Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-09-10
THE BEECHER CASE.
The Investigating Committee Make
Their Report, and Declare MIR.
Reechar Innocent.


Their Report. and Declare MI.
Beecher Innocent.
Plymouth Church brooklyn was
densely packed on the evening of the
28th to listen to the report of the Beecher
Investigating Committee, which was
read, in substance as follows:
In conducting the investigation the committee
state that they had faithfully endeaVored 20 make
it thorough and impartial, and to OBTAIN sucn
facts as were relevant TO the inquiry ro-h al
attainablc sources of evidence. For TINS purpose
they requested the attendance of a large number
of witnesses. most of whom had testified before
the committee, one notable exception being Mr.
Francis B. Carpenter.
had failed to do so. He had submitted three
short statements in writing to the committee;
consisting chiefly OF the reasons why ne ueClneo
to testify at the call of yhe committee
In addition to the evidence OF the persons VINO
had testified, they had examined number OF let
tiers and other documentary evidence Whlch We're
supposed 10 relate TO the subject matter OF the IN
quiry.
The committee state that the offense as alleged
by Mr.. TiltOn during some four years, ana unui
recently, 10 numerous persons, in writing and
otherwise. was an improper suggestion or solCl-
tation by Mr.. Beecher TO Mrs: IIiton, but as time
passed and purposes matured this charge was en-
larged TO that Of adultery.
The committee state that, after having given
the evidence the most careful consideration, they
find therefrom that in 1861 Mr.. Beecher became
NJ
warm and intimate friends, Mr. Tilton urging
Mr. Beecher TO visit his house. very
friendly relation sprang up between the
wife and family of Mr.. Tilton and Mr.. Beecher,
continuing down TO December, 1870. These
friendly relations were understood and cordially
approved of by Mr.. Tilton. Some years before
any open trouble appeared between Messrs.
Beechcr and Titon. the latter's doctrines as set
forth in the independent, OF which he had become
editor, aroused so much indignation and OPPOSE
lad 70 10 St0 rtIT of a
AdUance newspaper in Chicago. He CTilton) 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
religious 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 wears Mrs. T. had become strongly attached
to Mr.. Beecher, and in July 1870 confessed to her
husband an Over-shadowlng affection Tor her
pastor.
On or about the 10th of December, 1870 Mrs.
Tilton separated from her hus band, going with
her children to her mothers house. She sent
for Mr.. Beecher, and made to him statement OF
her sufferings. and the abuse which she had re-
ceiyed AT the hands of her husband, which great
" shocked Mr.. Beecher. He asked and received
permission to send to Mrs. Tilton his wife, whose
Judgment IN such matters he considered better
than his own. Subsequently he agreed in adyls-
ing with his wife that it was desirable that Mrs
Tilton should separate from her husband. Mr.
Tilton. however subsequently forced his wife to
return to his house by sending for and obtaining
possession of. their youngest child who was sick
with the Group, during Mrs. TiltonS temporary
absence from her mothers house. The next day
after her return the oath, she suffered mis- car
riage. which resulted IN serious illness. contln-
uing until after the 1st of January, her physician
being in daily attendance on her from the 24th TO
the 30tn of December inclusive. Early IN Decem-
Der. this wear. 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 IHdependeHt would terminate
at dav named in the notice. subsequently 70
this notice and on or about the Goth of December.
Mr.. Bowen entered into a contract with Mr.. Til
ton. by which he was to be the editor OF the
Brooklyn Daily Union and chief contributor OF
the TRdependeRt for five years; but within a few
DAYS after making this contract Mr.. Bowen re-
ceved such information of Tilton's immortality
as alarmed him and led to an interview between
himself. Tilton and Oliver Johnson, at the house
of Mr.. Bowen, on the 26th day of December, 1870
AT this interview Mr.. Titon sought to retain his
place and Mr.. Bowen's confidence by offering TO
Join Bowen in an attack on Mr.. Beecher inns
interview resulted in the letter written and signed
by Mr. Tilton 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. and gave him some account of the rec
sons why he had reduced Tilton from the edlto-
ship of the independent to the subordinate posi-
ton of contributor. saying that Mr.: Triton
religious and social views were running me
paper and that he was now considering whether
he could consistently retain him as editor OF the
Brooklyn Union or chief contributor OF the m
dependent.
wishing Mr. Beechers opinion, which was fFeeiy
given. Mr.. Beecher SAID he did not see how MI
Bowen could retain his relation with Mr.. Iliton
Mr.. Beecher spoke strongly OF the threatening
letter and the revelation he had Just mad con-
corning Mr.. Tilton's domestic affairs
Mr.. Bowen read the threatening letter a1G sild
II ! - NJ, Paap1 a- VI
Tilton the next day of the conversation ne mad
had with Mr. Beecher and of his Bowen > lnten-
ton TO stand by Mr.. Beecher.
Mr. Beccher. though he had no doubt tina! IL
ton would have lost his place. saw that ms lnhu-
ence was decisive and anticipated Hilton over
throw.
1870 Mr.. Tilton having learned the ADVICE Mr..
Beechcr gave Mr.. Bowen. and which was lkeiy 10
hiring him face 10 face with loss OF place anC Po-
sition. extOrted from his wife. then lying III OF
miscarriage. document duplicating Mr.. Beecher
"a document eyincing her love for her pastor ana
accusing him of having made an improper soiIci'a-
ton. On the following day he sent M0ultoh 10
Beecher. requesting an interview with Mr.. Beecher
at Mr.. Noulton's house that evening. Mr.. beecner
accordingly met Tilton at MOultons house: III
ton received him with a memorandum IN ms
hand and proceeded TO charge Mr.. BeeCher with
being Unfriendlv TO him. with seeking MS
downfall. spreading injurious rumOrs about MIN
undermining him. and advising Bowen 10 us
miss him: injuring him in his family relatlons
Joining his (Iilton's) mOther-in-law in producing
discord in his house, advising a separation
alternating his Wife'S affection from him. with
gaining her love more than any living being, with
corrupting her moral virtue. with teaching her TO
be inSiuCere. lying and hypOcriTical. and enGIng
by charging that he had made wicked proposals
TO her. Titon then produced a written paper
purpOrting 10 be memorandum Of a confession
made in JuIy previous TO him by his wife OF her
love for Mr.. Beecher. and that ne had made pro-
posals TO her Of an impure nature.
The committee say II is clear that on the goth
day OF December. when the so-called memOran-
dunn OF confession was procured from Mrs.
Tilton. the chief melting cause of that step
on Tnton's part his belief that Mr.
Beecher had caused him the loss of place,
business and repute. Mr.. Beecher says this
charge of impure proposals fell upon him like
thunderbolt. At Mr.. Tilton's request Mr. Beech
er repaired with him TO his house. where Eliza
beth was waiting for him. and learned from her
lips the truth of the stories far they con-
cerned her. This interview resulted in a written
retraction of the charges by Mrs. Tilton. who, in
a sort Of postscript TO the retractiOn, denied
pliciJly that Mr.. Beecher had ever offered any i'm
proper solicitations to her. The next evening