Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-07-24


for her Summers sojourn. After an
absenc. of several weeks she voluntarily
returned TO her home in Brooklyn, on
the evening OF July 3, 1870, when then
and there. within few hours after her
arrival, and after exacting from her hus-
band o solemn promise that he would do
Rev. H. W. Beecher no harm nor COM
municate to him what she was about TO
say. she made eircumstantial confession
to her husband of the criminal facts
hereiubefore stated, accompanied with
citations from Beecher's arguments and
reasonings with her to overcome her
long maintained resistance against
yielding to his desires, and declaring
that she had committed no wrong to her
husband or her marriage vow, quoting,
in support of this opinion, that her pas
tor had repeatedly assured her that she
was spotless and pure, which she be-
lieyed herself to be. She further stated
that her commerce with him had never
proceeded from low or vulgar thoughts,
either on her part or on his, but always
from pure affection and high religious
love. She stated furthermore that Mr..
Beecher habitually characterized their
intimacy by the term NEST hiding.
He would suffer pain and sorrow If his
hidden secret were ever made known.
She said her mind was often burdened
by the deceit necessary for her to prac-
tce in order to prevent discovery, and
that her conscience had many times i'm
PEELED her to throw off this burden Of en-
forced ialsehood by making full con-
fession to her husband, so that she would
no longer be living before him perpet-
nal lie; that she had been on the point
OF making this confession four months
previously, during severe illness, when
She feared she nigh. die. She affirmed
also that Beecher had assured her re-
peatedly that he loved her better than
any other woman, and she felt justified
before God in her intimacy with him,
save the necessary deceit which accom-
panied it, and at which she frequently
suffered in her mind.
Ninth-That after the above confess
sion by Mrs. Elizabeth r. Tilton, she
returned to the country, to await such
action by her husband as he might see
fit to decide upon; whereupon many con-
siderations, the chief of which was that
she had not voluntarily gone astray, but
had been artfully misled through religious
| preference for Rev. H. W. Beecher us
her spiritual guide, as also from desire
to protect his family from open shame,
Tilton condoned the wrong, and he ad-
| dressed to his wife such letters of atfec-
| ton, tenderness and respect as he felt
| would restore her wounded spirit,
and which did partially produce
that effect; that in December, 1870,
la difference arose between Theo-
dore Tilton and Henry c. Bowen, which
was augmented by Rev. H. W. Beecher
and Mrs. Beecher, in consequence
whereof Mrs. Elizabeth r. Tilton put a
paper into the hands of Francis d. Moul-
ton, with view to procure harmonious
| interview between Tilton and Beecher.
Such interview was arranged and carried
out by Moulton at his then residence,
on Clinton street, Beecher and Tilton
writing and speaking then and there for
| the first time since Mrs. Tilton's confess
sion, six months before. The paper in
Mr.. Moulton' hands was q statement by
Mrs. Tilton of the substance of the con.
fession which she had before made, and
her wish and prayer for reconciliation
and peace between her pastor and hus
band.
This paper furnished Beecher the frs
knowledge which he had as yet received
that Mrs .Tilton had made such q comics
sion. At this interview between Beechel
and Tilton permission was sought b.
Beecher to consult with Mrs. Tilton OF
that same evening. This permission
being granted. Beecher departed from
Mr.. Moulton's house, and in about hal
an hour returned thither, expressing hi
remorse and shame, and declaring tina
his life and work seemed brought to
sudden end. Later in the same evening
Tilton, on returning to his house. foun,
his wife weeping and in great distress
saying that what she had meant for peac
had only given pain and anguish tina
Beecher had just called on her, declaring
that she had slain him, and that h
would probably be tried before a council
of ministers, unless she would give hir
q written paper for his protection
whereupon she said he dictated to he
and she copied in her own handwritin
a suitable paper for him to use to clea
himself before the council of ministers
Mrs. Tilton having kept no copy of thi
paper, her husband asked her to make
distinct statement in writing OF her d.
sign and meaning in giving it, wher'
, upon she wrote as follows:
December 80, 1S70.-My Dear HUI
band: I desire to leave with you, befol
going to bed, statement that Henry v
Beecher called upon me this evening an
asked me if would defend him again
, any accusation in council of minister
and l replied voluntarily that woul'
in case his accuser was any other perso
> than my husband. He Henry v
= Beecher) dictated letter, which copie
!. as my own, to be used by him as again
any other accuser than my husban
l. This letter was designed to vindicate NJ
y Beecher against all other persons sa
d only yourself. l was ready to give hi
- the letter. because he said, with pal
~ thar my letter in your hands, address
IS to him, dated December 30, had stru
II him dead and ended his sinfulness. Y
n and l are pledged to do our best to ave
=, publicity. God grant speedy end to
- further anxieties.
70 Affectionately. ELIZABETH.
If On the next day, namely December {
1870. Moulton on being informed
Tilton of tie above named transacti
by Beecher, called on him (Beecher)
= uls IeslueuCc, buu tOiu ulIu tudt TeCU
citation seemed suddenly made i'm pos
BILE by Beecher's nefarious act in procl
ing the letter in which Mrs. Tilton b
D. thus been improperly persuaded to NAL
Beecher prompted thereon by Moult
returned the letter to Tilton with an
- preston of shame and sorrow for havi
" procured it in the manner he did. T
letter was as follows:
lie December 80, $780, Wearied wi
D. importantly and weakened by sickness
e, gave letter duplicating my friend Hen
8, Ward Beecher under assurance that
n would remove all difficulties between
/. and my husband. That letter now
'e woke. l was persuaded to it. almt
is forced, when was in very weaken
l. state Of mind. 1 regret and recall
10 statements. I desire to say explicit,
that Mr.. Beecher has never offered a
n improper solicitations, but has alwa
J. treated me in a manner becoming
as christian and a gentleman.
d ELIZABETH r. Triton.
Is At the time Beecher returned {
n above document to Tilton through Mo,
d ton, Beecher requested Moulton to CT
y at his residence in Columbia street {