The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-09-18
The SCANDAL REVIVED.
Moulton's Second Statement in
the Beecher-Tilton Case.

or which an immense NUMBER were solo,
special editions being also simultaneously
published in Boston, Albany, and various cities
of the Northeast. The excitement created
here by it's appearance was not great, the in
terest in the scandal being greatly wearied
out by the long and numerous statements.
1t appears that, after the scene in church,
where Moulton narrowly escaped being
mobbed, lie went home, and at once began to
write his statement. He took it when finished
to the Graphic Office, but it was so violent in
language and so unlike his former statement
in tone that he was urged to submit it to Gen.
Butler.
He went to Boston. and Butler as his coun-
sci, insisted on remodelinG the whole state
ment. This was done only after
several days labor. 1t is, as
printed legal argument very strong in
many parts, and bears unmistakable touches
of Buffers PEN Most Of the space is devoted
to prolix and needlessly long defenses of
Moulton against Beecher's insinuations OF
blackmail and falsehood, and to the charge
that, as the scandal approached climax,
| Moulton turned against Beecher to help Til
ton. The FIRST part OF the statement is de-
voted to showing that Moulton worked to
avoid publicity until the last moment and
that, in tho efforts to conciliate and silence
TIlton. he was aided until the last moment by
not only Beecher, but Tracy. Indeed, Tracy
! is severely attacked. He is represented as
| begging Tilton, with tears in his eyes. not to
submit statement charging adultery. This
! failing, Tracy is pictured ae trying TO secure
an adjournment of the committee, 80 that Til
ton would have no one to present his state
ment to. This failing, Tracy refused to be
present when Iilton was to appear.
Moulton then proceeds to call attention 20
some OF Beecher's alleged misstatements, one
of which is the averment that the only copy
of Mrs. Tiltons confession wac torn to pieces III
his own presence on the night OF Dec. 30,
1870. Moulton says that paper was delivered
into his hands on the night of the meeting Of
Beecher and Tilton at his house. In regard
to this point Moulton says: When Beecher
was first charged with his adultery with Mrs
Tilton, and afterwards when 1 demanded the
retraction from him, he asked me, "What
will you do with it if L give it up?"
1 answered: Il will keep it as | keep
will protect it with my life, as / would
protect the other with my life" l
may be allowed to say here that at
this remark made reference to the pistol in
my overcoat pocket, which l always carried in
the night, as emphasizing the extremity OF my
defense Of the papers. Yet Nlr. Beecher says,
g He made no verbal threats, but opened his
overcoat and with some emphatic remark, he
| showed me a pistol" Why misrepresent IL
it possible that he gave his confidence at once
to man who extorted the paper from him with
pistol? Yet Beecher's Committee make a
point Of this prevarication in their argument
for the accused After the tripartite coven-
ant l handed back that same paper to Tilton
at the request of his wife, in order that she
might be satisfied and herself destroy it. Now,
which of these statements is true Let CO.
temperaneous facts and acts answer. 1t will
be remembered that that meeting was on Fri
day night, the 30th of December 1870, Mrs
TiltOD Gent m 81 note naratOfOrp pnllishal
dated next Saturday morning, in the following
words:
MRS. TILToN TO MoULToN.
SATURDAY MORNING.
A." My DEAR FRIEND FRANK: l want you to
do me the greatest possible favor. My letter
which you have, and one which l gave Mr..
Beecher at his dictation, last evening, ought
both to be destroyed. Please bring both to
me, and will Durn them. Show this note to
Theodore and Mr.. Beecher They will see the
propriety Of this request. Yours truly,
''E. r. TMToN."
The "letter referred to, of course, it will
be seen, is the confession, " the only letter |
then had of hers referring to this matter.
And again, to show that l cannot be either
mistaken or untrue, refer to Mr.. Tilton's
note to Beecher Of April q following:
FRIDAY, April 81, 1871.
MIR. BEEcHER AS Mr.. Moulton has re-
turned, will you use your influence to have
the papers in his possession destroyed? Ny
heart bleeds night and day at the injustice of
their existence"
Would not Hilton have caused such paper to
be preserved after he had founded an accusa-
ton uponit2 This falsehood was put in by
Beechers lawyers lest Tilton might produce
a COPY az my statement had not then been
published with its documentary evidence.
The next point is in regard to Beechers
alleged want OF veracty concerning the letter
IA anptrition in which no n tho
Humble myself before him (Tilton) as l do
before my God" Moulton proceeds to ex-
plain at length the circumstances under which
that letter was written. 1t was, he says, at
Beecher's own dictation, and read
by him carefully before he put his signature
to it.
Moulton next brings what purports to be
his proofs that Beecher and Mrs. Tilton re-
newed their intimacy after the confession
was made, and after both had given assurance
to Tilton that they would not meet except
through him. In support of his statements
he produces the following invitation to Mr..
b. from Mrs t.:
WEDNESDAY.
"MY DEAR FRIEND: Does your heart bound
towards all az it used? SO does mine / am
myself again (sic). did not dare to tell you
till was sure; but the bird has sung in my
heart these four weeks, and he has cove
nanted with me never again to leave. Spring
has come. Because thought it would glad
den you to know this, and not to trouble or
embarrass you in any way now write. or
course / should like to share with you my JOY,
but l can wait for the beyond. When dear
Frank says | may once again go to old Plym-
outh, l will thank the dear Father"
And the following note from Mr.. b. to
Mrs. T.:
1.-THE blessing of God rest upon you. Every
spark of light and warmth in your own house
will be star and sun in my dwelling. Your
note broke like spring [sicl upon winter, and
gave me an inward bound toward life. NO
one can ever know. none but God, through
what dreary wilderness i have wandered.
There was Mount Sinai; there was the
barren waste, and there was the alienation
of hope and despair that marked the pilgrim
age of old. IL only it might lead to the
promised land Or, like Moses shall die on
the border? Your hope and courage are alike
amazing. Could God inspire you to restore
and rebuild at home and, while dong 1t, to
cheer and sustain outside of it another who
sorely needs help in heart and spirit, 1t will
prove a life so noble as few are able TO live,
and in another world the emaniclpated soul
may utter thanks. II it would be OF comfort
to you now and then to send me letter OF