Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-09-03

OF the friends 81 Mr. Rrecher. he had wI,hh.,
lis publication Was not in the interest ~ ny
party. but solely for his own protection a en;hei
pubiic accusations which Affected hin ~ nas
sohaiiy He was profoundly grieved AZ ~
tion- but his grief aIleviated by he II
the disclosure could scarcely work usrs. .r aal
Mr. Beecher II the present time than IL ~ani 20
have caused him in January, 1871. when nm, ZIG =.
his interference the peblic would m s-r ,s sf
have bee put In possession of the Is hal. -r,,s'
The stat ement TO the committee here fo,Ious.4'
Mr. y ouiton. after recounsing the fact Of hi.
and his admiration of their genias saw. ~, -,
10 the date of Titons valediet0rv a. ef,fta- ~ ~
Iaaep.Hde'st ne had been frequently visitor =,
Tilfon's house. and had seen himself ana ", a.
Ttlton under all phases Of social intercoar.a IN,
had never heard or known Of the slightest Al.
gree ment or nEkindness existing between them
and believed their marital relations we're aJraaa,,
exceptionally pleasant
ON the 18th OF December Mr.. Triton. retn-n;n,.
from an interview with Mr. Bowen, told aim tbsfs
Bowen had made certain accusation. agxiaa.
Beecher. and had challenged Tilton 20 write an
open letter demanding that he should cease hia
ministry Ut Plymouth Church. which Bowen was
TO deliver. He told Bowen that he believed bis
accusations against Beecher because he bsd
made improper advances To Mr. Tilton He AZ
terward learned from Mr.. Beecher THAT Bowen
had delivered TO him the open letter referred 10
In day or two after Mr.. Tilton Informed him
that when he told Bowen that he wa- so;ne ~
call on Beecher he came up to the Office in great
10
Beecher what he (Bowen) bad told him concern.
ing his (Beechers} adultery he would dismiss him
from the independent and the UaioA Tilton
told him he had never been Influenced by threats
and he would not Be in the present csse. and
subsequently received Bowen's letter of dis
missaf.
On the evening Of the 3Oth Of December Tilton
came 10 him and said that by his wife's reauesr
he had determined To see Beecher, in order "a
show Beeeher the confession of his wife Of inter
course between rhem- which he Triton had never
up to that time mentioned to Beecher and the
fact of the confession of which his wife had told
him that she had never told Beecher: thar her
confession had been made in the July previous
in writing, which writing he clifton had after
ward destroyed. but his wife, fearing thar If
Bowen's accusations against Beecher were made
public the whole matter would be known and
her own conduct with Beecher become exposed
had renewed her confession In her own hand
writing, which Tiiton handed to him {MoGl
tom 10 read. Tilton wanted him TO 90 down
aud ask Beecher 10 come up and see him
said to Beecher: ~ Mr.. Tiltou wants you 10 come
and see him at NV house Immediately He
asked what for. Moulton replied. : He wants
10 make some statement to You Ia reference to
your relations with his family He then called
10 some one in the back room TO 90 down and saw
that he should not be at prayer meeting, and
MoGlron and Beeeher went out together. II was
storming at the time when he remarked: There
il an appropriateness in this storm, and asked
Moulton. What can do, Whist do." He
said: Mr.. Beecher am not Christian bat
II you wish will show you how Well heather
can serve you" They then went to MoHltons
house and he showed him into chamber over
the parior where Mr.. Tilton was. and left them
together In about an hour Mr.. Beecher came
down and asked him if he had seen the confession
of Elizabeth He said he had. Said Beecher:
This will kill me. and asked MoaIton 20 60
walk with him. They walked TO Mr.. Tilrons
house together. On the way he said: This is
terrible catastrophe. II comes upon ME as IL
struck by lightning"
Beecner went into Tilton's house, and Noulton
departed for his own house. Within an hour
Beeeher returned. and shortly after left for his
home, Moulton accompanying him. When they
arrived at Beecher's house he wanted Moultou to
stand by him in his emergency. and procure
| reconciliation, II possible. He told him he
would, because the interests OF women, children
and families were involved, il for no other reason.
That ended the interview that nj ght. During this
evening nothing said by Beecher rs to the
truth or falsity of Mrs. Tilton's confession. nor
did he inform him that he had obtained from her
any recantation Of the confession. Moulton re-
turned to his house and had some conversation
with Tilton, In which he told him that he had re-
cited to Beecher the details OF the confession of
his wife's adulteries, and the remark which
Beecher made was: - This Is all dream. Theo-
dore.' and that was all the answer Beecher made
10 him. Moulton then advised Tilton that for the
sake of his wife and family. and for the sake of
Beechers family, the matter should be kept
quiet and hushed up.
The next morning TiIton came to his house
and informed him, with great anger, that Beecher
had done a mean act: that he had gone from the
interview of the night before To his house and
procured rom elizabeth fecdutaticn ana
traction of her confession. He said for that act
he would "smite him. :" that there could be no
peace. He said: You see that what / have told
you of the meannes- of thar man is evil
dent Tilton said that Beeeher, at the inter
view OF last night had asked his permission to
go aud Elizabeth, and he told him he
might CO. which statement confirmed
by Reeeher himself. and Beecher left aim
for that purpose. Mouton said ~ Til
ton: Now don't get angry; let rs see ii
even this cannot be arranged / will 20 down
and get that retraction from him. In the even
ing Moulton visited Beecher. and told him he hsd
done mean and treacherous act. treacherous
first. toward him, from whom he wanted help. in
that he did not tell him on the way 60 his house
the night before what he had procured from Mrs.
Titon, and that he could not expect his friend
ship in this matter unless he acted truthfuly and
houorably toward him. He further said
= Mr. Beecher, you have had criminal inter-
great injury TO Tflton otherwise Now
when You are confronted with il, you ask per-
mission Of the man to again visit his house, and
you GET from that woman who has confessed that
YOU have ruined her recantatiou of the truth
for your mere personal safety. That won't
YOU" AT that interview Beecher admitted with
grief and sorrow the fact of his sexual relations
with Mrs. Tilton- He said that Mrs. BeecheF
fes-ion of Mrs. Tilton 20 her husband,
had been expressing grrs. sympathy toward
Mrs Tllton, and taxing 4ctive Interest with
her against her hGsoand Noalron said:
Mr.. Bcecber, want thar reesntation. ! have
come for IT," Well said he. what .hail do
without it, He replied; - don't know: Iean't
What will you do If I give il To yoa9- Moultou
answered: : will keep il a. | keep the confess
sion. II you act honorably will protect il with
nv life a. | would protect the other with nv life
Mr.. Tilton asked for that confession this morning
and said | will never give 1t TO you; Won shall
not have Ii from my hands until | have exhausted
every effort for peace.
Mr.. Beecher gave him back the paper When
he = -