Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-31
stntemsnt Of aIrs. MILTON.

To pick up anew the sorrows Of the last ten
years, the stlngs and pains I had daily
schooled myself to bury and forgive, makes
this imperative duty, as called forth by the
malicious statement Of my husband, the sad.
dest act Of my life. Besides, my thought Of
following the Master contradcts this act OF
my pen, and q sense Of the perverslon Of my
life faith almost compels me to stand aside
until God himself delivers; yet / see In this
wanton act an urgent call and privilege, from
which shrink not. To reply In detail 10 the
twenty-five articles Of arraignment shall not
attempt at present, yet II called upon to testi-
fy to each and all Of them l shall not hesitate
to do so. Suffice II for my purpose now that
| reply to one or more Of the most glaring
charges.
1. Touching the fcigned sorrow Of my hus-
bands compulsory revelations l solemnly
avow that long before the Woodruff publica-
tion / knew him by insnuation and direct
statement 10 have repeated TO my very near
relatives and friends the substance Of these
accusations which shock the moral sense OF
the entire community this day. Many times
when hearing that certain persons had spoken
Ill Of him he has seLt me to chidc them for so
doing, and then and there / learned he had
been before me with his calumnies against
myself, so that wus speechless.
2. The reiteration In his statement that he
had persistently strven to hide these so-called
facts Is utterly false as his hatred to Mr..
Beecher has existed these many years, and
the determination TO ruin Mr.. Beecher has
been the one aim Of his life. Again, the per-
fidy with which the holest love a wife ever
offered has been recklessly discovered In this
publication reaches well nigh to sacriege, and
added to this the endeavOr like the early
scandal Of Mrs. Woodruff, to make my own
words condemn me, has no PARALLEL most
conspicuously my letter quoting the reading
Of "Grifiith Gauntn Had Mr.. TiltOn read
the pure character Of Catherine he would
have seen that lifted myself beside II as near
h.Ww.. T.nN lx.uN
her character and not the incidents OF fiction
surrounding it TO which referred. Here was
no sin OF criminal act ar thought. like
confession with hers / had made to Mr.. TiltOn
in telling Of my love to my friend and pastor
one year before, and now add that, notwith-
standing all misrepresentation and anguish
of soul, owe TO my acquaintance and friend
ship with Mr.. Beecher, as to no other instru-
mentality, that encouragement OF my mental
life and that growth toward the Divine nature
which enable me to walk daily in u lively hope
of the life beyond the grave.
8. The shameless charges in articles seven,
eight and nine are fearfully false in each and
| every particular The letter referred to in
| Mr.. Tilton's tenth paragraph was obtained
| from Inc by importantly, and by representa-
| tions that II was necessary for him to use In
| his then pending difficulties with Mr.. Bowen.
I was then sick nigh unto death, having suf-
| fered miscarriage only four days before. !
| signed whatever he required, without know
| ing or understanding its import. The paper
| | have never seen, and do not know what
statements 1t contained. In charge eighteen
| is letter Of mine addressed to Mr.. +. Moul-
| ton, quoted to prove that l had never desired
| a separation or was advised by Mr. or Mrs.
| Beecher to leave my husband. reply, the
letter was Of Mr. Tilton's own concocting,
| which he induced me to copy and sign as my
own an act which, in my weakness and mis-
taken thought to help him, have done too
| often during these unhappy years.
4. The Implication that harmony Of home
was unbroken till Mr. Beecher entered 1t as o
| frequent guest and friend is lamentablc
satire upon the household where he himself,
years before, laid the corner stone of free love
and desecrated its sacred altars up TO the time
| of my departure, so that the atmosphere was
not only goddess, but impure for my chill
dren, and in this effort and throe Of agony
would fain lift my daughters and
| all womanhood from the insidious and diabol-
| ical teaching of these latter days. His FIRE.
| quent efforts to prove me insane, weak minded
| insignificant and Of mean presence all rank in
| the category of heartlessness, seltishness and
falsehood, having its climax in his present en-.
deavor to convince the world that | am OF
ever have been unable to distinguish between
an innocent or guilty love. In summing NJ
/ the whole matter, affirm myself before God
| to be innocent Of the crimes laid upon me
| that never have been guilty Of adultery with
Henry Ward Bcecher in thought or deed, moi
improper proposal.
