Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-09-03
The Verdict.

question: OF Tue ltnOcence or guilt or
Mr.. Beecher. Less than six weeks
heve elapsed since the carefully pre-
pared, and az we think facts have dem
onstrated, the cruelty prepared state
ment of Mr.. Tilton was launched upon
the great sea of thought, containing
accusations which, if true, revealed
Mr.. Beecher in the light of a lecher
and the vilest hypocrite possible to con-
eeive. 1t is not too much to say that
the tide sat against Mr.. Beecher and
thousands of good men and true were
constrained to believe the damning
story of his guilt. Mr.. Beecher'S tar
diness in replying to charges so grave
tended to strengthen with many a be-
lief they would fain have entertained
It has been said that time clears up all
mysteries. We so believe; and that all
that is now strange and mysterious in
connection with this affair which has
so deeply engrossed public thought
will be cleared up, and such "clearing
up" viii reveal Mr.. Beecher in a
grander light as a man of God, and
the mighty helper ct a selfish humani-
ty, we cannot entertain doubt. The
great drama has revealed much of char
acter, and as play is studied in its
rendition, so have the thinking people
of the world looked upon the succeed
ing acts of this a'Sehool for Scandal"
and have, we think, discovered the
animus of the actor who first appeared
upon the scene, as also of him who as
mutual friend has shown himself to
be veritable Iago. The public have
perused the statements made, as also
as nearly all the evidence adduced.
Let US look at the case a moment, I'll.
w. Beecher some years ago made the
acquaintance of Theodore Tilton, a
rising young man of wonderful talents
and undoubted genius. A strong
friendship was engendered, but soon
the applause and fattery of we'll mean
ing friends -and they were many, -
aroused thought of personal superior
ity; jealousy warped judgment, and a
desire to become the great Am Of
the literary and journalistic world
usurped nobleness of character, and
urged the Staying of his truest friend.
The hellish theory of free love usurp-
ed the holier belief in marital fidelity,
and urged on by the siren voices of
Woodruff and her compeers, Theodore
Tilton was wrecked in character and
purse. Chagrined, he sought as we
believe, the destruction of Mr. Beech
er that he might build himself up up
on the ruin he sought to make To
accomplish his design a gricyous charge
must be preferred, and a coadjutor
found who could and would serve his
purpose Such an one was found in
the person of Francis d. Moulton, and
charge of Improper advances to
Mrs. Tilton by Mr.. Beecher" made as
the groundwork of the Ubiquitous bus
mess. As time wore on this charge
became magnifed into a charge of
adultery Mr.. Moulton acting with
adroit shrewdness upon the susceptible
mind Of Mr. Beecher placed himself
III the position of Mutual Friend, .
and if any inference is to be drawn
from the facts as presented the siz
weeks past, it is that Mr.. Moulton anC
Mr.. Tiiton were working together Sc
esetly and clandestinely to create case
by the compilation Of alleged facts anc
incidents such as would make an ire
slstible ocean of evidence when thu
proper time should come to open the
flood gates and deluge the world will
nauseous waters. knowing Mr. Beech
er's generous nature, his unselfShness
his willingness TO sacrifice self for the
good of all or even one of the great
mass of humanity if need be, they
cnnspired to draw from him letter.
which would seem to convict him o
the crime charged, and as the testimo
nv shows, a letter or statement wa
written by Moulton from remark
drawn from Mr.. Beecher, purposel,
drawn, and in such form as would ap
pear to be a confession of his guilt
No device was neglected to accomplish
the nefarious end in view, to wit: tn
complete destruction of the grandes
Ian Of the age.