The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-07-20
NEW YORK.
BEECHER-TILTON.
WiIkesOn's statement.
TiItOn Undoubtedly Crazy.

prints the statement OF Samuel WllkesOn
before the Beecher Investigating Com
mittee. The substance is that in March
1872, Theodore TiltOn came to his office
and took from his pocket worn proof
sheet of the letter he proposed to pub
li.h in the next issue Of the Gotdcn Age
unless Henry Ward Beecher did him
Justice. The letter, which was dated
january lSt 1871, and addressed to
Henry :. Bowen, acknowledges the re-
ccipt of his sudden notice to break his
two contract, with the independent and
BROOKLYN Union; and zoe, on to state
that it was in the early part Of the rebel
lion that Bowen first intimated to him
that Bcechcr had committed class OF
adultery for which, if he Bowen should
expose him, hr would be driven from the
pulpit.
From that time forward Bowen - refer
oncrs 10 the subject, says Tilton, were fire.
ou.ut ..On the 18th of December, l'Io,
1T an interview in BowcnS house, at
which Oliver johnson was present, you,
Bowen spoke freely and Indignantly OF
Beechcr ~ an unsafe visitor in the faml-
lie. Of hi, c"ngrcgutisn. You alluded BY
name 10 Il woman now WIDOW, Whoae
husbands death you didn't doubt was
bo,trurd by hi, knowledge that MIR.
Benchcr had maintained with her improp-
cr intimacy. You informed uS that Mr.
Bccchcr had made To You g ntessloil ol
guilt. and with tears implored Your for
Uivcuc>s. After Mr.. JOhnson rctircd,,you
related to me the case Of another woman
whom. Mr. Bcochcr took in his arms by
force. threw her down on sofa, accom-
pli,hrd upon her his dcviltry and left her
"You suggrStrd.a demand upon hint 70
quit his sacred office, and volunteered to
bear such II demand and 10 sustain 1t.
This letter YOU presented to Mr.. Beech
rr at Mr.. Frrcland'S house. Shortly
afterwards YOU sought an interview with
me. and with your face livid with rage
| Threatened. with loud voice, If | ever
! .hould inform Mr.. Bcechcr of the state
ncnts YOU made concerning his adultery
| or should compel YOU to adducc the evi-
| dcncr on which YOU agreed to sustain the
| demand for hi> withdrawal from Brook
! lvn. YOU would deprive me of my en-
Eugc;ncntS with the independent and
! Gn;op. and if ever attempted to enter
those Offices would have me tOrcbly
elected. | told YOU ,houla inform Mr..
! Bccchrr or any body else, according to
the dictates Of my Judgment.
..Hardlv had your violent words ccu-"d
ringing in my ears when | received your
summary notice breaking my contrast.
Mr.. WilkcsOn SAYS: Shocked with th"
mischicvou,nc>s of this matter, Tilt"n
threatened To- publish, he demonstrated
against it, Il discussion cnsucd,-on Id
! tons part passionate and n"lSy.-li",
| Triton, complained that Bowen had dis.
missed him without cause and had ruined
! him in fame. prospect and estate, and had
crowned this wrong by refusing To pay n
LARGE debt for editorial services, of which
he was in pressing need. compelling hnu
to bring suit 10 collect IT. His
next complaint was that Mr.
Bcecher had not helped him
in his troubles; that h. was lying
crushed on the sidewalk III Brooklyn
and Bcrchcr. who had such power that
with his little finger he could have lifted
ND and rrinStated him, saw him in hi.
agony and passed by in silence and in.
difference. Rising into dramatic rage
tramping the room from corner to cor,
nrr. and speaking with intense passion
he declared. Il will have revenge on
him. will pur>u" him to his grave.
1t was clear to me. says Nilkeson
that what Triton wanted was money
and that hi> purpose in coming I" mt
wa, To- raise money. He left my ottlc,
calm and happy in the prospect Of NJ
arrangement that outlined It
him. which should immmcdiatrlI
rive 1u him in hand the money
Bowen owed him, restore his old rclu
tion> with Brrchrr and Bowen, prucur,
for him nattcriug mention in the hrdC
D-ndcnf and Il handsome notice in tn,
CHristinn Union Of hi> newspaper enter
prise. The well known tripurtitc agree
mcut cam" from the negotiations initi
atrd after this interview. Bowen agrccC
t. pay forthwith Tilt"n> unpaid salary
and io publish Il preparatory card III th'
. L,drpc"6't
..On the night of April ,, 1872. wh"r
the agreement WAS ready for signature
Titon was in Il happy frame Of mine
and ovcrliowrd with lrv" and admiration
Of Brrrh"r> words.
WilkrSun gives the terms uf the agree
mcnt ~ originally drafted. This papc
was Il read at II meeting of four gentle
men. Of whom Tiltou WAS one. He Wa
charmed with it. and said he could con
>cirntiuu>v and heartily subscribe hi
name to every word Of il; would sign i
twelve times over if that would induce
Bowen to sign il once; and in his eager.
ness took up pen t" ,ign. it, but h" wa,
restrained bya suggestion that Bower
might be- les willing t. Ign it if Tiltor
signed it first. 1t was carried ava,
without Tilton.S signature.
WIkrsun', statement continues a
follows: In full and kind converse
tion between IN" and Mr. TiltUn aftr
the meeting uu the might Of April =
broI," up he replied t. clear cut qucs
tion put To- him that the only wroni
. Mr.. Brcchrr had ever done him ha,
l been to Sddrr>, improper language t
r hi> wife, and that for that L. held in hi
hands an ample and satisfactory write
: apology. l repeated to him the mentio
, of grayrr injury than that made to IN
by person whose information wa. a
t legged to he derived in par, directly tror
, himself, and in part at second hand lroI
! a confession Of hi wife. WIKI great spir
; he denied tn" truth Of both thes
! statements. He called the informar
at second hand a >exually, morbid mon,
| maniac, who had imagined every wor,
, she uttered. Hc$corntully said there W.
not shadow Of truth in. her story. II
: expressed amazrmcnt that the other. pc,
=. son should state that he had ever sai
there was anything criminal in Becchrr
,l,,,+ md I.uinJ in ,ha ti,ll.s, 49,,