Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-22


throw OF this burden OF enforced falsehood bv
making . full confession 90 her husband -
that she would no longer be living befOre him a
perpetual lie. In particular, she said that she
ad been on the point Of making this Confession
few months previously during . severe m
ess, when she feared she might die. She
affirmed also that Mr.. Beecher had assured her
repeatedly that he loved her better than be hal
ever loved any other woman, and she felt justi-
fed before God in her intimacy with him. save
the necessary deceit which sccOmpa nied IL, ami
at which she frequently suffered an her mind.
NtHih.-Thst after the above named confess
sion by Mrs. Elizabeth X. ftlton, she hsd re-
her husband a. he might see DC 20 take; where
upon, After many considerations. the chief OF
which was that she had not voluntarily gone
astrsy, but had been artfully misled throagh
religious reverence for the Rev. Henry Ward
Be6cher a. her spiritual guide, together also
from desire 90 protect the family RON open
shame, MT Itlton oondoned the wrong, and he
addressed 10 his wife such letters OF affection,
tenderness and respect ~ he felt would restore
her wounded spirit, and which did partially
produce that result.
THE BOWEN DIFFICULTY
TesA.-That in December, lSso, differences
arose bet~ cen Theodore TttOn ani Henry a.
Bowen, which we're augmented bv the Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher aud Mrs- Beecher, IN
consequence whereof, and At the wish OF Mrs.
Elizabeth X. TiltOn, expressed in writing In a
paper put into the hands OF SIR. Francis ID.
MoUlton, with = view u procure a harmonious
interview between Mr.. TiltOn ani Mr.. Bsecher
such an interview Was arranged and carried out
by Mr.. MoultOn 81 his then residence on Gin
ton street, Mr.. BeecheT and Mr.. riltOu meeting
and speaking then and there tor the irst time
since Mrs. TIltOn's confession OF six months be-
tore. The Taper in Mr. MoultOn's hands wa a
statement by Mrs. rIlion OF the substance OF
the confession which size had before made. OF
her wish and prayer tor reconciliation SUD peace
between her pastor ard her husband. This
paper furnished 20 Mr.. Beecher tue drst know
ledge which he had as yet received mat airs
rilton had made such = confession.
MR.. BEECHER's gKNoRsS.
At this interview between Mr.. Rec .her and
Beecher 10 consult with Mrs. Tllton on that
same evening. This permission being granted,
Mr.. Beecher departed from Mr.. MOulton's
house, and I'm about half an hour returned
there, expressing ms remorse and shame. and
declaring that his life and work seemed brought
TO q sudden end. Later in the same evening
Mr.. TlltOn, on returning 20 his house, found his
wife weeping and in great distress, saying that
what she had meant Tor peace had only given
pain and anguish; that Mr. Beecher had lust
called ON her, declaring that she had slain him,
and that he would probably be tried before a
council Of ministers unless she would give him
q written paper for his protection; WhereupOp
she said he dictated 20 her. and she copied in
her own handwriting, suitable paper tor him
to use TO clear himself before = council Of min
isters.
MRS. TILroS's STATEMENT or THnIsrKRvIKw.
Mrs. Tilton having kept NO copy OF this pa
per, her husband asked her 30 make a distinct
statement in writing OF her design and meaning
In giving 10. whereupOn she wrote AZ follows:
HasJdHd:-I desire TO leave with yOu before go
ing 20 bed statement that Mr.. Henry Ward
Beecher called upon me this evening aud asked
me IL l would defend him against Ary ACCUSE
ton in a council of ministers, and .iplied sol
EMMY that would in case the accuseT WAS any
other person than my husband. He IL. w. b
dictated a letter, which copied - myoEn, %
be used by him As az sinst any other aGcuser en-
cept my husband. THIS letter wa. desi gned %
vindicste Mr.. Beecher against all other persons
save only yourself. l VA ready % give him
vii naan hat
letter in your hands, addressed TO him, dated
December y, had struck him desd and ended
his usefulness You and are pledged to 10
our best TO avoid publicity. God grant a speedy
end TO all further anxietles.
