Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-29
The Report Read and Il Greeted with
Applause.
Frank MouitOn Calls Raymond q Liar
He Narrowly Escapes violence.
Bowers Libel suits.

reciting the organization OF the committee, the
nature OF the charge made AZ ainst Mr.. Beecher
10y Mr.. Triton, and giving the names OF the wit
nesses, proceeds With the following examination
of the testimony:
The com mitree have given the evidences their
most csref nj consideration, and md that I'm 1861
Mr. Beecher became editor, and Mr. Elton AS
sistsnt editor, Of the LndependeHt, and during
frienes. on or about 1853, Mr.. TiltOn begaufto
urge Mr.. Beecher 70 visit his (Tilton's) house.
and he became mors intimately acquainted
with Mr.. Tiltons family. He was urged TO do
much of his editorial writing In his study as IL
was more convenient 20 write there than at the
office OF the Independent. Beecher visited his
house, and q friendly relation sprang up be-
tween the wife and family OF Tilton and Beech
| er, which continued down 20 December, in 1870;
that the friendly relations existing between Mr..
beecher and Mrs. Tilton were we'll known and
understood, and met with Mr. Tilton's approval.
some years before any open trouble appeared
between Be- cher and TIlton, his rilton's) doc
he had become editor, aroused a stor IN Of indis-
nation and opposition in the west, where the
paper was widely circulated. After much dis
cussion this led 10 the starting of the Advance
newspaper in Chicago, to supersede the Iade-
pendent. Tiiton, while editor OF the IREepenlent
q religious newspaper, bad come TO deny the
inspiration OF the Scriptures ana the divinity OF
Christ His social views about this time un Ter
went radical change IN the direction of free
love. This marked change in the religious and
social views OF Dir. Tnton was a source OF great
grief and sorrow 20 Mrs. TiltOn. Mrs. Tilton
seemed very religious woman, amounting al
most TO enthusiasm, and when this change oc
Counsel and sympathy. She set forth In strong
trims the suffering her husbands course caused
her. It now appears that during these year.
Mrs. Tilton became attached to MIR. Beecher
| and in July, 1s7O, confessed to her husband
AN ovERsEADowING AFFECT IoN
for her pastor. On or about the 18th Of Septem-
band, going with her children to her mothers
house. She sent for Mr.. Beecher, and on his
visiting her, she made a statement of her suffer
lpgs and the abuse which she had received at
the hands of her husband, which shocked Mr..
Beecher. He asked aud received permission 20
send TO Mrs Tilton his wife, whose Judgment
he considered in such matters better than his
own. subsequently he agreed in advising with
biz wife, that IL was desirable that Mrs. riltOn
should separate nom her husband. Mr.. Tilton
however, subsequently forced her TO his house
oy sending for and obtaining possession OF tue
youngest child, who was sick with Group. Dating
Mrs. Tllton's absence from her mothers house,
she suffered miscarriage, the next day after
her return, on the 2ith, which resulted in a
serious illness, continuing until after the lst of
January, her physician being IN daily attend
ance on her from the oath 10 the 30th Of Deem
Der, inclusive. Early in December of this year,
owing to the marked change in Mr.. Titon's
religious and social views, Mr.. Bowen felt con
strained to give him notice that his services as
editor OF the Independent would terminate az
a day named in the notice. Su6seq aently to
this notice, and on or about tue 10Th OF
December, Mr.. Bowen had entered into
r. q
editor Of the Brooklyn Daily UniOn ana csiei
contributor OF the IRdegeRdeRt for five years
But within a few days after making this con-
tract Mr.. Bowen received such information OF
MIR. Tilton's immortality as alarmed him. ans
led % sn interview bt tween himself (Tilton)
and Oliver johnson at the house of Bowen on
the 10Th day OF December, $50. At this inter-
view Mr.. Tilton sought to retain his place and
Bowen's confidence by an attack on Mr..
B6echer. This interview resulted in the insO-
lent letter which Mr.. Tilton wrote aud signed
mt ha dRr nj inu haN Rpn nov
leave Plymouth church pulpit and Brooklyn.
