Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-07-24

SPECIFIC CHARGES AGAINST BEECH
ER-HIs LETTERS AND Mrs. TILToN's
ItETTERs-PoRTRAITs OF THE CHIEF
ACTORS.
&C., &C., &c.
The great Beecher-Tilton scandal has
at last come to crisis by the publication
of the statement of Theodore Tilton,
made before the Committee of Plymouth
Church, and sworn to by Tilton before
Notary Public. The New York papers
are filled with it, occupying many columns,
many portions of it being unfit for publ
cation. We give such portions as may be
printed, and are necessary to the history
of the most terrible scandal that has ever
cropped to the surface in this country
Tilton commences by stating that he Was
married in 1855, at Plymouth Church, to
Elizabeth R. Richards, Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, his friend, officiating. About
nine years afterwards Beecher commenced
and continued friendship with Mrs.
Tilton. The following is the condensation
Of the matter stated by Tilton:
THE SPECIFIC CHARGE.
That on the evening of October 10, 1868,
or Whereabouts, Mrs. Elizabeth r. Tilton
held an interview with the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher, at his residence, she being
then in tender state of mind, owing to
the recent death and burial of young
child. and during this interview an act OF
criminal commerce took place between the
pastor and this parishoner, the motive Oh
| her part being. as hereinbefore stated, not
regarded by her at the time criminal OF
| wrong, which act was followed by SINH
| lar act of criminality between these same
parties at MI. Tilton's residence during a
| pastoral visit paid by MI: Beecher to nel
| on the subsequent Saturday evening, FOL
| lowed also by other similar acts on various
| occasions, from the autumn OF 1868 to the
| spring of 1870, the places being the two
| residences aforesaid, and occasionally 9th
! or places to which her pastor would invite
| and accompany her, OF at which he would
| meet her by previous appointment thu
| acts Of wrong being on her part from hrs
| to last not wanton OF consciously wicked
| but arising through a binding OF her NOR
| al perceptions, occasioned by the powerful
| influence eXerted ON her mind at that tlm'
| to this end by the Rev. Henry Ware
| Beecher as her trusted religious precepto
and guide.
1 IllE OOoAINlo4Ns
That the first suspicion which crossed
| the mind Of Theodore Tilton that TIL
| Rev Henry Ward Beecher was abusing, o
which Mrs. Tilton bore towards her paste
| was an improper caress given by MI
| Beecher to Mrs. TiltOn while seated by he
side on the floor Of his library, overlooking
engravings. Mr.. Tilton few hours after
wards asked of his wife an explanation 0
her permission of such liberty, wherea
she at first denied the fact, but then con
fessed it, and said that she had spoken child
ingly to MI. Beecher concerning it.
On another occasion MI. TiltoD, afte
leaving his house in the early morning, re
turned to it In the forenoon, and on goln
to his bed chamber found the door locked
and when on knocking the door was open
ed by Mrs. Tilton, Mr.. Beecher was see
within, apparently much confused, and eN
hibiting flushed face Mrs. Tilton after
wards made plausible explanation, whic
from the confidence reposed in her 10y he
husband, was by him deemed satisfactory
THE CONFESSION.
That in the spring of 1870, on Mr.. II
toms return from winters absence, d
noticed in his wife such evidences OF tn
ABSORPTION of her mind in Mr.. Beeche
that in short time an eStrangement too
place between her husband and herself, i
consequence of which she went into tn
country earlier than usual for summe
sojourn. After an absence OF several week
she voluntarily returned to her home
Brooklyn on the evening of July 3, 1871
and then and there, within flew hours Al
ter her arrival, and after eXactlng frol
her husband solemn promise thai h
would do the Rev. Henry Ward Beeche
no harm, nor communicate to him wha
she was about to say. she made II Clrcuu
stantial confession to her husband Of I'll
criminal facts herenbefore stated, accom-
panied with citations from Mr.. Beecher
arguments and reasonings with her to owe
come her long maintained scruple agalnS
yielding to his desires, and declaring thu
she had committed no wrong to her hu'
band of her marriage vow, quoting in SUI
, port of this opinion that her pastor had It
, peatedly assured her that she was spotles
, and ehaste, which she believed herself
be-.
She further stated that her sexual com
merce with him had never proceeded frOl
low Oh vulgar thoughts either on her pal
or his, but always from pure affection an
a high religious love. She stated further
more that Mr.. Beecher habtually chara(
terized their intimacy by the term ''nes
hiding" and he would suffer pain and sol
| low IL ll1S lluuCll ocClCO NDlC CSIl iloAt
known. She said that her mind wa
often burdened by the deceit necessary TO
her to practice in order to prevent discove
ry, and that her conscience had man
times impelled her to throw off this buTde
of enforced falsehood by making a flu
confession to her husband, so that sh
would no longer be living before him a pei
petual lie. In particular, she said that sh
had been on the point of making this con
fession few months previously during
severe illness, when she feared she nigh
die. She affirmed also that Mr.. Beeche
had assured her repeatedly that he love
her better than he had ever loved any othe
woman, and she felt justified before Go
In her intimacy with him, save the neces
sary deceit which accompanied it, and a
which she frequently suffered in her mind
That after the above-named confession
by Mrs. Elizabeth r. 1ilton, she had re
turned to the country to await such aetio
by her husband as he migltsee tit to make
Whereupon, after many considerations, tn
chief Of which was that she had not vo
unfairly gone astray, but had been artful
ly miSled through religious reverence TO
the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher as he
spiritual guide, together also from adeSir
to protect the family from open shame. MI
Tilton condoned the wrong, and he ad
dressed to his wife such letters Of affec
ton, tenderness and respect as he fel
would restore her wounded spirit, an
which did partially produce that result.
MRS. TILTON's FIRST WRITTEN AC-
ENCOURAGEMENT.
''DecenoJer 80, 1870, midnight.-My Dea
Husband: [ desire to leave with you be
fore going to bed statement that MI
Henry Ward Reecher called upon me thi
evening and asked me if [ would defen'
him against any accusation in q council 0
ministers, and l replied solemnly that