, 1874-08-27

ton and tergiversation there used. 1t is
there shown that the statements of what
is now known as the ankle scene are not
supported by the evidence Of tie person
who claims to have been witness to it,
inasmuch as he could not swear to its
taking place at any particular time dur
ng period of 9 years.
The report then goes into a review of
filton's allegations of personal chastity
and claims of high moral character com
pared with the evidence of other per.
sons as to his alleged corrupt practices
and criminal conduct, notably in the
case of the girl known as Bessie Turner,
whose evidence is given to show that
Tilton claims himself to be what he is
not. Therefrom is deduced charge of
perjury showing that Tilton says under
oath in one instance. what he fatty con-
tradicts in another. The Committee in
giving her accusations of brutality
against her husband and of his infidei-
ity, and still further, showing distinct
contradictions of Tilton's accusations.
Mrs. Tilton's evidence is also quoted to
give her denial of having had criminal
relations with her pastor and her own
explanations of several of the most
prominent portions of her letters.
From this the report proceeds to a
short statement of Frank Moulton's s
testimony as given to the Committee,
and dismisses it briefly as having made
no charges whatever against anyone.
Finally the Beecher statement itself
is taken up and contrasted with several
of the more serious of Tilton's charges,
showing tLat circumstances in them-
selves. apparently damaging. were in
reality capable of explanation. After
this review giving in detail more promi-
nent portions of the entire controversy,
the report sums up the whole matter,
pro and con. showing on one hand a
man standing before all the world with
a great reputation for spotlsss purity
andC Christian character and moral worth
on the other, man of proven bad and
criminal character, the latter making ac-
cusations against the former. One with
nothing to prove his story except per-
sonal allegations, proven, In part, to be
perjury, and supported by some letters
which may mean dozen things but
with but one meaning to them. This
story is denied by all of having any
connection with the matter. but one.
The circumstances as well as burden of
proof are all on one side. The Cons
mittee find that Henry Ward Beecher is
not guilty Of the charges preferred
against him.
SAN Francisco, Aug. pa synopsis
of Moulton's statement occupies col
umns of the Call to-day. 1t covers
about the same ground as his other, ex-
cept that he is very explicit in the alle-
CATION of Beecher's confession to him
of criminal intercourse with Mrs. Til
tom He says: ---
"On Friday evening, December 80,
Tilton came to me and said in substance
that. by his wife's request, he had de-
termined to see Beecher in order to show
him confession of Mrs. Tilton of in
terviews betwet her and Bee cher, which
Tilton had never, up to that time, men
toned to Beecher, and part of which his
wife had told him she had never told
Beecher. He thought his wife's con-
fession had been made in July previous
in writing, which writing he had after
wards destroyed; but his wife, fearing
that if Bowen's accusations against
Beecher were made public the whole
matter would be known, and her own
conduct with Beecher become exposed.
she renewed her confession in her own
handwriting, which he handed to me to
read. This was the first knowledge I
had of its existence, Tilton did not tell
me how his wife came to make the con-
fession in July, nor did I at that time
or ever after ask. Indeed, I may say
here, before all, that I refrained from
asking as to the confessions or acts of
all parties, further than they chose to
make voluntarily for the purpose for
which I was acting.
"Tilton wanted me to go down and
ask Beecher to come up and see him at
my house, which did. said to Beech
er, Mr.. Tilton wants you to come and
see him at my house, Immediately. He
asked, what for?' I replied, He wants
to make some statement to you in refer
ence to Your relations with his family.
H, then called to some one in the back
room to go down and say that he should
not be at the prayer meeting, and we
went out together. 1t wss storming at
the time, when he remarked, There is
an appropriateness in this storm. and
asked, What can I do?' 7 said. Mr..
Beecher, am not a Christian, bat if
you wish, will show you how well a
heathen can serve you.' We went to
my house and showed him chamber
over the parlor, where Tilton was, and
I left them together. In about an hour
Beecher came down stairs and asked
me if had seen the confession of Eliz-
beth. I said I had. Said he, This
will kill me, and asked me to walk ou:
with him. I did, and we walked to Til
tons house together and he went in
On the way be said, This is terrible