Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-07-23


Triton to give false testimony in his
CHR. Beecher's behalf; that Mr. Beech
er's course toward Mrs1ilton and family
has at last resulted in the open des-
tfuction Of Mr.. Tiltons household and
home, land in the desolation OF his. health
and life.
,Ai THEODORE TIEroN.
NEW YoRK, July 22.-Last evening
several Of the deacons OF Plymouth
Chmch, with Mr.. Shearman, Mr.. Ross
and General Tracy. met at Mr. Beech
er's residence, and after council, last
ing. about three hours, drew up the fol-
lowing statement Of Mr.. Beecher for
publications:
do not prepare at this time de
tailed examination of the remarkable
statement of Mr.. Theodore Tilton. l
recognize the many reasons which
make it of transcendent importance to
myself, the Church and cause of public
morality that I shall give full answer to
the charges against me. BIT having
requested the committee of investiga
ton to search this matter to the bottom
| it is TO them that | must look for my
vindieation. But 1 cannot delay for an
hour to defend the reputation of Mrs
Elizabeth r. Tilton, upon whose name
in connection with mine, her husband
has attempted to pour shame. One
less deserving of such disgrace l never
l I'd, Oh
under my eye, and since reaching
womanhood she has had my sincere
admiration and affection. | cherish
for her pure feeling such as gentle :
man might honorably offer to Christ
ian woman and which she might re
ceive and reciprocate without moral
scruple. l reject with indignation
every imputation which reflects upon
her aonor or my own.
My regard for Mrs. Tilton was per,
teotly well known by my family
When serious difficulties sprung up in
her household it was to my wife that
she resorted for council, aud both of
us acting from sympathy, aud as it SUBJ
sequently appeared without full know
ledge, gave unadvised counsel which
tended to harm have no doubt that
Mr. Tilton found that his wife's con
Efidenee and reliance upon my judg-
ment had greatly increased while his
influence had diminished in conse,
quence of a marked change in his re-
ligious and social views which were
taken place during those years. Her
mind was greatly exercised lest her
children should be harmed by the
views which she deemed virtually false
and dangerous. l was suddenly and
rudely aroused to the reality of the i,n-
pending danger by the disclosure OF
domestic distress, of sickness perhaps
+ unto death, of the likelihood Of separa-
ton and the scattering Of a family, every
member of which l had tenderly loved.
The effect upon me of the discovery
of the state of Mr., Tilton's feelings aud
the condition Of the family, surpassed
in sorrow and excitement anything that
| had ever experienced in my life. That
my presence, influence and counsel
brought to a beloved family sorrow and
alienation, gave in my then state of
mind poi gnancy to my suffering which
hope no other man may ever feel, ev-
en- to be suspected Of having offered un-
der the privileges of a peculiarly sa-
cred relation. An indecorum to a wife
and mother could not but deeply wound
any one who is sensitive to the honor
of womanhood. There were peculiar
reasons for alarm in this case on other
grounds, inasmuch as | was then sub
ject to certain malignant rumors, and a
fragrant outbreak in this family would
bring upon them an added injury deriv,
ed from these shameless talsehoodss
Believing at the time that my presence
and counsels had tended, however un~
consciously, to produce social catas-
trophe represented as Imminent, I gave
expression to my feelings in an inter
view with a mutual friend, not in cold
and cautious self defending words, but
eagerly taking blame upon myself and
pouring out my heart to my friend in
the strongest language, overburdened
with the exaggerations of impassioned
sorrow Had | been the evil man Mr..
Tilton now represents, | should have
been calmer and more prudent. 1t was
my horror Of the evil imputed that fill :
me with morbid intensity at the very
shadow of it. Not only was my friend
affected generously, but he assured me
that such expressions, if conveyed to
Mr.. Tilton, would soothe wounded feel
ings, allay anger and heal the whole
trouble. He took down sentences and
fragments of what l bad been saying to
use them as mediator. A full statement
of the circumstances under which this
memorandum was made shall give to
the investigating committee.
That these apologies were more than
ample to meet the facts of the case is
evident in that they were accepted, and
that our intercourse was resumed to
friendliness, that MIR. Tilton' subsequent
ly ratified it in writing, and that he has
continued for four years, and until with
in two weeks, to live with his wife.
Is it conceivable if the original charge
had been what is now alleged, that he
would have condoned the offense not
only with the mother of his children,
but with whom he believed to have
wronged them !? The absurdity as
well as the falsity of the charge is APP
parent when it is considered that Mr..
Tilton now alleges that he carried this
guilty secret of his wife's infidelity for
six months locked up in his own breast,
and that then he divulged it to me only,
that there might be a reconciliation
with me. Mr. Tilton has since in ey-
cry form of language, and to multi>
tnda of Witnessed orally and in written