Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-07-29
Dr ever have been unable to distinguish

l..
In summing up the whole matter, af-
firm 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 avowed to me an indecGrous
or improper proposal. |,
To the further charge that L was led
away from my home by Mr.. Beecher's
friends, and by the advice of lawyer
whom Mr.. Beecher had sent to me, and
who, in advance of my appearing before
the Committee, arranged with me the ques
tions and answers which are to constitute
nv testimony in Mr. Beecher's behalf ]
answer that this is again untrue. having
never seen the lawyer until introduced TO
him a few moments before the arrival of
the Committee, by my step-iather, Judge
Morse; and in further reply | submit the
following statement of my action before
the Committee, and the separation from
my husband.
The publication of Mr. Tiltons letter in
answer to DIR. Bacon, l had not known nor
suspected. when on Wednesday evening
he brought me home the Golden Age,
handing it to me to read. Looking down
its columns saw, well nigh with binding
ewes, that he had put into execution the
almost daily threat of his life that he
lived TO crush out Mr.. Beecher; that the
God of battles was in him; he had always
been Mr.. Beecher's superior, and all that
lay in his path, wife. children or reputation.
! if need be. should fall before this purpose
did not read it. / saw enough without
reading. My spirit rose within me as
never before.
| Theodore" | said. d" tell HE what
means this quotation from Mr.. Beecher.
Two yeaes ago you came to me at mid
night. saying. Elizabeth, all letters and
papers concerning my difficulties with Mr..
Beecher and Mr.. Bowen are burned, des-
troyed; now do MT YOU betray me, for |
have nothing to defend myself with
/ :. Did you believe that? " said he.
Il certainly did, implicitly" l said.
We'll let me tell you-they all live,
not one is destroyed"
If this was said to intimidate me, it had
quite the contrary effect. | had never been
so fearless. nor seen so clearly before with
whom | was dealing. Coming to me Il
little later. he said. = | want You to read
it: You will find it a vindicatiOn of yourself
r You have not stood before the community
: for five wears as YOU now do
Reused still further by the wickednes~
| hid behind SO false n mask, L replied
..Theodore. understand me, this is e last
time YOU call me publicly to walk through
this filth NV character needs no vindi-
/ cation at this late hour from you. There
i, was time had You spoken out clearly
t truthfullv. and manfully for me. | had
been grateful; but now | shall speak an,
act for myself. Know also that if in the
future see scrap of paper referring tC
anv human being. however remote, whicl
it seems to me YOU might use or perverl
for vour own ends. will destroy it"
This means battle on your part. then,
said he
just So far | replied.
write this because these words of mine
he has since used to my harm. The mex
morning | went to my brother, and tol'
him that now had decided to act in thi
matter: that | had been treated by my
husband as a.nonentity from the beginning
a playihing, TO be used or let alone a
will: that it had always seemed to me
Il WAS party not Il little concerned.
J then showed him card / had made TO
: publication.
e He respected the motive. but still advises
e silence on my part. l yielded to him thu
1t far. as to appearing in the public prints
i but counselin@ with myself and no othe
u it occurred to me that among the brethre
o of nv own communion. | might he heard
:; Not knowing of any Church Committee.
II asked the privilege of such an intervieV
o i'm the parlors of those who had alway
Df been our mutual friends. Mr.. and Mrs
l. OyinotOn then learned. for the first time
II that the committee would meet that nigh
/ and advised me to see those gentlemen, 4
% perhaps the goodliest persons L could Sc
: iect. This | accordingly did.
: There. alone, pleaded the cause of IN
y husband and nv children. the result bein
l. that their hearts were moved in sympath
III for nv familv-a feeling their pastor In
y shared for wears. and for which he wa
i9i now suffering.
al On going home. l found my husban
reading in bed | told him where | ha
IN been, and that | did not conceal anythin
Mt from him. as his habit was from me- Ii
IN asked who the gentlemen We're, said 4
he more. rose dressed himself, and bade n
1T good-bve forever.
The midnight following was awakene
ne by nv husband standing by my bed
Sc a very tender, kind voice he said he wishe
ed to see me- ! rose instantly, followed hi
ny into his room. and sitting on the bedsid
r. he drew me into his lap, said - he W:
e. proud of me. loved me; that nothing ev'
st rave him such real peace and satisfactio
~ as to hear me well spoken of; that, meetir
IL a member of the Committee, he h;
he learned that he had been mistaken as
- nv motive in seeing the Committee, al
n" had fastened to assure me that he had be-
thoroughly wretched since his rash trea
ng ment of me the night before" &c.
al Then and there we covenanted sacred
OF our hearts and lives-I most utterly; I
newing nv trust in the one human heart
u- loved The next day. how happy we wer
er Theodore wrote a statement, to present
on the Committee when they should call up'
7rs him, to all of which l heartily accede
a This document, God knows, was tn
TO history of this affair, completely vindlcf
ny ing my honor and the honor of my paste
l L In the afternoon he LETT me to show it
'p his friends.
to He returned home early in the evenin
lr. passing the happiest hours l had know
en- for wears; renewedly assuring me Il
tai there was no rest for him away from II
ha- So in grateful love to the dear Father,
a slept. No, that the end had then con
| would not then have received the crl
en- blow (which made woman mad o
'ch right
red The next morning lie called upon {
OBJ friends, Mr. and Mrs. Ovington, and th'
by with a shocking bravado, began a wlcb
Tor TRADE, adding with oath and violence
'ul- shameless SANDERS against Mr.. Beech
ok, of which Inow believe him to be the auth
ar This fearful scene l learned next day.
led the afternoon he showed me his invItati
or from the Committee to meet them L
7 L evening. / did not then show my hur
hat but carried it heavily within, but cain
without, all night, till early morning.
adj Reflection upon this scene at Mr.. Owl
ted toms convinced me that. notwithstand
ep- my husbands recent professions to me,
lrs. former spirit was Unchanged; that
the declarations of repentance and affect
ng, were only for the purpose of gaining
as assistance to accomplish his ends in
less warfare upon Mr.. Beecher. In the Iii
ave e .boeo conclusions my dutv anpea