That evening on his way home, Mr.. Bowen de.
liyered the letter to MIR. Beecher. Mr.. Beecher
on reading il, expressed his astonishment at the
receipt of such a letter, and denounced fts
author. Mr.. Bowen then derided the letter aud
gave him some account OF the reasons why he
mad reduced Tilton from the edito-ship OF the
Independent to the subordinate position of con-
tribntor, saying that Mr.. Tilton's religious and
social views were running the paper, and that
be was now considering whether he could con-
sistently retain him as editor Of the BROOKLYN
URioT. or chief contributor Of the Independent.
They conversed for some time, Mr.. Bowen
wishing
Mr.. BRKCHER's OPINION,
which was freely given. Mr.. Beecher said he did
not see how Mr.. Bowen could retain his rels-
tons with Mr.. Tilton. Mr.. Beecher spoke
strongly of the threatening letter and the reve-
lation he had just had concerning Tilton's do
mestic affairs. Mr.. Bowen read Tiiton's threat
ening letter, and said that If trouble came he
would stand by Mr.. Beecher.
1t seems that MIR. Bowen communicated to
Mr.. Triton on the following day the converse
ton had with Mr.. Beecher, and his intention 10
stand by him, (Beecher,) though he had no
doubt that Tilton would have lost bis place; saw
that his influence was decisive and anticipated
Tilton's overthrow.
1t row appears that on the 10Th Of December.
| 1870, Mr.. Tilton having learned the advice MT.
Beecher gave Mr.. Bowen, and which was likely
20 bring him face 10 face with the loss OF place
and position, extorted from his wife, then living
Ill of miscarriage, a document impllc ating Mr.
Beecher-a document evIncing her love for her
pastor and accusing him Of having m lde an i'm
ON ON the Following DAY he sent Moulton to
Beecner, requesting an interview with sir.
Beecber at Noulton's house that evening. Mr.
Beecher accordingly met TIlton at MOultsn's
house. Tilton received him with memoran-
dunn in hand, and proceeded 10 charge Dir.
Beecher with being unfriendly to him, with
seeking his downfall, spreading injurious ru-
mors about him, undermining him and advising
Bowen TO dismiss hir0, injuring him in his fam
lily relations joining his Tiltonsl mother in-law
in producing discOrd in the house, advising a
sepsr alton, alternating his wifes affections, with
gaining her love more than any living being,
with corrupting her moral virtue, with teaching
her to be insincere, lying and hypocritcal, and
ended by charging that he made wicked pro-
posals TO her. Tilton then produced a written
paper purporting TO be memorandum of a
confession made in july previous to him by his
wife of her love for Beecher, and that he had
made proposals to her OF an impure nature.
Mr.. Tiltop, in the twenty-second subdivision
Of his statement before the committee, refer
ring in time to December, 1870. states his griev
ances and csuse Of complaint Of MIR. Beecher.
touching Tilton's business relations with Mr.,
Bowen in these words -" That he (Beecher)
then participated in a conspiracy to degrade
Theodore Tilton before the public by loss o.
place, business and repute."
1t 10 clear that on the 18th Of December, when
the so-celled memorandum OF confession wa
procured from Mrs. Tiiton, the chief meeting
cause of that step on Tilton's part Was his be
lief that Mr.. Beecher had caused him loss o.
place, business and repute. Mr.. Beecher say
this charge of impure proposals fell upon hin
like q thunderbolt. Could IL be possible tina
Mrs. Tilton, whom he had regarded as the type
Of 70 much moral goodness. should have made
such false and atrocious statements? Tilton re
quested Mr.. Beecher to repair to his house
where Elizabeth was waiting for him, aud learn
from her pe the truth of the stories In so far a.
they concerned her. The interview was had
and resulted in q written retraction of the
charges Of Mrs. Tilton, who seemed in grea
distress. In q sort Of postscript TO the retrac
ton she denied explicitly that Mr.. Beecher had
ever offered any improper solicitations TO her
that being the only charge made by TiIton, or
referred to In the statement about the confession
In July.
On the next evening Mouiton called Ct
BeecheIe house, and went mp into his bed
room. He said that he and Tilton had learned
Mrf. Triton had given q retracfion. He ex-