The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-08-22
BY TELEGRAPH
T0 THE
WHEELING REGISTER.
Press Peport. by Western
Union Line, Office Northwest cor.
of Main and 18th SITS.
THE EVERLASTING SCANDAL
MOultOn's Statement--COrreS-
pOndenCe.
Preface 10 Statement Of Francis ID
MOultOn.

Preface 10 Statement Of Francis d
MOuitOn.
The Daily Evening Graphic furnishes
in advance of publication proof sheets of
the complete statement of Francis ID.
Moulton. Mr.. Moulton prefaces his
statement with the following card to the
public:
| became party almost accidentally
in the unhappy controversy between
Mr.. Beecher and Mr.. Tilton. | had been
u friend of Mr.. Tilton from boyhood, and
fer Mr.. Beecher had always entertained
the warmeSt admiration. In 1870 |
learned for the first time, that Mr..
Beecher had given Mr.. Tilton so grave a
cause of offGnse that ifthe truth should
should be made public, a great national
calamity would ensue. | believed that
the scandal would tend to undermine
the very foundations of social order;
to lay low beneticcnt power for good
in our country, and blast the prospects
and blight the family Of one of the most
brilliant and promising of the rising men
of the generation. Thus disastrous !
deemed it and still regard it, | detcrmin-
ed to try and avoid it. For nearly four
wears | have labored most assiduouSly to
save both of these men from the
consequences of their acts whether of
unwisdom or passion, acts which have
already seriously involved them III an
endless and disastrous quarrel which Is
made the pretext of pouring on the COM
munity flood of impurity and scandal,
deeply affecting their own families and
threatening to become whirlpool, ifnot
stilled, and to draw into its vortex the
peace of mind and good reputc of host
of others.
Innocent Children Burdened with
ObIOquy.
More than this, saw that because Of
the transgreSsions of another, innocent
children would be burdened with load
of obloquy which would weigh most
heavily and cruelty on their young lives.
All these considerations determined me
to take an active part in the transaction
which has since become so notorious.
This decision involved me in great
anxiety and labor, for which the hope of
saving these interests could be my only
compensation. Even that reward has
now failed me, and instead of it an at
tempt is made to throw on me part
or the shower of disgrace which belongs
to the actors alone.
The Attack on Him Unwarranted.
One of these, whom l have zealously
endeavOred to serve, has seen tit, with all
the power of his vast influence and
matchlesS art as writer, to visit on me
the penalty of his own wrong doing; at
the same time publicly appealing to me
to make known the truth, rs if it would
Justify his attacks on me. feel that the
failure of my cxertionS has not been ow-
ing to one fault of mine. | worked faith
fully and sincerely under the almost daily
advice and direction of Mr.. Beechcr
with his fullest appreciation, confidence
and becoming fortitude, until, US l think,
in m evil hour for him, he took other
advice.
Ihave Failed.
and now, strangely enough, he seems to
desire to punish me for the sad sad con-
sequences of the folly, insincerity and
wickedneSs Of his present counsellorS.
Mr.. Beecher, in his statement, testliics
that he brought this investigation
without INV knowledge and advice, even
while mourning what seemed to III" the
utter unwiSdom of this proceeding.
have done all | could honorably to avert
the catastrophe. have kept silent, al
though saw with sorrow that this silence
WAS deeply injuring the friend OF my
bovhoOd. Prompted by sense "t duty,
not to one only, but to all the parties m
volved, | denied the united and public
appeals made to me by Mr.. Beccher and
Mr. Tilton to produce the evidence Ill my
possession, partly because / frlt th"t the
injury thereby done to Mr. Tilton was
far less calamitouS than the destruction
which must come on all the interests l
had for wears tried to conserve, ana es-
pecially on Mr.. Bcecher'S himself, II
should comply with this request; but l
stated clearly that in one emergency l
should speak, namely,
In Defense Of Ny own Integrity
of action. if it should be waht"Hl!
a>sailcd. and left Mr.. Beech'r'
by the facts in my
hands, to defend himself, without
the necessity of attacking me by the pup
lished accusation of Mr.. Beecher AFFECT
ing my character and my ewn seil,re-
spect. The advice of friends ana puDiic
Justice makes it imperative that the
truth. the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth should now be fully declared.
l give to the public, therefore, the state
mcnt | prepared to bring before the
committee without the alteration or ad-
diton of sentence, and scarcely word
ccrtainly y without the change OF a SihSle
syllable since | read Mr.. Beecher state
mcnt and evidence or because OF 1t.
Statement withheId mt Request OF
Beecher's Friends.
This paper | withheld from the COM
mittce when before it in last despair
ing effort of fpeace, at the earnest soIiGi-
tation of some of Mr.. BeecherS friends,
and with the approval also Of some OF
the most valued of my own. DO no'
now give it to the committee, but 10 the
public, because its production concerns
myself rather than the principals
III the Slrlle. ~
for my own protection against
public accusations, and not to AID elther
party in the controversy for the needless
and cruel necessity that now so imPera-
lively compels its production; | have
the most profound grieffor which there Is :
but single alienation, namely; Ihat
the disclosure of the facts at this
time can scarcely work more harm to
him, whom at first tried to befriend by
withholding them from the public, thah
they would have caused him in January
1871, when, but for my interference
the public would most aSSuredly have
been put in possession of the whole truth
of this publication to which Mr.. Beecher
forces me, renders fruitless years, of con-
slant and sincere efforts to save him.