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

January 10th, l8Il-4 This alleged letter,
the whole OF which appeared in Mr.. Til
tons subsequent statement before the
committee, has come to be known as the
letter of apology" When this cominit-
tee commenced its lsbors there was,
therefore, no allegation before them ex-
cept such vague illusions to an otfense of
some sort said TO have been committed by
Mr.. Beecher against Mr.. Tilton, and for
which according to the same authority,
he had apologized, - nRr
questions before the Committee.
II will be seen that the question before
the committee then was, what, if any,
ofense Mr.. Beecher had committed
against Mr.. Tilton. ~
Atan early period Of the investigation
Mr.. Tilton was called before the commit
tee and made an extended written state
ment, and in a sense specified the charges
which showed that the offense referred
to in the letter, was as TiltOn now allegcs,
adultery with his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth
K. Tilton. BY this statement so made
by Mr.. Tlton, the field of inquiry WAS
somewhat enlarged by the facts, letters,
and circumstances therein set forth.
1t is proper in this connection to state
that the otiense as alleged BY TiltOn
during some four years, and until re-
Gently to numerous persons in writing
and otherwise, was an improper sugges-
tion or solicitation BY Mr.. Bccchrr to
Mrs. Tilton; but as time passed and the
purposes matured this charge passed and
matured into another form and substance.
The offence committed by Mr.. Beecher
as now alleged by Mr.. Tilton. is stated
substantially in the third and fourth sub
divisions of his statement before the
committee The charge in effect is that
Mr.. Beecher, at his residence on Living
ston street, on October 10th, 1868, or
thereabouts, committed adultery with
Elizabeth K. TiltOn, wife of Theodore
Tilton; that this act was fol-
lowed By similar act of Grim
inalty between the same parties at
Mr.. TiltOns residence on the Subsequent
Saturday evening, followed 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 other places to
which her pastor would invite and ac-
company her or at which he would meet
her bv previous appointment, Thu re-
mainder of Mr.. Tilton's extended state
ment is made of citations Of alleged facts
and circumstances, which he seems to
consider relevant and important As evil
dencc sustaining his charges As above
stated.
Beecher and TiltOn as Friends.
The committee have given the eyid"uce
their most careful consideration and find
thcrcfrom that in 1861 Mr.. Bcccher be-
came editor and Nr. Tilton assist
ant editor of the I0d,pc"i'm and
that during this relation they
became warm and intinat" friends.
Or about 1868 Mr.. Tilton began to
urge Beechcr to visit his, Tilton house,
and as he became more acquainted with
Mr. Tiiton's family, h" urged HIM to do
much of his editorial writing IN In,
study as il was more convenient to write
there than ut the Office Ofthc independent.
Mr.. Bccchrr visited hi- house and II
friendly relation sprang up between the
wife and family Of Mr.. Tiltou and VI.
Becchcr which continued down to De-
ccmbcr in 1870; that the friendly rcla-
tions existing between Mr.. Br"chrT and
Mrs. Tilton were always well known and
un lcrstOOd and met with Mr.. TiItOn
cordial appreciation.
Some wears before any open trouble
appeared between Mr.. Becchcr and Nr.
Tiiton, his, Mr.. Tiltou's) doctrines a
set forth in the Mdcpc"de"t, Of which he
had become editor aroused 4 storm of
Indignation and opposition in the west
where this paper was widely circulated.
After much dissension this led to the
starting of the Adrance, II newspaper in
Chicago. to suppressed" the Md'p'"""tt.
Mr.. Tilton, while editor of the hdspen-
dent. leading religious newspaper had
come to deny tn" inspiration of the
Scriptures and the divinity # Christ.
His social views about this time also un-
derwent radical change IN tn" direction
Of free love. This mark
ed change in III" religion,
and social views ot Mr. Tilton, was II
source Of great grief and >orrow to Mrs.
Tilton. Mrs. Tilton seemed to be n very
religious woman, amounting almost to
enthusiasm, and when this change oC-
Cured in her husband. she naturally
sought her pastor for counsel and SYM
pathy. She set forth in strong terms
the suffering hor.hushandS course was
causing her. Il now appears that dur
ing these wears Mrs. Tilton hccam"
strongly attached to Mr.. BccGh"r. and in
july. 1870. confessed TO her husband an
overohaiowing affection for her pastor.
On or about the 10th Of Dec"mbcr,
1870. Mr.. Tilton separated from. her
has band, going with her chlrr"n to her
mothers house. She sent for Mr.. Beech
cr and on his visiting her, she made to
him statement of her suttcrngs and
abuse which sh" had received at the hands
of her husband. and which great ~ shock
ed Mr. Beccher lie asked and received
permission to send to Mrs. TIltun hi, wife,
whose Judgment in such matters h" con-
>dcrcd better than his own. Subsr-
lu'IlllN Ilt heItt'l, III d'IH iNl!lE WIN NJ
wife, that it was desirable that Mr.. Til
ton should separate from her husband.
Mr.. Tilton, however, subsequently, forced
his wife to return to his house by sending
for and obtaining possession OF her
Youngest child who wa, sick with III"
Group, during Mrs. Tilton'> temporary
absence from her mothers house. She
suffered miscarriage the next day after
her return. on the 24th, which resulted
in a serious illness continuing until after
the l,t of january. her physician hcin=
in attendance on her from the:ki Z" tn"
Goth of December inclusive.
Early in December Of this year owing
10 a marked change in Mr.. Tilt"ns rr-
ligious and social views hr. Bowen felt
constrained TO give him notice that hi
services As editor Of the Independent
would terminate at th" day named in the
notice. subsequently to this uc,iCr, snd
on or about the 2Oth day "f December.
Mr.. Bowen hsd entered into 4 contract