The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-08-14

and all will be made clear in his favor;
that it is enough that he has made up his
mind to tell all he knows.
MouIton's Statement-He Refuses to
Divulge.
The Plymouth Church Investigating
| Committee furnish the following report
of their proceedings on Monday night
last:
MONDAY, AUGUST 10th, 1874.
The Committee met at 3 o'clock with
all the members present. At 5 o'clock
! Francis D. Moulton, who was expected at
the opening of the session, made his ap-
pearance, when, with the consent of the
| Committee, he read the following state
ment, prefacing it with the remarks:
II submit to you first, the invitation
signed by your chairman of July 9th,
1874; next, the invitation of your chair
man signed July 28th; and next the IN
vitation oi your chairman, signed August
4th," laying the copies of these invita-
tions on the table before him.
Gentlemen of the Conumittee:-
When | was last before you, I stated
that would, at your request, produce
! such documents as / had and make such
statement of facts as had come to my
knowledge on the subject of your inquiry.
| fully intended so to DO, and
have prepared my statement of the facts
rs sustained by the documents, and made
an exhibition of all the papers that have
come in any way into my possession
I Al. hot
parties that statement must OF course
! bear with more or less force upon one or
the other of them. On mature refiec-
ton. aided by the advice of my most
valued friends, have recOnSidered that
determination, and am obliged to say to
YOU that | feel compelled from sense OF
duty to the parties, to my relation to their
! controversy, and to myself, neither to
make the statement nor produce the
! documents
When | first became party to the
unhappy controversy between Beecher
and Tilton | had no personal knowledge
nor any document in my possession,
which could effect either. Everything
| that know of the fact, or have received
of the papers, has came to me in the
Most Sacred Confidence,
to be used for the purpose Of compro-
missing and settling all difficulties between
them, and of presenting so far as possible
! any knowledge of their private affairs
being brought to public notice. For this
purpose all their matters have been en-
| trusted to me, and for none other. If
should now use them it would not be for
the purpose of peace and reconciliation,
but to voluntarily take part in the con-
troversv, which they have seen hit to re-
new between themselves. How faith
! fully, earnestly and honestly | have la
bored to do my duty to both parties they
| both know.
He Thinks He IL I'm Honor Bound to
Say Nothing.
The question for me to settle, for my
self and no other, is now, ought | to do
ANYTHING to aid either party i'll renewed
controversy? BY the use of that which
received, and have used only to promote
harmony on my honor and conscience,
think ought, and at the risk OF what
ever miscOnstructiOn and vitup"ratiOn
NAV come upon me. | must adhere to
dictates of my own judgment and pre-
serve ut least, my own self-respect.
call attention again to the fact that
yours is mere voluntary tribunal, and
not compelled to witness whether before
any tribunal having power to compel the
production Of testimony and statement of
facts
I shall Never Produce these Papers,
or give any of these confidential state
mcntS. | reserve to myself to judge of
the emergency which hope may never
come against my wish, rs | never have
been in sympathy with II renewal oft this
! conflict. A part of these documents
have been given to the public So far us
confidence in regard to them has ceased.
1t is but Just. therefore, and due to the
parties that the whole of those docu-
mcnts, portions ofwhich only have been
given, shall be put in your hands in re-
spouse to the thrice renewed request of
the committee | have therefore copies
of them, which produce here and place
insthc hands of the committer, with hope
and request that after they have been
examined by them, they may be returned
to me. If controversy shall arise rs to
the authenticity of the copies, or of
documents on that point, shall hold
myself open to speak, with this eXccp-
tIon: Except in defense of my honor,
and uprightncss Of my course in all this
unfortunate and UNHAPPY bus
ines" the purity and can
dor which l appeal to the c"nscicnccs
of both parties to sustain. | do now pro-
pose and hope that may never be
called upon hereafter to speak either AS
to facts or to produce any paper that |
have received from either of the parties
involved herein.
[Signcd.] FRANCIS d. MoULToN.
The letters appear in Mr.. Bccchcr's
statement with IN explanation of each.
Cross Examination.
After reading this statement Mr. Moul-
ton was subjected to brief cross exam
inution. ms follows:
Mr.. WinSlow-Mr. Moulton, the COM
mittce desire me to ask You some qurs-
tions, notwithstanding the position YOU
take in your written statement. You are
well aware, as You show by the three in
vitations which the committee have sent
YOU, that We are in good faith pursuing
the investigation. You will remember
that we were appointed BY
the pastor Of Plymouth Church,
with the sanction and approval
OF the examining committee of that
church to enquire into all these matters
relating to the alleged grievances of Mr..
| Tilton.
Authority OfCOmmittee not Limited.
The letter of authority that comes to us
| is not limited: no restrictions are put on
us Of any kind. We are invited to cx.
anime all sources of the evidence. and
We have looked upon YOU as one of the
principal sources Of evidence. We have
| waited some two or three weeks 10 get
YOUR testimony, and l am sure | express
! the feeling Of the Committee when | ey-