Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-14
FIRST EDITION.
MIR. BeecheR,s Denial.

|
terday, but it is no more explicit than his former
one, both denying the allegations of Mr.. Iilton.
Additional light is yet needed to clear up the
case, which Mr.. Moulton must furnish, ard which
he failed to bring out in his statement also
submitted
MIR. BEEoHER OPENS HIS STATEMENT
by reference to the fall of Tilton from what
he calls zone of the proudest editorial chairs in
America" representing him to be bankrupt in
reputation, occupation and resources, and speaks
OF their present differences az an effort on the
part of Titon to compel him to re-instate him in
business, reputation and place, and adds That
was blind so long az to the real motive OF the
intrigue going OH around me was due partly to
my own overwhelming public engagements,
partly to my complete surrender Of this affair
and all papers and questions connected with it
| to the hands of Mr.. Moulton who was intensely
confident that he could manage it successfullv
suffered much, l inquired but little. Mr.
Moulton was chary to me of MIR. Tilton's conf
dences to him, reporting to me occasionally, in
general way, Mr.. Tilton'a words and outbreaks
OF passion only as elements of trouble which he
was able to control, and as additional proofs of
the wisdom of leaving 1t to him. His command
Of the situation seemed to me at the time COM
plete, immersed as was in incessant cares and
dutias and only glad to be relieved from con-
sidering the details Of
THE wRETcHED COMPLICATIONS.
the origin and fact OF which remains, in spite Of
all friendly intervention, perpetual burden to
my soul. 1t is plain to me now that it was not
until Tilton had fallen into disgrace and lost his
salary that he thought it necessary to assail me
with charges which he pretended to have had in
mind for six months. The domestic offence
which he alleged was very quickly put aside yet
IN such way as to keep my feelings stirred up
III order that might, through my friends be
used to extract from Mr.. Bowen 1000, the
nj la m in
The check for that sum in hand, Titon signed
an agreement of peace and concord not drawn
by me, but accepted by me as sincere. The
Golden Age had been started he had capital to
carry it on for awhile. He was sure that he was
to head great social revolution. With return
ing prosperity he had apparently no griefs which
could not be covered by his signature to the arti
cles OF peace, yet the
CHANGES IN THAT COVENANT
made by him before signing it and represented
to me az necessary merely to relieve him from
the imputation of having originated and circu-
lated certain old and shameless ISLANDERS about
me, were really made, as now appears to leave
him free for future operations upon me and
against me.
But with his peculiar genius for blunders he
fell almost at every step into complications and
difficulties, and in every such instance it was
his policy to bring coercion to bear upon my
honor aud my innocence and affections for the
purpose of procuring his eXtrication at my ex-
pense To this he has addressed himself stead
lily for four years, using as lever without scru-
pie my attachment to my friends, to my family.
TO his own household, and even my old affection
for himself.
For four years have been trying to feed the
Unsuitable egotsm--to make the man as he con-
ceived himself to be, to restore to prosperity
and public confidence one who in the midst OF
my efforts in his behalf patronized disreputable
people and doctrines, refused when | besought
him to separate himself from them, and ascribed
to my agency the increasing ruin which he WAS
persistently bringing upon himself and which
doing my utmost to avert. In the latter
stages OF the history he actually melted and Gre
ated difficulties apparently for no other purpose
than to drive me to fresh exertions. l refused
to endorse his wild views and associations.
MouLroN CAME TO ME
first as a schoolmate and friend of Titon, deter
mined to reinstate him. / always suspected, with
out regard to my interests but on further ac-
quaintance with me, undertook and promised to
serve his friend without doing wrong to me. He
said he saw clearly how that was to be done 30
RI to restore peace and harmony to Tilton's
home, and bring a happy end of all misunder-
standings Many things which he counselei
absolutely refused, but never doubted his pro-
fessed friendship for me after the friendship had
| grown up between us, and whatever he wished
me to do did unless it seemed to me wrong.
| My confidence in him WAS the only element that
seemed secure in that confusion OF tormenting
perplexities. To him wrote freely in this troub-
| ious time, and gave him 10 much faith as to main
.ain the silence which he enjoyed Not until
| Tilton, having attempted through Frank Carpen-
| ter to raise money from my friends, openly as
sailed me in letter to DIR. Bacon, did break
| that silence save by simple denial OF slanderous
| rumors against me year before.
| Mr. Beecher then disclaims the responsibility
| for the delay, the publicity and the details oil
the full investigation, re-asserts his Innocence
| and
PROCEEDS WITH HIS NARRATIVE,
reciting his first acquaintance with Tilton as q
| reporter of his sermons when still a youth, and
| his subsequent business connections in the In
| dependent. He then speaks OF the Intimate re-
lauon which sprang up between him and Tilton
al editor and assistant. and OF the great attacn.
| ment which he conceived for him as his mind
WAS opening freshly and with enthusiasm, and
adds
August was my vacation month, but my fami-
ly repaired to my farm in June and July, and re-
manned during September and October, my la
bo~s confnng me to the city. took my meals
in the families of my friends, and from year tt
year became 30 familiar with their children
and houses that / went in and out daily almost
as in my own house. Mr.. Tilton often alluded
to this habit, and urged me to do the same b.
his house. He would often speak in extrava
giant terms of his
wIFEs ESTEEM AND AFFECTION FOR ME.
After began to visit his house, he sought K
make it attractive. He urged me to bring m.
papers down there and use his study to 40 m,
writing in, as 1t WAS not pleasant to write at the
office OF the Independent.
Friendly relations continued until 1856, when
owning to violent assaults made upon me by Mr
Tilton in the Indepen ient oil account of my
Cleveland letter and the temporary discontinue
tion of the publication of my sermons i'll thai
paper, broke off my connection with it al
though Mr. Tilton and remained personally oi
good terms, yet there WAS GOODNESS between III
on all matters of politics. Our social relationi
were kindly, and az late as 1S68 at his request
sat to Page some fifty times to take my portrait
During this whole period never received
| from Mr.. Tilton or any member OF hi
family the slightest hint that there wa
any dissatisfaction with my familiar rela
tions to his household. AS late think, as the
winter of 1866, when going upon an extende.
lecturing tour he said II wish you would lool
in often and see that my baby is not Lonesome
, or does not want for anything" or words to tina
effect. Never by sign or word, did Mr. Illtol
complain of my visits in his family until afte
he began to fear that the Independent would b.
taken from him, nor did he break out into vlo
lence until on the eve of his dispossession iron
both of these papers, tie Independent and tn
! BROOKLYN Union, owned by MIR. Bowen. Durn
! these years of intimacy in Mr.. Tilton's family
! was treated
, Az FATHER OR ELDER BROTHER
/ Children we're born and children died. The
learned to love me and to fIolic with me as II
was one of themselves. loved them, and ma
for Mrs 1ilton true and honest regard. Sh
seemed to me as an affectionate mother an
: devoted wife, looking up to her husband as on
far above the common race of men, and turnin
to me with an artless familiarity and with entir
eonfidance Childish in appearance, she wa