The New York herald., 1876-03-03
What he Really Said to the EI-
amining Committee.
NOTHING NEW IN THE PAPER
"May God Have Mercy on Henry
Ward Beecher."

FIRsr coSPIDAxTE.
Tho first TO whom told tho fact TINT aware OF
though / never mentioned to him any names Mr..
Tilton had been for many years in snch init
mate and confidential relations to editor
OF the Independent and Brooklyn Union that
bad been in the habit of speaking him freely all
Sthcr subjects. on Christmas Day, 1870 lac came TO
my house aud in the most passionate manner accused
Mr.. Beccher OF having scduced his wife. His rcyea-
tons convinced and his dcnunciatons so wrought
upon me and nv axtonshment was such at Mr.
Bccchcrs repeated guilt after his supposed repentance
that at last under solemn pledge OF secrecy told
MT Tilton that also knew that Mr. Beechcr hal been
afulterer. He said that he should demand OF Mr.
Beccher 10 leave Plymouth church, and agreed 10 his
request to carry his demand TO Mr. Beeoher as Mr. I'll
Ton said he did not dare 10 meet MI Becchcr Tor he
afraid he should kill him | carried that demand
10 Mr. Bcecher and asked him what he had TO say about
H. In reply he made such statements and revelations
convinced that had better not he concerned IN
the matter any further, and withdrew. Ihe next
person to whom stated that knew anything against
Mr. Beecher's moral character was Mr. Horace B.
Clanin. We had for many years been exceedingly nt-
mate and had talked often contdenaliy in reference
10 ihc that had been IN circulation about Mr.
Rccchor's moral character. at last concluded 10 tell
him what weighing on my own mind that might
cct from him The counsel much needed. This
did and he was faithful my trust, shown by
pubIishcd letter Hr. Bcecher in which he that
hr Clafn refused to answer his question whether
had told him the 'bottom facts" Nj Beecher says IN
ii asked him clann) II B. (Bowen) had made
him statements OF the very bottom iacts; If thorc wero
sny charges did not know. He (Clauin) evaded and
minated that II he tBowcnl had he would hardly be
right IN telling me-"
Tim EVIDENCE.
In explaining the evidence which had induced hts
belief in tho PASTORS guilt, he ssid:--
You have demanded everything without reserve al
lowing assurance that the names Ot parties
ccrncd shall be protected You know and Mr. Bcecher
knows that II wouid be outrage TO publish ihosc
names and you take advantage OF that fact TO make
virtue of loudly demanding what you know must not
and cannot be gwen. You know that have twicc
said to you that could be base enough allow
those names TO be brued before the world and slill
you repeat your demands will give you though not
proper tribunal the essential facts anu nothing
nave told you | had no possible doubt of Mr.
Bcechcrs adultery ana PERJURY Tue evidence mas
come to me IN various ways Long before received
the confessions OF which will speak, not alone, but
maby other OF the leading members OF the society
troubled about the extremely suspicious relations of
Mr. Decchcr with certain ladies' of his church. IL
a matter of common talk aud excited the gravest ap
prehcnsons. on one OCCASION and In connection with
4 lady whom viii! here, serious
hcsc reports aud extreme seemed the danger that
hall dozen OF the leading members the society met
together Sunday, and after talking the subject
over OF them, not myself was depued TO call
Mr. Beecher privately and tell him frankly what was The
nature OF these stories This gentleman told NC the
next day and doubt not told the Others, that Mr.
Beecher was greatly embarrassed at what he had to
say and acted, us It appeared TO him. like guilty man.
He also said that Mr. Bcccher promised that there
should be further occasion for such scandal aud
that he would his influence TO have the lady
move 10 distant part of the country. This gentleman
said that he earnestly advised Mr. Beecher 10
admit or deny anything on this subject but TO be aoso-
lutely silent. IL afterward matter of remark
among us that Mr.. Bcecher continued his intimacy
with her, and she did not leave the city For long
time not only but many others OF the friends OF Mr.
