Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-01-01
JANUARY 1, 1879.
AMANLY STATEMENT FROM Mr.. BEECHER.
From the Christian Union, edited by Rev. Ii. W.
Beecher.
Although the readers of this paper have

Although the readers of this paper have
had to learn the fact from other sources
none of them are ignorant of the existence
of an action at law brought By Mr.. Theo-
dore Tilton against the editor Of this Jour
nal. We have reirained from all mention
of the subject for obvious reasons; anu IN
now giving brief account OF the course Vi
the affair in the past, and OF the intentions
of the defendant in that suit tor the future,
we shall abstain, as far as possible; from
saving ANYTHING which might influence /
the current of judicial proceedings In the
case. ...s
That the defendant, so long as 1t seemed
practicable to keep from the puoiic inc
names of those pure and honorable women |
whose regulations were threatened oy iaise
and wicked sian ders. made every ehort 10
do So willingly putting his OWE name IN
neril. if thus they might be spared--he
neither denies nor regrets. If the develop
ments of the last year have not Justlhed ,he
motives as fully as they have proved the
uselessness Of those efforts then we are IN
able to offer any argument when VIII reacI
the uncOnyinced. We are not OF the min9
Of those who profess that they maintaiheu
silence because the welfare OF the coihilun-
inv the peace of families, and the interest
NJ L
felt bound to sacrifice all those interests the
moment that their own reputation was at
tackled. On the contrary, we ielt IL 70 DC
the duty and the privilege OF CHRISTIAN
man to bear a thousand attacks upon Hls
own reputation in silence, rather tcah 70
suilcr one innocent woman 70 De 'liineu 'ui
his sake before the world.
We arc not alone in such opinions, or 10
the course we have adopted under such
views Eminent and honored men IN every
walK Of lite, and notably so among the
clergy. have pursued the same poilcY III
numerous instances. some OF when are re-
corded in history at intervals Tor huhdreuS
of wears past. and others are KNOWN "
US to-day. But those which are known axe
not a 1.-THE of those which are generally IN
knnwn. For in the vast majority OF cases
the poiicy of silence i completely success
full and is the best yindication OF the inno-
cent The innocent man vindlcates himself
bv his life. and if the innocent woman can
| At any sacrifice be kept from becoming the
| subject of public comment the triumph oil
! truth i So complete that the lie Is utterly
/ forgotten.
II was only in june last that it became
/ necessary to change the policy hitherto ad-
hered TO- On June 18th the letter OF MI
/ Tilt,n to DR.. Bacon was published. On
the next day Mr. Bcecher resolved to call
ior an Investigation. lie was at irst DIS
posed to place the matter IN charge oi gen
/ tlcnen outside of his congregation, but was
advised that such proceeding. besides
( hiring inconsistent with Scripturai inluuc-
t!on and Congregational usage, would not
be within tac protection which the law ac-
/ cords t. the disclosures of witnesses a. priv
ilcged communications land 80 not libellOusj
/ II made in an Investigation conducted by
the religious society OF which the parties
brought in question are members. lie
therefore invited six members OF his church
and CONGREGATION to take charge OF the case,
and Left Il absolutely in their hands. Their
names were suggested 10 him by members
OF the regular Examining Committee. and
they were heartily approved by the iull com
mirttc hen II assembled
This special committee Went about lts
work VITA q determination to be thorough,
and was. therefore. necessarily deliberate III
it- movements, which were regulated en-
tirelv bv It's own members, without any at
tempt Il advice OF guidance on the part OF
the pastor oil the church. It. conclusions
were the result OF It's own Independent
iGismcnt. and in some minor respects dld
not accord with his
B.ore the committee had finished it, ins
We LEGATIONS Nr. Iitun. who had at first
willingly appeared before II and testified To
tie honor and integrity Ut It, members,
withdrew from H. presence and Drought the
-ult at las which l. now pending. The
COMPLAINT was served August 2lst. during
the defendant Absence IN the " hate Noun
taIuS- The answer was drawn the next
day hut. owing to the distance and sue
ce~>lu,i 90 difficulties IN procuring correct
Official certificates (without which the de
Boz d /. ID 90
h.eu q nullity1. IL Wa not served until sep
teu4aer 9TH. which Wa, however, -Jili some
dav- IN advance of the tine required by
Jaw.
