The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-09-03

II
crime perpetrated in the presence Of her hus-
band, and this upon the idea that the husband &
presence and influence amount to duress, and
that she IL, therefore, not responsible Whether
or not it was necessary to invoke this rule Of law
To excuse Mrs. Tilton, it could be seen in what
| Mr.. Tilton was able to extort from her without
her voliti0n or real assent something OF the rea-
sons which moved the early exponnder Of the
| English common law to assert the doctrine re-
ferred to-
The committee having reviewed the evidence,
proceed to contrast the characters of Mr. TiltOn
! and Mr.. Beecher. In respect to the former the
| committee ask Who is this accuser that he
makes SO bold face. He had lately become a
very different man from what he was formerly re-
! ported to be. Signs of dcgcneracy have set in
which make him a dlscredited man in the com
munity. After his espousal OF the new marital
| philosophy his downfall rapid and com
| plete In sketching his career an able writer
says: In process of time he comes before the
world the indorser of Victoria G. Woodruff,
| and lends his name to biography of her which
would have sunk any mans reputation anywhere
for common sense. Such a book is a tomb from
which no author rises again" Such Is the ac
| cuser.
| The accused is Henry Ward Beecher, the pastor
OF Plymouth Church. who has been clergyman
ing in the clear light Of MONDAY, be-
n fore raa his people and all mem and life
SAINT work Those who have been most
| intimate with him. at home and abroad,
report nothing of his life or conversation
sRsa ss OF nS S snd %ouon to believe
y
| that Mr.. Beecher, with his long and useful life
| and high character TO sustain him, Is unworthy
actcr and great services, which are usually CON
| sidered a tower of strength and defense, when
one is assaied. are to go for naugh, according to
| Mr.. Tilton. We are invited to give up this man
and send him and his good name and family to
| the vortex of moral destruction. We are to do
| this upon what: Upon some wild, absurd and
contradictory assertions of Mr.. Tilton who in all
this work does not succeed in Disgusting his
malicious and reycngeful designs. No tribunal
administering justice ever held charge of adul-
terry proved by mere alleged words, written
spoken. that are denied ana not connected with
circumstances and appearances pointing unmis-
takably to the guilt of the accused.
Upon review of ali the evidence relied on by
the aecuser the committee conclude that he
| utterly fails TO sustain the charges made, and
make the following statement of conclusions:
l. We find from the evidence that Rev. Henry
Ward Bcecher did not commit adultery with Mrs.
Elizabeth X. 1ilton either at the time or times,
or at the place or places, set forth in the third
and fourth subdivisions of Mr.. Titon's state
ment. at any other time or place whatever
2. We find from the evidence that Mr. Beecher
has never committed any unchaste or improper
act with Mrs Tilton, nor made any unchaste
improper remark. proffer, or solicitation to her.
of any kind or description whatever.
3. If this were a question of error OF Jndg-
easy to crticise. especially in the light OF recent
events. In such criticism, even in the extent of
regret and ccnsure, we are sure no man would
join more sincerely than Mr.. Beecher himself.
4. We find nothing whatever in the evidence
that shotf1d impair the perfect confidence of
Plymouth Church or the world in the Christian
character and integrity of Henry Ward Beecher
And now let the peace of God, that passcth all
understanding, rest and abide with Plymouth
Church and its beloved and eminent pastor,
HENRY w. SAGE,
AUGUSTUS STORRS.
HENRY NJ. CLEVELAND,
HORACE Il. CLAFLIN,
JoHN WiNsLow,
$. V. WHITE,
Committee of Investigations
BROOKLYN, Apg. 2i, 1874.
SUBSEQUENT CHURCH PROCEEDINGS.
The foregoing report upon being read was ac-
cepted with shouts of acclamaton
The following resolutions were then offered:
: ReSOfGed. That the evidence lald before the Ex
amining Committee not only does not afford any
foundation for putting the pastor of this church,
Rev. Henry Ward Bccchcr, upon trial, but. on the
contrary establishes to the perfect satisfaction
ofthis church his entire innocence and absolute
personal purity with respect to all charges now
or hereafter made against him by Theodore Til
ton
.'Resotred, That our confidence and love for our
pastor, SO far from being diminished, are height
cned and deepcned by the unmeritcd suferings
which he has so long borne, and that we welcome
him, with sympathy more tender and trust
more unbounded than We ever felt before, to bis
public labors among us, to our church. our
families. our homes and our hearts.
AT this juncturc Mr. Moulton entered the
church, pulled out his note book and pencil ana
prepared to take notes of the proceedings Ad-
dresses were made by several gentlemen, among
others Mr. Rossiter w. RAYMOND, who recapit-
ulated some portions of the evidence, and i'll re-
terring to Monton's part I'M the affair said: = Mr.
Francis ID. Moulton has tried To poison the minds
Of men against Mr.. Becchcr." This seemed to
raise Mr.. Moultons ire, and standing erect he
glared at the speaker and exclaimed twice, IN q
loud voice: :" You're liar, sir! You re liar. SIR
Instantly all was confusion. Men and women rose
to their feet, the latter mounting on seats
and joining in the cry, with hearty good Will;
of :" Put him out!n Shame. sir, etc. mingled
with loud and prolonged kissing, in the midst Of
which Mr.. Halliday came forward and, making
himself heard above the din partially restored
order saving: "Gcntlemcn, LEI him sit still and
hear the truth" But Moulton still remained on
his feet, saving: - / dare you to put me out.
A couple Of police officers put in an appearance
behind Mr.. Moulton. and he resumed his seat.
Order being partially restored, Mr. Raymond
continued: well, now want tn say something
10 you about blackmailing." Cries Of .ncs, : 90
for the blacb,naler." lie claimed that Mr; LIE
but it was evident that Mr. Monlton paid him
money out OF his pocket. Was it upon his lnsin-
uporishis he wanted to know. they were to wait
and doubt! With regard TO the pistol, II
was not pretended by Mr. Beechcr or adj
vanced by Mr.. Moulton that under the in
hncncc of the pistol, he was hurried or int1ml-
dated into any action. The story of the pistol
was just this : 1t went to show the character Of
man who went to call upon a minister with his
pistol. lie concluded his address by stating that,
come what might, they would all stand by the
man who stood up nobly for them.
The Chairman then put the question on rccclv-
ing the report of the committee and adopting the
resolutions offered
On motion. it was passed by standing vote.
with the waving of hats and handkcrchefs when
the ayes called for but when the noes
were called Frank Moulton only arose, and was
greeted with a perfect storm of Kisses, and an
other uproar succeeded. but was camed in
slight degree when Mr. Gilbert arose and offered
resolutions rendering thanks to the members OF
the committee for the faithful and impartial
manner in which they had performed their du-
ties, and also TO the counsel of the committee
for their valuable services. This was also
adopted.
A motion was made to adjourn. but Mr.. Iialli-
day announced that the proceedings would ter
inmate with the singing of the doNology. Mr
Moulton here arose from his seat and pushed his
way toward the door through the surging crowd
which blocked the passage. During his route he
was hustled on every side, and when he reached
the hallway many hands were outstretched as II
to wrcak vengeance upon him; but the crowd
was kept off by police officers who hurried bim
down the allcyway to where II carriage was
in waiting, into which he pushed rather than
helped, and. with a police officer standing on
each step of the vehicle, it was drawn rapidly
away. The audience then quietly dispersed.
Coming State Elections.