The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-07-28
The Tilton-Beecher scandal

tOioft tuu WAS Ill w lnUSor county ms
year.
The Tilton-Beecher scandal
This unfortunate affair has now so laI
came before the public, first by inuendoes
Of which we took no notice. later by ter.
Idle and direct indictment, that the pub.
lie demand and -hould have the whole
facts in the case The definite charges
were made by Mr.. 1'ilton before the in.
vestigating committee Of Mr. Beecher's
church, and were first published in the
Brooklyn Argus, within a few hours of
their recital before the Committee.
In his statement Mr. Tilton distinctly
AYERS that Mr.. Beecher, in 1868, was
guilty of a criminal seduction of his wife,
and that from that time up to 1870 he
was guilty of repeated and frequent acts
of criminal intercourse with her. He
claims that these acts of wrong doing, on
her part, from first to last. were not
wanton or consciously wicked, but arose
through binding of her moral percep
tons occasioncd by the powerful influence
exerted over her mind at that time, to
this end, by Rev. II. W. Beecher, as her
trusted religious pastor and guide
Mr.. Tilton's first suspicious were
aroused by observing an improper caress
given by Mr.. Beecher to Mrs Tilton,
and subsequently they were confirmed by
returning to his home unexpectedly, and
going to his bed chamber when be found
the door locked, and when on knocking,
the door was opened by Mrs, Tiltou
Mr.. Beecher was seen within, apparently
much confused and exhibiting flushed
face. Mrs. Titon afterwards made a
plausible explanation, which, from the
confidence reposed in her by her husband,
was by him deemed satisfactory.
At last in 1870, Mrs. Tilton ucknowl.
edged to her husband the criminal intima.
cy which had existed between herself and
MIR. Beecher, accompanied with citations
from MIR. Beecher's arguments and rea.
soning with her to overcome her long
maintained scruples against yielding to
his desires, and declaring she had com.
mitted no wrong to her husband or her
marriage VOWS, quoting IN support of this
opinion that her pastor had repeatedly
assured her that she was spotlcss and
chaste, which she believed herself to be.
She farther stated that her sexual com.
mcrcc with him had never proceeded from
low or vulgar thoughts, either on her or
on his part, but always from pure afiec.
ton and high religious love.
Mr.. Tilton, believing that his wife had
not voluntarily gone astray, condoned
the wrong, and addressed to his wife such
letters Of affection, tenderness aud respect
as be felt would restore her wounded
spirit, and which partially produced that
result.
Finally, came the rupture, aud Mr..
Beecher was exposed. He then express.
ed the utmost contrition, and at bis earn
est solicitation, Mrs. Til,on gave him
letter declaring that no improper inter-
course had ever taken place between
them. This she gave him to defend him
in an investigation by ministers. but not
against her husband She gave letter
to her husband at the same time giving
the reasons why she wrote such letter
to Mr.. Bcecher Both arc published.
Mr. Bcecher subsequently expressed to
MIR. Moulton, mutual friend, contrition
and remorse for his previous criminality
with Mrs. Tilton, taking to himself shame
for having misused his sacred office as
clergyman to corrupt her mind, and ex.
pressing determination to kill himself
in case of exposure. and begging Mr..
Moulton to take a pen and record from
his, Mr.. Beecher's, lips an apology to be
conveyed to Mr.. Tilton, in the hope that
such on appeal would secure Mr.. Titons
forgiveness.
Tilton's statement is most ingenuously
worded, and is apparently verified by ex.
tracts Of various letters from Mr.. Beech.
err. Mrs. TiltoD. and others. After its
publication Mr.. Beecher prepared a state.
ment for the public, denying the charges
in whole and every part, explaining some
OF the letters and denying the authorship
Of others, and intimating that all the
circumstances would be given before the
Committee and afterwards to the public.
Mrs, Tilton also made statement, deny.
ing any improper intimacy between Mr..
Beecher and herself aud explaining the
circumstances Of writing and the meaning
of letters cited.
So Is tho matter now stands charges
have been made and denied, Mr.. Tilton's
statement stands against the statements
of Mr.. Beecher and Mrs. Titon. If no
further proofs were to be offered the pub.
lie would have no hesitation in Diminishing
the case as the idle dreams of Jealous
and vicious maniac. What may come is
not known. If there are proofs of Mr..
Beechers hypocritical vllainy maintained
through series of years, let them come
out, though it destroys the fame and the
the splendid labors of the greatest preach.
er Of the age. Even at the worst we
have still the assurance left that God is
the "same, yesterday, to-day aud iorey.
ever" aud will not fail to accomplish his
will and work in the world.