Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-08-28
MORE OF THE GREAT SCANDAL.
Francis ID. Moulton Gives his state
msnt in Full.

The longpromeed statement OF Francis ID.
Ward Beecher, was given to lhe public on. the
2ist. It is a formidable document comprising
about twenty columns Of ordinary newspaper
type. The salient portions only arc here given
Mr.. Moult0n prefaces his statement with an ex
planatory card In which he details the circum
stances which called IL forth. He had been a
friend of Mr.. Tilton from boyhood and had always
entertained for Mr. Beecher the warmest
9%FSOq tSaa mr. beochdr had given Mr. on S sraS
cause of o1ense and because he believed the rev.
elation Of the scandal would undermine the fonns
and blight the family of one OF the most brilliant
men Of this generation he had labored assidn-
GUS settlement of all difficulties. This labor had
continued for four years, and, when It had failed
TO accomplish what was desired, Mr.. Beecher had
seen fit TO visit on him (Moulton) the penalty OF
his own wrong doing, and at the same time de-
manded that he should tell what he knew, hs IL
would justify his attack on him.
Mr.. 1eecher in his statement had said that he
brought this investigation without Mouton's
knowledge or advice. Even while mourning
what seemed to him the unwisdom Of the pro-
ceedings he had done all he could to avert the
catastrophe. He had denied the united and pub
lie appeals made by both Beecher and Tilton TO
produce the evidence In his possession, but he
had stated that clearly in an emergency he should
speak in defense of his own integrity, II aesaed.
BY the published accusation Of Mr.. Beecher his
own self-respect made it imperative that the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
truth should bo told, and he therefore gave
prepared for the committee, but which, at the
earnest solicitation of the friends of Mr.. Becchcr,
he had withheld. Its publication was not In the
protection against public accusations which ai-
fected himself personally; He was profoundly
the publication, but his grief was alleViated by
the fact that the disclosure could scarcely work
more harm to Mr. Beecher at the present time
than II would have caused him in. January,
1871, when, but for his interference the public
would most assuredly have been put in posses
sion of the whole truth. The statement to the
committee hero follows:
Mr.. Moulton, after recognizing the fact Of
his scquaintance with Messrs: Tilt9n and and
genius, says that up to the date of Tilton's
vaedietory as editor Of the IRdependent
he had been frequently avisitor at Tiltons house,
and had seen himself and Mrs. Tilton under all
phases of social intercourse, but had never
heard or known of the slightest disagreement or
unkindness existing between them, and believed
their marital relations were almost exceptionally
pleasant.
from an interview with Mr. Bowen, told him that
Bowen had made certain accusations against
Bcecher, and had challenged 1iton to write an
open letter demanding that he should cease his
ministry at Plymouth Church, which Bowen was TO
deliver. He told Bowen that he believed his accu-
sations against Beechcr because he had made i'm
proper advances to Mrs. Tilton. He afterward
learned from Mr.. Beecher that Bowen had dcliv-
cred to him the open letter referred to-; In day
he told Bowen that he was going to call on
Beecher he came up to the office in great anger
and told him that II he should say TO Beecher
-
(Beecher's) adultery he would dismiss him from
the Independent and the Union. Tilton told him
he had never been influenced by threats, and he
would not be in the present case, and subse-
quenuy received Bowen's letter of dismissal.
On the evening Of the 30th of December Tilton
came to him and said that by his wife's request
he had determined to see Beecher, in order to
show to Beecher the coniession.o of hisYife OF In
never up to that time mentioned to Bcecher and
the fact of the confession of which his wife had
told him that she had never told Beecher; that
her confession had been made in the July pre-
Yious in writing which writing he CIAton) had
afterward destroyed, but that his wife, fearing
that If Bowens accusations against Beecher were
made public the whole matter would be known
and her own conduct with Beecher become ex-
posed, had renewed her confession in her own
handwriting, which Tilton handed to him (Moul-
tom to read. Tilton wanted him to go
down and ask Beecher to come up and see
him CTiltonl at Moulton's house. He went and
and see him at my house Immediately" He asked
what for. Moulton replied: -" He wants to ma ze
nns MS 5 In % Sen II a
ono in the bachroom to go down and say that he
should not be at prayer-meeting, and Moulton
at the time, when he remarked: "There is an APP
propriateness in this Storm" and asked Moulton,
"What can dos what can ! DOR He said
wish, 1 will show You how well heather can
serve you,," They then went to Moulton's
S1d pafor ne Where Mr. on WSs
and left them together: In about an hour Mr.
