Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-12
The Beecher Scandal.

The substance of what may be called the
that Mrs. Tilton is pretty well proved to be
woman on whose word no reliance can
be placed, and that Mrs. Stanton, Mrs
Woodruff and Miss Anthony claim she has
confessed her adultery with Mr.. Beecher.
The real proof has been looked for from
Moulton, the 90 Mutual Friend" On the
oath of July, Mr.. Beccher addressed note
to Moulton asking for the documents which
he held, that he might have them in max
ing up his statement. On the 18th, Mr..
Beecher addressed him still another re-
to the effect that Tilton had not had
access to his papers, and that he could not
rightfully let Mr.. Beecher have them
This letter drew forth the following letter
from Mr.. Beecher, and reply from Moulton :
BROOKLYN, August 4th, 1874
To F. D. Moulton. Esq.-Sir: Your let
ter, bearing date of August +, 1874, is this
moment received. Allow me to express
my regret and establishment that YOU re-
fuse me permission even to see certain let
tiers and papers in your possession relating
to the charges made against me by Tilton,
and at the reason given for the refusal.
On your solemn and repeated assurances
of personal friendship, and in the unques-
tioning confidence with which you inspir
ed me of your honor and fidelity, placed
in your hands for safe keeping various let
tiers addressed to me from my brother my
sister and various other parties; also mem
oranda of affairs mot Immediately con-
nected with Mr. Tilton's matters | also,
from time to time, addressed you confden-
tial notes relating to my own self, as one
friend would write to another. These pa
pers were never placed in your hands to
be held for two parties, nor to be used in
any way. They were to be held for me.
did not wish them to be subject to the
risk of loss or scattering from my careless
habits in the matter of preserving docu-
ments. They were to be held for me. In
so far as those papers were concerned, you
were only a friendly trustee holding pa
pers, subject to my wishes. Mr.. Tilton has
made deadly assault on me and has used
letters and fragments of letters purporting
to be copies of these papers. Are these ex-
tracts genuine? Are they garbled? What
IL llIciI w iltl, ii HIS
been left out, and what put in? You re-
fuse my demand for these papers on the
various pleas that, if l speak the truth in
my statement, do not need them; that, if
make successful use of them, it will be
an injury to Tilton, and that you, as a
friend of both parties. are bound not to aid
either in any act that shall injure the other
But don't desire to injure any one, but to
repel an injury attempted upon me by the
use of papers committed sacredly to your
care These documents have been seen
and copied They have been hawked for
sale in the New York newspaper offices.
What purport to be my confidential notes
to you are in the market But, when
demand a sight of the originals of papers
of which you are only trustee, that | may
defend myself, you refuse, because you are
the friend of both parties. Tilton has ac-
cess to your depository for materials with
which to strike me, but am not permitted
to use them in defending myself. | do not
ask you to place before the committee any
papers which Mr.. Tilton may have given
you, but do demand that you forthwith
place before the committee every paper
which l have written or deposited with
you.