New-York tribune., 1875-02-02
THE VERBAL RECITAL OF GUILT.

TIE VERBAL RECITAL OF GULL
Mr. Fullcrton-What did you say to Mr. Beecher
npon that ocasoni A. After read to him the paper he lifted
his hand as he about to speak and said, mo Sir
hear me through and speak then and then detailed to him
what by the rang Of his Honor am not permitted to disclose
here that f. the story which Mrs Ilon had told me ID 'he
middle OF the preceding Summer
Mr. Beach-No Sr that is not excluded.
Mr Eyars-Wc object TO it.
Nj Fullcrton-Wel IS not excluded yet
Judge Ncilson-We give the conversation whatever was
Mr. Eyarts--YOur Honor will note our exception,
Judge Neilson-Yes, Sir.
Mr Fullcrton-Gye MS the conversation. A. told MI
ecAer the early part Of July prcyous 10 that inter
view Mrs Ton had home Unexpectedly from the coun
tr and said that the object Of her return was to COM
muacate secret which had long been resting on her
mind like a burden, which she wished TO throw or
that she had had, on several previous occasions
some almost TO the point Of making such statement
20 me- and once in particular while sick bed but that she
had never until then having been restored TO health been
brought quite the point Of courage to make the disclosure
that before would TO what the secret was she
exacted from me pledge that would do no harm 70
the person concerning whom the secret 10 be told
and furthermore that l would not communicate to
that person the fact that she had made such revelation to me-
because as she said she wished inform him Of that reyea
ton herself that had given her this pledge my word OF hon
or that would neither disclose her secret whatever might
BE- nor would nure the person concerning whom the secret
vas to be told; that said that it secret be-
tween herself ard the Rev Henry Ward Bcecher her PASTOR
that as well aware there had been, during long
Of years, q friendship between herself and
her pastor that this friendship, contrary to my ex-
pecation belief had been in later years more than
friendship it had been love that it had been than love-
81 had been sexual Intimacy; that this sexual intimacy lad
begun shortly after the death OF her Paul that she had
frame Of mind consequent upon that beeaye
that she had received much consolation during that
rladow on our house, from her pastor; that she
his stin
from that sorrow and that there the 10th Of October
1868 had surrendered her body TO him in sexual embrace
that had repeated such act the following Saturday
evening her residence III LintOn street that she
had consequent upon those occasions repeated such acts at
times at his residence and at hers anda other places
,uch acts Of sexual incrcourse-Connung from the Fa Of
1855 to the Spring Of that in July 1870 she had made TO
me confession in detail Of those that she had given to
me- also during recital many Of the rcasonlngs by her
pastor communicated to her 10 change what was her original
pcruples against such sexual intimacy.
MI EyartsMr Tton, DO understand that this swha' you
sad 10 Mr. Beecher A. Precisely Sir that she had in the
early stages Of their friendship been greatly distressed at
rumors concerning Mr. Beechers moral integrity that she
wished TO show to him that there was woman who was
hyperion the silly batteries with which many ladies in his
congregation had courted his society that she wished 10
demonstrate honor and the dignity Of her that che
had done her thought until finally she had been
suaded by him. that their love proper and not wrong
therefore It followed that any expression Of that love whether
by the shake Of the hand the kiss Of The lips even
bodily intercourse all the expression Of tina, which
In itself was wrong therefore that bodily intercourse was
not wrong that she had said that Mr. Beechor had pro
fcaed TO her greater love than he had shown TO any
woman his fe that she and both knew that for years his
home had not happy that his wife had not been
satisfactory wife him; that she wishedthat he wished TO
find in her Elizabeth, the consolation, the help 10 his
mind and the solace Of life which had been denied
10 him by the unfortunate marriage at home; that he
had made these arumeutss to her during the early years
Of their friendship and she had seadfasty resisted
shat he many times fonded her 70 the degree that II
orircd on her part almost bodily resistance be rid OF him
tha, after her final surrender during the period Of her sorrow
g. October 1865 had then many times solicited her when
enc had refused the occasions Of her yielding her body
him had not been numerous but that his solicitations had been
fcaucn end urgent and sometimes almost violent that she
made th confession because the Of decefuncss
IN her mind pain to her conscience that she had gone
eWay from home in the Springpsrtiug from me-under
cod a. knew that had written her in her absence
letter saying unless she told the TRUTH that she
tied 10 me as she had done in reference TO few
mnor matters that acan could hold her in any
Fpec that that letter Lad ranked in her thought and heart
that she f that could look honestly in the face
aaan until sc had made full and free confession that she
bad come down the country purpose make it, and
tiat shc lad made II with great modesJ and decacy and
womany feeling without giving evidence that the great fact
which sne confessed wrong but that the wrong which
she wished throw from her mind mainly the
necessary IL with which she had hitherto concealed from
her husband In making this recital Of what said that
oa,ion Mr. Bcccer beg again TO remind the Court that
do no. undertake repeat the exact language which used Il
va, long story told It from little memorandum which
had msde dates times from leers-a little
orpdum made the back Of white envelope unaddesscd
IN which Mrs Ton that evening had been lodged;
had taken and handed it 10 Mir Moul;ol;
] had said to him