Beecher came down and asked him ifhe had seen
the confession Of Elizabeth. He said he had;
Moulton to gowalk with him. They walked to
Mr.. Tilton's house together. On the way he
said: "This is a terrible catastrophe. 1t comes
upon me as if struck by lightning"
Beecher went into Tflton's house, and Moul-
Beecher returned, and shortly after left for his
home, Moulton accompanying him. When they
arrived at Beechers house he wanted Moulton
to stand by him IN his emergency,
Bile. He told him he would, because the
interests Of women, children and iami-
That ended the interview that night. During
this evening nothing was said by Beecher as to
the truth or falsity of Mrs. Tilton's confession,
nor did he inform him that he had obtained from
her any recantation of the confession. Moulton
returned to his house and had some conversation
with Tilton, in which he told him that he had re.
cited to Beecher the details of the confession of
his wife's adulterles, and the remark which
Beecher made was: 'This is all dream, Theo-
dore," and that was all the answer Beecher made
to him. Moulton then advised Tilton that for the
sake of his wife and family, and for the sake of
Beechers family, the matter should be kept quiet
The next morning Tilton came to his house
and informed him, with great anger that BeecheT
had done mean act; that he had gone from the
interview of the night before to his house and
procured from Elizabeth recantation and re-
traction of her confession: He said for that act
peace. He said: "You see that what have told
you of the meanness of that man is now. evil
dent. Triton SAID tnaJ BCcCncr, at tne inter-
view of last night, had asked his permission to
go and see Elizabeth, and he told him he
might go, which statement was confirmed
by Beecher himself, and Beecher left him
for that purpose. Moulton said to Til
ton: Nov, don't get angry;, let us see if
even this cannot be arranged. / will go down
and get that retraction from him." In the even
ing Moulton visited Beecher, and told him he had
done mean and treacherous act, treacherous,
first, toward him, from whom he wanted help, in
that he did not tell him on the way to his house
the night before what he had procured from Mrs.
Tilton, and that he could not expect his friend;
ship in this matter unless he acted truthfully and
holorably toward him. He further said;
Mr.. Beecher,. you have T,,. had criminal
done great injury, to Tilton otherwise.
Now, when you are confronted with it, you ask
permission of tfe man to again visit his house,
that you have ruined her a recantation of the
truth for your mere personal safety That won't
save you" At that Interview Beecher admitted
with grief and sorrow the fact of his sexual rela-
tions with Mrs. Tilton, He said that Mrs.
Beecher and himself, without knowing OF the
confession of Mrs Tilton to her husband,
toward Mrs. Tilton, and taking active interest
with her against her husband. Moulton said:
come for it," ''WeIl," said he, 'what shall do
without itg" He replied: II don't know; can't
tell you what will happen with it," He asked:
What will you do If give it 10 your" MOulton
answered.: ~ will keep 1t as Keep the confes-
sion. If you act honOraby will protect IL with
iIfe. nm Mr. Tlto3 asked for that nat confession this
morning, and I said will never give 1t to you (;
you shall not have ii from my hands until have
exhausted every effort for peace"
Mr.. Beecher gave him back the paper. When
he went home with the recantation he found Til
ton there and showed 1t to him. He expressed
his surprise and qualification that he should have
been able to get 1t, and he then showed to him
how very foolish 1t would have be en- in the morn
ing to have proceeded angrily against Beecher'
lie made another appeal for peace saying that,
Notwithstanding the great difficulties appearing
in the way, IL they were properly dealt with they
would he beaten out of the way He expressed
his Willingness and desire for peace.
On the LIST of January, In accordance with q
previous understanding, he went 10 Beecher 8
house and went into his study, where he told him
again of his great surprise that Elizabeth should
have made the confession of his criminal COM
merce with her to her husband without letting him
know anything about it, making his destruction
at any moment possible and without warning
TO him. He expressed his great grief at this
wrong which he had done as a minister and
friend to Theodore, and, at his request, Moulton