New-York tribune., 1874-08-22

Of the publlshed evidence of Mr.. Beecher demanded
contradiction. FRANCIS u. MoOLioN'
STATEMENT OF FRANCIS ID. MOULTON.
GrxrJrfrN OF THE COMMITTEE: / need not re-
neat 70 Won nv great, very great sorrow to feel
Obliged 10 answer your invitation and with the per-
mission of the parties to put before you the exact
facts which have been committed TO me OF come TO
my knowledge in the unhappy affair under mvest-
cation. In so doing shall use no words OF charac-
terizaton of any of them or of inculpation OF the
parties nor shall attempt to ascribe motives. save
when necessary to exactly state the fact leaving the
occurrences their acts of omission and commission
70 be interpreted by themselves. In giving con-
versaons or narrative of course can in most cases
give only the substance of the first and will attempt
to give words only when they so impressed them
selves upon my mind to remain in my memory
aud of tine latter only much as seems to me
material
have known Mr. Theodore Tilton since 1850 in
tmately i'll the kndest relations of social and per-
sonal friendship. have known Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher since 1862 and then casually as an acquant-
ance and an attendant upon his mnistrations up to
the beginning of the occurrences OF which L shall
speak.
Seeing Mr.. Titon's valedictory, as editor of The
Independent the ed of December, 1870 inferred
that there had been some differences between him
self and Mr.. Henry G. Bowen. the proprietor, but
learning that Tton had been retained as contributor
to that journal and editor of The Brooklyn Union Of
which Bowen was also proprietor, j supposed that
the differences were not personal or unkind Up to
that time, although had been frequent visitor at
Tlton's house, and had seen himself and Mrs.
Tton under all the phases of social intercourse, i
had never heard or known of the slightest disagree
ment or unkindness existing between them but had
believed their marital relations were almost ex-
ceptionay pleasant. On the 2Gth day of December,
1870 being at Mr. Titon's house, he came home from
an interview with Mr.. Bowen. and told me with
some excitement of manner that he had just had a
conference with Bowen. and that in that interview
Bowen had made certain accusations against
Beecher and had challenged him Tilton). as a
matter of duty to the public, to write an open letter.
which Bowen was to take to Beecher of which he
showed me the original draft, which is as follows
[FIRsr Draft
Dee 26, 1s7o-BRoOKLYN
HENRY WARD BRECHER.-Sr: demand that, for the
reasons wa;ch YOU explicitly understand, you i'm
1nedisely cease the ministry OF Plymouth Church,
(signed THEODORE TILroN.
THE FIRST CHARGE THAT MOULTON HEARD.
Tilton explained that the words "for reasons
which Won explicitly understand" were interlined at
the request of Bowen and he further stated that he
told Bowen that he was prepared to believe his
charges because Beecher had made improper ad-
yances TO Mrs. filton. Surprised at this. l asked
him. What (" when he replied, Don't ask me; /
can't tell YOU" / then said "Is it possible you
could have been foolish as to sign that letter on
the strength Of Bowen's assertion, and not have
Bowen sign it too although, as you say, he was TO
carry it 20 Beecherf" He answered, Mr. Bowen
gave me his word that he would sustain the charges
and adduoe the evidence TO prove them whenever
I oo;d
yonrself mistaken Has the letter goneT He an
swered. Bowen said he would take it immedi-
ately" | afterward learned from Beecher that
Bowen had done so because on the list of January
following Beecher gave me the copy he received, as
I find by a memorandum made at the time on the
envelope and / find by a later memorandum on the
envelope that the original draft was given to me by
Tilton on the 5th of the same month. insert here
the following memorandum of the facts above
stated made at the time, giving the hour when 1t
was made: n. ,o-o
Theodore Tllton informed me to-day that be had sent
q note to Mr.. Beecher. OF which Mr.. II. e. Bowen was
from his pulpit and quit tine CITY OF Brooklyn The let
ter open H. c. Bowen knew the contents OF
it. and said that be, Bowen would sustain luton III ni
demand.
3:f5 p. m
In day OF two after that Mr.. Tilton called on me
at my house and said that he had sent word to
Bowen that he was going to call on Beecher within
half an hour or shortly that Bowen came up into
the office with great anger, and told him if he
should say to Beecher what he, Bowen, had told
him concerning his tBeechers) adulteries, he would
dismiss him from The Independent and The Union.
Tilton told him that he had never been influenced
by threats and be would not be in the present
and he subsequently, received Bowen's letter of dis
missal
What those charges were and the account of the
interview will appear in the following letter. ad-
dressed to Bowen by Tlton bearing date the 1st of
January 1871. which also gives in substance and in
more detail what Tilton had said to me in the two
conversations which have mentioned
IILToN TO BOWEN.
BRooKLYN Jan. l. 1871.
your sudden notices breaking my two contracts
with The Independent. the other with me Brooklyn
With reference to this of yours will make plain
II was during the early part of the Rebellion df
recoec arigh when you first intimated TO that the
tery for which II you should expose him. he would be
driven from his pulpit From tnat time % onward your
compsnied with the exhibition OF deepseated injury
IN letter which you addressed to from Wood
stock June 49, 1863 referring 70 this sue)ect you said
sometimes feel that masi break stenee that must
no longer suffer dumb man and be made 70 bear
load OF grief most uJusig. One word from me would
make recoiaon threashost C9rstendon mac Almost
the evidence from the great volume my possession
am not pursuing phantom, but solemnly brood
ing over an awful reality"
The pde In this extracttare your own bub
.enepty 70 tho Of Gs letter. and at frequent In
teryaIs from TIL nov, you have repeated the state
vnenf that you could at any moment expei Henry ward
Ieecber from Brooklyn Yoa have reiterated ths same
Thing not only TO me but TO others. .
Moreover, during che Just closed your ausions
subiect were uttered with more feeling than here
tofore and were unfreguently coupled WIN your
emnbstc declaration that MT Beecher ought n0t 70 10
siIowed 70 occupy public position as Christian
preacher and teacher. ,.,. q, ,orr
on the 2tS af December ISl0 ~ An interview ~ So~