New-York tribune., 1875-01-13
defendant she made similar confessions TO bin u dens mean
adultery
THE wooDHuM-cLAFLIN STORY.

Now gentlemen, viii proceed to examine some
Of e facts occurring later Of she history Of 's case
On the ID Of November is7 publzbed In what @ Known
as 7as Wocdaua q Csyais Wssksy, story IN which M
Beecbey wac aecued OF adultery with Mrs. Elizabeth Ten
At the time that hls publication appeared Mr. Tfon Ws ao
sent from the city and absent the State He was IN one on
the New England States engaged IN the predena campaign
when the story accusing his pastor with aduHey WIN
his wife What did Mr. Beechcr do in connection with ha'
story and with that pubcaion what innocent man,
ought he 10 have done s the question that now
concerns you. Did he on that OCCASION act
man. aid he that occasion guilty
What ought he Christian minister to done
Bear m mind gentlemen that he accused Of the crime Of
adultery with the wife Of the he declared but short time
prior to have been Christian gentleman az an honored mem
Der Of his church And he accused Of adultery with the wife
of member Of his should he have done What
did he doi He did nothing He waited until Mrs. Tfon re
turned Aye me did Became the night Of the pub
hcaon Of that story meeting OF his trusted members some OF
whom afterwards fgared the Committee called together
at the house Of and they there informed that they
had best take notice Of the story but and hive down
try and live down-feafu that his church would take some
action would say him. Ts scandal must be investigated
Here you charged with adultery with the wife Of member
Of this church and she member Of this church. therefore
before any steps could taken in that direction this other de-
vice resored Another device, and that was 10
try and live II down. It may be that the church II
may be that the pastor of Plymouth Church. with his
night wrong gulty may be- with all this i'm
power he could live down. they could live down. but
how AJAX In the Of kind heaven could the woman
live II down You recoect gentemenh You do not will
you the factat after the publication Of this story
there universal demand throughout the anda universal
call upon Mr. Beecher speak bot easrng word and
deny this charge Every appeal that could be made for the
Of morality for the religion by all that be held dear
EARTH every consideration ths could be addressed 70 him.
he adured deny the truth Of the story. But not
word, not word While the Of religion was
suffering from this scandal and while the trusted member Of
his church suffering In the estimation Of all womanhood he
remained silent silent the grave and when Mr. Tlton
turned he induced him, tried induce h-hm himself
to publish this statement
In unguarded enthusiasm hope well and much Of
who has proved utterly unpncped shall never again notice
her stories and utterly repudae her statement made
cerniDg me and mine
Was on then the then to deny that story who knew
absolutely unquahey the story whether
it falsei Mr. Beecher, and aganst him the charge
hurled and against a member Of his church
what his duty What should an in
have done circumstances Why he
would have branded false the earliest possible moment
He would said do that because proceeds
from 30 low origin Oh no. IL was in the paper care
what paper what the character Of the paper
the paper and his duty being innocent to have denied
the story and stop question its authority But after that
appeared many respectable journals Of the land and those
which did not appear united the call upon him
word and give that there no truth IN the
story his friends IN his behalf and in the behalf Of moral
ty might deny But no denial denial Very truly
TitOn replied to him:
You know why ne sought Mrs WoOdhulls acquaintance
II family and from the consequences OF
your the facts about which had become known 10 her
They published, will not denOunce that
you from the consequences OF what you nave
done"
Why ask again. did be allow this pernicions story TO go
throughout the land eating into his reputation sulyng the
a. -, Il. . 9 Tt- haFpf ffqUv
Because denial would provoked contest on her part IL
would have increased the discussion would have led
investigation on the part Of his church, and an inyes
tigaton would have been ruin because it is OF it that
he speaks when he speaks Of the dcues prevent the
tendencies which not stopped would break out into ruin
Gus defense to me-" Anything that tended to Investigation
ANYTHING and everything that look developing the truth
was runous defense and that what he means in
his letter difficulty Of preventing that tendency OF
stopping those tendencies without seeming do IT, What does
that mean without seeming 20 do 1t ~ why he could not
say anything did would give importance, and that
would lead TO disclosure therefore he remained silent He
could not say anything in behalf OF Mr. 11hon TO
relieve. him from the unjust odnm that he has suf
fered during these four year, OF being the
sanderer the pastor Of Plymouth Church. because he did
would give point to charge and he mains quiet and
allows this story TO 60 unconradced month after MONTH
for x months and at last is compelled deny and only
when he is compelled deny because Of fear Of serious
does he hold his peace and say nothing
ing the publication Of the truth or falsity Of the story
your Honor please is four minutes ahead Of the time OF
adiourning but this point which conveniently
take a
Judge Neilson-Genemen Of the Jury please be in your
seats promptly at o'clock 70 which time will ad
iourn