New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-29

as we have seem that it was physically impossible
for her 10 tell the truth IN her husbands presence
IL will be noted that the pretended confession was
| obtained in that presence; and, further. it
was when she was away from him and
| from home at Schoharie that she stated her
sin to be that Of Catherine CauDt an undue
affection for her pastor. In this letter to her bus-
band she says: felt unfalteringly that the love
felt and received harmed one, not even you until
the heavenly vision dawned upon me' And again:
"Ob, my dear Theodore. though your opinions arc
not restfu congenal to my SOUL vet my integrity
and purity a sacred and holy thing b. me. Bless
God with me for Catherine Gaunt. and for all the
sure headings of an wise and loving Providence
This letter written June 60 1871, about year
after the pretended confession. In its
words be construed az referring to adultery Mr..
1ilton, when before the Committee. when reference
was frs. made to this Schoharic letter, seemed to
think that the o1ense in the story of Griffith Gaunt
was adultery, and accordingly relied upon this letter
as incontrovertible evidence Of bis charge. In this
he mistaken. 1t is a principle OF the Common
Law that married woman cannot commit or bs
held to commit crime perperated IN the
presence of her husband, and this upon the idea
that the husbands presence and influence amount
to duress and that she is therefore not responsible
Whether it is necessary to invoke this rule of law to
excuse Mrs. Tlton not may see in what Mr.. Til
ton was able to extor from her without her votioD
or real assent something of the reasons which moved
the early expounders of the English Common Law
to assert the doctrine referred to.
ACCUsER AND ACCUSED.
We have now reviewed. as briefly as we could. the
evidence before us. There are many facts and de-
tails we have not discussed. We have cited the
more important of these and discussed the salient
points We have carefully examined the evidence
relied on by the accuser sustain the charges We
are asked TO believe.
Finally, who is this accuser, that he makes 20
bold facet We may learn from the testimony,
as well as by common report, without descending
TO unpleasant particulars or personalities that
Theodore Tilton has in recent years become very
different man from what he was formerly reputed to
be. He will hardly deny that. Both before and
after his espousal of the marital philosophy,
signs of degeneracy were setting in which have
made him discredted man in this community In
the new role, his elimination and downfall are well
stated in recent words by an able writer who in
sketchng his career says that, In process of time
he comes before the world as the indorser Of Vic
toria'C Woodruff and lends his name TO biogra
ply of her which would have sunk any mans repu
tation anywhere for common sense. Such book is
n tomb from which no author rises again." Such IS
the accuser Who is the accused IL is Henry
Ward Beecher. The pastor of Plymouth Church has
been q clergyman with harness on 40 years
Twentyseven of these years he has been here in this
Church, which as all the world knows has so often
been stirred to good deeds and to better life by his
eloquent ministrations. This man has been living
in the clear light of MONDAY, before bis people and
before all men, life of great Christian usefulness
and ncessant work. None have known him but to
admire and love him. They who have been most
intimate with him at home and abroad report moth
ING of his life or conversation but what comes OF
purity Of SOUL We are asked by Theodore
Tilton and his coadjutor, Mr.. Moulton, to
believe that this man. with his long and USE
full life and high character TO sustain him, IN
worthy of our confidence, regard or respect Chris
tan character and great services, which are usually
considered tower Of strength and defense when
one is assailed, to go for naught, according 10
Mr.. Tilton. We are invited to give up this beloved
and eminent man and send hun and his good name
and fame into the vortex of moral destruction. We
are to do this, upon what Upon some Wild alb
surd and contradictory assertions Of Mr.. TIlton.
who in all this work does not succeed in Disgusting
his malicious and revengeful designs.
No tribunal administering justice ever held o
charge of adultery proved by mere alleged words.
written or spoken, that are denied and not con-
nected with circumstances and appearances point
ing Enthusiastically to the guilt of the accused Upon
a review of all the evidence made with an earnest
desire to find the truth, and to advise what truth
and Justice shall require feel bound to state that's
in our Judgment the evidence relied on by the ac-
cuser utterly fails to sustain the charges made.
We herewith submit complete stenographic copy
of all the evidence before the Committee, with soms
unimportant or irrelevant exceptions.