Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-07-30

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cumstantial confession to her husband
of the criminal facts hereinbefore sta
ted, accompanied with citations from
Beecher's arguments and reasonings
with her to overcome her long main
tanned scruples against yielding to his
desires, and declaring that she had
committed no wrong to her husband
nor her marriage vow; quoting in
support of this opinion that her pastor
had repeatedly assured her that she
was spotless and chaste, which she be-
lieved herself to be. She further sta
ted that her sexual commerce with
him had never proceeded from low or
vulgar thoughts either on her part or
his, but always from pure affection and
high religious love. She stated fur
thermere that Mr.. Beechei habitually
characterized their intimacy by the
/ term NEST hiding and he would suffer
pain and sorrow If his hidden secret
were ever made known. She said that
her mind was often burdened by the
deceit necessary for her to practice in
order to prevent discovery, and her
Fconscience bad many times impelled
her to throw OFF the burden of enforced
faIsehood by making full confession
to her husband, so that she would no
longer be living before him perpetual
lie. In particular, she said that she
had been on the point of making this
confession q few months previously,
! during a severe illness, when she fear
ed she might die. She affirmed, also,
that Beecher has assured her repeated
ly that he loved her better than
he had ever loved any other wo-
man, aud she felt justified before God
i'm her intimacy with him, save the
necessary deceit which accompanied
it, and at which she frequently suffered
in her mind.
TX. That after the above named con-
fession by Mrs. Elizabeth r. TiltOn she
returned to the country to await such
action by her husband as he might see
see fit to take; whereupOn, after many
considerations, the chief of which was
that she had not voluntarily gone as
tray, but had been artfully misled,
through religious reverence of Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher, her spiritual
guide, together also with desire to
protect his family from open shame,
Mr.. Tilton cOndoned the wrong, and
he addressed to his wife such letter
of affection, tenderness and respect as
he felt would restore her wounded
spirit, and which did partially produce
that result.
X. That in December, 1870, differen-
ces arose between Theodore Tilton and
Henry G. Bowen, which were aug
mented by Henry w. Beecher and
Mrs. Beecher, in consequence whereof,
and at the wish of Mrs. Elizabeth R.
Tilton, expressed in writing, in a pa
per put into the hands of Francis d.
MoultOn, with view to procure
HARMONIOUS INTERVIEW
Between Tilton and Beecher, suca an
interview was arranged and Carried
out by Mr.. Moulton,..a his then resi-
dence on Clinton street, Mr.. Beecher
and Mr.. TiIton meeting and speaking
then and there for the first time since
Mrs. TiltOn's confession of six months
before. The paper in Mr.. Moulton's s
hand was q statement by Mrs. Tilton
of the substance of the confession which
she had before made, and of her wish
and prayer for reconciliation and peace
between her pastor and her husband.
This paper furnished to Mr.. Beecher
the first knowledge which he had as
yet received that Mrs. Tilton had made
such confession. At this interview
between Beecher and Tiltnn permission
was sought by Mr.. Beecher to consult
with Mrs. Tilton. On that same eve
ming I(permission being granteD Mr..
Beecher departed for Mr.. MoultOn's
house, and about half an hour returned
thither, expressing his remorse and
shame, and declaring that his life and
work seemed brought to sudden end.
Later in the same evening, Mr.. TiltOn
on returning to his house, found his
wife weeping and in great distress, say
| ing that what she had meant for peace
had only given pain and anguish; that
Mr.. Beecher had just called in, and de-
clared that she had slain him, and that
he woul1 probably be tried before a
Council of Ministers, unless she would
give him written paper for his pro-
lection. Whereupon she gave him in
her own handwriting, suitable pa
per for him to use to clear himself be.
fore council of ministers. Mrs. Til
ton having kept no copy of this paper,
her husband asked her to make dis
tinct statement in writing of her de-
sign and meaning in giving it; where
upon she wrote as follows:
'DECEMBLR R 80, ,1S70-Midnight.
'MY DEAR HUsBAND-I desire to
leave with you, before going to bed,
the statement that Henry Ward Beech
er called upon me this evening and
asked me if 1 would defend him
against any accusation in Council of
Ministers, and replied solemnly that
would, in case the acruser was any
other person than my husband. He
H. w. B. dictated letter, which 1
copied as my own, to be used by him
as against any ether accuser except my
husband. This letter was designed to
vindica:e 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
December 90, had struck him dead,
and ended his usefulness You and
are pledged to do our best to avoid
publicity. God Grant speedy end to
all further anxieties.
A6fectionately, ELIZABETH.
On the next day, namely, December
81, 1870, Mr.. Moulton, on being inform
ed by Mr.. Tilton of the above named
transaction by Mr.. Beecher, called en-
him (Beecher) at mis- residence, and
told him that a reconciliation seemed
suddenly made impossible by Mr.. BIS
nefarious act in procuring letter which
Mrs. TiltOn had thus been improperly
persuaded to make falsely. Mr.. B.
promptly, through Moulton, returned
the letter to Mrs. Tilton, with an ex-
preston of shame and sorrow for hav-
ing procured it in the manner he did.
The letter was as follows:
DECEMBER 80, 1870.
Wearied with importantly and
weakened by sickness, l gave letter
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