New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-25
THE BROOKLYN SCANDAL.

ESTIMATE OF MRS. TILTON-MRS. BEECHER DE-
FENDED-COMMoN SENSE OUT OF COURT.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR BY the appearance of Mr.. Tilton's last state
ment. am again called to meet the inquiries and
fears of friends and present this both as reply to
many letters and an appeal to public justice. one
great difficulty in this scandal is the bitter malg
nifty Of former warm friends against o man OF such
benevoence and integrity, for (which no adequate
cause appears. 1t tempts to fear Of some dreadful
truth the incentive. 1t is to meet this difficulty
that brief outline will be given of tho characters
of the and the causes Of their malignity,
promising that what state was learned outside OF
my brothers family, in which never heard any OF
these particulars such topics being by mutual con-
sent avoided
The real originator of this scandal is the proprietor
OF The Independent, described to me by many who
know him as man Of iron will, indomltabie
perseverance, adroit maneuvering, and devotee 10
| money-makng. Various gentlemen and ladies have
Informed me of mean and dishonest practices by this
man, which they have either known or experienced.
Any attempts of my brother to fulfill his duty as
Christian, friend, and pastor in these matters were
met only with anger. The consequent withdrawal
of my brother and Mrs. Stowe contributors to
The independent increased evaporation, and finally
| his affair with q lady authoress residing in his
i
in causing her to decline offer of marriage, added
fresh excitement to malignity. If this is fact it
was what probably prompted Bowen's letter to
Tilton accusing my brother of adultery and rape,
| which he afterward confessed had no foundation,
and by his acknowledgment aud regret for the
wrong he had done by expressions of perfect con-
fdence in his pastors integrity, and by promise to
avoid any further of the sort, he adroitly con-
| trived to maintain his membership in the Church
and obtain the forgiveness of his pastor.
The second prominent actor in what has proved
virtual though not premeditated conspiracy was
the author of this last statement"-a man of more
| than ordinary talents and Of many interesting
natural traits, combined with weak mcTal sense and
a deficiency in common sense. BY my brothers IN
uence he secured conspicuous editorial position,
was introduced to the society OF distinguished men
and treated by them with unusual attention, the re-
suit being oyermaStering conceIt ambition, ana
vanity. HIS adop ion OF Victoria Woodhulls free
love principles and practices led to his dismissal
| from both The Independent and Brooklyn daily
| paper and he believed my brother aud my brothers
| wife were the chief causes of this downfall. Re-
duced to poverty and disgrace leading to excess in
| drinking his ftend and classmate Moulton came
to my brother to help save him. painting the danger
and despair of one once loved as son now on the
verge of rum of which my brother was made to feel
| he was the chief cause. Thus came demands for
| funds to start The Golden Ade
Moulton the third actor in this conspiracy, at the
present time stands charged in prominent city pa
per with crimes that If proved, VIII doom him TO the
| penitentiary; while several men of integrity say
they are ready to appear witnesses III court and
can prove these charges. Aud yet this man belongs
! TO an honorable firm, has moved unchaenged III so
ciety is pleasing in manners, plausible In conVerSa
tion has cunningly fegned thevrtues most hohored
by my brother thus assuming 20 him the garb OF an
| angel of light
fourth actor in this conspiracy Is reporter cast
OFF from respectable papers for habitual lying.
The most unhappy partner and victim Of this con-
spiracy is the wife of the author of this last state
ment.D Gentle. timid conscientious, warmhearted
and led by her feelings rather than reason her ex-
torted confessions have proved the main instrument
tality of malignant revenge.
| One incident of my past lite gave me the hrst
clue to her part in this tragedy. Some years ago
lady of my acquaintance Of unbemishod modesty
| and purify with tender husband and
several children, suddenly accused herself
| of adultery with respectable citizen
who denied all occasion for such charge. She had
| become a victim Of splrituaiism, and said " the
spirits" required her to make this confession This,
Of course was regarded Us a ease of insanity After
ward read in History of Insanity, and learned
also from periodical medical works, that at periods
of collaborating, modest women, who are sane Iii all
other respects, will accuse sometimes their nusoahdS
and sometimes themselves OF adultery. When
first heard Of this strange accusation of my brother
| by a modest Christian wife and mother. supposed
il was a case of such monomana until she revealed
her husbands cruel agency. From all this sad and
perplexing difficulty there 10 an easy way OF relief
by simply conforming to certain rules OF common
| sense which regulate the common people IN daily
| affairs. These are
l. All improved charges against established char
acter are TO be treated SANDER. If man OF known
integrity is charged with sheep-steallng or puriolh-
ing goods from stores the accuser is to Do punished
for SANDER unless he shows full proof OF the crime
@ When there is conflicting evidence, that view
of the case which has the most evidence Is to be
assumed as true. This guides the physician the
farmer the merchant and the jurlst IN their decl-
sions.
3. When person inhicts severe personal injury
without any good to be gained 1t Is proof OF insanity
as when au honest man himself Of lying and
theft, OF pure and modest woman maintains that
she is prostitute
Here then is a case where man who until three
score has lived pure, vlrtuous ana useiul me- py
the unanimous testimony of brothers. sisters, school
companions classmates parishioners, and fellow
citizens, is accused of lying hypocrisy, adultery
and rape. This is one slde
On the other side are three men convicted by their
own showing of making these accusations and then
denying their truth, and in other matters shown to
be dishonest and liars; while two half-crazy women
first affirm aud then deny the truth Of such charges
What then is the truth as shown by the weight OF
evidenced
Titon's statement not only contains slanderous
lies against my brother, but also against my broth,
ers wife, whom for years he has hated and believed
| II hia dnuynfal Some of