The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-09-10
THE GREAT SCANDAL.
The Committee Declare IIr. Beeclcr
Innocent.

innocent.
Plymouth Church Brooklyn) was
dcnscly packed on the evening of the
2Sth to listen to the report of the Bcechcr
Investigating Committee, which was
read, in substance as follows:
In conducting the investigation the committee
state that they had faithfully cndcavored to make
it thorough and impartial, and to obtain such
facts as were relevant to the inquiry from all
attainablc sources of evidence. For this purpose
they requested the attendance of large number
of witnesses, most of whom had testified before
the committee. one notable exception being Mr.
Francis Il. Carpenter.
Mr. Monlton had promised to- testify fully. but
short statements in writing to the committee,
consisting chiefly Of the reasons why he declined
to testify at the call Of the committee
IN addition to the evidence of the persons who
had testified, they had examined number of let
tiers and other documentary evidence which were
supposed to relate to the subject matter Of the in
The committee state that the offense as alleged
by Mr.. TfltOn during some four years, and Until
recently, to numerous persons. in writing and
hy NV was an pr % or soc
passed and purposes maturcd this charge was en-
larged to that of adultery.
q. The committee state that; after having given
the evidence the most careful consideration, they
find therefrom that in 1851 Mr.. Beecher became
editor and Mr.. Triton assistant editor Of
the I"dspes"de.t, and during this relation We're
Mr. Bcecher to visit his house. A very
friendly relation sprang up between the
wife and family of Mr.. Titon and Mr.. Bccchcr,
friendly relations were understood and cordially
approved of by Mr.. T'flton Some wears before
any open trouble appeared between Messrs
forth in the I"depe"dent, of which he had become
editor. aroused SO much indignation and opposi-
ton in the West as to lead to the starting Of the
ddsdnce newspaper in Chicago. He CTiltOm had
come to deny the inspiration of the Scriptures
and the divinity of Christ. and his social views
had changed in the direction of free love. these
reiigions and social changes on the part of her
husband being sources Of great grief and sorrow
to Mrs. Tilton. Mrs. Tilton voluntarily sought
her pastor for counsel and sympathy. and Set
forth in strong terms the suffering her husbands
course was causing her. 1t appears that during
these years Mrs. Il. had become strongly attached
to MIR. Beecher. and in july. 1890 confessed to her
husband an Over-shadOwing affection for her
pastor.
On or about the 10th Of December 1870. Mrs.
I1lton separated from her husband, going with
her children to her mothers house. She sent
for Mr. Becchcr. and made to him statement of
her snfferings, and the abuse which she had re-
celyed at the hands of her husband. which great
~ rmGeked Mr. Bee Besther He asked and received
Judgment in such matters he considered better
man ms own. subsequently he agreed in advis-
ing with his wife that it was desirable that Mrs.
Triton should separate from her husband. Mr.
Triton, however subsequently forced his wife to
return to his house by sending for, and obtaining
possession OIL their youngest child, who was sick
with the Group, during Mrs. Tilton's temporary
absence from her mothers house. The next tay
after her return, the 2ath she suffered mscar-
riage, which resulted in serious Illness contin-
uing until after the LIST of January, her physician
being in daily attendance on her from the oath to
the 1tn of December inclusive. Early in Deem
ber this year. owing to the marked change in Mr.
Tilton's religious and social views, Mr. Bowen
felt constrained to give him notice that his serv-
ices as editor Of the independent would terminate
at day named in the notice. Subsequently to
this notice, and on or about the 2Oth of December
Mr.. Bowen entered into contract with Mr. Til
ton, by which he was to be the editor of the
Brooklyn Daily Union and chief contributor Of
the Independent for five years; but within few
days after making this contract Mr.. Bowen re-
ccived such information of Tilton's immortality
az alarmed him and led to an interview between
himself, Tilton and Oliver johnson, at the house
Of Mr.. Bowen. on the a6th day of December. 1870.
At this interview Mr.. Tilton sought to retain his
place and Mr.. BOwen's confidence by offering 10
join Bowen in an attack Mr.. Beechcr. Thi.
interview resulted in the letter written and signed
by Mr.: Triton demanding that Mr.. Bcecher
leave Plymouth pulpit, and Brooklyn. On
reading this letter, which was delivered by
Mr.. Bowen, Mr.. Beecher expressed his as
Constituent at the receipt Of such . letter. and
denounced the writer. Mr.. Bowen then derided
the letter. aud gave him some account Of the rea.