Daily Kennebec journal., 1874-07-22
THE TILTON-B -BEECHER SCAN
DAL.
DAL.
Tilton's Statements Before thee
CoIhmittoc.

The following is Theodore Tilton's testimo-
ny and sworn statement before the Plymouth
Church investigating committee
Gentlemen of Committee In communica-
ting to you the detailed statement of fac IS
and evidences which you have been several
days expecting at my hands let me remind
you Of the circumstances which call forth
this statement.
In my recent letter to DR.. Bacon, / alluded
to an offence and an apology by Rev. Henry
Ward Bcecher. 10 whomsoever else this
allusion seemed indefinite, to Mr.. Beecher it
was plain. The offence was committed by
him aud the apology was made by him. Both
acts were his own and were among the most
m0mentous occurrences of his life: OF all
the men in Plymouth Church or of the world
the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was the man
best Informed concerning this offence and
apology and the one man who least needed to
inquire into either. He nevertheless, while
possessing tie perfect knowledge of both of
these acts done by himself, has chosen to put
on public affecation of ignorance and in
nocence concerning them, and has conspicu-
ously appointed a committee of six of the
ablest men of his church 10 invuire into what
he leaves you to regard as the unaccountable
mystery OF this offence and apology as if he
eau neItitT committed tlle one OF OUereu the
other, but as if both were the mere fgments
of another mans imagination, thus adroitly
prompting the public to draw the deduction
that am person under some hallucnation
or delusion, living in a dream and forging ga
fraud. Furthermore to cast over this expla-
nation the delicate glamour which always
lends a charm to the defense of woman's
honor, Mrs. Elizabeth X. Titon, lately my
wife, has been prompted away from her home
TO reside among Mr.. Beecher's friends and to
co operate with him in hg ostensibly honest
and laudable inquiry into facts concerning
which she too, as well as he, has for years
past had perfect knowledge,
This investigation therefore has been pub
licly pressed upon me by Mr.. Reecher and
by Mrs. Tilton, both of whom in so doing
have united in assuming before the world the
| nom existence of the grave ard solemn fact
into which they have conspired to investigate
for the purpose not Of electing but of deny
ing the truth. This joint assumption by them.
which has seemed to your committee to be in
good faith has naturally led you into an ex-
| animation, in which you expect to find on
their part nothing but innocence and on my
part nothing but SANDER.
1t is now my unhappy duty from which
have in vain hitherto sought earnestly to be
delivered, to give you the facts and evidences
for reversing your opinion-I may say heart
rending duty. The responsibility for max
ing the grave disclosure about to lay before
you belongs not to me, but first to Mr..
Beecher who has prompted you to this exam
lnation, and next to Mrs. Titon who has
joined him in a conspiracy which cacnot fail
to be full of peril and wretchedness to many
hearts, | call you to witness that in my frst
brief examination by your committee | begg-
ed and implored 700 not to inquire into the
tacissin the case, bat rather to seek to bury
tbs m beyond all possible revelation. Happy
for all concerned had this entreaty been
needed. 1t is now too late. The last opp0r-
tunity for reconciliation and settlement has
passed. This investigation undertaken by
you in ignorance of the dangers against
which Mr.. Beecher should have warned fyou
in advance, will shortly prove itself to your
surprise to have been an act of wanton and
wicked folly for Shich the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher ss its originator and ,public sponsor
will hereafter find no space for repentance
though he seek it carefully and wit tears
This desperate MA must hold himself only and
not me responsible for the wretchedness
which these disclosures will carry to his own
home and hearth as they already brought to
mine.
will add that the original documents re-
ferred to in the ensuing sworn statement are
for the most part in my possession, but that
the apology and few other papers are in the
hands of Mr.. Franei. ID. Moulton.
Truly yours,
signed) TnEopoRE TuroN.