Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-25

By the aQYlce OF aJIOT1leNS ne has DIuldl-
lied this issue to the last degree, and made
the only noble deed of years a subject OF
accusation Of blackmail against a man
whom, but week before, he clasped in
his arms and called the dearest friend God
ever made for him.
Beecher's Fhu.
In all his talk on that question, he pre-
claimed that he had sinned because he
could not help ii; that he loved Elizabeth,
and was loved by her; and that be could
not feel the enjoyment Of this love to be a
sin. He said that his wife had made his
home hell, where he found neither appre-
citation nor sympthy, and that she drove his
relatives and her own family away. She
was jealous, wrote his anonymous letters,
disliked his popularity, and followed him
like Nemesis. He found pleasant bow
er at Tilton'S house, where he was proudly
and affectionately received There he
read his manuscripts aloud to Mrs. TiltOn,
and had the benefit of her criticism, which
on such topics was good; and finally perfect
communion of soul arose between them,
and they fell to the earth in the very exal-
tation Of piety. Beecher said God could
not punish man who led his domestic life
at home and was tempted by such a COM
fOrter as Elizabeth. He told me that they
both prayed over their sin, and were as
sured that it had not the depreciation of
heaven. He seemed to think that TiltOn
never had aliy original rights in the matter
of his wife, who had made a misalliance
with nature not spiritual enough for her.
More Letters.
Secret letters of Beecher to Mrs. Tilton.
| unsigned, and some Of them undated, were
found by Mr.. Tilton two weeks ago Satur-
| day night, in making a general search of
the premises. He found these papers in
the copy Of the Life of Christ which Mr..
Beecher presented to Mrs. TiltOn. As
pledged TO MOuiton, he took them to the
latter.
sister Belle
In answer 10 the question whether Mr..
| Beecher feared his sister, Mrs. Hooker, Mr..
MOulton said: .sHe did. She was no crazy
woman, but bolder Beecher than he, with
] equal appetite for the world. So Mr.. TiltOn
went one night to the house Of Mrs. Phelps,
in Twenty-third street, and questioned Mrs.
Hooker as to her intentions in this respect.
She declared that she would bring Henry to
the pillory on his own pulpit. Then said
Mr.. TiltOn, 4 shall make an equally anthem
ticated charge against yOu, Mrs. Hooker
and be n:med the connection. This stop
ped Mrs. HIS mouth. When Henry ".
Beecher had heard that TiltOn had done
this, he apDlauded his decision and success.
Ii struck me with horror that a clergyman
could be willing to have his own sister
| charged with adultery in order to cover his
personal shame.
steadily advised Beecher to work, as l
| did. "Mr. Beecher,' said l, "attend with
greater faithfulness than ever to your min
isterial duties. Keep up your pastoral
work. Devotion will give you sOundeT
sleep and a greater heart SO | got TiltOn
started in another paper, to keep him en-
| ployed and get his mind out of worry and
irritability. Mr.. Beecher helped on this,
and now it is "blackmail.n
Another WOman:In the Case.
| He once confessed to me a matter of
adultery with lady, which was the vilest
ever heard. II was the same lady think
as she to whom Bowen referred when he
denounced Beecher to Triton. The story
goes that this was damsel of some literary
name and personal graces, who had been
| intended by Mr.. for his wife, while
! he was her patron. Mr.. Beecher seduced
her. He denied part of the circumstances
in my presence, not denying the crime,
and the denial was cOarser than the crime.
The lady has disappeared, Mr.. Beecher
has an enemy in the man who intended to
make her his wife.
To the Associated Press:
Report of the Committee.
NEW YORK, Aug. 34.-The Herald gives
a synopsis of the Plymouth Church Investi-
eating Committee: The report is a some
what lengthy document, in two parts-O"e,
a mere review Of the evidence, and the
other giving the conclusions of the COM
mittee. OF course these are all in favor Of
Mr.. Beecher. The statement of Theodore
TiltOn is first taken up and gone over piece
meal, and each main allegation set plainly
forth without verbiage. II is shown that
the statements of what is now known as
the '-ankle scene" is not supported by the
evidence of the person who claims to have
been witness to it, inasmuch as he could
not swear to its taking place at any partic-
ular period during term Of nine years.
The report then goes on to review the
evidence of other persons as to TiltOn's al
legged corrupt prictices and criminally i'm
moral conduct, notably in the case of the
girl known as Bessie Turner.
Mrs. Tiiton's evidence is cited as contra
dieting her husbands. and shaving his
cruelty to her. Moulton's short statement
is sluTred over as making charges against
nobody.
The Conclusion OF the Committee.
The report sums up the whole matter
pro and con, showing on the one hand a
man standing before the world with a great
reputation for spOtless purity, Christian
character, and moral worth; on the other a
man Of proven bad and criminal character.
the latter making accusations against the
former. The one with nothing to prove
his story except personal allegations proven
in part to be perjury and supported by some
letters which may mean a dozen things but
the one meaning given to them.
The Verdict.
The committee finds that Henry Ward
Beecher is not guilty of the charges pre-
ferred against him. 1t is possible that a
short paragraph NAV he added TO the re-
port. noticing briefly the failure of Frank
MOultOn to hring any new evidence to bear
upon the subject which can in the slightest
degree alter the conclusions which the COM
mitiee have come to.
Sermon by Mr.. Beecher.
TwIN-MOUNTAIN HOUSE. y. H., Aug.
23.-Mr. Beecher preached here to-day TO a
large congregation. Stages loaded with
visitors came from all the hotels andtOwns
in the vicinity. His text was taken from
ID Timothy, second chapter, part Of the
10Th verse: Nevertheless the foundation
of God standeth sure, having this seal, The
Lord knOweth them that are his >"
An Ancient SPinster Gets Indignant.
ROCHESTER,, y. Y, Aug. "a. - The
Union publishes, this evening, the result
of an interview between one of its report
eTS and Miss Susan B. Anthony, relative to
the statement of Mrs. Tilton's servant,
Bessie, duplicating Miss Anthony in an
improper tete-a-tete with Theo. TiltOn.
Miss Anthony denies the whole story. but
regards it as too absurd to be worthy of
notice. She never heard that the girl. Bes
sic, was anything more than a servant in
Tiltou'S family; that she was half an idiot
and that Mrs. Tilton had repeatedly said
she couldn't instil into the girl the first
elements of truth.
Beeeher's Answer 10 TIIIOn's SnIt for