Connecticut western news., 1874-10-02
Miss Beecher Speaks.


 concerning Tilton's last scandal-ous state ment. It has the ring of the true metal in it, and will be read with interest.
 SIR-By the appearance of Mir. Tilton's last statement, am again called to meet the inquiries and fears of friends, and pre- sent this both as reply to many letters and an appeal to public justice. One great difficulty in this scandal is the bitter ma lightly of former warm friends against a man of such beneYolence and integrity, for which no adequate cause appears. It tempts to fear of some dreadful truth as that brief outline will be given of the characters of the accusers and the causes of their malgnity, promising that what l state was learned outside of my brothers family, in which l never heard any ot these particulars, such topics being by mu- tual consent avoided.
 The real originator of this scandal is the proprietor of The Independent, described to me by many who know him as a man of iron will, indomitable perseverance, adroit maneuvering, and a devotee of money making. Various gentlemen md ladies have informed me of mean and dishonest practices by this man, which they have either known or experienced. Any at tempts of my brother to fulfil his duty as Christian, friend and pastor Tn these mat ters were met only with anger. The con- sequent withdrawal of my brother and Mrs. Stowe as contributors to The Independent increased exasperaiion. and finally his af- fair with a lady authorcss residing in his family, and the supposed intervention ot my brother in causing her to decline un of fer of marriage, aCl'ed fresh excitement to m,leniiy. If thus is fact il was whul probably prnmpte,! Bowens letter to Ti'- ton accusing my brother of adultery and Tape, which he nfterHard confessed had no foundation, and by his acknowledgment and regret for the wrong he had done by expressions of perfect confidence in his pastors integrity, and by promise to avoid any further sins of the sort, he adroitly contr:ved 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 a premedtated conspiracy, was the author of this last statement'-a man of more than ordinary talents and of many interesting natural traits, combined with weak moral sense and deficiency in common sense. By my brothers influence he secured conspicu- ad; ;nkr $D the society of distinguished men and treated by them with unusual attention, the result being overmastering conceit, ambition and vanity. His adoption of Victoria Wood hull's free love principles and practices led to his dismissal from both 7he Independent and Brooklyn daily paper, and he believ- ed my brother and my brothers wife were the chief causes of this downfall. Reduced to poverty and disgrace, leading to excess in drinking, his friend and classmate Moul- ton came to my brother to help save him, painting the danger and despair of one once loved as a son now on the verge of ruin, of which my brother was made to feel he was the chief cause. Thus came demands for funds to start the Cullen Age.
 Moulton, the third actor in this conspir- acy at the present time, stands charged in aprominent city paper with crimes that, if proved, will doom him to the penitentiary; while several men of integrity say they are ready to appear as witnesses in court and can prove these charges. And yet this man belongs to an honorable firm, has moved unchallenged in society, is pleasing in manners, plausible in conversation, has cunningly feigned the virtues most honored by my brother, thus assuming 10 him the garb of an angel of light.
 A fourth actor Tn this conspiracy is a rc- porter, cast off from respectable papers fer hsbitual lying.
 The most unhappy partner and victim of this conspiracy is the wife of the author of this Hast statement" Gentle, timid, conscientious, warm hearted and led by her feelings rather than reason, her extorted confessions have proved the man instru. mentality of malignant revenge.
 One incident of my past life gave me the first clue to her part in this tragedy. Some years ago lady of my acquaintance of un blemished modesty and purity, with a ten der husband and several children, suddenly accused herself of adultrY with a respecta- ble citizen, who denied all occasion for such charge. She had become 6 victim of spiritualism, and said the spirits re. quired her to make this confession. This, of course, was regarded as case of insan- 1 r B. T.. sanity, and learned also from periodical medical works, that at periods of child bearing modest women, who are sane in all other respects, will accuse themselves, their husbands and sometimes themselves of adultery. WhenI first heard of this strange accusation of my brother by most Chris tian wife and mother, I supposed it was case of such monomania until she revealed her husbands cruel agency. From all this sad and perplexing difficulty there is 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 estab- l lished character are to be treated as slander l If a man of known integrity is charged | with sheep stealing or purloining goods ! from stores the sccuser IS to be punished 1 for islander unless he shows full proof of the crime. 2. 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 mer- chant and the iurist in their decisions. 3. When person inflicts severe personal | ininru urifhnnf anu rnnd fn ho na1nad if ;a |