Bcecher, continued in this state of anxiety about
him. Al last there came to my knowledge evidence
OF his guilt which astounded and overwhelmed
me, and which was compelled to carry as weary
and secret burden; more than ten years ago, under
peculiar circumstances which will relate fully before
tribunal constituted for secrecy well for Impair
iisl judgment, received from a lady whoms under the
circumstances, was compelled to believe in several
different interviews with her. full and explicit conies
sions of adultery with Mr. Beecher; the lady told me
that the first occasion Mr. Bcecher visited her at
her residence while all the other men bcrs OF the
family absent, and there for the first time had
criminal intercourse with her; after tho rst act OF
trimlnalIy Mr. Beecher proiessed great penitence
and sorrow said he was prompted to do wrong by
Iuddcn and unconrolable impulse OF passion; asked
aer forgiveness, and promised mover to wrong her
tgain. lew days aiterward as she told inc, he called
her again, spoke of his ardent love Tor her which
greatly increased by what had occurred, and again
had criminal intercourse with her, on both OF these
OCCASIONS she asserted, Mr.. Beecher accomplished
HIS purpose by his superior strength against her most
earnest protcsta ations while she so paraiy zcd
with fright that she lost her strength conscious
Mr.. Bcechcr declared to her, as she told me-
tnst he had always been unhappy IN ms marriage
relations that he dd really love his wife and never
had, that he loved and admired her very much, and
wished that she were his wife Aner this Mr.. Bcechcr
had, she told me- frequent intercourse with her, not
only at her residence but at Mr Becchcr's own house
ana In his study adjoining the lecture room OF his
church She said that she often met him In the latter
place, after tho morning prayer meetings we're over
She told me that he gave her the key
10 the study door and told her to go in and lock the
DOOR and not open II to any until he should come
and give peculiar signal when she 10 let him in
These relations With MT Beccher continued Tor year
she told me about tho time they ceased She
happened on occasion TO see another lady, well
known in Plymouth church going into the side door of
She church at the timo when there were meetings
there she followed this lady heard her enter the
study aud shut the door. She up the door aud
trcd TO open IT, but found Il locked She watched and
saw this lady come of the church not very long
aner. This circumstance and what she heard Of Mr..
Becchcr's attentions TO other women made her very
unhappy. She gave other facts and particulars
which cannot tell rs II would identity her. AT
the time when she gave me these facts her relations
with Mr.. Bcechcr had ceased for moro years,
and she seemed to to be heartily pcntcnt, and al
most broken hearted.
ELizARErus CONFESSION.
In continuing his statement Mr.. Bowen said;--
There came TO me the testimony of Miss Susan h.
Anthony, TO whom Mrs. Tilton made full confession
on memorable night | knew of Mrs Elizabeth
Cady Stauton's corroboraton of the samc fact. But
no evidence has had with me greater weight than that
of Mr Joseph H. Richards gwen personally TO me- |
have had frequent conversations with Mr. Richards,
brother OF Mrs Theodore Tilton. have known Mr..
Richards intimately for fifteen wears more and re-
gard him as one Of the most truthful and reliable men
] ever met with ne integrity and Christian principle
Will not he questioned think, by any one who ever
knew him. Mr. Richards and myself have had several
conversations N regard o. Mr. Beccher on
he said to me 10 my ONCE that he "fully believed
n tho guilt OF Henry Ward Bcccher" that "nothng
.oull slIak that belief change his mind that mo
power on earth could convince him TO the contrary
that III all the men women who had publicly
charged Mr. Bcechcr with guit shogd rctract those
charges and assert that he absolutely Innocent
would not the slightest difference with him that
nc 'luliy believed Mr. Bccchcr to be guilty of adul-
.ery ami pcrIary aud that noboiyl ncbody' could
shanrc hls opnon.n He thea said that 'his sister,
Mrs Thcodore Titonl had made iul confession to
aim her criminal relations with Henry Ward Bcecncr
That an the minute particulars had bccn given 10 him
fRchardsl and wife mrs Richardsl by his sister
Mrs Theodore riltonl lie said Mrs. rllsOn seemed
10 20 deeply sensible Of her guilt and pcncnt therefor
Snc spoke with great feeling aud VITA tcars M
Richards SAID her confessions to hs wife we're equally
strong and minute. To both OF them she seemed very
desirons 10 rclicye her conscience OF the great
burden which was weighing 50 heavily upon her. This
full aud complete testimony from Mr. Richards, was.
in my dgmcnt quite sufficient OF itself TO satisfy me
thai Mr. Becchcr was guilty. Any man who knows
Joseph H. Richards could not possibly believe that he
would fabrica,c such Infamous story against MS
own sister Nc was most reluctantly compelled 10 nc
cve his sisters confession him and ms WIFE, and ot
these confessions Should be stated, were made 10
each separately and apart from the other 10 cannot
be got over, explained destroyed There u VIII
stand forever like rock. and neither deception, raud
nor perjury ever shake it Nav God havo mercy