Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-20
THE GREAT SCANDAL.
Statements of Mr.. Beecher and Mr.,
Moulton.
NV YORK, Aug. Is.


Mr.. BEECHER'S STATEMENT.
The following statement was submit
ted to the Investigating Committee by
Mr.. Beecher to-day:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CoNxITrEE-In the state
mcnt addressed TO the public on the I'D OF July
last gave an explicit, comprehensive and sol
emn denial to the charges made by Theodore Til
ton against me. That denial now repeat and re-
affirm. l also stated in that communication that
l should appear before your committee with a
more detailed statement and explanation of the
facts in the case.
Four years ago Theodore Tilton fell from one Of
the most prominent editorial positions in Amer
lea, when he represented the cause of religion,
humanity and patriotism, and in few months
thereafter became the associate and representa-
tive of Victoria Woodruff and friend OF her
strange cause. BY his follies he was bankrupt IN
reputation. in occupation ana II resources. The
interior history of which am now 10 give h.icf
outline Is the history of his attempts TO so en-
ploy me as 10 reinstate him in business, restore
his reputation. and place him again upon the en-
iuence from which he had fallen. 1t is a Sa3 his
tory, 10 the full meaning Of which l have bit Ie-
Gently awakened, cntangled in 3 wilderness OF
complications followed, until lately, false
theory and delusiYe hope. believing that the
friend who assured me of his determination and
ability 10 control the passionate vagares Of Mr..
TiltOn. TO restore his household to rebuild lis
fortunes and 10 vindicaye me, would be equal to
that promise. His selfconfessed failure has made
clear 10 me what Tor 4 long time I did not suS-
pecI-thc real motive OF Mr.. Titon. Nv mar
ration does not represent 4 single standnOiuT
only as regards my opinion OF Theodore fliTU0.
1t begins At my cOr0lal intimacy with him in his
earlier career. shows my lamentation and s0r-
rOwful. but hopeful, affection for him during
the period of his initial wanderirrs from -r-i-L
and virtue. 1t describes my repentance over
evils Detailing him, of which / was made TO be-
iicye myself the cause; my perseverinE and
friendly despairing efforts TO save him aud his
family by any sacrifice OF myself not absolutely
dishOnOTable, and my growing conviction that
his perpetual fOllies and blupurTs rendered lis
recovery impossible l now see that lie :.
and has ncen from the bpuInulTt This
a selfish and reckless schemcr, pursuing q PAN
OF mingled good and hatred, ana weaving about
me network of suspicious. misunderstanding -.
plots and lies, to which my own innocent words
and acts. nay. even my thoughts. of kindness To-
ward him, have been made 10 contribute. These
successive views of him must be- kept in view. 10
explain my course through the last four wears.
That l was blind so long : 10 the real motive of
intrigue going on around me was due partly 10
my own overwhelming pubic engagements.
partly TO my complete surrender of tins affair.
and the papers and questions connected with il.
into the hands of Mr.. MOUltOl, VINO was intense
ly confident that he could manage IL success
fully. l suffered much. but l inquired little.
Mr.. Moulton was chary To me- Of 4ir. IIlIon's con-
EdCEceS 10 him, reporting 10 ne occasionally in
q general way Mr.. Tiltous words and outbreaks
on passion only elements OF trouble which he
was able to control, and additional proofs OF
the wisdom of giving ii 10 him. His comment
on the situation seemed to me, at the time, com
plcte. immersed as l was IL llCnSsant cares and
duties, and only too glad 10 b." relieved from con-
sidcTlE@ the details and Wretchcd compi.Ca-
lions. the origin and the fact Of which remain.
in spite of all friendly Intervention. a perpetual
burden TO my soul. would not read in the pa
pcrs about il. l would not talk about il. I made
Moulton for long period ny cunfdant and my
only channel of information. From time 10 tine
suspicious were aroused in me by indications
that Mr.. Tilton was acting The l@rr of an enemy:
but suspicious We're rapidly alUycd by mis- own
behavior toward me in other moods and ~ the
assurances OF Mr.. MUultun. who usCrihCd The CIR
CUmstanccs 10 misunderstanding or 10 malice GA
the part Of others. 1t is plain to me now thaI Fl
not until IilJon had fallen into disgrace and
T,fI 1,.t /, Ia. q
assai me with CHARGES which he pretended 10
have had in mind for six months.
