The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-23
The Bsscher.. r..TiIiun Scandal.
Mr.. Beecher Comes to tho Defense
Mrs. Tllton.

| 49, DSSSAGA NuuAGb " Auo DGleubU v
Mrs. Tllton.
Leaves His Own VIndfcatIon to the
Committee.
Serious Difficulties In Mr. TIIIOn'l
Family.
NEW YoRK, July 22.-Thls evening sew
eral Of the deacons oi Plymouth Church
with Mr.. Sherman, Mr.. Ross and General
Tracey, met at Mr.. Beecher's residence
and after a consultation lasting abou,
three hours drew up the following state,
ment OF Mr.. Dsecher for publication:
II don't propose at this time q detailed
examination Of the remarkable statement
ol Theodore Tilton made before the com.
mittee OF investigation, and which appear.
ed in print July 81, 1874. l recognize
the many reasons which make II Of tran
scendant Importance to myself, the church
and the cause Of public morality that ]
shall give full answer to the charges
against me, but having requested the com.
mittee ol investigation TO search this mat.
ter to the bottom It Is 10 them that
must look for my vindicatlon. But can't
delay for an hour to defend the reputation
Of Mrs. E. R Tilton, upon whose name, in
connection with mine, her husband has
attempted our shame. One less deserv.
ing Of such disgrace, / never knew. From
childhood she has been under my eye,
and since reaching womsnhood she has
had my sincere admiration aud affection,
l cherish for her pure feeling, such as Q
gentleman might honorAbly offer to q
christian woman, and which she might
receive and reciprocate without moral
scruples. lreject with indignation every
imputation which reflects upon her honor
or my own. My regard for Mrs. Tilton
was perfectly well known to my family
when serious difficulties sprang up in her
household. 1t was TO my wiie she resort.
ed for counsel, and both Of US acting from
sympathy, and as II subsequently appear.
ed without iull knowledge gave unadvls.
ed counsel, which tended TO harm. l
have no doubt that Mr.. Tilton found that
his wite's confidence and reliance
upon my judgment had greatly increased /,
while his influence had diminished. In
consequence Of marked change in his
religious and social views, which were
taking place during those years, her mind
was greatly exercised lest her children
should be harmed by views which she
deemed virtually false and dangerous. l
was suddenly and rudely aroused to q
reality of the impending danger by the
disclosure Of domestic distress, OF sickness
perhaps unto death, Of q likelihood Of
separation and scattering Of family,
every member Of which / had ten.
derly loved. The effect upon me oI
the discovery Of the state Of Mr.. Tilton's
feelings and the condition oI his family
surpassed in SORROW and excitement any
thing I had ever experienced in my life.
That my presence, influence and counsel
had brought TO this beloved family sor-
row and alienation gave in my then state
Of mind poignanoy TO my suffering
which I hope no other man may ever
feel. Even to be suspected of having Of
Tered under privileges Of q peculiarly So
cred relation an indecorum TO wife and
mother, could not but deeply wound any
one who Is sensitive to the honor Of wo-
manhood. There were peculiar reasons
for alarm in this case on other grounds,
inasmuch as l was then subject to certain
malignant rumors, and fagrant out.
break In this family at such a time
would bring upon them an added injury
derived from these shameless falsehoods.
Believing at the time that my presence
and counsels had tended, however un'
consciously, to produce Asocial catastro-
phe represented as imminent, l gave ex
preston to my feelings In an interview
with a mutual friend, not In cold, cautious
and self-deiending words, but eagerly
taking the blame upon myself, and pour
ing out my heart to my friend In the
strongest language, overburdened with
the exsggerations Of impassioned sorrow,
Had been the evil man that Mr.. Tilton
nowrepresents, I should have been calmel
and more prudent. 1t was my horror oi
this evilimputed that filled me with NOR
bid intensity at the very shadow oI 1t
Not only was my friend affected gener
ously, but he assured me that such ex
pressions, II conveyed TO Mr. Tilton
would soothe the wounded feelings, allsy
anger and heal the whole trouble. BE
took down sentences and fragments o.
what l had been saying, 10 use them as
mediator. A iull statement oil the circun
stances under which this memorandum
was made shall give 10 the Investi-
eating Committee. That these apologies
we're more than ample to meet the fActI
OF the case Is evident In that they wert
accepted; that our intercourse resumed
iriendliness; that Mr.. Tilton subsequently
ratified 1t in writing, and that he ha!
continued for four years and until within
two weeks to live with his vile. is Il
conceivable that If the original charge
had been what Is now alleged that h'
would have condoned the offence not only
with the mother OF his children but will
him whom he believed to have wronget
themt The absurdity as well as lalsity
OF this story Is apparent when 1t Is con-
sidered that Mr.. Tilton now alleges tha
he carried this guilty secret Of his wiie'l
inAdelity for six months locked up in hil
own breast aud that then he divulget
1t to me only with the desire that thert
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