Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-07-23
THE OTHER SIDE.

New YORK, July 22.-General Tracey,
counsel for Mr.. Beecher, says the in-
vestigation now being made by the COM
mittee into the great scandal will fully
exOnerate Mr.. Beecher, and will show
that the charge of criminality, which is
now for the first time made against him,
is entirely unfounded. Upon the publi-
cation of Mr.. Tilton's statement yester-
day afternoon, Mr.. Beecher, who has
been seeking rest and relaxation on his
farm at Peekskill, was :elegraphed for,
and he accordingly hurried home, ar
irving there at late hour last night.
The so-called apology of Beecher to Til
ton was, it is claimed by Beecher's
friends, never gwen to Tilton, and
never meant for him. 1t was written
entirely by Moulton, in the dusk Of
evening in BeecheI's house. The whole
matter, it is claimed, was in a rough
form, and not intended to be imme-
diately given to TiltOn. The last sem
tence in the original is widely different
from the previous portion. The letter
proper was not signed by Mr.. Beeeher,
but a memorandum on the other side OF
it was. MIR. TiltOn, in speaking with 8
reporter, denied that he author
lied the publication Of the state
ment, and said: at must
have come from the committee. They
will rue the day when they saw fit to
give these facts to the public. There
were only two copies of my statement
in existence. One 1 gave to the COM
mittee, the other kept myself. went
before the committee this afternoon and
had kindly interchange with them. l
had no suspicion that the publication of
my statement was to be made, either in
part or in whole. 1t was a cruelty in
Mr.. Beecher; it was a crime against
human nature to have summoned me
by public proclamation signed by his
name, in his authorization OF commit
tee of six to divulge secrets contained in
that statement. No committee in chris
tendon, net though it were congress, or
of all the churches in the world, or all
of the councils of the land, could have
extorted from me the facts laid before
Beeeher's committee Monday night.
Beecher himself, by his public demand
on me to do so, admitted the fact, which
had no right TO refuse except at a sac
rifice Of all self-respect. Beecher alone,
and not his committee, could have
brought me to make this statement. Mr..
Beecher and Mrs. TiltOn together, for they
are acting in union, have combined to
force me to do what no other earthly
power could have done, and that is to
divulge facts which gave to the COM
mittee; but did not give them so much
to the committee as TO Beecher himself.
He threw down a challenge, and Mrs.
TiltOn aided and abetted him in his de-
fense. Mr.. Beecher struck a last blow
at my good name, and Mrs. TiltOn de-
kr,A H., -.
take part in this final attack. Moth
ing remained for me out to stand on my
manly right of self-defense; but I can
only express my grief at the publication
of the facts, which should never have
gone beyond the committee. For four
years past have sought for nothing but
peace, but now that the struggle has
come, can say, with as much pride as
sorrow, and with as much determina-
ton as propriety, that the victory is
mine, because the right is with me-"
Tilton, being asked where he proposed
to live, answ red: "Nowhere; hence
forth have no life. This is the end of
all tragedies; they eliminate in death.
My duty has been DONE"
BEECHER's STATEMENT.
NEW YORK, July 22-This evening
several of the deacons of Plymouth
church, with Mr.. Sherman, Mr.. Ross
and General Tracey, met at Mr.. Beech
er's residence, and after a council last
ing about three hours drew up the fol-
lowing statement of Mr., Beecher for
publication:
''I do not prepare at this time de-
tailed examination OF the remarkable
statement of Theodore TiltoD, made be-
fore the committee of examination, and
which appeared in print July q, 1874.
recognize the many reasons which
make it of transcendent Importance to
myself, the church and che cause
of spublic morality, that 1 shall
give full answer to the charges
against me; but having requested the
committee OF investigation to search
tEis matter to the bottom, it is to them
that | must look for my vindicstion;
but cannot delay for an hour to defend
the reputation Of Mrs. Elizabeth r. Til
ton, upon whose name, in connection
with mine, her husband has attempted
to pour shame. One less deserving of
such disgrace l never knew. From
childhood she has been under my eye,
and since reaching womanhOod she has
had my sincere admiration and affection.
l cherish for her pure feeling, such as s
gentleman might hOnorably offer to a
christian woman, and which she might
receive and reciprocate without moral
scruples. l reject with Indignation every
imputation which reflects upon her
honor or my own. My regard for Mrs.
Iilton was perfectly well known to my
family. When serious difficulties sprang
upon her household, it was to my wife
that she resorted for counsel. Both Of
US acted from sympathy, and as it sub
sequently appeared without full know
ledge, gave unadvised counsel which
tended to harm. 1 have no doubt
but that Mr.. Tilton found that
his wife's confidence and reliance upon
my judgment had greatly increased,
while his influence had diminished in
of e marked change in his
religious ami social views which were
taxing place during those years. Her