The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-08-20
MIR. BEECHR,S DEFENSE.

i
MIR. BEECHR'S DEFENSE.
AN OUTLINE o., HIS STATEMENT.
! At the outset lr. Beecher reaf6rms
the explicit and comprehensive denial
to the charges brught by Mr.. Tilton
which was made n his first letter to
the public. Thenafter a preliminary
review Of his relations to Mr.. Tilton
and Mr.. Moulton be proceeds with
his statement in q direct narrative.
He describes his first acquaintance
with Mr.. Tilton md his subsequent
connection with aim on The hide
pendent. He say, that their friendly
relations CONTINUED until 1866 when
Mr.. Tilton assaulted him in TIE IN
dependent on political grounds, but
their soc;al intercourse was not bro
ker until 1870. He speaks of his re-
gard for Mrs. Tilton and her family,
and solemnly declares that at no in
terview did anything occur between
her and himself which might not
have taken place with perfect propri-
ETY. between brother and sister or be-
tween q man of honor and the wife of
his dearest friend.
His interference in Mr.. Tilton's af-
fairs related to domestic and business
matters. After Mr.. Tilton's return
from the West, Mrs. Tilton sent
young girl to Mr.. Beecher with an ur-
gent request that he would call at
Mrs. Morse's. This young girl, who
has appeared before the Committee,
gave q shocking account Of Mr.. Til
toms cruelty to his wife. He called
upon Mrs. Tilton at her mothers, and
received an account:of her home-life
which he describes as q nightmare
dream" He sent Mrs. Beecher to
Mrs. Tlton, and, as a result of their
conferences, he advised separation
ona .~ssloment OF support. He did
not know at that time that he himself
had any thing to do with the domes-
tic trouble of the family.
At this time Mr.. Tilton was in the
midst of his business embarrassments.
Mr.. Bowen had been made to feel
that The Independent had been seri-
ously injured by Mr.. Tlton's pecu-
liar religious and social views. He
brought Mr.. Beecher Mr.. Tilton's de-
mand in writing that he should with
draw from Plymouth Church and
leave Brooklyn. After reading it
Mr.. Beecher said, "this man is crazy"
and a long conversation followed,
during which he advised Mr.. Bowen
not to maintain his business relations
With Mr.. Tilton. Meanwhile Mr..
Tilton had extorted from his wife q
short statement in writing, and on the
evening of December 30, 1870, Nh.
Moulton summoned him before Mr.. |
Tiltou. who produced 9 paper pur-
poEting to be certified statement Of
9 confession made in July. It was 9 |
confession Of Mrs. Tilton's love for
MI: Beecher. end ofthe alleged fact
that be had made proposals to her of
On improper mature. Mr.. Tilton
closed the interview by asking him to
60 to Mrs. Tlton and learn the truth
fom her lips, MI. Beecher then de-
scrihes the circumstances under which
the retrsctou vas written, qnd re-
TUNED to Mr.. Moultm on the next
evening. Mr.. Moulton asserted that
Mrs. Tilton had recaated the retract~
ion, but that Nh. Tilton had Destroy
ed his wife's first letter. He claimed
that the controversy could be settled
without these papers, and, opening
his overcoat, took out a pistol. Mr..
Beecher describes the mood in which
the apology was written, and his own
deep depression. It was not dicta-
ton, sentence after sentence: They
were not his sentences; it was not
correct report of what he said. He
Analyses the paper very closely, and
explains what it was that he really
signed.
The circumstances under which the
;ripartite agreement was signed, Mr..
rilton's relations to Mrs. Woodruff,
md his frequent outbreaks, are ex-
'lsined at great length. The letters
which he wrote to MI. Moulton are
'ited and explained He introduces
m important letter written by Mr.. c
doulton on June 1, 1873, in which
ccur the words, "You can stand if
he whole case. was published to-mor-
ow." IL
At the close of his statement Mr..
'eecher acknowledges that money has -
cen obtained from him in considera-
le sums-$7,00O in all-for Mr.. Til
ms pecuniary wants. Finally a de- =
land was made accompanied with a
treat that if $4,000 more were not
aid, Mr.. Tilton's charges would be m
i'd before the public. This he saw 81 81
as blackmail in it's boldest form. III
lie refused to pay cent and chal-
nged the fullest exposure.
~ - -
The machine shop of Denmore Z
roc. at Red VIM waa h,1rnod x,oa.