Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-24

ring to that. Therefore, after a minute ex-
animation the committee could not find that
in any way the charge of adultery was SUBJ
stantated by those letters. Therefore, nei-
ther Mr.. Tilton's accusations nor the letters
he brought forward to substantiate it could
be held to prove more than that the pastor
had done wrong not specified to Mr.. Theo-
dore Tilton and his family. Having worked
thus far in the discharge of their task, it be-
came the dnty of the committee to search for
more evidence in the matter, and general
call was made upon all who knew to testify
in regard to the matter.
| To this call several persons answered ---
Among them was Tilton and the girl Bessie
Turner and Mrs. Stanton. The evidence Of
Bessie has already been dwelt upon and her
allegations reviewed.
The testimony of Mrs. Stanton was only
heresay, while that of Mrs. Tilton added fur
Their to the burden Of proof against Mr.. Til
| ton, by an explicit denial of all his more i'm
portant statements. A denial of itself is en-
titled to as much weight as the affirmations by
Mr.. Tilton himself but the testimony of the
wife went further to prove that Mr.. Tilton
was commonly guilty of not only acts Of
| adultry, but of brutality and shame in his own
household.
Thus far then the testimony was too one
sided to admit of any second conclusion,
though the committee was informed that an
other outside witness remained to be examin-
ed, whose evidence it was generally stated
would convict Mr.. Beecher, without any
doubt, of the charges made against him. The
committee waited day after day for this
this witness to come forward, and at
length, after dallying for almost week,
specific time was set for the witness to come
forward and make his statement. Upon the
Jor tsnp nod thn xr1tn In
ance and addressed to the committee some
diffusive remarks, embodyng no statement,
or accusation, but conveying some covert
hints and threats and offering to show some
letters in his possession. These letters were
seen and went no further to prove what had
been alleged than any previously seen. In
deed, they were less to the point and more
general than those already shown. While
feeling disappointed that fuller statement
had not been made, the committee could not
take further steps to obtain one, and therefore
simply went to the trouble of examining the
accused person himself.
The statement of Henry Ward Beecher has
already been before the public who know its
import. 1t sets up general danial and gives
full history from Mr.. Beecher's point of view
of all that took place between himself and the
Tiltons. One important expression in this
statement struck the committee as worthy of
remark, where Mr.. Moulton who was claimed
to have such overw helming testimony against
Mr.. Beecher, wrote to him that he could
stand if the whole case were known to-mor-
row. If this may be taken as meaning any
thing, it means that Mr.. Beecher was guilt.
less in any serious manner of doing wrong.
After reviewing other points of the testi
mony, the report then goes on to show that
after close examination of the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher he developed no important ad-
ditional facts of Importance, and the evidence
in the case was closed. The report then
briefly and tersely gives the conclusion of the
committee, eulogizing Beecher and condemn
ing Tilton as perjurer and adulterer. The
finding is that the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
is entirely guiltless of the accusations
brought against him.
The Brooklyn Eagle publishes the testimo-
ny of Tilton's adopted daughter, known as
Bessie, before the Plymouth Church investi-
eating committee. She says:
"Mrs. Titon was the most devoted wife and
mother that l ever saw in my life, in every
sense Of the word. She is the very last per-
son in the world shat ought to be accused of
anything like that with which she is now
charged. l never heard of anything so per-
fectly outrageous. and it seems particularly
so with Mrs. Tlton because she is such a
lovely christian woman and such devoted
wife and mother. She lives up to what she
believes. and always has done so. think l
can say that there could not be a flaw picked
with Mrs. Tilton in any respect"
Q. Did Mr.. Tilton in any manner attempt
your ruin?
A. Yes, Sir.
q. Will you state the circumstances?
A. He did on two occasions, while Mrs.
Titon was away. l don't remember where
she went. Horace Greeley was in the
house at the time. think Mrs. Tilton was
in Schoharie. Mr.. Tilton and were there
all alone, except Mr. Greeley and the servant.
Mr. Greeley was there making a visit to Mr..
Tilton. The first time, had been sleeping,
and woke up and found myself in his arms.
q. At night or in the day time!
A. At night; l hardly realized where l
was; he must have taken me out of my bed
found where was asked what he was doing
that for; he said he was lonesome and wanted
me to come and be with him. said that
wasn't right, and went back to my own room.
There was nothing said about at the time, but
when he came to me a second time and tried
to get in bed with me l got very indignant,
and as he would not leave the room went
into another and locked the door after me;
had never thought of locking the door before
l left the house the next day and didn't come
back until Mrs. Tilton returned. Afterwards
Mrs. Tilton told me that Mr.. Tilton had made
a confession of this to her, and she wanted to
know if it was so. l told her it was so /; |
thought of telling her several times, but
knew that she had great deal of trouble. and
l thought this would trouble her great deal
more.
New York, %. The comments of the
morning papers on Moultons statement are
generally to the effect that it makes no mate
rial change in the situation.
The Times refuses to publish Moulton's
statement, and gives one column of letters
from it.
The Tribune says that the statement adds
nothing to the evidence in the case beyond
Moulton's individual declarations, and it mis-
takes the wisdom and justice of the people if
Beecher is condemned without much stronger
proof than Moulton seems able to produce.
The World says that not one item of actual
evidence or trustworthy testimony has been
brought forth by Mouton which adds new
difficulty or inconsistency to the explanation
already put forth by Beecher in his narrative
and examination.
The Sun says this statement will change no.