The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-09-25

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sought the affections Of Mrs. Il.
Much space is devoted by Tilton to the
alleged Vaccinations of Mrs. Morse, his
mother-in-law, to crea.e unhappiness In his
family and number Of letters are quoted
which place her in an unenviable light Til
ton charges her with hiring and brbng the
girl Bessie to invent and propagate false
stories about him. These are the tales. saws
Tilton. which Bessie referred to four years
ago. when, in letter to Mrs. Tilton, she
said
"Your mother, Mrs. Morse, has repeatedly
attempted to hire me, by offering me dresses
and presents, to go to certain persons aud tell
them stories injurious to the character of
your husband"
The object for which these tales were told
is thus described by Mrs. Tilton in letter to
a lady friend, dated Jan. 10, 1874:
My husband has suffered much with me
in cruel conspiracy made by my poor, suf-
fering mother, with an energy worthy of a
better cause to divorce u.s." etc.
The stories which Mrs. Morse propagated
in the carrying out of this conspiracy are men
toned by Mrs. Tilton in letter to Mr.. Moul-
ton, as follows:
1.-THE story that wanted a separation was
deliberate falsehood coined by my poor
mother. who said she would bear the RESPONSE
bility OF this and other statements she might
make" etc.
In the report of the Plymouth Church In
vestigation Committee occurs the following:
"Tilton's allegation that she Mrs. T.. con-
fessed to her mother Mrs. Morse, is pro-
nounced false by the mother, who testified be-
fore the committee"
To disprove this, and to show that Mrs.
Morse uttered, rs Tilton alleges. a deliberate
falsehood. he quotes letter from Mrs Titon
to Mrs. Morse, dated Marietta, Ohio, Novem-
Der, 1870. Enclosed in this was duplicate of
| letter addressed at the same time by Mrs. T.
10 Ia,I 49, Il. 4
recklessness into which she had been in
formed by her mother that her husband had
lapsed ever since the time of her confession Of
adultery. In this letter Mrs. Titon says:
Dear mother, will now add line to you.
l should mourn greatly if my life was to be
made yet known to father his head would be
bowed indeed to the grave. l love him very
much, and it would soothe my heart could
you be restored to him. Twas greatly touched
by his saying to you that you were still his
wife,
You will see that by reading or showing
this letter to any one you discover my secret.
IL is because trust you, dear mother, that l
send you this, that you may know my spirit
completely toward you both.
" have been told. Confde not in your
mother but reply, To whom on earth can I
confide?
:" l think it prominently wise for us to
destroy our letters respecting this subject, lest
Flory or some one should pick them up"
Mr.. Iilton publishes several letters to show
how heavily his wife's guilty secret pressed on
her heart, particularly at times when exposure
was threatened.
In regard to Mr. Beecher's charge that TIL
tons attack on him originated in the latters
troubles with Henry G. Bowen, he produces
documentary evidence to provo that Bowen
and he were on the very best of terms, that
Bowen had made him costly presents, includ
ing 5000 watch. as an evidence OF his appre-
citation Of valuable services, and offered to en-
gage him for five years at heavy salary He
then narrates with minuteness the first occa-
sion of the broaching Of the Beecher-Tilton
scandal in Bowens presence. The latter re-
ferred to Tilton's not going to Plymouth
church, and wanted to know the
reason. Tilton reminded Bowen first
Of his own oft-repeated charges against
Beecher as clergyman given to
loose behavior with women, and dangerous
to the families of his congregation, and then
told him of the pastors improper behavior
toward his own wife. This, Tilton alleges,
famed Bowen into flame Of anger against
Beecher. Tiltons statement on this point is
very important, and we give it in his own
words: ...... ...r .,.
" AS his own past grievances against his
pastor seemed to be rekindled into sudden
heat, he walked mp and down his library, de-
nouncing Mr.. Beecher as a man guilty of
many adulteries, dating from his Western pas
ceeding years Mr. Bowen declared that Mr..
Beecher had. in the proceeding month of
February, 1870, confessed to him of the adult
teries and Mr.. Bowen pointed out to me the
exact spot in his library, whereupon Mr..
Beecher, with tears and humbleness. had Gas
Mr.. Bowen said) acknowledged to him his
guilt.
Mr.. Bowen, in this interview, declared
that he and owed duty to society in this
matter, and that / ought to join him in Just
demand on Mr.. Beecher to retire from the
ministry. to quit the city. and to betake him
self beyond the reach Of the families whose
homes he was invading like a destroyer.
Mr.. Bowen challenged me to write such
demand, and begged for an opportunity to
bear it to Mr.. Beecher in person. saying that
he would support it by great volume of evil
dence, and would compel its enforcement. l
wrote on the spot the note mentioned in Mr..
Moulton's statement and which seemed to
please Mr. Bowen greatly. Just as / was
leaving his house. his last word to me was
Henry Ward Beecher is wolf in the fold,
and l know it he ought never to preach an
other sermon, nor write another word in a
religious newspaper; he endangers families
and disgraces religion he should be blotted
out"
= Tilton relates in detail the interview be-
tween Beecher and himself, in the presence
of Mouton, on the night of the 30th OF De-
cember. 1870. concerning the pastors alleged
Of which we give in his own words:
After delivered my message, / unlocked
the door and said to Mr.. Beecher, Now that
we understand each other, you are free to go.
If any harm or disgrace comes to Elizabeth
or the children, shall hold you responsible
For her sake I spare you, but if you turn upon
her, will smite your name dead before the
whole world
when / ceased speaking, he hesitated to
leave his chair, but sat with bowed head, and
with eyes riveted to the floor. At length, |
looking up into nv face. he said: Theodore, |
am in dream--I am in Dante's Inferno
~ pointed to the door and said again, |
You are free to retire
In going out he stopped on the threshold, |
turned, looked me in the face, and asked with |
quivering lip whether or not would permit
him TO see Elizabeth once more for the last |
time. / was about to answer, No, never |
but, remembering my wife's grief and her |
expressed wish that this interview could have |
taken place in her presence, felt that she |
would be better satisfied if l gave him the |
permission he asked, and so / said. YES you |
may go at once, but you shall not chide Eliza
beth for confessiug the truth to her husband. |
Remember what l say: If you reproach that
sick woman for her confession, or utter to her
a word to weigh heavily upon her broken heart |
for betraying you, will visit you with ven-
geance. l have spared your life during
the past six months and am able to spare it
again; but L am able. also, to destroy it,
Mark mo added . HliZabath ia nrostrata