New-York tribune., 1874-07-22

to such degree that in Consequence Thereon tue suo
nuent disbonorng by Mr. Beecner OF nus rIeuS WHO
Mas a CRIME OF uncommon rongfuluess ana perndy
Ill That about nine years ago lne W. IN
Beecher begaa and thereafter continued, Iilendshp
with Mrs Ehz1hefh r. Tlton. for whose native delcaoY
and extreme religious seaslelhy nc ol'c" M .,,o
TO time for yeas until the 1S7o when for reasons
hereinafter stated, he ceased sua visits; duripg Wou
period bv many tokens and attentions ne won tue anec
tonate love OF Mrs. Tlton whereby. after long uoIai
resistance by her anu ater repea,cu assas OS r, i
upon her mind with oveInasterns arEumentS accom-
pished the possession of her person. maintaining WIN
her theuceioTward during the period hereinafter saeu,
the relation called criminal intercourse; this relation
being REGARDED by her during that period rs not cfml
nal or morally wrong-;uch had been the power OF ms
arguments as clergy man TO sallsy ner res'ouS S0"
pies against such violation OF virtue and honor .,o
Nv Test on the evening oil OS9oer no. i9Co 0 Win
the Rev Henry Ward Beeeher, az his residence, sne
being then III tender state OF mnu o"iDs 10 to ~, in
death and burial OF yOunS ehu anu uu nna bet1yeen
terview act OF criminal commerce took place %
this pastor ana TINS parsmoaer lhe m3uNe e. On % oa m the
being, a. herenbeiore stated hot reea,uee lned nv
time criminal wrong; whlcn aGt was rtes az
similar act of crimnaiity between heso SAM ~ ma NV
Mr. TiltOns residence durn- d ptS - ,i,ris 10 eyenng
Mr. Beecher 10 her on the subsequent o'tuIuaS
followed also by other similar aS On ie2S 1e acns
frem the Autumn OF iooo 10 Wy Pi nnt pocasionoIlv
bcing the two residences Aforesaid ana occdsIOnHy
other places which her pastor WOuu lhNlle anu az
her or al which he would meet her by previous
appointments these acts ot WrODg Oelhg on her part,
fom first last not wanton or consciously wicked put
arising through binding OF her moral perceptions 0c-
oasiOned by powerful influence exerted on her mind
at that time to hs end by the Rev. Henry Ward Beeeher,
as her trusted religious preceptor and guide
V. That the pastoral visits made by the Rev. Henry
came so frequent excite comment being IN marked
contrast with his known habit OF making few pastoral
tons case shown in letters written 10 her husband
during his absence in the West these letters, giving
evidence that during the period OF five or six weeks
twelve erent pastoral calls ON Mrs. TtOn were made
bv tae Row Henry Ward Beecher. which calls became
noticeaDly iuirequent on Mr. Il'ons return to his
Vi That previous to the aforesaid criminal intimacy
OF the which Mrs nltOn alleged for her en-
couragemen of such exceptional attentions from the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was the fact that she had
sgf-r
purity aud wished 10 convince hm that she could re-
ceve hs kindness and vet resist his solicitations and
tua she could inspire In him. 10y Der purity aud h1ey,
an increased respect for the chaste dignity OF woman
hood Previous To the Autumn of 1868, she maintained
with Christian hrmucss toward her pastor this position
OF resistance, always refusing his amOrous pleas which
strong ami ottrepeaed ana IN letter TO her hus
band, dated Feb s. 1868. she wrote as follows To love
praise Jrtny but 10 abuse tne gilt Is SIN Here am
strong No demonstrations or iasendtIOns could cause
to yield Ily womauhOou."
VII That the first suspicion which crossed the mind
abusing. might abuse the affection aud revere
winch MIs Iuton bore toward her pastor was an I'M
proper gwen by Mr. Bcecher TO Mrs, TitOn by
the while seated by her side on the floor OF his
library overlooking engraylngs. MI. ItOn few hours
afterward asked or his explanation OF her per
mission Of such liberty, she at first denied
fact but then confessed IT, ana said tha she had spoken
chdiucy to Mr. Beeeher concerning it. On another oc
casOn Sir TntOn, after leaving his HOUSE IN the early
morning returned to II IN The forenoon, and gOlg to
ms bed-chamDer found the door locked, and when on
knocking tue door opened by Mrs. TitOn, Mr.
Bcechor seen within, apparently much confused
ana exhibiting flushed face. Mrs. TlltOn afterward
made plausible explanation, which from tAe conf
dence rep1sed ia her by her husband was by him dee ed
Viii That in the Spring Of 1s7O on Mr Tltons return
from winters absence, he noticed Ia his wife such
evidences the absorption OF her mind in Mr. Beecher
that 10 short time esLanSement took place
her husband and herself in consequence OF which she
went into me country carrier thah usual Tor Summer
soiOurn After absence OF several weeks she vOlui
ta1y returned TO her home in Brooklyn On the even
ing July s. 1870, when, and then and there within
few hours alter her ARRIVAL and after eXaetng from her
husband solemn promise that he would do tha Rev.
