, 1875-09-15
He Thereafter 1nvokos Moulton, in the
Name Of Public Decency, to Let
Us Have Peace,
Reply Of MOnIton tglat II Is Not lie. But
Dcecllcr, Who Has Committed
Adultery.
And that tho Investigation and Punishment
Of Becoher Will Not Viliate Pub
lio Morality.


NEW Yong, Gcft. t4.-WiDcl,cster Britlon,
District ATTORNEY OF Kings County, brooklyn,
lately wrote letter to Mr.. Eocctor suggesting
TINT tho indictment hEatnst Francis b. Moulton
for libel 10 nolle-pfoscd. Mr.. Ecoc!ler In rep.y
concurfed In tho proposed tctiou Ut Afr. Ueittou.
and tho concurfonco OF ifr. Moulton Vas t,et,
askcd. III lotter yesterday, aud iuado public
to-day, Nr. Mollton declines most perompto.ily
to consent to tho Withdrawal Of the Indictment.
l1ia letter IL Of tho most imperative character,
Among othor things lie gays:
!. nm no lawyer. tnd therefore, you viii cxcuss
prudence to he Euctl that exhibits more aiac.jty in
stRnallzng tho Innocence than tina crIminalty Of tb9
citzcu, mud that tho mos grateful duty of rutjlc
prosecutor u c iMsrumctltal In making re,arston
70 tho unjuMty accusad. in ny Ignorance l had
defendant a. people. aud with tlta impression had
Icstad safe In The nssrau5e that io rouI no. auCcr
the machinery Of Law to hs employed f9r uy !estruc
t1on bit Woull wien !1s found Tho victim nf
false aud malicious prosrc,ltinu, h.slen to give
ne the stndication OF a ruhllc Ekno~'ol7fncnt OF
eg oT s's Of I'm .y
full measure Of my rghta less than this dlst4.n 10
2. That TIM trial Of tho Indictment aeatnst mo viii
tnyulfo heasy public c1,oute, and o'slruct othtr
e11set bsisnoaa Of courts. IL objection that should
havo been considered at hn sstl!er stage Of the pro-
cecdinR anu Lave asael 70 prevaat your predecessor
permitting tho power Of tbs Distrct.Attorney's otce
e lo rrost!tatad to the purroben Of The leS Henry
t.
liaye bcsn acc',aol Of crime IN tue name Of The
People; hase been compelled to plead cuprit
,, an sn e
persecution 10 decline 70 5icI 10 fny deiland Tor
sEal on the ground that tho trial would tc rc1atous
and Oppressive burden upon Tho People. What other
expenditure can bo nnre legitimate md lsudabc than
that Incurred In v1ndeatiuR tho Innocence of man
tic ~ nape Dee ~s 70 .ni IT,
tefest can engage the attention and time Of the courts
tlnn the duty of ahsol,tng from unjnst accusation
rhfYF
whthIHr Of suEntcon ar reproaeh. To us It Recus
scarcely consstent With tllo tnagnaninity Of great
sspcaens a. - e1e,,se for deusins T sis 70 ons
wham they hAVo falsely RsralRnel md opprcsslyely
pursued.
$. Tie imposslbiiity of i,npane!ins jury In sbts
community ia difficulty am sdvteed, that might
easily he oSadel by changing thu |suuo to another
I. Although you do not formally enumrs7te among
tho reasons that nay determine your action conaio
Grafton ct ..ho effect upon puto morals Of smother
reference to tue topic plainly reveals its inuenoe on
your Judgment. But why should thi4 effect, II snch
tIopal Hight 10 speedy iud impartial tr4sl? Il is
not hut my accuser tho Rev. Henry Wsrd Becchcr,
Who committed adultFy with Mira. E. IT, Tjton. aad
who Iat obtruded the revolving story before the pub
c, but, on the contrary, through thrco long yeara
fidelity srprc1a It, aud, Mt ias was compelled 10
Bpek reluctantly iu self-defenke repn IN Infamous
els'se of blactnsil, which In i,ls Desperation tho
But why should Alono 10 sacrificed to stIencs7 This
present inaictuisnt raa not my tnsti8son, but tho
from : trial must 1e imputed to lin, aaI
not to tho nn9eens '!rt!m q hs sa!annona .ee1sa
morality will ho hurt by the nyestig.tou of tho Kev.
Henry Ward Deechcrs guilt. Time vas whcn thought
Chriasnily mt. Of vrIue would b promoted ty tho
ooncealmen os hs eTu;y n1t e,ena h.vs ds-
HINT Rffh fhh
ais Or polic,.., should eror 10, impaired
ton of tie trath. A. understand il, harm can
come Of thls rnns.ction only ln consequence Of An
q religion and society viii b. by secured tndeaoiubly
sure aud tetrbuton. In circumstances Of these IT.
fats 70 thcy eyer 70 corousy osta!ed. vii be found
ana ags 1a 5s 1nd IL nothing to b.
Of Justice lot which, howeyes Jou eYilsnsly havs
.rp5shenson) , e.nnot , oonessy the poa'iLy that
of the I'sv. II. v. nkscl.er's adultery. / am
indicted doE ibsl IN charming the !!ey H. VI heehsr
Tee e.rse j. tue. s tposs It i 10
tftbunaia, tho suprcms HuL.r will some day resca tho
and nothing hut trath-and that too under cAscnge,
and III dcfenao Of cwn character and tho character
~ an M ID
ts telon to p.uad will uplif.el land, subjected 10
Ito iguominy OF bonda agaiuat IN escape from
jusilce, losded with ohloguy by ths public
md now. kfer the Indictment against mo hla asryod
lts purpose BY disczedng In advance witness Of tho
Il tt to the world lhat am nnocent and muas b
quilted. ut this moment md undos these circun-
stances am requested to Acqueao " in : nule
proselul aud 70 escape The penslty Of h!s rerjure
prosecution. Never, sir: ne,srl ! demand trial,
and ahAI! 20 ready on any relsonsblefnoco to mako
good my defense. Very respectfully,
FRANCIS .. MouLroN.
To tho Hon. T1HoErsrxn DnrrroN. DIsir{cs 4tturnnY