The New York herald., 1874-11-10
PROCTOR rs. MOUlToS.
Uoulton's Pleas In Response to Miss
Proctor's Complaint.
THOU CANST NOT SAY | DID IT,
He Charges Beecher with Being
the Author of the Libel
on Miss Proctor.

tor, whose suit against him for libel contained
In his latest statement OF the Beecher scandal is
now pending In the United states District Court
The document Is very yoluminous, and skillully
prepared. Its features which have special inter
est at present are contained in the extracts from
It which are printed below
MouLToN's ANSWER.
Ine SAID Francis ID. Moultvn, by Fullerton, Knox
crosby his attorneys, says that he is not guilty
oil the said supposed grievances IN the declaration
or complaint IN this action laid to his charge, or
eltner or any part thereof In manner and iOrm as
the said palntir nath In SAID declaration or COM
plant complained against him, and OF this he pats
himself upon the country fn.Ir
And Tor iurther plea In this behalf and for
arst defence In this action the said defendant says
ne denies the allegation therein contained. that
ABOUT the time therein referred to one Theodore
Illton wrote letter to one Henry Z. Bowen, III
which IT was stated that the said Bowen had pre-
Oliver Johnson that the Rev. Henry Ward Beecner,
reerred TO In The said alleged libel, had had sexual
connection and had ravlshed certain woman
whose name was not then gwen, whom the
plaintiff IN this action claims was herseL but OF
that fact the defendant has no knowledge, save by
Information. 20 that he does not admit the same,
but leaves the tact to be proved by tEe plaintiff.
This defendant further answering the said COM
plaint admits that he DID, at or ab0ut the time, IN
that behalf alleged In tue said complaint, publish
IN the newspaper called the Daily Graphic, pub.
!isned ~ the CITY ol New lcrk matters alleged IN
he denies that the said marrers were published
with the motives and ior the purposes alleged in
matters we're or that any portion, thereof Ia false.
scandalous, deiamatory or libelous. He alleges in
one Theodore Tllton to Henry 9. Bowen, bearing
date January l, 1871. and referred to In the said
complaint, which letter was annexed to paper
known as the covenant OF recOnctliatiOn,v the
SAID Tl!ton, among other things. wrote to the said
Bowen the following words :-"You (refsrring 10
said las nearly as can m recall cali our words MI Mr.
Baecher took IN his arms by force, threw down on
lAnNnaOA n ,raQA IN "a
Il is true, as stated in the said publication that
Aforesaid from the
). LIPS or THE wokAN W
1t Is true, stated In said publication, that this
aeiendanr showed 70 tae said Beecher the said
Henry q. Bowen, dated January l. 1871; and 1t is
true as stated IN the said publication. that .here-
upon the said Beecner deemed iJ NECESSARY to tell
the defendant the truth. as he, the SAD Beecner,
said, concerning the adultery with the person to
whom ne, the SAD Beecher, supposed that the
SAID Bowen referred In his Interview with the said
1t is true. as sta.ed in the said publication that
the rape or virgin In relation thereto and IN
explanation thereof, the said Beecher, as alleged
oy this defendant IN the SAID publication informed
TINS defendant that he, the said Beecher, WAS in
the house OF gentleman. naming him, where he
saw the plaintl, and tnat the SAID Beecher stated
and that when he was leaving fAe yard the sup
posed person referred TO IN SAID letter gave him
paroxysmal kiss. and that, being tempted by the
plaintin, ne had sexual intercourse with her,
1t IS also true, as III said publication stated that
che said Beecher Ihen stated TO this deienaant
SAID person was not viggin, and that lie de-
scribed 10 this defendant his means OF knowing
tRat tact.
the sad Beecher stated to this defendant that saia
person alter the occurrence above referred to,
retired from the room, vent upstairs and came
down very much nuttered, saying, son, l am
covered with blood.'
1t is also true stated III said publication that
She saio Beecner also stated 10 this DESCENDANT that
he knew she ied and that ne was surprised at her;
he fet convinced that she had had other ana pre-
vlous experience OF the sane sort. lE9
IL Is true, US stated In The said publication, that
this defendant stated to said Beecher. after hear
ing his statement Aforesaid, that It would be ne
tie person to get from her retracJl0n, otherwise
"you lIhe said Beecher) may ind yourself some
= BowEN's MERcY.u
Ii true as stated In the said publication, that
he, the SAID Beecher, went to tile person therein
referred 70, as ne supposed, as he informed this
defendant, tor toe purpose OF getting SUCH q re-
traction from her, and on the 10th day OF January
1871, brought to this defendant paper, a portion
oi which IS set forth at length in the complaint.
TDls defendant urtner alleges IN relation thereto
that in conference thereupon had between the
SAID Beccner and this defendant 1t was determined
by and between the saia Beecher and this de-
fendant tnat It was best that the paper last re-
not satisfactory retraction OF the charges which
had heretofore been made against the said
Beecher. st Fl 5H4
Il IS true as stated in the said publication that
the said Beecher admitted to this defendant that
he had had connection with the person he sup.
posed was therein eterred TO- and that he insisted
IN relation thereto that he ha0 used no iorce, but
il is true, as stated in said publication, that
such an accusation had been repeated by the SAID
Bowen.
The defendant further answering. denies each
and complaint not nerenDelore specifically admit
ted, answered unto, transversed or denied.
ant inrther answering saith that heretofore and
before the publication. by the plainttf hereinbe-
fore complained OF, Henry Ward Beecher oficiated
~ q clergyman OF religious association IN said
BrOoxiyn. known as Plymouth Church ASSOCIATION
OF large powerful wealth and Influence, aud said
oratorlcai ana literary abilities and exercised
wide and powerful ipnuence not only with the
,n ,,n said as
as well as those belonging to the same
denomlnati0n or Christian seer, or with others.
uary, 1871, Theodore hilton, then member OF said
religious association known us Plymouth Church
nd sc haa CERTAIN ~
widely circulated newspaper known rs the Inde-
pendent. published IN said Brooklyn IN tho inter
and professed by said religious association IN the
course OF which transaction controversy arose
between said liton and said Bowen, said Tilt0n
wrote and alterward pnbllsnei IN q pubic he VS.
paper the following letters and communication,
addressed 10 said Bowen, oi and concerning the
to said TntOn bv sad Bowen.
Here Mir. I1lton's letter to Bowen, dated jan
nary l, 1871, was incIudeu.l
Ana sand Iiton, among Others, also made and
uttered other charges anu allegations against the
conduct OF said Beecher with other women, anu
especially with one Elizabeth X. Tllton, wife oil
said Theodore, from all which publications., scan.
dals and imputatiOns upon the
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND LIFE
of said Beecher became riIe ana were widely cir
cuated IN said Brooklyn and elseSher where
said Beecher was known.
mr. nj tprf or cvror caitt
that on or about the lst day OF January said
beccher desired HIM (the deendant) to aid IN the
suppression oil such OF said scandalous lmputatfuns
as were being made known, ana the defendant,
being kindly disposed to said Beecher, and deslrOns
TO shield him irom the effect Of SUCH inslnuations
AUD the church and religious association OF which
SAID Beechcr was pastor ana having had said
letter made known to MIN 1.-THE said fllt0n), carried
the same 10 said Bcccnef AMI exhibited 10 him,
and at the solicitation and request OF said Beecher
consulted with MIN as 10 the manner In which the
ecandalous allegations contained therein coIld
be best met ana suppressed, aud said Deecher re.
heved from the injurious consequences thereof
And the defendant, iurther answering, says