The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-08-21
The Great Scandal.
Moulton Speaks---Bee
Answers.
MouLroN's SrArrarFNr.

GENTLEMEN OF THE CoMMTTEE.-
When was before you 1 stated that
1 would, at your request, produce
such documents as I had, and make
such statement of facts as had come
to my knowledge on the subject of
your inquiry. I fully intended so
TO do and have prepared my state
ment of facts as sustained by docu-
ments and made an exhibit of all
papers that have come in any way
into my possession bearing on the
controversy between the parties.
That statement must of course bear
with more or less force upon one or
the other of them. On mature re-
Election, aided by the advice of my
most valued friends, 1 have recon
sidered that determination and am
obliged to say to you that 1 feel
compelled from a sense of duty to
the parties, to my relation to their
controversy and to myself, neither
to make the statement nor produce
the documents. When 1 first be-
came a party in this unhappy con-
troversy between Beecher and Til
ton had no personal knowledge
nor any documents in my posses
sion which could. affect either.
Everything that know of fact or
have received of papers has come to
me in the most sacred confidence, to
be used for the purpose of compos-
ing and settling all difficulties be-
tween them, and of preventing so
far as possible any knowledge of
their private affairs being brought
to public notice. For this purpose
all their matters have been entrust-
ed to me and for none other. If
should not use them it would not be
for the purpose of peace and re-
Cancellation but to voluntarily take
part in a controversy which they
have seen fit to renew between them
selves. How faithfully, earnestly
and honestly ] have labored to do
my duty to the parties for peace
they both know. The question for
me to settle for myself and no other
is now,ought to do anything to aid
either party in 8 renewed controver-
sy by the use of that which Ireceiv-
ed and have used only to promote
harmony? On my honor and con-
science think / ought not and at
the risk of whatever of fmisconstruct-
ion and vituperation may come upon
me, must adhere to the dictates oi
my own judgment and preserve al
least my own self respect.
Icall attention again to the fact
that yours Is a mere voluntary tri
bunal, and whatever 1 do here il
done by me as a voluntary and not
compelled witness. Whether before
any tribunal having power to com
pei the production of testimony anG
statement Of fact I shall ever pro
duce these papers or give any Of
these confidential statements, re
serve to myself to judge of the
emergency which hope may never
come. Against my wish, as 1 neVel
have been in sympathy with a re
neWal of this conflict, a part of these
documents have been given to The
public. In so far confidence in re
gard to them has ceased. 1t is bu'
| Just, therefore, and due to the par
ties that the whole of this documents
portions ofwhich only have been Civ
en-, shall be put into your hands in
response to the thrice-renewed re
quest of the committee. l have
therefore, copies Of them, which
produce here and place in the hand
of the committee with the hope anC
request that after they have beer
examined by them they may be re
turned to me. If any controvers!
shall arise as to the authenticity o
the copies or of the documents, OF
that point 1 shall hold myself opel
to speak. With this exception, ex
cept in defence ofmy own honor ant
the uprightness of my course in al
this unfortunate and unhappy bus
mess, the purity and candor of whicl
> I appeal to the consciences of bot
parties to sustain, I do not propos
and hope I may never be called ur
on hereafter to speak either as t
the fact or to produce any paper
that 1 have received from either pal
ties involved herein.
FRANCIS D. MoULToN.
Moulton was subjected to a cross
examination, which however, reveal
ed nothing beyond what is submit
ted in his statement and the letter