TO the further charge that was led away
from my home by Mr. Beecher's friends ant
by the advice of lawyer whom Mr. Beechel
| had sent to me, who in advance OF my appear
ing before the committee arranged with mt
the questions and answers which were to con
stitute my testimony in Mr.. Beecher's behalf
| | answer that this Is again untrue having
never seen the lawyer until introduced TO hin
a few moments before the arrival Of the com
mittee, by my step-father, Judge Morse; ant
in further reply submit the following state
ment of my action before the committee an(
my separation from my husband:
3. The publication of Mr.. Tilton's letter il
answer to DIR. Bacon l had not known no.
suspected when on Wednesday evening
he brought home the Colder, Agc hand
ing it to me to read. Looking
down its columns / saw well nigh will
binding eyes that he had put into execution
the almost daily threat of his life-that h'
lived to crush out Mr. Beecher; that the Goo
of battles was with him. he had always beer
Mr.. Beecher's superior, and all that lay in hi
path-wife, children or reputation, if need b,
should fall before this purpose" ] did no
read it. ] saw enough without reading. NJ
spirit rose within me as never before
"Theodore," said, "tell me what meani
this quotation from Mr. Beechcr? Two year
ago you came TO me at midnight, saying
Elizabeth, all letters and papers concerning
my difficulties with Mr.. Beeeher and Mr.
Bowen are burned, destroyed Now don't yor
betray me, for have nothing TO defend my
self WITH" "Did you believe all thatT saiC
he. 81 certainly did, implicitly" | said
"Well, let me tell you they all live. Not on'
is destroyed.
If this was said to intimidate me ii haC
quite the contrary effect; had never been 81
fearless nor seen so clearly before with whom
| was dealing. Coming TO me little later
81 want YOU to read il. You will fluid it
vindication of yourself. You have not stooC
before the community for five years as yoU
now do"
9. Reused still further by the wickednes
hid behind so false a mask, replied: The
odore, understand me. This is the last tint
you call me publicly to walk through thi
filth My character needs no vindication, a
this late hour, from you. There was time
had you spoken out clearly, truthfully ant
manfully for me, l had been grateful; but nov
/ shall speak and act for myself. Know, also
that if in the future see scrap of paper re
ferring to any human being, however remote
which 1t seems to me you might use or per
vert for your own ends, / will destroy it.
"This means battle on your part, then," III
said. "Just so far" replied.
z. I write this because these words Of min
he has since used to my harm. The mex
morning went to my brother and told hin
that now had decided to act in this matter
that had been treated by my husband as I
nonentity from the beginning; plaything I,
be used or let alone at will; that II had al
ways seemed to me ! was party not ltttl'
concerned. l then showed him card ha'
made for publication He respected th'
motive, but still advised silence ON m,
part. yielded thus far as to not appear il
the public prints, but counseling with my
self and no other, it occurred TO me tina
among the brethren Of my own communion
might be heard. Not knowing Of any churcl
committee, asked the privilege of such al
interview in the parlors Of those who hat
always been our mutual friends. MI
and Mrs. Ovington then learned for tn
first time that the committee would meet tina
night and advised me TO see thos
gentlemen as perhaps the godliest persons
could select. This accordingly did. Their
alone pleaded the cause of m
husband and my children, the result be
ing that their hearts were moved In sympath
for my family, feeling their pastor had share
for years and for which he was now suffering
On going home found my husband reading
In bed. / told him where had been and tina
/ did not conceal anything from him, as hi