Henry Ward Beechor 10 hdrn, nor communicate TO hun
what she about TO sine made circuInstantia
confession to her husband of the criminal facts herein
before stated, accompanied WIN CITATIONS from Mr..
Beechers arguments aud reasonngs with her 10
come her lOngmaintalned scruple against yielding TO
his desires ana declaring thdt she had committed no
wrong hcr husband OF heI marriage yOw quoting in
support OF tins opinion that her pastor had repeatedly
assured her tnat eAe was spolless and chaste,
which she believed herself 10 b.. She further
stated that her sexual commerce with him had
proceeded from low or vulgar thoughts either on her
part his, but always from pure affection and higher
religious love. She stated furthermore, that Mr..
Beechcr haoltnay eharaeenzed their intimacy by tine
term "ucshidinG," and he would suffer pain ana
If ms hidden secret were ever made known. She
said that her mind was often Durdened by the deceit
necessary for her 10 practice IN order 10 prevent dscOv
Cry and that her conscience had many times Impelled
her to throw of tins burden Of enforced fssehood by
making fun confession to her husband, that she
in particular she said that she had been the pOiut
OF making TINS confession few months previously.
She affirmed also that Mr. Beecher had assured her re-
peatedly that no loved hor better than lie mad
loved any other woman. and she felt justified before
God in her intimacy win ulu save the necessary deceit
which accompanied IL, and al which she frequently suf
TX That after the aboye-named confession by Mrs.
Elizabeth H. Hilton, she returned 10 the country TO await
action by her husband might tit to take
whereupOu, after many considerations, the chief OF
winch was that she had not voluntarily gone astray
but had been artiully mised through religious
for the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher her spiritual
guide together also desire protect the family
from open shame, Mr. Tllton condoued the wrong ana
lie 10 his vile such letters O dheclOu tender
es and respect as ne fe would restore her wounded
spirit. and winch did partially produce that result.
y. That in December, 1870 differences arose between
Theodore Tiitou ana uenry c. Bowen, which were
ted N he , Henry
Beecher; in consequence whereof aud at the wish OF
Mrs Elizabeth r. Ton expressed IN writing In "a paper
nut into the hands Mr. Francis ID. Moulton, with a
tor W and Mr. Beecher such an interview was arranged
and carried out by Mr MoultOn al his then residence,
on CIutOust Mr. Beecher ana MT. Illtou meeting aud
speaking then and there for the first time since Mrs.
Iiltons confession OF months before. The paper
Mr.. Mouon's hands was statement by Mrs. TlltOn
of the substance OF the confession which she mad before
made, and OF her wish and prayer for recOncilia-
ton ana peace between her pastor and her husband.
This paper furnished 10 MT BeecDer the hst knOWedSe
when had yet received that Mrs tItOn had MADE
such confession. At this interview between Mr..
Beecher and Mr.. Ttoh, permission was sought by Mr.
Beecher consult with Mrs ItOn that evening
This permission being granted, Mr.. Bcecher departed
from Mr. Mouons house. ana III ABOUT ha an hOur re-
turned thitber, expressing his rcnose and shame and
declaring tndt his lie and work seemed brought to
sudden end Later IN the same evening Mr.. TltOn,
returning TO his house, found his wife weeping and in
distress ing that what she had meant FOR peace
had ony gNen pam ana anguish that MI Beech0r had
ius called on her. declaring thdt SnO hdd siam MN, aud
that would probably tired before council OF min
listers unless she would give MN "Ften paper lOr MS
protection WnereupOn she said ne dictated 70 her. and
copied III hdudWrlUug, suitable Tor
h,u 20 clear himself before council Of ministers
Mrs TtOn having kept no copy Of TINS paper ner hus
band asked her make distinct staten mt IN writing
of design anc meaning IN aiyug II, WheledpUn
wrote follows:
DECEMBER 80. l87O-Mifaight
DEAR HrsBiND dee to With you, before
bel Mr.. Hs.ry WsrI Beener called upon
evening n would defend bin sgius.
replied sOeuny, wOud,
than He o.. W. 81
tse letter whcb copied usei him
Other scuser eIeegmy husband Ths letter designed
Beecber sgsiBs all other Yourself
give this be sd with that letter
dated Dec % hl hin dead
uslne Iog anu pledged 70 10 best to
publicity CO.. .gaui speedy ~ ~ fultler a11less
AfecOastey, ELIZABETH