The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-07-31
Beecher.TiltOn.


vestigsting Committee on the evening OF
July 20, and read a sworn statement in sub
sanitation Of the indefinite charges he had
made against Mr. Beecher. He declared that
MIR. Beecher, in the year 1868, deliberately
seduced his wife, Elizabeth II. Tiltoa, and
maintained criminal relations with her for
the period Of some two years, until the act
was discovered by Tilton and confessed by
Mrs. Iilton and afterward by Beecher him
self that Mr.. Titon, to shield his own fam
lily, condoned the offense, and absented
himself from Plymouth Church; that
Mr.. Beecher wrote letter to be
shown to Tilton expressing the utmost ap-
prehension that he (Tilton) would not keep
the secret, and revealing state of utter
despair on his own part. saying that the effort
to maintain an outward appearance of serenity
while accusations were multiplying against
him. was destroying his life, and that death
would be the most welcome OF friends to him
that nevertheless Bsecher allowed Tilton to
suffer under the imputation of slanderer, a
liar, and dog, causing him to be loaded
with public opprobrum and social ostracism
that further, he conspred with Mrs. Elizabeth
Il. Tilton, his wife, To complete his ruin by
perjury. and subOrnation of perjury; that
finally Mrs. Tilton broke down under the
stirgs of q guilty conscience. and confessed
that the testimony she gave before the In
vestigating Committee false, and that il
was given az the instance of Mr. Beecher's
lawyer, in order to save the cause of religion.
and finally that nothing could have prevailed
upon him (Illton) to make this statement eX-
cept Mr.. Beechers public challenge of the
truth of his letter to Dr. Bacon, by calling for
an investigation.
New York dispatch dated July Fl SAYS
THE excitement existing yesterday was in
creased by the morning papers reports. 1t
did not subsde on the publication of the
story, for not many saw it but ell those who
did we're at once shocked, for few who read it
carefully but felt thai it was the death-bow
of Beccher and the downfall of Plymouth
Church.
AN analysis Of the whole statement by
friends of Beecher leaves the most sangune of
them under the belief that it is not unanswer-
able II the letters of Beecher to Mouton
are to be explained on any hypothesis short of
acknowledging Beecher and Mrs. Tilton guilty
of adultery, the rest, they claim, goes for
nothing except as Tton's word, aid that is
not held very high One of his best friends
in former times said to-day that he had lately
detected Tilton in three distinct lies, and had
lost all confidence III his veracitv Other
friends of Beecher, as well ar this one. say
that all of Beecher's letters are explainable
consistent with his honesty. and Mr. Oliver
Johnson, managing editor of Beecher's paper,
to-day said that the confession and apology
was obtained under circumstances which would
give it another meaning when Beecher spoke.
Many assert still that Beecher will demolish
the whole story. evertheless, great efforts
have been making by his friends to avoid the
submission of this paper.
I" Ben Buffers aid was invoked, and he made
efforts so fruitless that to-day he denies all
participation in the matter. The committee
to-day have been iii secret session, evidently
having found Tilton's statement more astound-
ing than anticipated. The committee have
suffered under the imputation of being wholly
in Beecher's interest, but they proclaim their
impartiality. To-day one of them said that
Mr.. Beecher had been going about for years
with hook in his nose, and it was time it
came out, even if the nose Was broken
THE STATEMENT OF MR.. BEECHER
NEW YORK, July 22.-This evening several
of the Deacons of Plymouth Church, with
Mr.. Sherman, Mr.. Ross aud Gen. Tracy, met
az Mr.. Beecher's residence, and. after a coun-
Gil lasting about three hours drew mp state
nent signed by Mr.. Beecher and intended for
publication.
Mr. Beecher declares that, having asked the
Investigating Committee to sift the charges
against him. he will look to them for vindica-
ton, but that not for an hour could he delay
to defend the reputation Of Elizabeth r. Til !
ton. Zone less deserving of such disgrace
he SAYS, /" / never knew. From childhood she |
has been under my eye, and since reaching
womanhood she has had my sincere adj
miration and affection. l cherish for
her pure feeling, such as gen
tleman might honorably offer to christian
woman, and which she might receive and re-
ciprocate without moral scruple. ! reject
with Indignation every imputation which re-
fleets upon her honor or my own"
The letter of apology for wrong done to
Mr.. Tilton. Mr.. Beecher says. was only an |
acknowledgment of ali unjustifiable interfer- |
ence in family matters which he made in ad-
vising Mrs. Tlton 20 leave her husband The !
statement concludes az follows:
"a AZ mt which connects
dishonorably with Mrs. Elizabeth Il. Tllton. |
or which in any wise would impugn the honor |
aud purity of this beloved Christian woman. |
give the most explicit, comprehensive and
solemn denial"
New YosK, July 23.-Mrs. Tilton has also
prepared a statement concerning the case in
which she denies utterly all the criminal allie
cations made in the affidavit of her husband.
She charges that Tlton's hatred and jealousy |
OF Beecher have led him to concoct and put |
forth his accusations. The document pro-
ceeds:
1.-THE implication that the harmony of home |
was unbroken till Mr.. Beecher entered 1t as a |
frequent guest and friend is lamentable
satire upon household where he himself years
before laid the cornerstone of free-love, and
desecrated its affairs up to the time OF my de-
parture so that the atmosphere was not only
goddess, but impure for my children. Ana IN
this effort and throe OF agony L would faln
lift my daughters and all womanhood from
insidious and diabocal teaching of these
latter days. His frequent efforts to prove me
insane, weak-minded, insignificant OF mean
presence-all rank in the category OF heart
lessness, selishness and falsehood, having Its
climax in his present endeavor to convince
the world that am, or ever have been, unaDle
to distinguish between an innocent or guilty
love.
SIN summing up the whole matter affirm
myself before God to be innocent OF the
crimes laid upon me that never have been
guilty of adultery with Henry Ward Beecher
in thought or deed nor has he ever offered to
me an indecorous or improper proposal To
the further charge that i was led away from
my home by Mr.. Beecher friends. and by adj
vice of lawyer whom Mr. Beecher had sent
to me, and who, in advance OF my appearing
before the Committee, arranged with me the
questions and answers which were to consti-