Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-08-28
THE GREAT SCANDAL.
MIR. MoultOn,s Full Statement Made
Public.

Ward Beeehpr was given to the public on the
21st tits formidable document, comprising
about twenty columns of ordinary newspaper
type The salient portions only are here given
Mr.. Moulton prefaces his statement with an ex
planatory card in which be details the eircum
stances which called it forth. He had been {
friend of Mr.. Tilton from boyhood and had always
entertained for Mr.. Beecher the warmest admira
ton. In 1870 he had learned that Mr.. Beechel
had given Mr. Tilton a grave cause of offense. anC
because he believed the revelation of the scanda
would undermine the foundations of social ordel
and blast the prospects and blight the family o
one of the most brilliant men of this generation
he had labored assduously to keep it concealed
and effect harmonious settlement of all Difficult
ties. This labor had continued for four years
and when it had tailed M a Rist Whot at m Ma
(MoultOn) the penalty OF his own WrOng-dolng
and at the same time demanded that he shOulC
tell what he knew, as it would justify his attack
ON him.
Mr.. Beecher in his statement had said that he
brought this investigation without Moulton 's
knowledge or advice. Even while mourning
what seemed to him the unwisdom of the pro-
ceedings he had done all he could to avert the
catastrophe. He had denied the united and pub
lie appeals made by both Beecher and TiltOn to
produce the evidence in his possession, but he
had stated that clearly in an emergency he should
speak in defense of his own integrity, if assaied
BY the published accusation of Mr.. Beecher his
own self-respect made 1t imperative that the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
truth should be told, and he therefore gave to
the public the statement he had prepared for the
committee but which, at the earnest solicitation
of the friends of Mr.. Beecher he had withheld.
Its publication was not in the interest of either
party, but solely for his own protection against
public accusations which affected himself per-
sonally. He was profoundly grieved at the
necessity which seemed to compel the publica-
ton but his grief was alleviated by the fact that
the disclosure could scarcely work more harm to
Mr.. Beecher at the present time than it would
have caused him in January, 1871 when, but for
his interference the public would most assuredly
hoxro mt in n 10 NNh hn1 trnfh
The statement to the committee here follows:
Mr. Mouton, after recounting the fact of his
acquaintance with Messrs. IiltOn and Beecher,
and his admiration of their genius, says that up
to the date of Tiltons valedctory editor of the
Indepepdent he had been frequently visitor at
Tilton's house, and had seen himself and Mrs.
Tilon under all phases of social intercourse, but
had never heard or known of the slightest diSa-
greement or unkindness existing between them,
and believed their marital relations were almost
exceptionally pleasant.
On the 26th of December Mr.. Tilton returning
from an interview with Mr. Bowen, told him that
Bowen had made certain accusations against
Beecher, and had challenged Tilton to write an
open letter demanding that he should cease his
ministry at Plymouth Church, which Bowen was
to deliver. He told Bowen that he believed his
accusations against Beecher because he had
made improper advances to Mrs Tilton. He af-
terward learned from Mr. Beecher that Bowen
had delivered to him the open letter referred to-.
In day or two after Mr.. TiltOn informed him
that when he told Bowen that he was going to
call on Beecher he came up to the Office in great
anger and told him that if he should say to
Beecher what he (BOwGn) had told him concern
ing his (Beecher's) adultery he would dismiss him
from the independent and the Uni0n TiltOn
told him he had never been influenced by threats,
and he would not be in the present case, and
subsequently received Bowen's letter OF dis
missal.
On the evening of the 3Oth of December Tilton
came to him and said hat by his wifes request
he had determined to see Beecher, in order to
show Beecher the confession OF his wife of inter
course between them. which he Clifton 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; that her
confession had been made in the July previous
in writing, which writing he (Tilton) had after
ward destroyed, but his wife, fearing that 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 TiltOn handed to him (MOul-
tom to read. Tilton wanted him to go down
and ask Beecher to come up and see him
(Tilton) at Moulton's house. He went and
said to Beecher: "Mr. TiltOn wants you to come
and see him at my house Immediately" He
asked what for. MoultOn replied: ''He wants
to make some statement to you in reference to
your relations with his family He then called
to some one in the back room to go down and say
that he should not be at prayer-meeting, and
Moulton and Beecher went ont together. 1t was
storming at the time, when he remarked: "There
is an appropriateness in this storm, and asked
Moulton, ''What can dor what can | do?' He
said: $ Mr. Beecher, am not Christian, but,
if you wish, will show you how well heather
can serve you They then went to Moulton's
house, and he showed him into chamber over
the parlor, where Mr.. Tilton was, and left them
down and asked him if he had seen the confession
of II Elizabeth :, He said he had Said Beecher:
This will XIII me and a1 asked N Monton M to 60
house together. On the way he said: "This Is
a terrible catastrophe. 1t comes upon me as If
struck by lightning"
Beecner went into Tilton's house, and Moulton
departed for his own house. Within an hour
Beecher returned, and shortly after left for his
home, MoultOn accompanying him. When they
arrived at Beechers house he wanted Moulton to
stand by him in his emergency, and procure
if possible. He told him he
would, because the interests OF women, children
and families were involved, if for other reason
That ended the interview that night: During this
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 aduteries, and the remark which
Beecher made was: g This is all dream, Theo-
dore,'' and that was all the answer Beecher made
to him. Moulton then advised Iilton that for the
sake of his wife and family, and for the sake of
Beecher's family, the matter should be kept
quiet and hushed up.
The next morning Tilton came to his house
and informed him, with great anger, that Beecher
had done mean act; that he had gone from the
interview of the night before to his house and
procured from Elizabeth a recantation and re-
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 l have told
you of the meanness of that man is now evi-
dent Tilton said that Beecher, at the inter
view oflast night had asked his permission to
go and see Elizabeth, and he told him he
by Beecher himself, and Beecher left him
for that purpose. Moulton said to Til
ton: Now don't get angry; let us see if
even this cannot be arranged. / will go down
and get that retraction from him." In the even
ing Moulton visited Beecher, and told him he had
done a mean and treacherous act. treacherous,
that he did not tell him on the way to his house
the night before what he had procured from Mrs
Tilton, and that he could not expect his friend
ship in this matter unless he acted truthfully and
honorably toward him. He further said:
Mr. Beecher, you have had criminal inter
course with Mrs. Tilton. You have done
great injury to Tilton otherwise. Now,
when you are confronted with it, 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 reeantation of the truth
for your mere personal safety. That won't save
you.' At that interview Beecher admitted with
grief and sorrow the fact of his sexual relations
with Mrs. Tilton. He said that Mrs Beecher
and himself with3nt T,oa knowing W o Of the con
had been expressing great sympathy toward
Mrs. Tilton, and taking active interest with
her against her husband. Moulton said
g Mr. Beecher, want that recantation.. have
come for it, Well said he, what shall do
without it?'' He replied: don't know; can't
tell You what will happen with it." He asked:
What will you do if L give it to your Moulton
answered: Il will keep it as | keep the confes-
sion. If you act honorably l will protect it with
my life as would protect the other with my life.
Mr. Tilton asked for that confession this morning,
and said | will never give it to you; you shall
not have it from my hands untll have exhausted
every effort for peace
Mr.. Beecher gave him back the paper. When
he went home with the recantation he found TIL
ton there and showed it to him. He expressed his
surprise and qualification that he should have
been able to get it. and he then showed to him
how very foolish it would have been in the morn
ing to have proceeded angrily against Beecher
He made another appeal for peace, SAYING that,
notwithstanding the great difficulties appearing