Theodore Til
ton before the public by the loss Of place
of business and rcputc.' 1t Is clear that
on the 29th day Of. December when the
,o-callcd
Memorandum Of Confession
wa, procured from Mrs. Tilton, the chief
melting cause Of that step Q" Tilton 5
part. was his belief that Mr.. Bccchrr had
caused him the loss of hi, place Of busi-
ncs, and reporter.
Mr.. Becchcr >avs thi, charge Of impure
proposals fell upon him like thunder
bolt. Could il bc possible that Mrs.
Tilton, whom h. had regarded aS the
type of so much moral goodness, should
have made such false and atrociUuS
statement? Tilton requested Bcccher to
report at his house where Elizabeth was
waiting for him. and learn from her lips
the truth Ufthc stories in :" far n they
concerned him. The interview was had
and resulted in Il written retraction of the
charges Of Mr.. Tilton, who seemed in
great distress. In II sort of postscript 10
the rptractOn she denied repeatedly
that Mr.. Beccher had ever
offered any improper solicitations 10 her,
that being the only charge made by Til
ton or referred to in the statement about
the confession in July.
On the next evening Moulton called at
Mr. Beccher's house and went up into his
room. He said that he and Tilton had
learned that Mrs. Tlton had given the
rctraction. He expostulsted, and SAID the
act was unfriendly and would not mend
matters and that Mr. Tilton had already
rccantcd the retraction; that TiIton had
already DESTROYED hi, wifes fret paper Of
confession. MOult0n claimed that Mr..
Beccher had acted unfairly; that all diff
trultics could be- settled without such pa
nors and that Mr.. B"echer ought 10 Civ"
M Moulton wa. under great apparent
,Irit.ncnt; he made no verbal threats
but displayed pistol, and laid it on IN"
bureau before which ne stood. Th" paper
was given to him, and after few mo-
m"nts he left.
It Is an amazing pity that al this
iuncture. Moulton was not
Handed Over 10 the Police.
Il would have saved much that follow
ed which i, deeply deplored. Mr..
R.cchers distress at the situation Wa
horndlcss. H says in tn" peril of being
even falsely accused, he blamed himself
for much that had occurred. He conld
no, tell how much of the impending
trouble could be attributed TO Mrs. Til
tons undue affection for him, which it
was hi, duty TO have represscd. My
earnest desire" he SAYS, ''to avoid public
accusation or the evils which must nee
,.sariIv flow from it, and which have now
resulted from it has been oncof the lead
ing motives that must explain my action
during these four wears in this matter.
While in morbid condition Of mind.
produced by these distressing dittcultie'
Moul,on again called on him. His man
ucr was kind and concilistory. He pro
frssed. however, to believe that Mr..
Brechrr had been -.rking Triton, down
fall; had lcagucd with Mr.. Bowen against
him. and bv his advice had come near
3..-,-r,.ir,, Tilion family. Mr. Beecher