Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-09-03
They Find Plausible Reasons
for Beecher's Being on
the Sharp Edge Of
Rugged Despair,
And Explain Away Some Ugly
Points in Their Pastors
Confessions.
"A Suggestion that Moulton at
the Pistol Scene should
Have Been Turned
Over to the Police.
The Whele Transaction Charac.
terizes IA o Vile Conspiracy.

MEN loRk. Aug, 2e,-The Plymouth thtrch
Investigating Committee submitted their report TO
the church meeting Tonight.
The report begins with copies of Beecher's let
tiers 10 the Examining Committee, nominating the
members of the Committee whom he desired APP
pointed The Committee regret that uncontfolla-
bile circumstances made the public discussion OF
the unhappy scandal necessary, hut state that, ac-
cepting the situation rs they found it, as solemn
trust they were profoundly impressed with the
Tn. Committee refer to the letter of 1iitOn TO
Bowen making charges against Beeecher, and to
The rumprs and insinlmiions against Beechers
character. which We're aiioa, and all of which he
desired inquired into. They say, in conducting
the investigation. tina, they have faithfully endca-
vorcd to make ii thorough and impartial and to
obtain such facts are relevant to the inquiry
from all aitainabc sources OF evidence. For this
purpose they summoned or requested the attend
ancc OF the following persons 10 testify before the
Mrs Elizabeth II rilton, Mrs II W Beccher,
samuel Wilkcsnn, John i Howard, Theodore
Johnson, Isaac ii Bailey, Mrs Putnam, John
W Mason, Rev, "; W iat,on, Mary Z. Ames,
i Norton rhos NJ Vail, T. NJ holmes, Hon
\: , morse, Mrs Mars d Brldshaw, Joseph
Miss Oakley, Mrs Elizabeth a Oyington, Mrs
M Mi E Rev halliday Tho; shearman
Woodruff John Harmon, and Rev. Henry
Ward Bcecbtr
Most OF The persons named attended as requested
before the Committee One notable exception is
Francis u. CARPENTER Francis ID Moulion prom
iscl to testify fully, but he has submitted three
short statements in writing, consisting chiefly of
the reasons why he declined 10 testify, and of
promises 10 testify a call of the Committee,
The Committee have called him three times. with
results stated
The Committee call attention to the fact that the
letter of lilion, on which the investigation was
based charged no definite olense, but only made
Il vague atllision 10 otlcnsc Of some sort said to
have been committed 10y Mr.. Bcecher against Mr..
Triton, and for which he had apologze'l. There
fore, the question before the Committee was what
oilcnsc, ii any, Becrhcr had committed against
Elton.
The Committee thcn recc the fact of Tilton's
appearing before the Committee and definitely
stating The charge alluded 10 in the Dir. Bacon let
Ter as that Of adultery with Mrs Tilton IT various
attention 10 The fact that the olcnsc as first alleged
by Tiion was improper solicitation by Beecher to
Mrs Tilton but rs time passed and purposes ma-
ired this charge passed and maturcd into another
form and substance.
The Committee then rrcie the facts de,luced
from the evidence before them, of Beecher and
lilion's intimacy and friendship, while they were
| together editing the Independent, showing that
| the former was urged by the latter to visit his
house and do his editorial work there and that in
| every way he understood and approved of the
| friendly relations existing between Beecher and
Mrs 1lien They find that friendly relations be-
| tween lilnn aud Bccchcr continued until Decem-
Der, 1870 when lilon : conduct of the Indcpcnd-
| cni having injured the paper, especially in the
West, he having come 70 ,icny the inspiration of
| the scriptures and the divinity OF Christ, and his
social views having about this time also undergone
| q radical change in the direction of free love
| This change in her husbands character affected
| Mrs Tilton deeply and, being very religious
| woman, she naturally sought her pastor for coun-
| sci and sympathy She set forth in strong terms
| her ii now appears that during these years Mrs
| liiion became strongly attached TO Mr.. Beecher,
and, in July, 1870, confessed 10 her husband an
| oNcrshadowing affection for her pastor
| On or about December, 1870, Mrs. Tilton lief
her husband, going with her children to her moth.
er's house She sent for Mr. Bcccher telling him
of the suffering and abuse her husband had sub
iccted her 10, which greatly shocked Mr.. Beecher,
and he, with Mrs Tllion's pcrInissiou sent his
| matters better than his own. Subsequently he
agreed with his wife in advising Mrs. to leave her
| husband 1ilton however, forced her to return
TO his house by sending for and obtaining posses
| sion of the Youngest child who was sick with
Group During Mr.. Tilion's temporary absence
| from her mothers house she suffered miscarriage
the next day after her return, on the Path, which
| resulted in serious Illness, which continued until
after the Isl of January.
