Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-08-26


with it." He asked, "What will you do
if 1 give it to you?'' I answered, Il will
keep it as l keep the confession. If you
act honorably 1 will protect it with my
life, as | would protect the other with my
life. Mr.. Tilton asked for that confession
this morning, and l said, I will never
give it to you you shall not have it from
nv hands until | have exhausted every
effort for peace Mr.. Beecher gave me
back the paper, the original of which |
now produce in Mrs Tilton's handwriting
marked d. as follows:
DECEMBER 80, 1870.
Wearied with Importantly and weak
ened by sickness, l gave letter nculpating
my friend Henry Ward Beecher, under
assurances that that would remove all diff
liculties between me and my husband.
That letter now revoke. [ was persuad
ed to it, almost forced, when | was in
weakened state of mind. | regret it. and
recall all its statements.
(SigneD F. r. TILTON.
desire 10 say explicitly Mr.. Beccher
has never offered any improper solicitations
but has always treated me in II manner
becoming Christian and gentleman.
(SigneO ELIZABETH r. TILrON.
Afterward Mr. Tillon left with me an
other letter, dated the same night of the
recantation. Dec 80, bearing on the same
topic, to be kept with the papers, which
was in his wife's handwriting. 1t is here
produced and marked '' E. as follows:
MRS. TILTON'S RETRACTION OF HER RECAN-
TATION.
DECEMBER so, 1S70-Millnight
My DEAR HUSBAND: | desire to leave
with you before going to sleep statement
that Mr.. Henry Ward Beecher called upon
me this evening. asked me if | would de
tend him against any accusation in u coun-
eli Of ministers, and replied solemDly that
L would in case the accuser was any other
person thln my husband. He (H. w. B.
dictated n letter which copied as nv own
to be used by him as against any other ac-
cuser except my husband. This letter was
designed to vindicate Mr. Beecher against
| all other persons save only yourself |
was ready to give him this letter because
he said with pain that my letter in your
hands addressed to him, dated Dee. 80,
- bad struck him dead and ended his use
fulness.n
You and | both are pledged to do our
best to avoid publicity. Gol grant Il
speedy end to all further anxieties. At
feetionately, (SigneD ELIZABETH.
When went home with the recantation,
| found 'lilton there and showed it to him.
he expressed his surprise and qualification
that | should have been able to get it. and
then showed him how very foolish it
would have been in the morning to have
proceeded angrily against Beecher. /
made another appeal for peace. saying that
Notwithstanding great difficulties appeared
IN the way, if they were properly dealt
with they could be beaten out of the way
He expressed his willingness and desire
for peace.
When | saw Beecher | made an agree
ment, ut his request, to 90 and see him on
Sunday, Jan. /. | went to his house in
accordance with the engagement. He
took me into his study, and then told me
again of his great surprise that Elizabeth
should have made the confession Of his
criminal commerce with her to her huS-
band without letting him (B) know any
thing about it, making his destruction at
any moment possible, and without warming
to him. He expressed his great grief at
this wrong which he had done rs a minis
ter and friend to Theodore, and ut his re-
quest took pen and paper and he dictated
To me the following paper. all of which is
L
have trusted this to Moulton in confidence
and the signature. which latter are in Mr..
Beecher's. 1t is here produced and marked
F.:
BROOKLYN. Jan. l, 1871.
In trust ,cith +. d. -noulton.
My DEAR FRIEND MOULToN: | ask
through you Theodore Tilton's forgiveness
and humble myself before him as | do
hot, .CI 10 4
better man in my circumstances than |
have been. | can ask nothing except that
he will remember all the other hearts that
would ache | will not plead for myself.
| even wish | We're dead; but others must
live and suffer. | will die before any one
but myself shall be implicated All nv
thoughts are running toward my friends.
toward the poor child lying there and
praying with her folded hands. She is
guiltless - sinned against; bearing the
transgression of another. Her forgiveness
have. humbly pray to God that he
may put it into the heart of her husband
to forgive me.
l have trusted this to M0ulion in conf
dence.
(Signel) II. w. BEECHER.
This was intrusted to me in confidence.
to be shown only to Tilton, which | did
1t had reference to no ether ftct or act
than the confession of sexual intercourse
between Mr.. Beecher and Mrs Tilton.
which he at that interview confessed, and
denied not, bat confessed. lie also at
other interviews subsequently, held be-
tween us in relation to this unfortunate
affair unqualitiedly confessed that he had
been guilty of adultery with Mrs. Tilton,
and always in spirit of grief and sorrow
at the enormity of the crime he had COM
mitted against Mr.. Tilton's family At
such time he would speak with much feel
ing of the relation he had sustained tow
ard them rs pastor. spiritual adviser, and
trusted friend. His self-condemnation at
the ruin he had wrought under such cir
cumstances was full and complete, and at
times he was SO bowed down with grief
in consequence of the wrong he had done
that he threatened to put an end to his
life"
Mr.. Bowen's terms, and Mr.. Beecher's
notes of the reconciliation between them
are given. The letters which passed be-
tween Mrs. Hooker and her brothers,
which were handed to Mr.. Moulton by Mr.
Beecher, are given in full. Here appears
the letter from the Rev. Thomas K Beech
er, from which Mr.. Tilton M lde an ex-
tract in his Statement. Mr.. Moulton re-
produces the card which he SAYS Mr..
Beecher wished Mr.. Tilton to sign, denoun-
cling Mrs, Woodruff. The letters from
Mr.. Beecher to Mr.. Moulton and Mrs.
Tilton before published. are given, and
cne from Mrs. Morse to Mr.. Beecher re-
lating the miseries of the Tilton home,
and appealing for help. Mr.. Moulton
states why the young girl Bessy was sent
away to school, and adds letters from her
denying what she had before charged
against Mr.. Tilton. Her expenses were
paid by Mr.. Beecher, and the account is
given, the money having passed through
Mr. Moulton'S hands