Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-07-22

New YORK, July 2l.-The following
is Mr.. Tilton's statement OF facts and o.
evidences.
Gentlemen Of the Committee
In communicating to you the detailed
statement OF facts OF evidences which
YOU have been several days expecting at
NV hands. let me remind you Of the
circumstances which call this statement
forth. In my recent letter to DR.. Bacon
/ alluded 10 an Offsuse and an apology
by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. To
7FhOmsoever else this sllusiOn seemed
indefinite, TO Mr.. Beecher il was pain.
The Offense was committed by him ;
the apology was made by him T; both
acts were his own, and were among the
most mOmentOus occurrences Of his life.
OfaII the men in Plymouth church, OF in
the world, Rev. Henry w. Beeeher
was the one man who was best informed
concerning this Offense and apology, and
The one man who least need TO inquire
into either. Nevertheless, while possess
ing perfect knowledge Of both these acts
done by himself, he has chosen to put
on public affectatiOn and ignorance and
innocence concerning them, and has
c0nspicuously appointed committee Of
six OF the ablest men Of his church, to-
gether with two attorneys, to inquire
into what he leaves you TO regard as the
unaccountable mystery of this Ofense
and apology, as il he had neither COM
mitted one nor offered another, but as if
both were fragments of another mans
imagination, thus prompting the public
10 draw the deduction that / am the per-
son under hallucinatiOn or delusion,
living in q dream and fOrgiving a fraud
Furthermore, in order to cast over this
explanation the delicate CLAM our which
always lends charm to the defense of a
,H-omanis nOnor, Mrs. Elizabeth r. Til
votl, lately my wife, has been prompted
away from her home to reside among
Mr.. Beecher's friends, and to cooperate
with him in his ostensibly honest and
lsudable inquiry into facts concerning
which she, too, as well as he, has for
wears past had perfect and equal knOwl-
edge with himself.
THIS INVESTIGATION,
therefore, has been publicly pressed on
me by Beecher, seconded by Mrs. Tilton,
both of whom in so doing have united
in assuming before the public the nom
existence of grave and solemn facts
into which they have cOnspired TO
investigate for the purpose not Of
eliciung, but Of denying, the uu.h.
This Joint assumption by them, which /
has seemed to your committee to be in /
GOOD faith, has naturally led you into /
an examination, in which you expect to /
dud on th7ir part nothing but inno- /
cence; on my part, nothing but slander. 1
II is now my unhappy duty, from which /
/ have in vain hitherto sought earnest |
ly 20 be delivered, TO give you the facts
and evidences for reversing your
opinion on this subject. In doing this
painful duty, ] may say hesrt-rending
duty, the responsibility for making
grave disclosures which i am about to
Jay before you, belongs not TO me, but
first, to Mr.. Beecher, who has prompted
you 10 this investigation, and next, to
Mrs. Tilton, who has Joined him
in a cOnsl acy, which n1ot fail to be
full Of palh and wTetchedness to many
hearts. ] call you to witness that in my
first brief examination by your COM
miJtee / begged and implOred you
not TO inquire into the facts Of
this case, tut rather seek TO bury
them beyond all possible revelR-
tions. Happy for all concerned had
this entreaty been needed. 1t is now
100 late. The last opportunity for recon-
ciljatiOn and settlement has passed.
This investigation, undertaken by you
in ignorance Of the dangers against
which Mr. Bsecher should have warned
YOU q advance, viii shortly prove itself
10 your surprise TO have been al act
o. want0n snd wicked folly, for
which Rev. Henry War Beecher,
az Us originator ard public sponsor, will
hereafter fad no space for repentance,
though be seek il carefully and with I
tear. This desperate man must bold 1
himself and not me, accountable for tie |
wretchedness which these disclosures i
will carry to his own home and hearth, 4
a. they have already brought to mine. /
1 will add that the original documents .
referred 10 in the ensuing sworn state
meut are Tor the most part in my posses
sion, but that the apology and few
other papers are in the hands Of Francis
u. Moult0n. Truly yours,
THEO. TILTON.
TILTON's SWORN STATEMENT,
Whereas, Rev. II. w. Beecher has
lnstigs,te,! the appointment Of 4 COM
Ynittea, consisting Of six members OF his /
church and society, to inquire into and .
repor. upon the alleged aspersions upon .
dis character by Theodore Tllton; and |
whereas, Mrs. Elizabeth r. Tilton, for F.
Ii erly vile O4 AAEs i 4AllDlls Has ~ penny W
serted her home in order TO cooperate
with Beecher In a conspiracy TO over
throw the credibilty and good repute OF
her late husband as a man and citizen,
therefore ], Theodore TiltOn, being thus
suthOrized and required 10y a published
demand made upon him by Rev. Henry
Wari Beecher, aud being now and here
sfter released by The act Of Mrs. TiltOn
frow further responsibility for The con-
. un.ut Of the truth touching her rc.
IatjnDs with Beecher, hereby set forth,
nnds. solemn oath, the following facts
and testimony:
First-That on the second Of October,
,eTs at Plymouth church, Brooklyn, a
Il.oo,.Irio,,-e IooSI between Theodore Til!On and
Fizabsth N. Richards was performed
Nv Nv Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, which
~ S.rrjaee. thirteen years afterwsrd, was
9isbon9red and violated by this clergy
i'm through criminal seduction Of this
Vile and mother, as hereinafter set
SS;econd-That for a period Of about
efteen wears, extending both before ana