The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-16
The Beecher Trial.


church, in which Tilton took no part, owing
to the request of Beecher that he would
not do so. There was a remarkable letter
in this connection, written by Beecher to
Moulton, dated March %, 1874. In it
Beecher says that the course pursued by
DR.. Storrs was an unspeakable outrage,
that professions of friendship advanced by
DIR. Storrs were hollow and insecure, and
that he was trying to goad Tilton into at
lacking him (Beecher.) This letter clearly
showed the jury the state of mind Beecher
was in. Why did he dread the appearance
of Tilton before the council lie was
afraid of any investigation being made
which would disclose the relations he held
with the Tilton family. Council had spoken
to them before about the Bowen letter.
and he read to them portion of Tilton's
cross-examination in reference to that let
ter. The evidence In question tended to
show that Tilton had written the letter in
question for the purpose of vindicating his
wife and family. The jury, could see,
said Beach, under what circumstances the
letter was written. DR.. Bacon had given
birth to all the epithets used against Tilton
on the trial. lie called him knave and
dog, and instead of being this he was act
ing with magnanimity and generosity to-
ward Beecher, as the latter's letters will
show. Could not Beecher have stated then
what lie did before the church investigating
committee? He (Tilton) was not knave
and dog, and you, Dr. Bacon, are suffer
ing from misrepresentation. If he had
done so, there would have been no Bacon
letter and no disturbance; there would
have been no appeal to the public commu-
nifty by Theodore Tilton, and all this arose
from the cowardice of Henry Ward
Beecher. There followed the investigating
committee called by Beecher in June, 1874,
shortly after the publication of the Bacon
letter. Most certainly Titon was not re-
sponsible for that committee, and both
lilton and Moulton worked with assiduity
to prevent any exposure Of the scandal to
| the public by this committee. Counsel
| then read from the testimony of Moulion
| in regard to Efforts made to prevent his ex.
posure of the scandal, and said it did not
show much vindictiveness against Beecher
| on the part of either Tlton or Moulton,
| and showed that Tilton did not swerve
| from his duty to his wife and children.
| We come now, said the speaker, to the
| Bowen letter, which Tilton testified was in
stigated by stories told him by Bowen, who
urged him to make demand that Beecher
| should leave his pulpit and Brooklyn, and
Bowen promised TO support his demand and
carry the letter to Beechcr. Beach then
read letter, written by Tilton to Bowen
ON Jan. list, 1871, reciting the charges he
| Bowen had made against Beecher and
giving history Of the conduct of Bowen,
| manding the resignation of Beecher from
the pulpit. We put Bowen. said counsel,
on the stand with this paper on record.
THEODORE Tilton denied all contradiction,
side whether he was the author of the de.
mand whether he did not promise to sus.
tain this demand, and whether he did moi
promise his friendship to Beecher. Why
was not Oliver johnson asked about this
This omission on the part of the defense
was the highest testimonial which could bt
given to Tl.ton's integrity. There was moi
single word of discredit or denial or
the part Of this evidence given by Beecher
and it was the part of the defense
to put forth that Henry Ward Beecher wa
too pure ever to be suspected Of sin
Counsel then passed on to the considera
ton of the tripartite covenant, which 1t
, read to the jury, and said that the par
signed by Bowen was carefully drawn up
counsel had noticed "Marmaduke's Mu
sings, letter to "Complaining Friend,
Letter to friend in the west" and ''Tru
Story" but enough had been said abou
them, and when Mr. Titon had contem
: plated any action he was guided by Beech
I er, Moulton and Mrs. Tilton IN it to avo
. any exposure but Tilton was not awar
I of an investigating committee being aI
: pointed until told of it by his wife. Wa
I it a noble or just measure to select thi
S committee from members of the church
y How arduous were the labors in selectn
them and the deliberations of BeecheI
: Shearman and Tracy in selecting the CON
mittee in homely, but expressive phrase
packing court, and parading to III
world the courage of Beecher in thus draw
ing charges, and inviting investigation
gathering these men whose opinions wei
already formed TO acquit Beccher. Tn
II was star chamber investigation
"a held with closed doors, and Tilton
d wife entioed from her home and taken b,
e fore them, duplicating her husband wit
&c charges which, if found true, rendere
him infamous. Could Tilton be blame
under these circumstances for standing u
= alone in this controversy and defendlr
himself before this committee His hous
o. her home, represented as brute in h
x family RELATIONSHIPS this man to sit qul,
ly knowing the faseness of the accusation
70 against him? What should Tilton do III
!, der these circumstances Counsel did nj
know what the jury would do, but M
- Tilton knew his wife had left her hon
forever, and Henry Ward Beecher require
her in order that he might triumph. III
al wife must do something to remove the c
Id fects of her accusations against Beech,
,c made to her husband hence her fig
y, from her home, her appearance before Il
committee, and her living with the OWN
III tons. The jury could ylndlcatc the cha
acter of Theodore Titon, but that wou
Il. not change his fortune much. Tilton won
yet emerge from these shades it was u