The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-08-29

. was freely given. Mr.. Beecher said b
: did not sec how Bowen could retain hi
relations with Tilton, Mr.. Beecher spok
! strongly Of a threatening letter and reve
alton he had Just had concerning Tilton'
, domestic affairs. Mr.. Bowen receivet
Tilton's threatening letter and said tina
Il the trouble come he would stand b.
, Beecher. II seems that Bowen commu.
: nicated to Tilton on the following day thl
conversation had with Beecher and hi
intention 10 stand by him (BeeChet
though he had no doubt that Tilton wOulC
have lost his place and said that bis In.
tluence was decisive and anticipated Til,
toms overthrow. It now appears that or
the Goth OF December, 1870, Tilton, havins
learned Of the advice Beecher gave L
Bowen, and which was likely TO brinl
him face to face, with loss OF place anC
position, cxtorted from his wife, then lyinc
Ill Of miscarriage, document implicat
ing BeeCher; document evincing love
tor her pastor and accusing him OF hsv
lug madO an improper solicitation. Or
the following day he sent Moulton tc
Beecher requesting an interview with
Beecher at Moulton's house that evening
MIR. Beecher accordingly met Tillon a
Moulton's house. Tilton received him
with 8 memorandum in his hand and pro,
ceeded 10 charge Beecher with being un.
friendly to him; with seeking his down
fall, spreading Injurious r1mors about
him; and advising Bowen to dismiss him;
iDjlring him in his family relations; join
ing his rilton's) mother. in law In produc-
ing discord in the house; advising sep.
aration; alternating his wiie's affection
from him; with gaining her lovo more
than any living being; with corrupting
her moral virtue; with teaching her 10 be
tnsincere, lying and hypocritIcal, and
ending by charging that he made wicked
proposals 10 her. Mr.. Tilton then pro.
duced written paper purportiDg to be q
memorandum OF confession MADE in July
previous to him by his vile oi her love
for Mr.. Beecher, and that he had made
proposals to her oi an Impure nature. Mr..
Tilton, In the twenty.second sub division
Of his statement before the Committee,
referring in time to December, 1870,
states his grievances and cause Of com.
plant OF Mr. Beecher touching Tilton's
business relations with Mr.. Bowen with
these words: THAT he, Mr.. Beecher, then
participated in conspiracy TO degrade
Theodore TiltOn before the public by loss
OF place OF business and repute." 1t is
clear that on the Goth day OF December,
Wnen the 80 called memorandum OF con-
tession was procured from Mrs. Tilton,th
chief melting cause of that step on TIL
toms part was his belief that Mr.. Beech.
er had caused him the loss OF his place
OF business and repute. Mr.. Beecher
says this charge of impure proposals fell
upon him like thunderbolt. Gould 1t be
possible that Mrs. Tilton, whom he had
regarded as the type Of so much moral
goodness, should have made such false
and atrocious statements. Mr.. Tilton re.
quested Mr., Beecher 10 repair 10 his house,
where Elizabeth was waiting for him, and
learn from her lips the truth OF tie stories
The interview was had and resulted In q
written relraction of the charges Of Mira
Tilton, who seemed in great distress. In
q sort OF postscript to the retrsction she
denied explicitly that Beecher had ever
offered any improper solicitations 10 her,
that being the only charge made by Til
ton or referred to in the statement about
the confession In July.
On the next evening Moulton called at
Beecher's house and went up into his
room. He said that he and Tilton had
learned that Mrs. Tilton had given the
retraction. He expostulated and said the
act was unfriendly and would not mend
matters, and that Mrs. Tilton had already
recanted the retractiop;that Tilton had al
ready destroyed his wiIe's frs; paper of
the confession. MIR. Moulton claimed that
Beecher had acted unfairly, that all the
difficulties could be settled without such
papers, and that Beecher ought to give it
up. Mr.. Moulton was under great appar.
ent excitement. He made no verbal
threats, but displayed pistol and laid it
on a bureau near which he stood. The
paper was given to him, and after few
moments he left.
1t is an amazing pity that at this juno
ture Moulton WAS not handed over 10 the
police. 1t would have saved much that
followed, which Is deeply deplorcd.
Beecher's distress at the situation was
boundless. He says the peril of being
even falsely accused he blamed himself
Tor. Much that had occurred-he could
not tell how much-of the impending
trouble could be attributed to Mrs. Til
tons undue affection for him, which II
was his duty to have repressed.
my earnest DESIRE" he says, ITO avoid
public accusation and the evils which
must necessarily aow from 1t, and which
have now resulted from 1t, has been one
oil the leading motives that must explain
my action during these four years in this
matter"
While in morbid condition of mind
produced by these distressing difficulties,
M0ulton again called on him. His man.
ner was kind and conciliatory. He pro.
tessed, however, TO believe that Beecher
had been seeking Tilton's downfall, had
lesgued with Bowen against him, and
by his advice had come near destroving
Tilton's family. Beecher expressed many
strong regrets at the misfortuues of that
family. Moulton caught up some of these
expressions and wrote them down, say
Ing that il Tilton could see them there
would be no trouble In procuring q re-
Cancellation.
This paper, which Is dated January /,
1871, was entrusted TO Moulton's keep
Ing without reading 1t, nor was 1t read to
him. This paper, sometimes called the
apology "andsonetimes the confession"
is In no sense BeCcher's production, or
correct report OF what he SAID. No
man will believe, for instance, that Mr.
Beecher said, 81 humble myself before
him (Flton) as do before my God. An
other sentence, "Her forgiveness have"
Dir. Beecher states was not said, nor the
semblance Of 1t.
PausiDg here, very important ques-
ton arises in this connection 10 what
doe does the apology reters 1t declares Mrs,