The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-07-24
THE GREAT SCANDAL.

THE GREAT SCANDAL.
MIR. TiItOn's Statement.
Criminal Intercourse Between Bech-
err AMI Mrs. Hilton.
Tilton Finds Beecher in His Wife's
Bed-ROOm.
Mrs. TiltOn's Confession Of Wrong
Doing to Her Husband.
Reecher's SpeciOus Arguments To
Remove Her ScrRples.
New YORK, July 2I.-The following
ia Mr.. Tilton's statement to the Beecher
Investigating Committee:
GENTLEMEN OF THE Committee
In communicating to you the detailed
statement of facts Of evidences which
Won have been several days expecting at
my hands, let me remind you of the
circumstances which call this statement
forth, In my recent letter to DIR. Bacon
l alluded to an offense and an apology
by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. To
yhomsoever else this allGsion seemed
indefinite, to Mr.. Beecher it was plain
The offense was committed by him, the
apology was made By him; both acts
we're his own, and were among the most
momentous occurrences of his life. Of
all men in Plymouth Church, or in the
world, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was
the one man who wa best informed con-
cerning this offense and apology, and
the one man who least needed to inquire
into either.
Nevertheless, while possessing perfect
knowledge Of Both these acts done by
himself, he has chosen to put on public
affecta;ion Of ignorance and innocence
concerning them, and has conspicuous
Iy appointed committee of six Of the
abIest men of his church, together with
two attorneys, to inquire into what he
leaves you to regard as the unaccounta-
bic mystery of the offense and apology,
as IL he had neither committed the one
nor offered the other. But as If both
imagination; thus adroitly prompting
the public to draw the deduction that
am person under some hallucination OF
delusion, living in dream and forging
fraud.
Furthermore, in order 10 cast over
this explanation the delicate glamor
which always lends charm to the de-
fense of woman's honor
MRS. ELIZABETH R. TILToN, LATELY
MY WIFE.
Has been prompted awav from her home
to reside among Mr.. Beecher's friends
and to cooperate viii him in his osten
sibly honest and lludable inquiry in
20 facts concerning which, she too, as
we'll as he, has for years past had perfec'
and equal knowledge with himself. This
investigation, therefore, has been pub
licly pressed upon me by Reecher, sec
onded by Mrs. Tilton, both of whom in
so doing have united in assuming before
The public the non-existence of grave
and solemn facts in which they have
conspired to investigate for the purpose
not of elicting, but of denying th'
truth. This joint assumption by them
which has seemed TO your committee tc
be in good faith, has naturally led yor
into an examination in which you ex
pect to find on their part nothing bn
Innocence; on my part nothing but slan
der.
1t is now my unhappy duty, from
which I have in vain hitherto sough
earnestly to be delivered, TO give yot
the facts and evidences for reversing
your opinion on this subject. In doing
this painful, I may say heartrendering
duty, the responsibility for making tn,
grave disclosure which I am abont t.
lay before you, belongs not to me, bu
first to Beeeher, who has prompted you
TO this examination, and next to Mrs
Tilton, who has joined him in con
Apiracy which can not fail to be full o
peril and wrctchedness TO many hearts
| call you to witness that in my frs
brief examination by your con,mitte
begged and implored you not to in
quire into the facts ofthis case, but rath
er to seek to bury them beyond all pcs
sible revelation. Happy for all con
cerned had this treaty been heed
ed. 1t is now too late. The opportuni
iy for reconciliation and settlement ha
passed This investigation undertaken
by you in ignorance of the danger
against which Mr.. Beecher should hav
warned you in advance, will shortl,
prove itselfto your surprise to have beel
an act of wanton and wicked folly, 70
which Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, as it
originator and public sponsor, will here
after find no "space for repentance
though he seeks it carefully and will
tears" This desperate man must hole
himself only and not me aecountabl,
for the wretchedness which these dis
closures will carry to his own home ant
hearth, as they have already brought t,
mine. will add that the original doc
uments referred to in the ensuing sworl
statement are for the most part in m,
possession, but that the apology and
few other papers are in the hands o
Francis D. Moulton. Truly yours,
THEODORE TILToN.
Mr.. TiltOn's Sworn Statement.
Whereas the Rev. Henry Ward Beech
er has instigated the appointment of
committee, consisting of six members o
his church and society, to enquire ant
report npon alledged aspersions urol
his chara t'r by Theodore Tilton, anC
whereas Mrs. Elizabeth R. Tilton
formerly wife of Mr.. Tilton, has open
ly deserted her home in order to co-ope