Early in December Bowen gave Tlton notice of
| his discharge from the chorship Of the Independ-
emf; that on or about the both of December,
| was to he editor OF the Brooklyn Union and chief
| contributor To the independent for five years. but
afterwards heard such stories OF iiiion's immo-
raiitics rs alarmed him and led 10 an in
ierricW between himself Iiton and Oil
yer johnson, nj The formers house; at this
interview Hilton sought to retain his place and
| Bowcn's confidence, by offering tojoin Bowen in
| an attack on Ieechcr. The interview resulted in
| an insolcnt letter which 1ilton wrote ana signed
i
| leave Plymouth pulpit and Brooklyn The report
says Bowen delivered the note; that Beecher ex-
| pressed RsOnsl1nent mt the contents. Bowen de-
Iidcd IL. told Beechcr why he had reduced Tilton
/ from the cdtorshp OF the hadtpeRdeW and said he
doubted whether he ought TO retain him as editor
| Oft Union. Bcccher thought he ought not, and
spoke strongly in regard to the threatening letter
| OF 1ilton's iowen declared i! trouble came of
| it he would stand by Bccclier This conversation
Bowen carried to 1ilton, who thereupon extorted
from his sick wife confession, charging Beecher
with having made her improper propositions
Iltnfs tfnt ,sri,, t,er
stance of which is already rubishcd-of Beecher's
Interview with TiltOn at MOultons solicitation
and at his house; OF The charges then brought by
Tiltop against Beceher ana the production Of the
| written confession ot Mrs. Tilfon the amaze
| ment OF Becchcr at finding the woman he had
thought the type OF moral goodness subscribing to
such an autrocious story; the night visit to Mrs
| TiltOn's bedside, the written retraction given
| Beecher by her and tho subsequent procuring of
| the document from Beecher by MOulton, by spe-
clous arguments and the displaying of pistol
though he made no distinct threats. The commit
tee here express great regret that al this jnncture
that Monltun was not handed over to the police. II
would have saved subsequent trouble. The CON-
mttee say that Bcechcrs distress at the situation
was b0undieSs lie saw the peril of being even
falsely accused. lie blamed himself for much that
| had occurred. He could not tell how much Of the
impending trouble could be attributed to Mrs. Til
| toms undue affection for him, which it was his
| duty TO have reprcssed. While in a morbid condi-
| ton of mind produced by these dinculties Moul-
| ton again called upon him. His manner was Kind
| and concatory. lie professed, however, TO be-
lieye that Beecler had been seeking Tilton's DOWN
| fall, hal eapued with Bowen against him. and by
his advice had come near destroying Ilton's fami-
/ ly. Beecher expressed many and strong regrets at
the mistortunes Of that family Moulton caught
| down, saying that il 'Iilton could see them there
would he no trouble in procuring reconciliation
| This paper, which Is dated January /, ISL, was
| entrusted by Mr.. BeeCher to Moultons Keeping
without reading 1t, nor was il read to him, This
| paper, sometimes called the apology and soIne-
LINES .he ,"ssslGn Is IN no Proper sense Mr.
| ne SAID. For instance, no man will believe that
Beecher said, 81 humble myself before him friI-
! ton) as do l,efore my Cod The sentence cher
forgiveness have" MIR. Bcccher declares was mol
| used nor any sembance 10 it. Pausing here a
very IMPORTANT question arises in This connections
ITO what does This apology REFER" II declares Mrs
| Tion guiltess. and yet Triton says il refers to
| adultery, which Bcechcr denies.
| The committee then Proceed TO take up the evi.
| dcDec 10 show that the original charge was an i'm
proper advance, and that as time passed and the
| conspiracy deepened il was enlarged into adultery
The Importance OF this, they say, IL apparent be-
cause II the charge has been changed, then bott
Jllion and Moulon are conspirators and convicted
Of vile fraud: which necessarily ends their in1u-
| chGc in this CONTROVERSY.
| The committe then proceed to argue 1T length
from the evidence already published as to this, and
declaic That the retracton, AMI all subsequent let
lers, conversations and acts OF the various persons
directly concerned In dealing with the scandal are
| consistent with this view and with no other.
The committee cite 'the true status" written by
Jiton, as contang the facts Of the alleged ofens(
of Beccher. and which they say he was IN the hab.
1t Of reading to newspaper men and others, al
making no charge except that OF improper and i'm.
pure proposals by Beecher TO Mrs. Triton, and
| quote the testimony Of Beechcr, Hartman and 9th.
| ers 10 prove this statement.
| Beecher iesties that Tilton read this true story
10 him on the ferry boat one day; that afterwards
| he went to Iltons house and conversation was
| had, which lasted until midnight and during all
this not word was said or limited by iltOn that nc
| believed Itcecher had committed adultery. On the
contrary, he asserted mistaken confidence in his
wifc's purity and complained only of the improper
| solicitations. The committee say 1t Is be-
| lieyed that no case CT adultery Is
on record or can lie produced where an
injured husband, learning Of his wes iniidelity,
kept the fact 10 himself for six months, and then
after private complaint TO the offending party, re-
ceiyc and accept an apology for the ofense, and
declare ii forgiven, and this followed by u resto-
ration of the c0urtcsics of friendship
The Committee also argue thai Moulion had In
his mind no other ofl.nsc than improper Ovcrturcs
il was adultery They quote nm expression in hi.
| LETTER Ia i.eechcr: You can stand, if the whole
ease were published Tomorrow, - and deride thu
idea that he could write this knowing that thcr
| Was adultery in the case, and conclude this branch
Of the case by branding the performance rs fraud
| which ough, 10 end all controversy rs to the innO-
| ccnce oil MIR Beecber.
| The committee then 90 on 10 speak of Moulton' :
| connection with the affair in the chmacterof a
| mutual friend, - and admit thai he obtained n
strong hold upon Beechcr's mind by his plausible
| manner and his apparently sincere desire to serve
| him Beecler knew that The accusation, though
| false would if ifbceame public, cause great seam
| dial, and having an immense deal of labor on his
| hands, entrusted to Moulton the task of
| keeping this false accusation from