The New York herald., 1874-07-12
THE BROOKLYN QUERY.
How the Beecher-Tilton Scandal
Develops.
Statcments, Comments,
Whispers.


gentleman who appears to be in q position to
speak with authority, but for whose accuracy the
Eagle does not vOuch, that Mrs, TiltOn has already
been before the Committee OF Investigation, and
has denied in the most positive manner that there
ever was the slightest impropriety In the conduct
Of Mr.. Beecher toward her. The reason assigned
by Mrs. Titon for the strange conduct or ner hus-
band Is tnat when his intimacy with Mrs. Wood
hull at Its height she called upon Mr.. Beecher,
as her pastor. and asked him for his advice. Her
feelings had been terribly outraged in consequence
OF her husband running after strange women, and
publicly announcing that he had become q convert
to the doctrine OF free love. IL was at thai time
Mrs. Tlton asked MIR. Beecher for his advice and,
according to her statement, he advised her
to leave her husband. With the lapse of time
learned OF the advice Mr.. Beecher had given his
vile, and to that circumstance all the present
S.See See her
bands conduct, as she denies ever having told
ANYTHING which would lead him or anybody else to
suppose that Mr. Beecher had treated or attempted
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
IL Is stated that Mr.. TiltOn appeared before the
investigating committee last night. He was asked
to tell all he knew. He said he had no desire to
any more than was necessary for his own vindica.
ton, and he supposed he had done that already.
piled, by saying that the purpose Of the committee
was to ascertain all the facts and that they
n.
ervation. To this MIR. Tlton's only rejonder was
that he could tell some things greatly to Mr.
Beechers injury but SAID that, tor the present, he
must decline to speak IN detail.
What Is known OF Mrs. TiIton's state-
ment.
The alleged statement OF Mrs. Tilton, az given
above Occast0ned considerable discussion last
evening In circles likely to be well informed in the
Beecher and Tilton case. reporter of the
lyn citizens on this subject Immediately after the
appearance Of the statement, and all confirmed Its
substantial truth.
WHAT Mr. HALLIDAY SAID.
The Rev. s. B. Halliday, assistant pastor of Ply.
mouth church, said that he did not know any thing
Of the proceedings before the investigating CON-
mittee; but he had no doubt from what he knew
OF the case, that the statement of Mrs. Tllron
r correcI ec revealed nothing more
whose confidence she mad relied and whose
TO what Mrs. Tlton said OF her relationship MIR.
Beecher, Mr. Tilton had on more than one occasion
Ing Of other persons, declared his nvincible CONT
% dence IN MRS. Tiiton's Gonsiancy and purity. lie
i to the community to Christianity aud to
plymouth church to bring charges against Mr..
Beecher, or henceforth to hold his peace.
MIR. OvINGTON'S STATEMENT.
MT Ov1ngton OF the nrm OF Ovington Bros,
dealer in ancy china and glassware, Fulton street,
Brooklyn, was interviewed by q reporter or the
HERALD yesterday evening at his house IN Henry
street, IN reference 30 the statement OF Mrs. Triton.
timate, and had been 80 IOr many years. He spoke
In the highest terms OF Mrs. TiltOn's amiabitty Of
disposition and force OF character He could say
that the statement published in the Eagle OF last
evening. purpOrtIng to be what Mrs. Tllton had
said, was correct. lie was inclined to think that
IN some respects IL was untrue. But, he said, he
had not particle or hesitation In saying that the
declaration OF Mrs. Tilton that Mr.. Beecher HAD
not suggested to her, either oy word or deed, any
thing that was improper or that was IN the slignt-
est degree Immoral, was a declaration that Mrs.
several times he Knew something OF the proceed.
ings OF the investigating Committee, he said, and
he knew that the Investigation was IN every re.
the result would be complete yind!cSst0R 0i Nj,
Beecher.
Why Not Apply the Common Sense Test
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:--
wonder why 1t Is that no one has applied TO
this matter the test of common sense, why it mas
not been dealt with as men deal with
the common affairs OF everyday life 2
Judged OF by that test, dealt with in that
way, what is there that calls on Mr.. Beecher tor
an answer fiIthy insnuatton In a disreputable
publication the malevolent attack of vindictive
and disappointed man, who either knows nothing
against the object OF his attack, or II he knows
anything dare not speak out. Mr.. Beecher has at
length, think very unnecessarily, asked for an
inquiry. He appears to be puzzled as to what IN
structiOns he should give his investigating COM
mittee. He thinks 1t due, he says, to his friends,
&c, to have some proper investigation made Of the
ruidors, insinuatiOns or charges made respecting
his conduct as compromised by the late pu5lica-
ton made by Mr.. Miton. What charge has MIR.
T,on Tito made d venture , to say none insnna-
happy men who tries to make every one
believe what he would rather die than believe.
What there may be at the bottom OF all these
~ n Eylnvv
but do know this, that to quote the single para
graph in MIR. Beecher's letter and collocate it with
reference 10 the publication l have before re-
ferred to was the essence or cowardlce--cowardiy
regards Mr. Beechcr, but much more so as
against the woman Mr.. Tflton was bound to pro-
tecb IL reminds one OF the lines IN Tennyson's
"Ihe GrandmOther''-
And tho parson made II his text that week
And he said likewise
ris. Is eyer +. the hn9ln blackes, (. =, OF iies' lies
May be met and fought with outright,
'I Is dinieat dh t% msttsr eari to oi hshi tu'h
To revert to my first proposition. test this ca se
put on record any charge that would call for an
answer from the meanest pimp or the lowest
harlot. Yet the pubhc the press and above all
answer from Mr.. Beechcr. Answer to what,
gcn:emens Can MIR. Deecher get up and
the seventh commandments suppose there
were the same rumors about the integrity Of
a great merchant or about that or the humblest
clerk IN store, would you call on him--wOuld any
human being venture 10 call for an answer rom
that merchant, that clerk Mr.. Becneer has lived
among Va twenty-five years and upwards IN "the
fierce light" that beats aDout popular clergyman,
especially one so eminent as Mr. Beecher rs 1t
does about % throne, and have heard OF no one
VINO could lay hls finger on a single act Of Mr..
Beecher's life that was unbecoming a Christian
gentleman. Oh shame chat this should be
Saame, that a man who has lived among us a
blameless life. who has worked among us as he has
worked, who has taught what he has taught, should
be called on 10 answer charge that no man-not
even Mr. Tilton hlmself-has ventured to make.
Let Mr. TiltOn make q specific charge: let him
make It IN PLAIN language; let him. II ne wi state
facts; let him, if he Will, publisn documents not
garhled extracts. Then iet Mr.. Beechcr be called
on for an answer; but don't let us assist Mr. TiIton
to drag an honored name through mre on insinu-
ahons or rum0rs. Don't let US STAB in the dark.
II IN the open face OF day, in a fair fed, Mr.
Beecher cannon clear himself against any charge
Mr. riton can make, then let those rejoice " no.
under the guise of friendship and brotnerly love,
would gloas over the downfall OF one who has ven