The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-07-30

several Of tho slcacons- Of Plymouth
Church, with Mr.. Sherman aud Gen.
Tracy, met At Mr.. Bcechcr's residence,
and after q counsel lasting about three
honrs, d,ew up the following statement
Of Mr.. Bcecher for pnblietiiOn
lido not prepare at this time detail
ed examination of the remarkable state.
mcnt Of Theodore Tilton, made before
tho committee Of investigation, and
which appeared in print July 2lst, 1874.
| recognize the main reason which makes
it of ,ranscendent importance to myself,
the church, and tho cause Of public NOR.
ality, that | shall give full answer to
the charges against me, but having re-
quested the committee Of Investigation
TO search this matter 10 the bottom, it is
10 them that | must look tor my vindi.
cation. But can not. delay for an hour
10 defend the reputation Of Mrs. Eliza
he.h r. Tilton, npen whose name, in
with mine, her husband has
attempted to pour shame. One less de-
serving of such disgrace never knew.
From childhood she has been under my
eye, and since reaching womanhood she
has had INV sincere admiration and affcc-
ton. ] cherish for her pure feeling,
such as q gentleman might honorably
offer 10 q Christian woman, and which
she might receive and reciprocate with
out moral scruple. ! reject with indig-
nation every lmputatiOn which reflects
on her honor or my own. My regard
for Mrs. Triton was perfectly well k own
ia my family. When serious difficulties
sprang mp in her .Ousehol! It was to my
wife that she rcsorted for counsel, and
both of ia, acting from sympathy, and
as it subsequently appeared, without
full knowledge, gave unadviscd counsel
that rendered to HARM. have no doEbt
iha, Mr.. Triton found that his wife's con
Gdcnco and reliance upon my Judgment
had greatly increased. while his influence
had diminished in consequence of a
marked change in his religious and So
ciai visits which were taking place dur
in. those years. Her mind was greatly
exercised lest her thiIIr"n should be
harmed by views which she deemed vir-
,uxliy false and dangerous. | was sud
denly and rudc'y aroused TO the reality
of tie Impending danger by the dis
clcsare of domestic distress, Of sickness.
perhaps INTO death, of the likelihood of
the separation and scattering Of fami-
", every member Of which | had ten
derby loved. The effect on me Of the
discovery of the state of Mr.. Tilton's
feeling, and tho condition OF his family,
in sorrow and excitement any
thing had experienced in M: life. Tha,
my pre- scneo, influence ana counsel had
wrnnccd u beloved family to sorrow and
,avc, in MY then state OF
mind, psigaancy to my suffering,
which nope no other man may ever
feel. Even to DO suspected OF having
offered under privileges of a peculiarly
sacred relation, an indccorum to wife
and mother, ceuld MT bu, deeply wound
any one whO is sensitive to the honor
Of woman' ond. There were other pc
culiar reasons for alarm in this case on
other grounds, inasmuch rs l was then
subject to malignant runners, and 81 fla.
rant outbreak in this family would bring
upon them an added injury derived from
these shameless falsehoOds. Believing
at that time that my presence and conn
sci had tended, however uEconsciously,
to produce a social catastrophe repre-
sented. as imminent, | gave expression
to my feelings in an interview with a
mutual friend, not in cold, cautious, selt-
defending words, bat eagerly taking
blame upon myself and pouring out my
heart 10 my friend in strongest language
over the burden with the exaggerations
Of impassioned sorrow.
Hal been the evil man Mr.. Tilton
now represents should have been cal
.er and more prudent. Il was my horror
Of this evil imputed. that flied mo with
morbid intensity at the very shadow of
il. Not only was my friend affected
but he assured me that such
if conveyed to Mr.. TiltOn.
would soo,he the wounded feelings, al
Law the anger and heat of the whole
trouble. He took down sentences and
fragments of what had been saying to
uso them a. q mediation. A full state
ment Of this circumstance under which
th:s memorandum was made shall give
to the investigating c",nmiitcc. That |
these apologies were more than ample |
to meet the facts of,he case il is evident.
They were accepted that our inter-
course resumed its tricndliness that
Mr.. Tilton subsequently ratified, in
writing, and that he has continued for
four years, and until wi min two weeks
10 live with bis wife, is it conceivable
hat il the original charge bad been what
is now alleged, would he hare condoned
he offense, not only with the mother
IF bis children, but with him whom he /
no believed TO have wronged him i
The absurdity as the falsity of this
story, IS apparent, when it is considered
Lha, Mr.. Til,on now alleges that he car
ried this guilty secre: ct his wi!e's infdel-
ty for six months locked up in his own
breast, and then he divulged it to mc
,n'y that there might BE- a reconc.lia-
lion with me. Mr.. Triton since, in every
form Of language and to . nuI,ituds o:
orally, in written, statements
and printed documents declared his faith
in his wlfc's purity. After the rsconrilia-
ion of Mr. Tilton with me censiders-
lions of propriety and honor. demand
hat the family trouble shoald be kept
4 n <r..:,,,