Mach has been said about delay in this
~uit. I. might suffice O. say that no ease VI
similar importance and completely was ever
brought o. trial before O civil cur, IN this
mart % the Safe in 50 short q time A. this
will be- But. furthermore u has been con-
catcl hy cuunse. on both sides, IN the pres
cncc ui tie court that there were not Jurors
enough % rry the cause in November, nor
time enough IN December. The defendant
personally urged his counsel to arrange 10.
an early trial tlt he has left the ease III
their hGndZ and is satisfied that they have
done that which Va. wi>e-t aud best.
The application for statement Of par
..ea..rs na- not met with the favor Of Ger
tain newspapers; hut having been fully
sustained ~ tie highest court OF the State
and md --cl by the best le.al authorities
On the h-ncl and al tie TAR. outside 0i
B-1uklvn We venture 10 believe that II
Will stand the Ic-t OF time
Already ore result OF thi- motion has
been = clear up much ot thls mystery with
which it was sought to surround this case
and o. present. In q more definite form, the
questions involved.
Our friends need have n apprehension
.hlt the statement Of particulars, II made,
w..i uc use by the defendant for any other
purpose than the prevention of surprise or
fraud lie desires and intends, God will
ing. 10 mcct the whole ease against him at
once and dispose of it forever but to 30
this Bee must have. and means To have, iair
warming ID " hat he = u meet
The object D.! the bali "a part! ulGrs Is not
% prevent the plaintiff from Introducing
any evidence which he may have. lie vii.
De a; liberty 20 specify all the times and
places as TO which he proposes 10 offer eyI-
dcrcc upon the trial. Ii he Is limited to
one or more it Will be because he j. not
win 10 lay that he expects to be able to
give cglten., o! nv other time and place.
rroo tect s0lEt. Is si,np,y - prevent him
from naming a particular time and Pree IN
Dis complaint. and then surprlsin- the dc
fcndaut 90 the trial by Introducing eyi-
denrc pointing 20 3Q'ihcr ana iineren'
] time aud place
~ tbs leads Us to ,,,g that no ae. initial
ui,i be accepted IN this case
j. asked or technical OF apologize
upon any narrow o. '-i-o coD-truc-
ground. No matter what &C. ian-
/ ton may have been pax upon h.-
/ ru7Ec the defendant never has sought,
and never Will seek. to excuse himself by
/ throwing blame upon others for any fault
that belonged even in part to him. Ii 1t
were true that be had committed the crime
charged againSt him it would be his crime.
for which ne alone should answer. No one
shall in his behalf pallate the offence
charged or plead that allowance should be
made Tor temptation or weakness. No one
sinai speak oi it a. les than an atroeiOu>
crime. made toniold worse. it the defendant
we're really guilty, by his subsequent con-
duct IN adding oath upon oath to his de
mails
Neither will the defence he sustained hy
casting any ignominy upon Mrs. Elizabeth
Tltou. That this lady has in her unhappy
past been influenced y power which she
could not resist into making statements
which were entirely untrue. no one asserts
more stronuously than she herself But
this IS. unfortunately. no uncommon event,
in the lives OF pure and good women who are
bound by ties Of mingled affection and fear
to men VI superior force and despOtic nature.
Inc defence of this suit Will never proceed
upon any theory which does not recognize
the honor of Elizabeth Tilron a. at least
equally worthy Of protection with the
name of Henry Ward Beecher.
Finally. hcrc TN be- M compromise No
suggestion OF the KIM has been accepted
since the commencement of the suit and