The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-06
BeecIier 10 Tilton.
MOuIt0n 10 Beecher.

Under the date of Aug. 4th, Mr.. Moulton
acknowledges the receipt of Mr.. Beecher's let.
ter and replios: Il should be glad to do any.
thing that may do, consistent with my sense
OF wh3t is due to justice and right to aid you
but if you WILL you reflect that hold all the
important papers entrusted to me at the desire
and request and in the confidence of both par
ties to this unhappy affair, you will see that
cannot, IN honor, give them, or ally OF them, to
either party to aid him as against the other. l
have no. given or shown to Mr.. Tlton any doc.
uments or papers relating to your affairs since
the renewal of your controversy which had
been once adjusted.
1 need not tell you how deeply regret your
position as foes each to the other after my
long and as you, l have no doubt fully believe
honest and faithful effort to have You other
wise. l will sacredly hold the papers and in
formation l have until both parties shall re-
quest me to make them public or to deliver
them into the hands of either or both-or to lay
them before the committee, or I am compelled
in court of justice to produce them if can be so
compelled.
My regret that am compelled to this course
is softened by my belief that you will not be
substantially injured by it in this regard, for
all the facts, of course, are known to you.
am bound to believe and assume that in the
statement you are preparing you will set forth
the exact facts, aud il So the documents when
produced will only confirm and cannot contra
dict what you may state, SO that yon will
i
cannot presume, you desire the possession of
the documents in order that you may prove
your statements in manner not to be contra.
vened by the facts set forth in them to the dis
advantage of Mrs. Tilton. 1 should be then
aiding you in doing that what l cannot believe
the strictest and firmest friendship for you
calls upon me to do. With grateful recoliec-
tions of your kind confidence and trust in me,
am very truly yours,
F. D. MoULroN.
Bcecher 10 NIOultOn.
BROOKLYN Aug. 4, 1874.
To +. d. Moulton; SIr,-Your letter bearing
date, August 4th, 1874, is this moment received.
Allow me to express my regret and astonish-
ment that you refuse me permission ever to see
certain letters and papers, in your possession,
relating to the charges made against me v
Theodore Tiltou, and at the reason given for re-
fusal. On your solemn and repeated assurances
of personal friendship. and in the unquestion-
ing confidence with which you inspired me of
your honor and fidelity, paced in your hands
for safe keeping various letters addressed to me
from my brother, my sister; and various other
plrties also, memoranda Of affairs now i'm
mediately connected with Mr.. Tiltou's matters.
also, from time to time, addressed you conf
dental notes relating to my own self as one
friend would write to another. These papers
were never placed in your hands to be held for
two parties, nor to be used in any way. They
were to he held for me. did not wish them to
Ue SUBJECT 10 Ln6 FISK OF loss or scattering from
my careless habits in the matter of preserving
documents. They were to be neld for me. and
in so far as these papers were concerned you
were only a friendly trustee, holding papers
subject to my Wishes Mr.. Tilton has made
deadly assault upon me, and has used letters
and fragments of letters purporting to be copies
of these papers, Are these extracts genuine?
Are they CARRIED? What are their dates; what,
if anything, has been left out and put in? You
refuse my demand for these papers on the
various pleas that if | speak the truth in my
statement do not need them; that if L make a
successful use of them it will be an injury to
Mr.. Tilton, and that you, as friend of the
parties, are bound not to aid either in any act
to injure any one, bnt to repel an injury at
tempted upon me by the use of papers coul-
mitted sacredly to your care. These documents
have been seen and copied. They have been
hawked for sale in New York newspaper offices
What purport to be my confidential notes to
you are on the Market but when demand a
sight of the originals of papers, of which you
are only trustee that l may defend myself,
you refuse because you are the friend of both
parties. Mr.. Tilton has access to your deposit
tory for materials with which &c strike me- but
am not permitted to use them in defending
myself. l do not ask you to place before the
committee any papers which Mr.. Tilton may
have given you, but l now demand that you
forthwith place before the committee every
paper which have written and deposited with
you.
Yours truly,