The Republican journal., 1874-08-13
Brother Moulton's Statement,

Moulton was before the Plymouth
Church Committee on Tuesday. His
statement has not been made public by the
committee, who say they shall withhold il
lor the present, But the Brooklyn Eagle,
that processes to know all about it, gives
the following as the substance
Mr.. Moulton's statement is unexpected
ly brief, making not more than five or six
tooiscap pages not closely written Moul-
ton says i'll substance, that all he knew
about the difficulty between Beecher and
| Hilton was entrusted to him in confidence,
with all the documents he has been fur
nlshed relating directly or indirectly to
the case, and these documents were en-
trusted in confidence He has known
Illton since 1857. and became personally
acquainted with Beecher in 1869 and
mainly through this case.
Notwithstanding the fact that he has
the consent of both Beecher and Tilton to
tell all he knows about the case and turn-
ish all documents he has in relation to ii,
and the additional fact that he has been
| twice summoned before the committee, he
says he can't, in conscience, and as man
of honor, disclose any condolences which
have been placed in him He came into
| t he case rs peacemakor to settle it, and
| all that he had done had been done in that
direction Without his knowledge and
| against his wishes certain documents con-
nected with the case have been published,
mainly through Tilton, and in the state
mcnt made before the committee.
! 50 many of the original documents as
| he has copies of and which have been
made public he feels under obligations to
| place in the hands of the Committee il
| necessary Alonlton has had copies of all
| these documents made and he handed
| these copies to the Committee, holding
himself ready 10 produce the originals
when The Committee desired to verify
them Beyond this Monlton was not will
inG to make any statement, nor did he
feel himself justified in honor or in CON
science lor producing any documents save
| those quoted by Titon in his statement.
Monllon handed the Committee his state
ment and copies Of the documents in Til
tons communication
1t appears from 4 hurried comparison
made by the committee that Tilton in
quoting the documents arranged them TO
suit himself In some cases only part of
the document is quoted and various signi-
licant passages are omitted. In one case
the letter is divided by Tilon and made TO
seem as il there We're two letters. ap-
parcntly ior the purpose OF cumulating
testimony The committee look on these
changes a, very significant and as bearing
heavily against TiIton,
Moulton was briefly cross-cNamined.
tie reiterated what appeared in his state
mcnt, that II any attempt was made to
aSsail his position rs 4 friend of both
parties or to question his honor. he might
be under tie necessity OF making a further
statement but for the present be contented
himself with furnishing the committee ex-
act copies of the documents quoted by
Tilton.
The Eagle reporter. in an interview
with Moulton, obtained this announce
mcnt: My statement, apart from supply
ing the letters from which Tilton quoted,
can neither assist nor iuiure Beechcr 1t
is in the hands of the committee and CON
tains all | have got to say upon the ease
The letters sent to me for my private in
formation are my own property, and am
not under any obligations, even al the
desire Of the writer TO make them public.
ana am qulte sure mat no power under
Heaven can make me declare from the
house-top what has been declared to me in
the secrecy Of friendship. At all events
have acted on that belief and shall have
to see with other eyes before changing my
mind on that subject
The Eagle says the Committee had
meeting lor conference this afternoon and
meet formally tomorrow, and then. in all
probability, will have Beecher before
them
The Argus says there are reports that
Mrs. Tilton is prepared to state that she
has been lahoring under hallucination,
that Bcecher is willing TO resign his
pastorate, that the society will refuse to
accept his resignation and that Tilton will
upon these conditions again open the door
Of his honee to his wife