Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-22

her confession in her own hand writing which
he handed me to read, which was the first
knowledge had of its existence.
Tilton did not tell me how his wife came to
make the confession in July, nor did at that
time or ever after ask. Indeed, may state
here, once for all, / RETAINED from asking
confessions Of the acts of all the parties fur
Their than they chose to make them voluntari-
ly for the purpose for which / was acting
Tilton wanted me to go down and ask Beech
er to come up and see him at my house, which
| did. | said to Mr.. Beecher, "Mr. Tilton
wants YOU to come and see him at my house,
Immediately" He asked what for. | replied
che wants to make some statement to you in
reference to your relation with his family
He then called to some one in the back room
to go down and say that he should not be at
the prayer meeting, and we went out together
1t was storming at the time, when he remark
ed ''There is an appropriateness in this
Storm" and asked, "What can l do?" l said
"Mr. Beecher. l am not christian, but if
you wish l will show you how well heather
can serve you"
We then went to my house and l showed
him into the chamber over the parlor, where
Mr.. Tilton was, and left them together. In
about an hour Mr.. Beecher came down ard
asked me if | had seen the confession of
Elizabeth. l said had.
Said he, "This will kill me-" and asked me
to walk out with him. did so; we walked
to Mr.. Tilton's house together and he went in.
On the way he said, "This is a terrible catas-
trophe it comes upon me as if struck by
lightning" He went into Tilton's house and
| returned home. Within an hour he return
ed to my house and we left my house again
together, and walked with him to his house.
Tilton remained at my house while Beecher
~, - lo, han no.
turned there was no conversation between
them.
When we arrived at Beecher's house, he
wanted me to stand by him in this emergency
and procure reconciliation if possible. |
told him | would, because the interests of
women children and families involved, if for
no other reason. That ended the interview
that night.
During this evening nothing was said by
Beecher as to the truth or falsity Of Mrs.
Tilton's confession, nor did he inform me that
he obtained from her any recantation of the
confession which | afterward learned he had.
| returned to my house and had some CONVEX
saion with Titon, in which he told me that
he had rcctcd to Beecher the details of the
contes sion of his wfe's adultery, and the re-
mark which Beecher made was, "This is all
a dream, Theodore" and that was all the an
swer that Beecher made to him. l then adj
vised Tilton that for the sake of his wife and.
family and for the sake of Beecher's family,
the matter should be kept quiet and hushed
up.
The next morning, as | was leaving home
for business, Titon came to my house and,
with great anger saidsthat Beecher had done
mean act; that he had gone from that inter-
view of last night to his house and procured
from Elizabeth recaEtation and retraction of
II Al.
would smite him that there could be no
peace"
He said, You said that what have told
dent.
Tlton said that Beecher at the interview of
last night had asked his permission to go and
see Elizabeth, and he told him he might go,
which statement was confirmed by Beecher
himself and Beecher left him for tina. pur-
pose. | said to Tilton ''now don't get angry,
let us see if ever this cannot be arranged. l
will go down and get that retraction from
him."
was then going to my business so that l
was unable to go that morning. but went that
evening. Saw Beecher and told him that l
thought that he had been doing very mean
and treacherous act. Treacherous first
towards me from me from whom he wanted
help, in that he did not tell me on our way to
his house last night what he had procured
from Mrs. Titon, and that he could not eX-
pect my friendship in this matter unless he
acted truthfully and hcnorably towards me-
further said, "Mr. Beecher you have had
criminal intercourse with Mrs. Tilton; you
have done great injury to Iilton otherwise.
Now when you are confronted with it, you
ask permission of the man to again visit the
house, and you get from that woman who has
confessed YOU have rnined her, a recantaton
and retraction of the truth for your mere per-
soral safety. That won't save you"
At that interview he admitted with grief and
sorrow the fact of his sexual relations with
Mrs. Tilton; expressed some indignation tina.
she had not told him that she had told her
husband. That in consequence of being in
ignorance of that fact that he had been walk
ing on a volcano, referring to what he had
done in connection with Bowen, and with ref
erence to Tilton's family; he said that he had
svmpathized with Bowen and had taken sides
with him as against him. In consequence of
stories which were in circulation in regard to
him, and especially of one specific case where
he had been informed that Tilton had had in-
proper relations with woman whom he
named, and to whom letter from his wife,
will make part of this statement, and had
SO stated to Bowen and he told me that he
charges, and gave me the rough draft of the
letter. which he wrote and sent to Bowen,
which letter is here produced.
Brooklyn, Jan. ID, 1871
Nv Dear Mr.. Bowen;
Since I saw you last Tuesday have reason
to think that the only cases of which spoke
to you in regard to Mr.. Tilton was exaggerat-
ed in being reported to me and | should be
unwilling to have anything said, though it
WAS but little weight on your mind in matter
so important to his welfare: am informed by
one on whose judgement and integrity great
" rely, and who has the means of forming an
opinion better than any of us, that lie knows
the whole about Mrs. - and that the stories
are not true and that the same is the case with
other stories. | did not wish any reply to
this | thought it only due to justice that |
should say so much. Trulviyours,
(Signed) II. w. BEEcnER.
Mr. Beecher told me that Mrs. Beecher and
himself without knowing of the confession Of
Mrs. Titon to her husband has been express
ing great sympathy towards Mrs Tilton and
taking an active interest with her against her
husband.
said, "Mr. Beecher, want that recanta-
II I TO- ~