Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-09-12
THE BEECHER.TILTOY CASE,


tains the Verdict of the Committee.
The report of the Committee ap-
pointed to investigate the charges made
against the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher,
was presented to Plymouth Church.
By the report Mr.. Beecher is declared
not guilty OF the charges preferred
against him, and the church, by an al
most unanimous rising, voted acuui-
escence In the decision of the commit
tee.
The Examining Committee beg leave
TO report that, in consequence of the
publication of certain statements by
Theodore Tilton, the committee was re-
/. quested by the pastor of the church to
authorize an investigation by a sub
committee into the imputation made
AGAINST his character. On July 6, 1874,
the committee accordingly appointed
brothers Ii. W. Sage and Fl. NJ. Cleve-
land such committee, and requested
them to associate with themselves
Messrs. Clafin, Winslow, Storrs, and
White, who are not members of the
Examining Committee. No charges
having been proved to the Church or
to the Examining Committee against
our pastor, it was the duty of the Sub
Committee simply to ascertain whether
there was any foundation in fact for
the charges and trial before the
body of the Church. The Subj Com
mlttee has, in our Judgment, faithfully
and impartially discharged it's duties.
The investigating committees report
follows. 1t is lengthy document, oc-
cupylng an hour and quarter in de-
Ivering. The committee say they can
not refrain from referring to the mex
pressible regret which they in common
with all good men feel, that uncon-
troIiable circumstances have made it
necessary to discuss in the most public
manner the unhappy scandal which is
the subject of the present inquiry.
But accepting the situation as we
found it when we entered upon the high
and solemn trust thus imposed, we have
been profoundly impressed from the
beginning with the grave Importance of
the work before us.
They say that most of the persons
summoned before them have appeared.
The most notable exception is Carpen-
ter, the artist. Referring to the letter
OF Hilton requesting Beecher to resign,
they say that on or about 1868 Mr.. Til
ton began to urge Mr.. Beecher to visit
his (Tilton's) house, and he became
more intimately acquainted with Mr..
Illtons family. He urged him to do
much OF his editorial writing in his
study, as it was more convenient to
write there than at the Office of the In
dependent. Mr.. Beecher visited his
house, and friendly relation sprang
up between the wife and family of Mr..
Iilton and Mr.. Beecher, which con-
tlnued down to December in 1870
They then refer to Tilton's opinions,
which caused the establishment in
Chicago OF an opposition paper to the
Independent, which Tilton then edited,
and the trouble and anxiety this change
caused to Mr.. Tilton, extending even
to separation between the two, caus-
ing the sending of the letter referred
to. Mr.. Beecher, on reading this letter,
expressed his establishment at the re-
celpt of such letter, and denounced
its author. Mr.. Bowen then derided
the letter, and gave him some account
of the reasons why he had reduced Til
ton from the editorship of the indie.
pendent to the subordinate position of
contributor.
The committee say that Mr.. Tilton,
before the committee, referring in time
to December, 1870, states his grievance
and cause of complaint of Mr.. Beecher
touching Tilton's business relations
with Mr. Bowen in these words: "That
ne (Mr. Beecher) then participated in
conspiracy to degrade Theodore Tilton
before the publicity loss of place,
business, and repute." It is clear that
on the 10Th day of December, when the
so-called memorandum of confession
was procured from Mrs. Tilton, the
chief melting cause of that step on Til
toms part was his belief that Mr..
Beecher had caused him Gloss of place,
business and repute.''
After referring to the distress which
Beecher felt at being the cause of this
trouble to Tilton, the committee go on
to analyze the charges made. The first
thing is Beecher's letter of apology to
Tilton. They say
This paper, which is dated Jan. l.,
1871, was intrusted by Mr.. Beecher to
Mr., Monlton's keeping without read
ing it, nor was it read to him. This pa
per-sometimes called the apology, and
sometimes the confession-is in no
proper sense Mr.. Beecher's production,
or correct report of what he said. No
man will believe, for instance, that Mr..
Beecher said Il humble myself be.
fore him (Tilton) as I do before nv
God, Another sentence, Her forgive
ness have Mr.. Beecher states that il
was not said, nor the semblance of it
pauslng here, a very important cues.
ton arises in this connection. To what
does the apology refer It declares
Mrs. Tilton guiltless,' and yet Tiltor
says it refers to adultery, which Mr.
Beecher denies. Without now consid.
ering the weight of credit to which the
respective parties are entitled where
there is a conflict between them, we be
heye, and propose to show from the
evidence, that the original charge was
improper advances, and that as time
passed, and the conspiracy deepened
it was enlarged into adultery.
s"That the so-called apology was no
for the main offence Tilton himself il
his cross examination clearly proves
Mark his words He says that the da,
after it was procured he was in Moul
toms room and there met Mr.. Beecher
when the following scene occurred: III,
(BeecheD burst out in an expression o
great sorrow to me, and said he hoped
the communication which he had sen
to me, by Mr.. Moulton was satisfaction,
to me. He then and there "told Mr.
Moulton" he had done wrong not 81
much as some others had (referring t.
hy l, i L.. L.