New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-29


place with man furnishes similar proof OF adultery.
These citations are pointed but useful. Under the
guidance of these precedents and principles IL Is
essential to observe that there Is nothing whatever
disclosed by the evidence that proves that the ac-
cused parties have ever been found together under
any suspicious circumstances, such as in some I'M
usual house or place, consulting together In some
secret way to avoid observation and exposure There
is no proof of clandestine correspondence nor at
tempts in that direction. Mr.. Beechersletters were.
as a rule opened. arranged, and read by his wife
She testies that she has read and answered many
as one thousand in three months. Such as reached
The Christian Union Office were opened by others,
and those that went to the church were opened by
the direction of Mr.. Beecher by the clerk. before
being placed OIL the desk. No sort of restrictions
were imposed as to his letters The usual facts and
circumstances suggestive of wrong-doing utterly
wanting in this case. What then does the case, as
put by the accuser, rest uponi We answer. upon
mere words and assertions, supported by no circum
stances whatever that are the usual indications OF
adultery.
NO CONFESSION MADE TO MRS. MORSE,
Mr.. Tilton says he knows the fact FROM his wife's
confession, July 8. 1870, and from her subsequent
confessions to Mr.. MoultOn and to her mother, Mrs.
Morse This is thus answered: First, that Mrs. Ill
ton SAYS in effect that this confession, whatever it
was was extOrted from her by imperious, mali
cious husband, and by means that, in moral sense
were fraudulent. Pretenses were made that she
must say something to extrcate Theodore out OF bis
business perplexities. She was made to believe
there was conspiracy against her husband. Inc
fact that Mrs. Tilton withdrew the charge when alr
Beecher first confronted her after he had heard OF
it, on the evening of Dec 30, is in ORDER together
with the further fact that she has ever since
denied the truth of the charge when free
from the dominating influence of her hus-
band. She explicitly denies that the charge
was adultery. We now her coming before the
Committee with expressions of joy that at last she
can come and speak the truth and in the most SOL
emn manner she denies absolutely the charge, and
proceeds to set forth facts and circumstances when
demonstrate that this unhappy woman has Tor years
been the plastic victim of extorted falsehoods Mr.
Tions allegation that she confessed to her mother.
Mrs. Morse, is pronounced false by the mother. who
testified before the Committee. The source of the
scandal, them is alleged words of Mrs. Tilton, which
she explains in such manner as to deprive the ale
CATION Of all force and credit. Then comes Mt.
Beecher, who solemnly declares that whatever
words, by whatever means, have been drawn from
Mrs. Tilton by her husband, he is innocent of any
and all improperly toward her, whether relating to
improper advances or to adultery.
1t is not for the Committee to defend the course
of Mrs. Tilton. Her conduct, upon any theory Of
human responsibility, is indefensible. Our hope Is
that 1t may be made clear. the testimony affords
much reason to believe it may be- that this distressed
woman was so beset by her designing husband, when
IN states of mind differing little. if at all. from men
tai alteration brought on by illness and domestic
sorrow and gloom as to induce her, at least pas
sively, to make charge of improper advances by
Mr. Beecher. But when her attention was point
edly called to the great wrong she had done, she
quickly took it back, in sorrow and penitence, as
follows:
Wearied with importantly and weakened by sickness.
I gave letter duplicating my friend Henry Ward
Beecher, under assurances that that would remove
all difficulties between and my husband. That letter
now revoke persuaded to it-almost forced
when was in weakened state of mind. iregret 1t
desire to say explicitly Mr. Beecher has never offered
any improper solicitation but has always treated me III
o manner becoming Christian aud gentleman.
ELIZABETH X. TILroS.
There is medical testimony before the Committee
given by two eminent physicians, Doctors MntOn
and Corey. to the effect that such of mental
power and domination by husband of strong will
over wife weakened by disease and domestic trouble
are not infrequent. DIR. Corey, who is eminent and
has had large experience in mental diseases and phe
nomena says such conduct the part of Mrs. Hilton,
when subjected to the influences referred to- is even
consistent with an honest mind. We observe that Mr.
Mouton parades letter purportng to have been
written by Mrs Tilton to him (JJ III which she says
she is perfect coward in his Tilton's) presence"
and cit is physical impossibiity for to tell the
TRUTH In another letter, same to same, Xxx" she
says, "With all my womans soul / innocent
of the crime Of impure conduct alleged against
men In her statement, procured under the drec-
ton of Mr.. Tilton and Mr.. Carpenter, of Dec. 16,
1872 and which was taken by them to Dr. Storrs,
Mrs. Tilton shows that she was made to believe
that conspiracy was formed against her hus-
band. Her words are six months afterwards
that is after July g. 1901 my husband felt impeed
by the circumstances of a conspiracy against him,
in which Mrs. Beecher had a part, to have an in
terview with Mr. Beecher" This refers to the inter-
view of Mr.. Tilton with Mr.. Beecher, procured by
Mr.. MoutOn on the evening of Dec. 80, 1870,
when Mr.. Tilton produced written charge, in two
lines, in the handwriting of Mrs. TltOn 1t will be
seen it was under the influence Of startling state
ments of conspiracy against her husband that Mrs.
Tlton was moved to appear 10 act this occasion.
We find her subsequently in a letter asking Mr..
Beecher's d" forgiveness for the suferings she had
caused him."
NATURE OF THE CONFESSION.
We hear much from Mr.. Tilton OF confessions
made by his wife to him. We are obliged to receive
his statements on this point, if at all, without
roboration. But on one occasion, when Mr.. Tilton
was assaing his wife, we learn from the testimony
of Miss Elizabeth A. Turner in what manner Mr.. Til
toms accusations were met by his wife.
O. Did he Tiiton) at any time on this day say that
she had made any confession to him In regard to Mr..
Beecher A. He said she had confessed to him that she
had been cnminally intimate with Mr.. Beecher; she
MRS Tltop) was present when he said that and she
said Oh Theodore. how you tell that child such
base lies 81 and then she burst out crying.
o. When was that A. This all occurred on the day
that we went back IN the Fall Of 1870.
This was the day when this witness testifes that
scene of violence occurred. The witness, believ-
ing that Nh Tilton was about to strike his wife,