Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-26
,.r.. Noulton's Testimony


was given, the reporters say, with great
salf.possession. and evidently made a very
strong impression on all who heard 1t. 1t
Is taken bv many persons as closing the case
.rreyocably against Mr.. Beecher. 1t is
commented On as if Mrs. Moulton had
sworn directly and distinctly that both Mr..
geecher and Mrs. Tilton had confessed to
her that they had been guilty Of adultery.
poabtos- the intent and effect OF her testl-
laony vas 10 give that impression. Yet 1t
viii be foan1 en- careful reading of ii that
she did rot testify that either Of them con-
lesseI adultery to her. Mr.. Beecher's con-
fession, or what is called a confession, to
hcr,was in the following words
He took NV hand in his and said, Emma,
do Won know ANYTHING of this great sorrow
of nv Efe?' | said, "Ycs, sir - He said,
prank has told YOU the facts?' | said,
He has and he said, 81 am very glad
that lie has. and am glad that there Is one
woman in this world to whom | can 60 and
talk of my troubles without reserve.
Now this Is not in terms confession If
adultery. Nav, the fairest presumption from
il is that it wa, not a confession of adultery.
Are men. not 10 say clergymen, that are guilty
Of. and discovered in that crime, commonly
GLAD t. - to yirtuous and modest lady
friends 10 Tx over theiF trouble? Mr..
Beechcr lrknowledgel to Mrs. Moulton a
great >acra. sorrow-but it was such an one
- De was MT unwilling she should know,
and oar vi which he could talk without
reserve.
- Mr.. Moul,oa testified that Mrs.. Tilton
told hey ,hs, IL called before the church She
Should -aOriiec hcr husband and deny
everything. anal that under the circum-
stances size .e.5 that >he would be justified in
tellin. lie. Bat this Is not confession Of
adultery Oh Mrs. Tilton part.
:. fra, iaat Mrs. Moulton says She tod
MIR. Robinson, that Mr. Beecher had been
guilty Of -iultery with Mrs. Tihon; and
thu. -ac Kew It from the confessions Of
both ,artis- but brought is the language
of these confessions" She remembers and
repeats l.. words that may not possibly refer
to some offence other than adultery. Her
testimony will have extraordinary weight
with the numerous class who seem to find it
impossible to believe that clergyman can
have ANY secret but one or be guilty Of
any offence but one, against his friend
anl thai. ,ir secret and the crime Of Adul-
terry
tILaia Mrs Alouiton was told BY her
husband ans has ever since honestly
Lelie,el, ia. Mr. Beecher WAS an adulter
e. b. Jos Was sDch-ior We must take
the aLo.e tory together he WIS Il very
zbominab,, oue. lie was not guilty ii "a
sd.leu TAIL under sore temptation bat Of
IA. mos. J, !iberate and the meanest seauc
ton. lie aa, also a contemplate hyPoerite
lie Was 90 liar and perjurer All this she
knew she -ay~ ste toli HIM he had four
yelr- ot l,,ng and perjury to answer Tor
and ,.t how dil She treat Mr. Baecher
For norc than a year after this revelation,
~ admits that she welcomed him to her
house She Kept his picture hanging in her
sitting room. she gave HIM her sympathy, in
teto-a-tets- ct hours duration. She put her
haais on Ii. hoaliers, and kissed him, and
comior;ei lin ~ the assurance Of her be
liet dat llere was great deal Of coed in
hua lhi- uas her treatment OF a libertine
hyp5crite and Vepurer Shall We believe
sirs Moultou's words or her actions