The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-31

NpANAblFfiON VI AOMMll hH.I Ohis
'TEHH EVIDENCE ANALyzED.
BEECIIER DECLARED NOT GUILTY.
Continued from Saturdays GLOBE.
MIR. BEEcnERs FRIENDSHIP FOR MRS. Triton
AGAIN.
The statement of this branch of the case
would not be complete without reference
TO the fact that Beecher had warm
friendship for Mrs. Tilton. which
began in her early womanhood and
that Mrs. Tilton. rcciprocating this friend
ship. began as her domestic troubles came
on to look more than ever to Mr.. Bcccher
for sympathy and advice That this feel
ing on Mrs. pltons part became under the
circumstances so strong as 10 diminish the
proper influence that belongs to every good
husband. II is not unlikely IN the course
of events, and especially in December
1870, that Mr.. Bcccher received the impress
SION from Tilton and Mou'ton that hc had
estranged Mrs. Tllon's affection from her
husband. The possibility that such fact
as this might be added to the responsible
ties then resting upon Mr. Bcccher consli-
| tuted, as he expressed ii in his letter OF
ments that surrounded him.
MIR. BEEonERs GRIEF AND ANGUISH.
This was to him the occasion of deep
grief and anguish. Mr.. Beccher conceived
that possibly he had been direlect insduty
he, the strong man and pastor. in not re-
pressing at once any undue affection for
him on the part of this distressed Christian
woman, who was yearning for sympathy
| fhot pl,p tptrp1 t,Ot Ia hpp household AID
we cannot but express our regret at two
errors into which, it is apparent, Mr..
| Beecher fell.
MR.. BEEoHERs ERRORS.
While we recognize the appalling disas-
ter winch seemed imminent, when he was
confronted by professedly injured hus-
band, with charge on the part of his wife,
Of improper proposals from him TO her, Il
disaster which threatened to brand with in
fanny name, which, through years of pub
lie service as philanthropist and minister of
God, had maintained the most honorcd
place in the worlds esteem, yet we feel
that in an hour of such decentralization as
this calamity might justly work, the pastor
| should have sought council from Christian
men of his own brotherhood, rather than
rely upon the counsel of a man of whom he
knew so little, and whose character, as the
sequel proved, he so sadly misjudged.
And it is also apparent, from Mr.. Beech
er's own statement, that in view of the pro-
found sorrow into which he was plunged
and the expression which he gave to his
feelings, that Sc erred III not guarding so
closely his relations with the family of Mr..
Tilton that there could be no possibility for
fear in his own mind, even,of an undue af-
lection by Mrs. Tilton for him, through
any needless friendship or agency of his.
TIlToN's "IDEAL HOME"
Mr.. Tilton, in his statement before the
committee, speaks of his home as one of
unusual harmony, an -" ideal home" But
npon his cross examination it appears that
it was anything but happy or harmon
ious home. The truth rs to this is mater.
ial both as affecting Tilton's credbility,
and as showing the character of Mrs. Til
tons domestic troubles and the influence:
that reached her daily life. Her painful
testimony reveals a jealous husband &C
cusing her of intldclties with different mer
and Of eXerting n sensual influence upor
all
She declares that her husband had ire
quently compelled her when sick to copy.
or, from his dictation, write confession,
which she herself did not understand and
in her despairing condition of mind, locked
her up and declared himself ashamed of he
presence VIXEN among her friends, whose
society was more attractive to him. He
account reveals him full of selfish cxac
tons. indifferent to her wants, negectfu
of her illness, forcing dlsreputable womel
into her society till sometimes she fled TO
peace to the graves of her children.
Mrs. Tilton declares he did not hestat,
his right to commit adultery on his lectur.
ing tours whenever he chose, and yet, il
season and out, we find this man dribblinl
out his charges of dishonor against his wife
, This is a dismal revelation from the " idea
home" but one cannot read it and believ
it possible that she had invented the recta
of her husbands character and life. Thi
} account of the domestic misery of the Til
/ ton family is corroborated by the testmon
of several witnesses, and very fully by Mis-
Elizabeth a. Turner, who is now twenty
three years of age and was an inmate of til
: family eight years. This young woman
e a teacher of music in ladies' seminary i
. Pennsylvania. She is person of unusua
intelligence and her appearance and man
i ner before the committee impressed all VIII
: heard her testify that she was sincere an
l.. reliable, and well understood the facts @
;, which she was speaking
The condition of this family in conneC
t ton with the distressing circumstances II
n ferred to, and that appear in the history c
- this difficulty, conspired to make the occi
sion one full of pain, not only to MI
/ BeeCher but to others, whom he felt boun
II to protect to the last moment, to say notl
q ing of the great interests of his believe
Plymouth church and other interests {
: high concern, all of which must be invol'
!. ed, if publicity should be given to the falls
b and scandalous matter that was seeking e!
/ preston from the heated and maliciol
mind of Theodore Tilton.
WILL INNOCENT MEN PAY BLAoKMAIL?
u Will innocent men, and especially Gle
l. gymen, fight as for their lives to suppre
& an injurious scandal, even though it be boz
l. of extortiou, falsehood and revenge
u These are questions which unhappily hi
p" tory has too often answered in the affirm
e tive. 1t is easy, now that we see VIII
d manner of men Tilton and Moulton are,
# wonder that Mr.. Beecher should intru
10 any interest of his to their keeping.
MR.. BEECHER CENsURED.
. When we look back upon the recol
II made by this sad story we feel like visitir
ell even upon the suffering head of our paste
o the seyorest censure; and this not the lea
because we revere and love him and kno
+ 1t is, we might say, because he is SO b.
10 loved, because that in him centres 50 man
10 and so great interests of church and h
g mainly, because he stands to-day foremo
among men of master minds, of eloquent
s. and power, that we would chidc him in
IN uncertain words for impcrling so nut
" and so often the precious interests coniid
or to him by the God who made and who, v
have mistaken faith To believe, will deliv
e. him from all dangers.
ey The charge made by the accusers Is o
IN easily preferred, and not easily disprove
\. 1t is not enough for the accuser to say,
~ make this charge. Nowlet it be disproy
re or be taken rs confessed All lribuna
of both ecclesiastical and legal, in their W
he dom, have required in determining charg
of this Kind such proof of the facts a
No circumstances rs point Enthusiastically to
re guilt Of the accused and as are not cons
w. tent with any theory OF innocence. lie
IL Stowell, as cited by Greenleaf, one of I
=" best writers known to our jurispruden,
.t..ll .t,l., 1.r