New-York tribune., 1874-08-05
MR.. TILToN's APPEAL TO THE COURTS.


HE REFUSES TO PRODUCE MR.. BEEcHER's LETTERS
OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN Mr.. SAGE
AND MR. TMToN-THE COMMITTEE DENOUNCED
AS PARTISAN, AND REPUDIATED - MR.. IlLIoN
THREATENS AN ACTION AT LAW.
The correspondence between Mr. Sage, Chairman
of the Investigating Committee, and Mr.. Iilton,
in reference to the production of the documentary
evidence referred to in his statement, is herewith
given. Mr. Tilton it will be seen under the advice
of his counsel refuses to lay any documents before
the Committee and states that he will carry the case
at once into court of law. Mr.. Tilton went into the
country to spend the night He refused to give any
hint of his intention concerning the possible pub
lication Of any supplementary statement or other
document relating to his case, but it is said by some
who have knowledge concerning his occupation that
it is not improbable that another communication of
some sort will soon be given by him to the public.
Mr.. Oyington was asked yesterday what would be
the consequence of Mr. 1ilton's carrying the
into the courts. He said such course would be
deprecated only because it would be long before
any settlement could be reached. But even if Mr.
Tton takes this course, Plymouth Church will
maintain its faith in Mr.. Beecher and he will con-
tinue TO occupy the pulpit and attend to his pas
toral duties as though the case not pending.
There is no truth in the rumor that Mr.. Beecher
will quit the pulpit Of Plymouth Church III such a
contingency"
The following is the correspondence between Mr.
| Sage and Mr. Tilton:
MR. sAGE's LETTER
| THEODORE TILTON. esq.
DEAR SIR: am instructed by the Committee to state
that the letters and documents referred to in your state
men presented TO have not been delivered, n0twlth-
standing your several promises to furnish them. As
your statement in the absence OF these documents, is
TO place them In our possesion and desire to impress
on you Importance Of delivering them to at
| earliest convenience. Very truly yours,
Brooklyn, July 81, 1874 H. w. SAGE, Chairman.
| Mr.. TILToN's REPLY.
| Mr. HENRY W. SAGE, Chairman Of COmmine.
MY DEAR SIR have just received your note OF July
3l-four days after date. Unless you accidentally mis-
| dated 1t, the communication should have come to me
several days ago. This leads TO recall similar dila
torness OF delivery your original n0te first summon
| ing me to your Committee, which received only four
hours before to appear and yet the summons bore
date OF the day previous. But let these trhos pass.
Your note Just received surprises by its contents
you have forgotten that on the last day OF
my appearance before your Committee carriedto your
meeting not only all the documents which quoted in
my sworn statement Save those Mr. M0ul,Ons possess
sion), but many besides, making double handful
OF Interesting and important papers, vital to my case
and destructive yours. All these papers purposed
10 lay before but no sooner nau Degun 10 leau
them aloud your than one of your attorneys
stopped in the reading, and proposed that should
the Committee time by referring these papers to one
Of your members the Hon. John WIns.ow Iacquiesced
in this suggestion aud retired from your Committee with
the expectation OF speedy conference with MI "lnsoW
Perhaps it my proper duty to have called on MI
| WnsOw, but, a the whole Committee had previously
set the example of calling in body one OF the 0tner
parties this controversy, took it for granted that
Mr. WnslOw would repeat this precedent by doug me
| the honor to call at my house-at which he would
have been a welcome guest But. while waiting for his
coming, was called upon instead by policeman VINO
arrested and carried at 80 minutes notice, De-
fore Justice Rey's Police Court to answer charge OF
beng the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, against whom |
had spoken not libel but the truth. Up to the time OF
this arrest had employed no lawyer. not needing any
But on finding myself before Police Court and not
understanding the motive Of arrest the methods
OF Courts requested my friend Judge s. d. Norris, to
for in technical proceedingin IN which knew
not 10 answer properly for myself Twice already
have been before this unexpected tribunal ana may
be called before 1t third time on Wednesday next
Meanwhile, my counsel, to whom have just shown
your note, instructs to lay no documents, papers,
remaining testimony before your Committee nor to
hold any further communication with YOU in any FORM
except to send you this present aud final letter contain
ing the reasons for this step. These the
following:
First: You are Committee OF Mr.. Beecher's friends.
appointed by himself expected to act in his behalf,
sisted by attorneys employed exclusively for his vim
dcaton holding secret sessions inaccessible to the pub
Hc having power to compel witnesses,- giving no
opportunity for the opposite side to xamine such
AZ voluntarily appear publishing suppressing their
testimony as you fit, and, so far my expe-
rence goes, asking questions save such
irrelevant to the case and omttng publish in your
imperfect and unjust report Of my testimony all that
was pertinent to my side Of the controversy
Second: The daily papers OF Brooklyn and New.YOk
have been arfuy fed. day by day. with crumbs Of nc
ttous evidence against my own character. II not
Mr.. Beecher, but alone, the trial f; and
though have little right perhaps, to hold your Com
mittee responsible for this daily Misrepresentation,
which may through the malice Of others, yet the
resnlt tbe same To me az IL You had de-