New-York tribune., 1874-09-12


hereby present their unanimous report. o,., ,n,.r
, Win each Of the three folio to
wit Mr.. Tton, Mrs Tlton and tho pas.or az VI mnV
With Sreedom and caudor Documents, letters, and
papers pertaining to the case were careluv
nccasioned somewhat protrsoed investigation The
Committee hope that the apparent m ", , .uo
an erroneous public sentiment under which they have
all suffered misrepresentatioo - Nth NJ.
Fiizabeth r. Tilton whose testimony was given with
modesty and touching sincerity tnat ueepB moseu
was an unconscious yndication her innocence and
purity OF character and connrneu Nv eNiuonccs III INC
documents. She repealed with warm feeling the idea
that her husband was the author OF caumnous state
ments against her or had ever treateu nr Win otnei
than chivarous consideration and proecuon ohe pa,d
igh tribute to his character and also TO the forude
with which he mad borne prolonged in1usuc9, L. "a,
III Tne Committee further find that Mr. I1ton In his
relations with the PASTOR had just cause OF onense
and had received voluntary apology. NJ NJ. inion ue
reasons First because the necessary evidence which
should accompany any statement ~ou ,h 1 th ,ho
tonpne Of public gossip; next, that the apology
designed to cover complicated Iahsael9n, tS ae,as
dificu of exact or just statement; and last mat no
nossibe good could arise from the public curl
osjty on this point Mr.. Ton. after concluding his tes
timony respectfully called the attention OF me Commit
lee 10 the fact that the Clerk OF the Church had spoken
calnmniousy OF Mrs. Tton during the lae council ana
had since unquaedy contradicted and retracted MS
statements as untrue and unjust, and he (Mr Tl re-
quested the Committee to ra ana S s IN hss nas
report which is hereby cheerfuy done.
i'll The Committee further ind that tne rev. Henry
Ward Beechers evidence cOrroborated tue statements
OF Mr. and Mrs Tton He also said the church action
OF which Mr. Tlton had complained nad not Deen IN
spired by pastor but had been taken independently
by the church; that the popular impression tnat MI.
Tlton had been in the habit OF speaking agaSu t nn
was unjust to Mr.. t. and was owing NANNY 10 the ul
welcome introduction into the church OF ges against
Mr. By mere handful OF persons VINO, IN 80 dSing, ,
countenance from the great mass OF the
congregation from the pastor lie sald that the
apology had been by Inc uoc pd desS is % M s
precipitancy and folly into wrong be saw no singular
ity of behavior IN Christian m nan He had alwavs
preached this doctrine 10 Others, and wOud not shflhK
The Committee after hearing the three witnesses al
ready referred to. felt unanimously that any regrets
previously entertained concerning the puDcatlon OF
Mr. Tilton's letter DR.. Bacon should give way 10
grateful Acknowledgements OF the proyldehlial oppor
10 draw forth the testimony which the Committee have
thus reported brief, but in sufficient funess as they
believe 10 explain and put atrest forever ve&itOus
scandal The Committee are likewise Of opinion, based
on the testimony submitted TO them, that no unprelu
diced court OF inquiry could have reviewed TINS case as
thus presented in person by its principal figures without
being strikngly impressed with the moral integrity and
e IL fba to State that the Rev
Henry Ward Beecher, Mr.. Theodore Tilton. aud Mrs
should receive the Increased sympathy and respect Of
Plymouth Church and congregation.
(olgned)
Meantime Beecher had been engaged in preparing his
own statement the Committee and had the night be-
fore come from Peeksk for that purpose and also
to attend the Friday evening prayer meeting the next
day. and suppose had not learned what had been DONE
Very early Friday morning received the following
note, which here insert, marked "C":
BERCBER TO MOUITON.
FRIDAY MORNING, July 10, 1874.
MY DEAR FRANK: Can you be seen this morning
and, If so, when aud where ANY tlme after Ten woua
into town last night. Yours ever, IL. W. BEECHEk'
replied to HIM in substance-for have not copy
having been up very late the night before-indeed.
believe was still In bed when received it-that was
haua ha huaU
meet Tracy and Tilton again that day before Tlton
should 20 before the Committee the evening In re-
sponse to my reply received from Beecher the follow
ing reply, marked D.:
BEECHER TO MOULTON.
MI DEAR FRANK My papers are all here, and It wonld
too tired. Yours, H. W. DEEChEh'
In reply to this Informed Mr. Beecher that was TO
meet Tton at my house. that would be In consultation
with him, and advised him to there and meet him
also as hoped matters we're in process OF adjustment
and received from him the same day the following
note marked "E":
BEECHKR TO MoULToN.
MY DEAR FRANK do not know as 1t is necessary TO
outlines Of statement When do speak intend TO b,
believed or course. shall not publish until nave seen
90 forward long as heretofore When say VIII not
mean cannot. Events are masters, Just now 80 80 ~
There is no earthly reason for conference with Mr. l.
1t makes nothing better everything worse Inc matter
June TO- IA. Yours gratefully, Ii. W. BEEcHER.
frankly confess that felt hurt at this note because
believed that had been acting for the best In his be-
half and that matters In process OF adjustment
1t seemed to me to be another Of despair on his
part whereas believed Instead that he should have
conferred with Tilton as his counsel had done.
During the day OF the 10th Tltons report drafted for
the Committee above quoted submitted to Mr.
Tracy who said that with few alterations that were
not material he thought he could haye adopted by the
Committee
On the evening OF the same day-the 10th OF July-in
response to the invitation of the Committee and in pur
suance OF the policy that had been marked out in our
conferences with Gen. Tracy Tlton appeared before
the Committee and made brief statement Neither
Ilton nor myself knew at that time what were the
terms Of the commission OF the Committee, or what
were TO be the extent and purpose OF their inquiry;
but both supposed that It's purpose was to endeavor to
settle trouble between Beecher and Tton, aud not
for the purpose Of full Investigation of all the facts
This idea had got Mr.. Beecher in the converse
ton which have before related and had therefore
supposed as stated to him, that thought we could
get along without the Committee.
The first statement of Tlton before the Committee
not having been made public cannot know its terms
but he reported to the substance OF 1t as find it
made By him In his preface to his statement OF
Juy 20 to the same Committee; and he address
ing the individuals to the facts which had taken
place before them assume it to be true statement.
1t is as follows:
call you to witness that on my first brief examina
ton before your Committee begged and imp0red you
not to inquire OF this bur rather to
seek " bury them beyond all possible revelation
MRS. TMTOSs COURSE. a
On the morning OF the next day, the 11th and
double complication 1t consisted first of the sud-
den and unexpected announcement by Mrs. Tilton to
her husband o'clock that she meant 10 desert
her home and family and IN few moments afterward
she carried this intention into effect by going to make
her abode with Mr.. and Mrs. Ovington next, by the
simultaneous publication in that mornings newspa-
pers OF the letter Of appointment OF the Committee by