Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-07-31
THE BEECHER TILTON SCANDAL,
ARREST OF THEODORE TILToN-STATE-
MENT OF Mr.. BEEcHER-STATE-
MENT OF MRS. TILTON,

MENT OF Mr.. Observation-Disclosures
MENT OF MRS. TILToN,
&C., &C., &c.
The latest phase of the Beecher-Tilton
case is the arrest of Mr.. Tilton, Tuesday
evening on a charge of libel against Beech
Ell. The charge was made by a Mr.. Gay
nor, of Boston. Ben Butler, it is said, is
to be counsel for Tilton. This gets the
matter into court, where the truth will
probably come out. Elizabeth Cady STAN
ton, s'woman's right'' woman, but not a
disreputable freelover, states that Mrs.
Tilton confessed her guilt to her. Below
we give the statements of the two principal
parties:
MIR. BEECHER's STATEMENT.
The following is the statement of Henry
Ward Beecher:
do not prepare at this time detailed
examination OF the remarkable statement
Of MI. Theodore Tilton. | recognize the
many reasons which make it Of transcen-
dent Importance to myself, the C,.ll On and
cause OF public morality that | shall give
full answer to the charges against me. But
having requested the committee of IN
vest'"'t . .1.i to search this matter to the
bottom it is to them that | must look for
my vindcation. But fcannot delay for an
hour to defend the Reputation of Mrs,
Elizabeth r. Tllton, upon whose name, i'll
connection with mine, her husbanfthas at
tempted to pour shame. One less desefy-
ing of such disgrace never knew. From
childhood she has been under my eye, and
| since reaching wOmanhood she has had my
| cir a6 nd off T al,
ish for her pure feeling such as a gentle
man might honorably offer to Christian
woman and which she might receive and
reciprocate without moral scruple. reject
with Indignation every imputati0n which
reflects upon her honor or my own.
My regard for Mrs. Tilton was perfectly
well known by my family. When serious
difficulties sprung up in her household it
was to my wife that she resorted for coun-
Gil, and both of us acting from sympathy,
and as it subsequently appeared without
full knowledge, gave unadvised counsel
which tended to harm. [ have no doubt
that Mr.. Hilton found that his wife's con-
| fidence and reliance upon my Judgment
had greatly increased, while his influence
had diminished in consequence Of a mark
ed change in his religious and social views
which were taking place during these
years. Her mind was greatly exercised
|
views which she deemed virtually false and
dangerous. [ was suddenly and rudely
aroused to the reality Of the impending
danger by the disclosure of domestic dis
tress, of sickness perhaps unto death, of
the likelihood Of separation and the scat
tering of a family, every member of which
L had tenderly loved.
THE EFFECT UPON ME
of the discovery of the state of Mr.. Til
toms feelings and the condition of the
family, surpassed in sorrow and excite
ment anything that had ever experienced
in my life. That my presence, iffinuence
and counsel brought to beloved family
sorrow and alienation, gave in my then
state Of mind Il poignancy to my suffering
which [ hope no other man may ever feel.
Even to be suspected of having offered uil-
der the privileges of peculiarly sacred re-
lation. An indecorum to wife and moth
er could not but deeply wound any one who
is sensitive to the honor OF WOmanhoOd.-
There were peculiar reasons for alarm in
this case on other grounds, inasmuch as |
was then subject to certain malignant ru-
morS, and a fragrant outbreak in this fami-
ly would bring upon them an added inju-
~ derived from these shameless false
hoods. Believing at the time that my
presence and counsels had tended, however
unconsciously, to produce a social catas
trophe represented as imminent, gave ex-
preston to my feelings in an. interview
with a mutual friend, not i'm cold and eau.
tious self-defending words, but eagerly
taking blame upon myself and pouring out
my heart to my friend in the strongest Ian.
guage, overburdennd with the eXaggera
tions OF imprisoned sorrow. Had | beer
the evil man Mr.. Tilton now represents,
should have been calmer and more pru
dent. It WAS my horror of the evil i'm
puted that filled me with morbid intensity
at the very shadow of it. Not only was
my friend affected generously, but he as
sured me that such expressions, if convey
ed to Mr.. Tilton, would soothe wounded
feeling, allay anger and heal tie whole
trouble. He took down sentences and
fragments Of what | lad been saying tC
use them as a mediator. A full statement
of the circumstances under which this
memorandum was made | shall give to the
investigating committee.
That
THESE APOLOGIES WERE MORE THAN
AMPLE
to meet the facts of the case is evident III
that they were accepted, that our inter.
course was resumed to friendliness, that
Mr.. Tilton subsequently ratified it in wri
ting, and that he has continued for four
Years, and until within two weeks, to live
with his wife
Is 1T conceivable. IL the original charge
had been What 1s now alleged, That ne
would have condoned the o1ence not only
with the mother OF ms cnllafen, put VIII
him whom he believed TO nave Wronged
them? The absurdlty as well as the falsi
ty OF the charge IS apparent When IL Is
considered that MI. Triton now alleges
that he carried this guilty, secret OF his
wife's infidellty for SIX months locked ul
in his own breast, ana tiiat tnen ne div u,
ed IL TO me oHIy, Cla' Il T TiismC nc
reconciliation with me Mr.. hilton has