Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-07-31
THE BEECHER SCANDAL.
Mr.. Beecher's Statement
MRS. TILTON SPEAKS.
4 TELLING DOCUMENT.

NEW YORK, July 22.-This evening seye
raj OF the deacons of Plymouth Church witt
Mr.. SheaIman, Mr.. Ross and General Trac,
met at Mr.. Beecher's residence, and after
council lasting about three hours, drew VI
the following statement of Mr.. Beecher'
for publication
do not propose at this time detailed
examination of the remarkable statement Of
Mr.. Theodore Tllton, made before the com
mittee of Investigation, and which appeared
in the Brooklyn Argus of July 81, 1874.
recognize the many reasons which make ito
transcendent importance;to myself, land the
cause of public morality that | shall give q
full answer to the charges against NE. but
having requested the committee of investi-
CATION to search this matter to the bottom
Ii Is to them that | must look for my vindi-
cation; but cannot DELAY for an hour to
defend the reputation OF Mrs. Elizabeth Z
! Tilt0n, upon whose name in connection
with mine, her husband has attempted to
| pour shame. One less deserving Of such dis
| grace | never knew. From childhood she
has been under my eye, and since reaching
wOmanho0d she has had my sincere admira.
ton and affection. | cherish for her a pure
feeling such as a gentleman might honora-
! fif NuNA ~ Il tui sum hOlUdH anu winch
she might receive and reciprocate with
out moral scruple. | reject with ndig-
nation every lmputation which reflects
upon her honor and my own. Nv re-
/ gard for Mrs. Tilton was perfectly well
/ known to my family and when serious ditii-
/ cultles sprang up in her household it was
/ to my wife that she resorted for counsel A;
and both of US, acting from sympathy. and
as 1t subsequently, appeared. without full
/ knowledge. gave the unadyised counsel
/ which tended to harm. | have no doubt
/ that Mr.. Iilton found that his wife's con-
/ hlence and reliance upon my judgment had
| greatly increased while his influence had
| diminished. IN consequence OF a marked
| change IN his religions and social views
/ which were taking place during these years.
/ Her mind was greatly exercised. lest her
! children should thus be harmed BY views
which She deemed virtually false and dan
/ gerous. | was suddenly and rudely aroused
10 the reality Of impending danger by the
disclosures Of domestic distress of sickness.
perhaps unto death Of the likelihood Of
separation and the scattering of Il family,
every member of which had tenderly
loved The effect upon me Of the discovery
oi the state of Mr.. lIlton's feelings and the
condition OF his family surpassed in sorrow
and excitement anything that | had ever
experienced in my life. That my presence,
influence, and counsel had brought to a be-
loved family ,s1rr0w and alienation, gave, in
my then state Of mind a poignancy t. my suf
ierius which hope no other man may el er
feel Even 70 be suspected Of having offer
e.. under the privileges Of = peculiarly
>acrcd relation. an indccprum u q wife and
mother could not but deeply wound any one
WHO is sensitive u the honor OF womanhQod.
There were peculiar Reasons for alarm in
thl- case on other grounds, iua~much as |
was then subject 10 certain malignant ru-
mIgs and dagraut outbreak in this family
would bring upon them an added injury de-
rived from these shameless iai-ch00d~. Be
lIcyIng a the same time that my presence
and cuun~C.- had tended. however unc0u-
sci0u-ly, 10 produce social catastrophe.
represented imminent, gave expression
% my feelings Ia an interview WIKI mu
tua! friend not IN cold and cautious scli-le-
Tending words, but eagerly taking the blame
upon myself and pouring out my heart 20
lny friend 10 the strongest language, over
hardened with the eIgEgerati0n Of lmpa~-
stoned slrr0w Had / been the evil man
Mr.. Elton now represents shluid have
been caluer and more prudent. Il was NY
horror Of cyl. imputed that filed me with
morbid intensity at the very shadow OF
*. Not only was my friend affected gen
crju-y, bat he assured me that such cZ-
p.e--.on~ If conveyed % Mr.. Iuton would
~0Itho bis wounded feeling. aIlay anger
and heal the whole trouble. lie took
down the sentences and fragments of
what / had been saying 10 use them as
Mediator y fail statement of the clrcum-
stances under which tins memorandum was
made shall give 10 the Investigating COM
mltrce- That these apologies were more
than ample O. meet the facts of the case Is
evident 10 that they were accectei: that
our intercourse resumed its irieudiincs-
that Mr.. Elton ,lh-el ratified it u
writing. and that be continued for four
years and until within two week. o. live
with his wife. l. il conceivable, If the orig
ina. charge Lad been what j. now alleged
that le would have conloEei the offence,
not only WIN the mother of his children,
1ut with him whom be believed u have
wr9ngci them? The absardity as well a-
the ia.~Ity of this story Is apparent when % I
is considered that Mr.. IiltOn now alleges /
chat he carried this guilty secret Of has /
wiio'- iudde.ity for six months locked up in I
LIS own breast, and that then be divulgel I
II 10 me only that there might be a recon- (
citation with me. Mr.. Hilton has since, in /
every form Of language, and 10 s. multitude /
VI witnesses, declared his faith in his wife,
purity. Alter the reconciliation OF Mr..
iAJon with me, every consideration OF pro-
1rietv and honor demanded that the family
trouble should be kept in that sec.usion
which domestic affairs have night
70 e'Aln a. a sanctuary aGl 20 'hat
.iII.l'' 'lA' a
'l,1-- O!n'.ueI. ~ s iliS anu
ilu ~ Ivy r''1'e Anu 1Oi'''4e.l''hl -o'leIr
..''| nav "oou i,u0.IIU't = III n'iin9n9
\ .'n ' ,'. statements Mlicu now HaAe'
Wy I'-..'-.i.t V5,.', l,e'iIy,l1e On .u.'
oppression Of my grief. and that of my desire
81 shield the honor OF pure and innocent
yoman- go not propose u contest AZ tins
line the extraordinary paper Of Mr.. Hilton,
vat there are TWO allegations which l can
hey refer t. the only Two incidents whlch
er.5raliy: the one an ALLEGED scene in anv
.,u-e while lookinr over cnrrayings and
nd the other a climber scene in his own
ou-e. Ills statement, concerning these
~ absolutely false. Nothing of the kind
YER occurred norauy semblance of any such
linr. They are now brought to nv notice
II Tie first time. To every statement
.hich connects me dishonorably with Mrs. !
Iizabeth L. Tilton. or which in anywise
.oull impusn the honor of this beloved
hrj,tian woman give the most explicit,
lmprchcn,iye and solemn denial. q
HENRY WARD BrEcurR. :
BROOKLYN. July -. 1874.
" ~ r,,1,, % r, ro,,o,,. ,l,o soy. d.
,ws Of the last ten years, the Stings and .
- ~ r'-,;rc ma ios III. imn5rstire Jntv
LID f1rtb bv the n.ahcious statement n
nv. Ln.bsnd The sotie.f ac- of INV m. Y
, ~ rS,,iv in detail tofbe r
''F'' 80 h
TWENTY-FIVE ARTICLES or ARRANGEMENT /
shall not ATTEMPT at present. If called b
ION TO testify TO each and all of them 3.
all not hesitate to do 81 Suffice il for
y PuIl'' HO" 'N"' ieP'9 ~ 'i0 VI ''''' II
rur MOST rv1,-R1o,.s cU,Rcrs v
=
Touching the feigned sorrow Of my hus- II u
nd : compulsory revelations sOlemnly D
er that long before the Woodruff publ u
l.. I u