New-York tribune., 1874-07-20
THE PLYMo UTH CHURCH INQUIRY.

TIE PLYMO UTH CHURCH INQUIRY
TESTIMONY OF SAMUEL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
UNDER WHICH THE COMPACT WAS SIGNED.
There has been a mOmemtary pause in the
Plymouth Church Investigation, but the work OF the
committee will be resumed this evening upon the pre-
sentation OF Mr Tiltons statement The substance Of
sIrnue Wnkeson's testimony, which was gwen last
week. has come to the Of the public. lie has gwen
clear account of the circumstances which led TO the
signing OF the agreement between Mr. Beecher Henry c.
Bowen, and Mr Tilton
He states that late IN March. 1872 Mr. Tlton showed
TO him press proof OF a letter which he threatened to
publish IN the next issue OF The golden Age,
unless Mr. Beechcr shonld do him justice. This
letter is the which Mr. Tilton wrote on
jan !, 1871. to MIR. Bowen when the contracts with
The Independcnt and The Brookim Un,Ou were
broken, and in which many insinuatiOns were made
against the pastor Of Plymouth Church. Mr.. lIton
claimed That he mad been dismissed from those papers
without cause, and been ruined IN fame prospects, and
estate and that Sir Bccchcr utterly indifferent 70
his fate He declared, with intense passion, 81
will have revenge o Mr.. Bsecher, | Will pursue
him to his grave Mr.. WiIkcson says that IT
was clear 70 him that Mr.. Tilton wanted to
raise money; arrangement WAS submitted by which
Mr. Ton to be paid what Mr. Bowen owed him with
delays of law suit, and hdtterng notices Of
him we're 20 inserted citorally in The independent
atcd after this interview what has been called the
"ripariie agreement" Before the terms were settled.
Nj Bowen agreed to pay Mr. TltOn hls back pay, and
promised to make rep1ratlon cditoriay IN The Indc-
DeRdcRL on the night Of April 3 1872, when the agree
ment was ready for signature, MI Tlton "oycrnoved
with love and admiration Beecherwari," was more
than satisfied with the paragraphs concerning himself
and declared that he would sign the agreement twelve
times over if that would induce Mr.. Bowen 10 sign 1t
once But the compact carried away without
his Signature. inaSmuch as one OF the four gentle
men present thought that Mr.. Bowen should sign il
first Mir Tton, IN reply to direct question from Mr.
Wilkeson admitted that the only wrong which Mr.
Beechcr had ever done him, had been 70 address i'm
proper language his wife, for which ample apology
had been made. He EXPRESSED amiZcment that any
should state that he had ever sail that there was
anything criminal in NJ. BcecAer's conduct aud denied
the fullest and energetic manner that he had
said said anything that could Ue 50 construed
by truthful and healthy mint. On the next morning
he went to Mr.. WIlkcsous office in very different mood
There hIi been hitch in the payment of the money
lie said that he would not sign tho agreement anu,
kIndhng in anger, declared that Mr. Bowen ana Mr.
Bcechcr had been well taken care Of while lie himself
mad been left out IN the cold with the money unpaid,
adding passondcly, that he would never sign paper
tnat would disable him from pursuing Mr. Beecher
The full amount due Nj Tlton palt within day or
two, and the agreement signed by the three men
after important notifications had been made.
The agreement which was printed IN The TRIBUNE on
May 3d. ls7} includes preface. "a disiyow the part
Ar. Bowen Of the charges (niic uy man aSunt Mr..
Bcccher, and referred To IN the letter which Mr lt)n
had TN asneh to PUBLISH covtn9nt on me part oI
Mr.. IItOu, aud a rhal clause ny Mr. Bcccher. The
preface IN the CrI sui agreement more elaborate
man il W.. nm tr ,oup,ci winch vi, actually signed
but II covered the ground In the Original agree
ncnt MI Bowen declared that he knew OF nothing de-
rogatory 10 Mr. BcccheIs reputation a. clergyman or
Il man" In the amended compact hc hncw ut nothing
which prevented him from extending 10 Mr.. B"crler
his most cordial confidence and Chilstlln fellowship"
In the original agreement hc d.tNoWed all the charges.
the later one hc Withdrew thcu. Referring - the
lmputtous cited ny Nr. ItJu IL the letter Of Jan. /,
ISL the Language ia the Original agreement l.; 81 de-
clare that those charges. Populations, and inuuendOcS
without duy foundation IN fact 10 the best of my
knowledge aud uect Ia the 'cr one the language l.;
II sincerely regret having made any nupu'at.ons
charges. muuendOc> uufayOgdbc 10 tine Christian
character OF Mr. BecChcr." The clause relating % Nh
TtOu rewritten, aS VIII b. sccH below:
The OriltHdL me 0WeHded.
II. J. Theodore TtOu. II. And |. Iurpulrc Til
returning Ol ny free Will ton, DO. O nN r'c VIII ana
To :, Wn0m have rc- friendly spirit towJrd
ycrcd ad iOytdds father, Henry {. B0Scna ana Henry
thus renew and confirm Ward B-ecuer, hereby
my ialtL IN Henry Mdrd covenant aud agree that
Btcchcr SrudIY good viii never AGAIN repeat, ~
aud .cIcrOus man. !, too, word Oi mouth or OihcF-
dsaNuW each and all uf the wise, any O the allegations,
IA OF lmputttluu-
the sad annexed letter does contained letter
heated and contained. Aud hcreuutO annexed,
ANY aui other imputi- OtuerIuluuOu> mpHtatIOus
upon h character or ALLEGATION, suggested by
and conduct, which have OI growing out OF these
bce said TO from ud that val again
uIstyuw and covenant bring up or hint at any
never " repeat or renew. Cause oi dt-rcucc or
ground OF cOmp.tut here
tpfure rXlstHg brtwcu the
a4!d Henry {. Bowen aud
myself, or the s.ud Henry
Ward Bccchct."
The clause relating 70 Mr.. Bcccher was unchanged.
Mr. MilorSnu claimed Ir Hilton III mJdIfNIug