The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-22


she at first denied the fact but then con-
fessed II and that she had spoken chidingly
to Mr.. Beecher concerning 1t. On another
occasion Mr.. Tilton after leaving his house
early in the morning returned in the
forenoon and on going to his bed chamber
found the door locked and when on knock
ing the door was opened by Mrs. Tilton,
Mr.. Beecher was seen within apparently
much confused and exhibiting flushed
face, Mrs. Tilton afterwards made plau-
sible explanation which from confidence
reposcd in her by her husband was by him
deemed satisfactory
8. That In the spring of 1870 on Mr..
| Tilton's return from winters absence he
noticed in his wife such evidences of alb
sorption of her mind in Mr. Beecher that
in q short time an arrangement took place
between her husband and herself, in conse-
auence she went into the country earlier
than usual for "A summer sojourn. After
an absence of several weeks she voluntarily
returned to her home in Brooklyn on the
evening of July 3D., 1870, where then and
there, within few weeks after her arrival,
and after exacting from her husband a
solemn promise that he would do the Rev.
Beecher no harm nor communicate to
him what she was about to say, she made a
circumstantal confession to her husband of
criminal facts hereinbefore stated, accom-
panied with citations from Mr.. Beecher's
arguments and reasonngs with her TO over
come her long maintained struggle against
yielding to his desires, and declaring that
she had committed no wrong to her hus-
band or his marriage, by quoting in sup
port of this opinion that her pastor had
repeatedly assured her that she was spot
less and chaste, which she believed herself
to be. She further stated that her sexual
commerce with him had never proceeded
from loye or vulgar thoughts, either
on his part or hers, but always from pure
affection and a high religious love. She
| stated furthermore that Beecher habitually
characterized their intimacy by the tenn of
''nest hiding and he would suffer pain
anu SOION IL HIS nNucU sttItl WAS ever
made known. She said that her mind was
often burdened by deceit necessary for her
to practice in order to prevent discovery,
and that her conscience had many times
impelled her to throw off this burden of
enforced falsehood by making full con-
fession to her husband so that she would no
longer be living before him a perpetual lie.
In particular she said that she had been on
the point of making this confession few
months previously, during a severe illness
when she feared she might die. She affirm
ed also that Mr.. Beecher had assured her
repeatedly that he loved her better than he
had ever loved any other woman, as he
| felt justified before God in her intimacy
with him save the necc.sity for deceit
which accompanied it and at which she
| frequently suffered in her mind.
o. That after the above named confess
sion by Mrs. Elizabeth II. Tilton she re-
turned to the country to await such action
by her husband as he might see fit to take !;
whereupon, after many considerations, the
chief OF which was that she had not volun-
tarily gone astray, but had been artfully
Misled through religious reverence for Rev.
II. w. Beecher as her spiritual guide, to-
geiher also from desire to protect his
family from open shame, Mr.. Tilton con-
doned the wrong, and he addressed to his
wife such letters OF affection, tenderness
and respect as he felt would restore her
wounded spirit, and which did partially
produce that result.
10. That in December, 1870, differences
arose between Theodore Titon and ii. C..
Bowen, which were augmented by Mr..
Beecher and Mrs. Beecher, in consequence
whereof and at the wish of Mrs.
Tilton, expressed in writing in
a paper put into the hands of
Mr.. Francis ID. Moulton. with view to
procure a harmonious interview between
| Tilton and Beccher. such an interview was
arranged and carried out NY Moulton at his
then residence an Clinton street, .Beecher
and Tilton meeting and speaking then and
there for the first time since Mrs. Tiltons
confession of six moths before. The
paper in Mr.. Moulton's hands was state
ment by Mrs. Tilton of the substance of
the confession which she had before made
and of her wish and prayer for the recon-
citation between her pastor and her hus-
band. This paper furnished to our preach
err the first knowledge which he had as yet
received that Mrs. Tilton had made such
confession. At this interview between Mr..
Beecher and Mr.. Tilton, permission was
sought by Beecher to consult with Mrs.
Titon on that same evening. This per
mission being granted Mr.. Beecher de-
parted from Moulton's house and in about
half an hour returned thither expressing
his remorse and shame, and declaring that
his life and work seemed brought to sud
den end. Later in the same evening TiltOn
on returning to his house found Ills wife
weeping and in great distress, saying thai
what she had meant for peace had only
given pain and anguish that Mr.. Beechei
had just called on her, declaring that she
had slain HIM, and that he would probably
be tried before council of his members
unless she would give him written paper
for bis protection; whereupon she said he
dictated TO her and she copied in her owr
handwriting a suitable page for him TO ust
to clear himself before council of mem
bers of his church. Mrs. Tlton havinl
kept no copy of this paper, her husband
asked her to make a distinct statement il
writing of her design and meaning in Civ
ing it, whereupon she wrote as follows:
December 80, 1S70-Midnight.
MY Dear Husband Il desire to leav,
with you before gong to bed a Statement
that Henry Ward Beecher called upoi
me this evening" and asked me il
would defend him against any accusation
in council of ministers and | REPLIED