Arectionstely, ELIZABETH"
on the next day, namely, December 81, 1870,
Mr.. MoultOn, on being informed by Mr.. TiltOn
Of the above-named Transaction by Mr.. Beech
er, called on him (Mr. Beecher) ~ his resi-
deDce, and told him that a reconciliation
seemed suddenly made impossible by Mr..
Beecher's netaTiOus act In procuring the letter
which Mrs. TitOn had thus been Improperly
persuaded 20 make falsely. Mr.. Beecher
promptly, through Mr.. MOultOn, returned the
letter 70 Nj Triton, with sn expression of
shame apd sorrow for having procured IL in the
manner he did.
TIE REVOCATION.
The letter was a. follows:
'DECRMBBR 81, lS1O.-wearied with impOrtu-
nity,and weakened by sickness, 1 gave a letter
duplicating nv friend Henry Ward Beecher,
under assurances that that would remove all
difficulties between me and my husband. That
letter / now revoke. 1 was persuaded 20 IL,
almost forced, when was In = weakened state
of mind. regret IL, and recall al its state.
mcnts. 1 desire 20 say explicitly that Mr..
Beecher has never offered any improper sOlicita-
tons, but has always treated me in a manner
ecoming Christian and a gentleman.
ELIZABETH X. TILrON."
BEECHER's THREAT OF SUICIDE.
At the time OF Mr.. Beecher's returning the
abOve document 70 Mr.. TiltOn, through Mr..
Mouton, Mr. Beecher requested Mr. Moulton
o call AZ his residence, on Columbia street, on
The next day. which be did, on the evening OF
January I, ISL. a long Interview then snsued,
n which MI Beecher Expressed to AIR. MouIton
great cOntTitiOn and remOrse for bis previous
criminality with Mrs. Tilton, taking u himself
hame for having misused his sacred Office a. a
clergyman % currupt her mind, expressing a
determination 20 kill himself in case of eN-
pOsure, and begging MIR. MoultOn 20 take a pen
and receive from his Mr.. Beecher'sl lips an
apology TO be conveyed 20 Mr.. TilrOn, in the
hope that such an appeal would secure Mr..
Tilton's forgiveness.
The apology which Mr.. Bsecher dictated d
Mr.. MOulton was as follows:
MR. EHECHKRs APOLOGY.
"Ny Dear Trend NOult0n--l ask through you
Theodore TiltOn's forgiveness, aud humble
myself before him a. ] do before my God. He
would have been a better man i'm my circum-
stances than have been. 1 can ak nothing
except that he viii remember all the other
breasts that would ache. 1 will not plead for
myself / even wish that were dead; but others
must live 20 suffer. i will die before any but
myself shall be inculpsted. All my thoughts
are out lflcnas ana NONAru
the poor child lying there and praying with her
folded hands. lie s guiltless. sinned against,
bearing the transgression Of another. Her for
giveness 1 have. I humbly pray to God 20 put
IL into the heart Of her husband 10 forgive me.
/ have trusted this 10 Mr.. MOultOn In conf
dencR. III. WARD BERCHER.n
In the above document the last sentence aud
the signature are In the handwriting OF the Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher.
MRS. TTIToN CoNFRsRRs To CONSPIRACY.
EleueHth.-Thst Mrs. Tilton wrote the follow
ing letter 20 q friend:
"11I LicingstOHe street, brooklyn, January 3,
iS74.-IIear Friend:-A cruel conspiracy has
been formed against my husband, In which my
mother and Mrs. Beecher have been the chief
actors. Yours truly,
sFLIzABETH II. TILrON."
TtCelfh.-That IN the following month Mr.
Moulton, wishing 70 bind Dir. Tilton and Nc.
Beecher by mutual expressions OF good spirit,
elected from them the following Correspond
ence:
Mr.. TILToN TO Mr.. MoyLToN.
"BRooKLYE, February I, ls1l.-Hy Dear
Friend. In several conversations with you, you
have esked my feelings toward Mr. Bsecher,
and Yesterday You said the time had come when
you would like 20 receive from me an expression
of this kind in writing. 4 say, therefore, very