The domestic Cdensg which Ir alleged was very
quickly and easily put ASIDE, hrJ VcS III such a
way to keep my feelings stirred M In order
that I might. through my fllelds, be used 20
extract from Mr.. Bowen ;. O0U. he amount of the
CLAIM in dispute between them. The check for
that sum in hand, Mr.. TiltOu si-rcd an agreement
OF peace and concord, lot drawn by me, but
accepted by me as sincere. The GOldeH AGe had
been started. He had the capital 10 carry ii on
for awhile. He was sure that he was 10
head q great social revolution With return
ing prosperity he rad apparently no
grels which could not be covered by his sigma
tire TO the articles of peace. Yet the changes in
that covenant made by him before signing it. and
represented to me necessary merely 70 relieve
him from the imputatiOn Ofhavng Ori ginated and
circulated certain old and shameless ISLANDERS
about me, were really made appears, to
leave him free for future operations upon me and
against me. SO long as he was, or thought he
was. on the road TO new success, his
conduct toward was as friendly Is he
knew how to make it: his assumption
OF superiority and magnanimity and his
patrOnizing manner were trihcs at which l
could afford to smile and which bore with the
greater humility since l still retained the pro-
found impression made upon me- as explained
in the following narrative that I had been a
cause of overwhelming disaster to him.
and that his complete restoration to pub
lie standing and household happiness
reparation justly required of me, and
the only one which | could make; but, with
peculiar genius for plumbers, he fell, almost al
every step, into new complications and Difficult
ties, and in every such instance it was his
policy to bring coercion to bear upon my
honor, my conscience and my affections for the
purpose of procuring his eEtriCatOn at my
expense. Theodore Tlton knew me well. He
has said again and again to his friends that #
they wished to gain any influence over me they
must work upon the sympathetic side Of my ma
tire. To this he has addressed himself steadily
for four years, using as lever without scruple
my attachment to my friends, to my family, to
his own household. and even my old affection Tor
himself. Not blind to his faults, but resolved 10
look on him as favoraby and hopefully posi-
bic, and ignorant of his deeper malice, laborcd
earnestly even desperately, for his salvation.
For four years | have been trying to feed the in
satiablc egotism, to make the man as great as he
conceived himself to be. to restore to prosperity
and public confidence one who, in the midst OF
my efforts IN his behalf, patrOnlzed dlsreputaDie
people and doctrines refused when ! besOught
him separate himself from them, and ascribed
TO my agency the increasing ruin which he was
persistcntly bringing upon himself and which
doing my utmost to avert. 1t was hard to do.
anything for such man. | might well have
tried to Ill q sieve win water. In the latter
stages OF the history he actually melted ald ere
atcd difficulties, apparently for no other purpose
than to drive rae TO fresh cycrtlpnS. | refused &c
iudOrse his wild views and associates. The best
! could d. to speak wei Of him, mention
those good qualities and abilities which ! still
believe him to possess in his higher moods, and
keeping silence concerning the evil things which
| was assured and believed had been greatly eX-
agCerated by public report. j could not think
him so bad as my friends did. ! trusted to the
germs OF good which Thought still lived IN him;
to Mr.. MOUitOn's power Over lin, and the power
OF my persistent sCif-sacrihCe.
Mr.. MOultOn came to ne first az a schoOlmate
and friend OF Mr. TiltOn, determined to relnstate
him. always suspected, without regard TO my
interests. but. on further acquaintance with me.
undertook and promised To serve his friend with
out doing wrong to He said he clearly
how this to b. done TO restore peace
and harmony Ar. TitOus home and bring TO
happy end all MISUNDERSTANDING. Many things
which he counscled / Js5iutely refused, but
never doubted his profess & friendship for me
after the friendship had grown. p between US,
and whatever he wished ne TO do did, unless II
seemed TO me- wrong. My confidence in him was
the only element that seemed secure in this con
fusion Of tormentng perpleXities. To him
wrote freely III this troubl0us time, while felt
that secret Vaccinations were going on around.
me. and echoes Of the vilcst ISLANDERS concerning
some of my near relations were set against me.
ana the tattle Of crowd OF malicious
women hostile to on other grounds was
borne TO my ears; when / had lost the last
nam Of faith in Theodore. or nope for him; when
| heard with Unspeakable TcmOrse that every
thing had done to stav his destruction had made
matters worse and worse. and that my attempt to
keep him from a public tElal involving such
Gow Of scandal as has DU~ been let loose had
been used bY him TO bring up new troubles; that
papers and rccanfasions- and ! know not what:
tnat il short everything was breaking up and the