The New York herald., 1874-12-23
THE BROOKLYN SCANDAL.
STATEMENT FROM MR.. BEEcHER-''THERE

Beecher.l
Although the readers OF this paper have had to
learn the fact from other sources, none OF them
are ignorant OF the existence OF an action at law
brought by Mr.. Theodore Tilton against the editor
of this journal We have reirained from all men,
tion OF the subject for obvious reasons; and IN now
giving brief account OF the course OF the AFFAIR in
the past, and OF tine intentions OF the defendant in
that suit for the future, shall abstain. far AS
possible. from saying anything which might in
nuence the current OF judicial proceedings in the
case
That the defendant, so long as it seemed prac.
tcable to keep from the public the names OF those
pure and honorable women whose regulations
were threatened by false and wicked SANDERS
made every effort to do so-willingly putting his
own name in peril II thus they might be spared
he neither denies nor regrets. II the develop
ments of the last year have not justified the mo-
iives as fully as they have proved the useessness
OF those efforts then we are unable 70 oner any
argument which will reach the uncouvinced. We
are not OF the mind OF those who profess that
they maintained silence because the welfare OF
the community, the peace OF families, and the in
terest OF the Christian Church demanded 1t, but
felt bound to sacrifice all those interests the mo-
ment that their own reputation was attacked.
On the contrary, feel 1t to be the duty and the
privilege of Christian man to bear a thousand
attacks upon his own reputation in silence, rather
than to suffer one innocent woman to be vilided
for his sake before the world.
We are not alone In such opinions, or In the
course which we have adopted under such views.
Eminent and honored men in every walk OF life,
and notably so among the clergy. have pursued
the same policy in numerous instances, some OF
which are recorded in history at Intervals for
81
us to-day. But those which are known are not a
1.-THE Of those which are generally unknown. For
in the vast majority OF cases the policy OF silence
Is completely successful and is the best viudca-
ton OF the Innocent The innocent man ylndi-
Gates himself by mis- li!e and II the innocent woman
can at any sacrifice be Kept from becoming the
is so complete that the lie Is utterly forgotten.
1t was only In June last that 1t became neces-
sary 70 & sne pcy w. sd "a ne Racn TO-
was published. On the next day Mr.. Beecher
resolved to call for an investigation. He was at
first disposed to place the matter in charge OF
gentlemen OUTSIDE OF his congregation, but was
advised that sucn proceeding. besides being in
consistent with Scriptural injunction and Congre-
gatlonal usage would not be within the protec-
tl0n which the Law accords to the disclosures Of
witnesses as privileged communications tand SO
Quoted by the religious society OF which the par
ties brought IN question are members He there
fore invited SIX members Of ms church and con.
gregation 10 take charge OF the case, and left it
absolutely In their nands. Their names were sug-
gested to him by members OF the regular Examln-
ing Committee, and they We're heartily approved
by the full committee when 1t assembled
This special committee went about its work with
q determination 10 be thorough. and was, there
lore, necessarily deliberate In its movements,
which were regulated entirely by It's own mem.
bers, without any attempt at advice or guidance
on the part OF the pastor OF the church. Its con-
ciusions were the result Of Its own independent
Judgment and IN some minor respects dld not ac-
cord with his.
Before the committee had finished Its investiga-
tions Mr.. Tilton. who had at first Willingly ap-
peared before II and testified to the honor and
Integrity OF It's MEMBERS withdrew from Its pres
ence and brought the suit at law which Is now
pending. The complaint was served August q,
during the defendants absence in the White
Mountains. The answer was drawn the next day /;
but, owing TO the distance and succession Of diff
fcutIes in procuring correct officia certificates
would have been nulityl, IT was not served until
September !, which was, however, still some days
in advance Of the time required by law.
Much mas been said about delay in this suit. It
might suffice to say that no case OF similar i'm
portance ana c0mplexity WAS ever brought to
tria before civil court in this part oil the State in
short time as this VIII be. But furthermore,
Ii has been conceded by counsel on both sides, in
the presence OF The Court that there were not
time enough IN December. The defendant person.
ally urged his counsel to arrange ior an cary
trial but ne has elt the case IN their hands and
Is satisfied that they have done thai which was
wisest and hest.
The Application for q statement Of particulars
has not met with the favor OF certain newsp rs
but having been fully sustained by the highes,
Court OF the State and indorsed by the best lega
authorities on the bencn and at the bar, outside
OF Brooklyn we venture to believe that 1t viii
stand the test OF time.
Already one result OF this motion has been tt
clear up much OF this mystery Win which IL was
sought to surround this case and to present. In
more definite form, the questions involved
Our friends need have no apprehension that the
statement OF particulars II made, will 0e used b,
the defendant for any ocner purpose than tht
prevention OF surprise or fraud. He desires anC
intends, God wiling. to meet the whole case
against him at once and dispose OF 1t forever
but TO do this he must have, and means to have
lair warning OF what he IS TO meet.
The OBJECT OF the Dill OF particulars Is not to pre-
vent the plaintin from introducing any evidence
winch he may have. He will be at liberty to snecifJ
all the times and places as to which he proposes t(
ofer evidence upon the trial. II he IS llmltedto
more IL WILL be because he is not willing to SAY
other time and place. The object sought is simply
to prevent him from naming particular lime and
place IN his complaint, and then surprising the de
Iendant the trial bv introducing evidence point
ing TO another and different time and place.
And this leads US to say that no acquittal Il
asked or Will De accepted IN this case upon any
narrow or technical or apologize ground. NJ
matter what false construction may have beer
put upon his language the defendant never ha!
sought. and never will seek. TO excuse himself oy
throwing blame upon others for any fault that
belonged even IN part to him. II 1t were trle tha
ne nad committed the crime charged against han
1t would be MS crime. Tor which ne alone should
answer. No one shall IN hts behalf paliate the
offence charged, or plead tnat allowance should bt
maze ior temptation or weakness. NO one shal
teniold worse, II the defendant were really guilty,
by his subsequent conduct In adding oath upor
oath 70 his denials.
Neither Will the defence be sustained by casting
any ignomny upon Mrs. Elizabeth I1lton. Tha
this lady has In her unhappy past been influenced
by power which she could not resist into max
ing statements which were entirely untrue, M
one asserts more strenuously than she herself
But this Is. unfortunately no uncommon event II
the Hves of pure and good women VINO are bount
by ties OF mingled affection and lear to men o
superior force and despOtc nature The defence
OF tnis sult viii never proceed upon any theor,
which does not recognize the honor OF Elizabeth
Titon as at least equally worthy OF protection
with the name OF Henry Ward Beecher.
Finally, there Ttu De no compromise. No snQ
gestion OF the kind has been accepted since tn,
commencement oil the suit, and none Will be &C
cepted 10 its end. Many wel+meant (and som,
ill-meanp propositions upon tnls subject nav,
been made TO the defence: and occasional in
qurles arise concerning it, Let 1t suffice, To-
ALL that there never has been. and never will be
any disposition on the part OF the defence to settle
or harmoniZe, or compromise. on any basis excep
the unequivocal retraction OF the iase cnarg
which constitutes the foundation OF the suit.
Is well known that the defendant has been n
party. directly or indirectly, TO any arrangement q
~ tn nd 4 m