Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-22
Tho Rcecher-TiIton Scandal

received new chapter, written ny Theodore
TiIton, one OF its leading editors and clergynen.
The pruricnt may gloat over its details, but
good rcu and good women, everywhere, Will
shudder and recall the Master 5 terrible dcnun-
cia,joo of the Pharasees like unto whlted
serulchres which, Indeed appear beautiful out
ward: but are within full of dead mens bones
and all upceanness The relations of Mr.
IIlton and Henry Ward Beecher have long
been subject Of public comment, and from
time TO time it has been intimated that one
had yroDgcd the other but whether Hilton or
Beecher was the wrong door has remained 10
doubt until the very recent publication by Ill
ton of an apology (eviIently for serious Of
| frnce) and dated two years ago OF Mr. beecher
to Mr.. Tiltoa. 4 sworn statement submitted
Yesterday by Mr.. Tlton to the Investigation
committee of Plymouth Church, gives the FOL
loving as the facts of the case !:
First That on the ID of October lo93 at
Plymouth Church, Brooklyn: marriage De
tw,en Theodore Tilton and Elizabeth ID. Eich-
ards was performed By the Rev. Henry Ward
! Becrher which MAJ riage, thirteen years alter
ward. was d!shonured and violated by :hls cier-
gyman through the criminal SEDUCTION oil TINS
Wife mother, as hereinafter set tofth.
| Sec md That Tor II period OF ABOUT niieea
wears, extending both before and after this mar
ring., An intimate friendship existed between
| Theodore hilton and the Kew. Henry ward
| Be, cher, which friendship was cemented to such
a degree that in consequence there u the suoSe-
u,lcnt dishoaor,ng by hr Beecner OF his 1riGnd
/ ui,r was crime of unrCmm2n Wrohg1uness
and pcrfdy.
Third. That about nine years ago the Rev.
Henry Ward Bcecher began, and thereafter con
tjrucd, n friendship with Mrs. Eliz.betl: 4.
Tilton, for whose natural cacy aid extreme
rci 10 IS sensbity no often expressed to her
husband u hlgh admiration, visiting her from
time to time Tor years ui.til the year 1870, When,
for reasons hereinafter stated, he ceased such
visits, during which period, by many tokens
ard attentions, he won the affection ana
love Of Mrs. Tlitoii, whereby, alter long mora
resistance by her, and alter repeated assaults by
him upon Der mind with uvermasterlng hTgu-
rnentS accomplished the possession OF her per
son, maintaining with her thencetorward during
the . rud hereinafter stated The relation called
criminal intercourse, this relation being regard
ed by her during that period as not criminal or
| morally wrong; such had been the power OF lis
| arguments rs u clergyman to satisfy her reli-
gious scrupes against such violation OF virtue
and honor 80
1868, or Whereabouts, Mrs Elizabeth K. Tilton
held Nh interview with the Kew. Henry Ward
Beerher at his residence, she beng then IN Il
| tender state O mid owing to the death and re-
| ent burial of u young child and during this IN
tevview IN act - criminal commerce took place
between this pastor ana this psrishoner themotive
on ncr part being, rs herclnDeture Stated, not
regarded by her At the time criminal or wrong /;
which act was followed by similar act OF Grim
inulfty between these same parties at Mr.. III
toms residence during pastoral visit paid by
Mr. Beccher to her on the subsequent SatL rday
evening, followed also by other similar scls on
various occasions from the autumn Of 1858 to
the spring OF lo7O the places being the two resi-
dences aforesaid, and occasionally other aces
| To which her pastor would invite and accompany
her or Mt which he would NEE. her by previous
appointment these acts of wrong being on her
Tart, from fir to last not wanton or consciously
| wicked but arising through d binding OF her
moral perceptions, occasioned by the powerful
Influence exerted on he: mind 1t that tina to
this end by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher a.
her trusted religious p"eceptor and guide:
Fifth That the pastora: Wits made by the
Rev. Henry Ward Beechcr to Mrs. Tilton dur
ing the year 1868 became so frequent rs to excite
comment, being IN marked contrast with ms
known habit of making few pastoral Calls on MS
purshione-s which frequency in Mrs TlIton' 8
case is sh wn in lettrrs written to her husband
during his absence IN the West. These letters
give evidence that during the period OF i've or
six weeks twelve different pastoral calls on Mrs.
1ilton were made by the Rev. Henry Ward
|
qucnl on Mr.. Iilton's return to his home.
| Sixth. That previous to the aforesaid criminal
intimacy ore of the reasons which Mrs. Hilton
alleged Tor her encouragement OF such eXcep-
tional attentions from the Rev. Henry Ward
Bnechcr was the fact that she had been much
distressed with runors against his moral purity,
and wished to convince him that she could re-
ccve his kindness and yet resist his solicitations.
and that she could inspire in him by her purity
and fidelity an increased respect for the chaste
dignity Of womal hood. Previous 10 the autumn
OF 1865 she maintained with Christian frnlness
| toward her pastor this position OF resistance al
ways refusing his amorous pleasure which were
strong and OFT repeated, and In lettor to her
husband, dated February 8, 1868, she wrote as
| follows:
ITO love is praiseworthy, bu; to abuse the gift
| is sim Here all strong. No demonstrate ps or
destinations could cause me to yield my woman
| hood"
seventh That the first suspicion which cross
ed The mind OF Theodore Tilton that tie Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher was abusing or might
abuse the affection and rcvercLce which Mrs
1ton bore toward her pas.or was an improper
caress given by Mr.. Beecher to Mrs Triton
while seated by her side on the floor of his Ii
brsry overlooking engravings. Mr.. Tilton, d
! few hours aiterward, asked OF his vile an expla-
nation OF her permission Of such liberty
whcreat she at first deIied the fact, but then
comics. Led it, and said that she had spoken child
ingly to Mr.. Beecher concerning it. On another
occasion Mr.. Tilton, after leaving his house in
the early morning, returned to 1t in the fore
noon, and on going to his bed chamber found
the door locked. and WI en- on knocking the
door WAS opened by Mrs. Tillon, Mr. Beecher
was seen within apparently much confused, and
| exhibiting q flushed face. Mrs. Tlton after
ward made plausible cxplaneti ton, which from
the confidence reposed in her by her husband
WAS by him de med satisfactory.
Eighth That in the spring eff 1870, on Mr..
! Tiltons return from winters absence, he no
ticed in lis wife such evidences OF the absorption
of her mind in Mr. BeechGr that in short time
an arrangement took place between her hus-
band and herself in consequence of which she
went into the country earlier than usual for q
summer sojourn. After an absence of several
weeks she voluntarily returned to her home in
Brooklyn on the evening of July 8. IS and
| then and there, within few hours after her
rival, and after exacting from her husband .
solemn promise that he would do the Rev. Hen
| ry Ward Beecher no harm or communicate to
HIM what she WAS about to say, she made cir
| cunlstantial conf ssion to her husband of the
criminal faith hereinbetore stated. accompanied