New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-24
MORE SCANDAL COMMUNICATIONS.
OLIVER JoarNsoNs CORRESPONDENCE.

HIS EXPLANATION OF LETTER WRITTEN TO IHto-
DoRE TILrON IN JUNE, 1873.
The following letter from Oliver johnson to
Theodore Tlton has been raged up from the scan
dal embers, and was republished yesterdays
No 12s EAST TwEIFTn-sr, June 4. 1873
MY DEAR THEODORE: May tell yOu frankly tnat
when you last you did not seem To me 70 oc the
noble Young man VINO INSURED my warm n ant Wnh
could not help thinking would be dishon0rahe ana per
allowance for the circumstance that had wrought You
10 such frenzy, l was drcadfully shocked my
dear Theodore, let me, as an ola fri, nd who's nG
sorrow, tell yon that yon were tGen actnS
I Ssaes Of and maa a' Gn y S% SHqncr Yourself
and dismiss all purpose and thought Of inunng The man
who has wroneed you all promises our lips can
frame none s,cIcd those mako To those who
injured ne, and whom We have pIocscdt 10 oisNc'
won work injury to those to whom they ma g lon
cannot pant 100 blaCky the wrongs YOU have suffered
On that point make plea IN abatement, bnt ptgyOu
TO remember that nothing can cAange the law which
makes forgiveness noble and godlike have prayed Tor
sou night and day, with strong CRYING ana ths Pc
seeeing God Ia restrain you from wrOngl yonTsef ny
violating your solemn eneagemen,s Ionl1t ,, am
committing the act which you SO mueh dreaded.
OLIVER JOHNSON.
MI Johnson In explanation Of the Of this let
ter npon which construction damaging to Mr. Beecher
has been placed has forwarded TO nn TRIBUNE the fol-
lowing communication:
MR.. JoHNsoNs EXPLANATION.
TO the Bditor OF The Trtbane.
SIR: ask space in your columns for another cNiana-
tiOn-ths time Of private and confidential letter OF
mine 20 Mr. Theodore Tton, written In June, 1873 after
had arrived at the conviction that Mr. Beeeher wa
innocent The letter referred 10 appears IN The san OF
today but 1t was first published hy Mr. TltoR himself in
the Summer Of 1874 and bad not forgotten II when
wrote my explanation OF the letter addressed To MI
Bowen IN 1871. few words will explain a seeming con
tradction and not sorry to have an occasion for ut
teriug them.
Let me say, then that after my change Of opinion in
regard 10 Mr.. Beecher still thought il my dny, In the
interest of all parties and of the community, do all
could 10 keep Mr. TtOn quiet Assured Of Mr. Beechers
innocence of any sort Of crime, set knew there we're
circumstances which ~ disclosed, would east suspicion
upon him and subject him to great annoyance aud pain
knew also that Mr. 1iltons own life would not bear
scrutiny for be had confessed his adutenes 10 me.
knew furherm re- that If he should assail Mr. Beecher
he would not only ruin himself. but smirch his own
household in which had often been familiar and hon
ored guest In short, foresaw just what has come to
pass as the of mad and wicked attempt upon Mr.
Beechers good name, and not ashamed TO confess
that did all that cODscent0usy could 10 avert 80 ter
rible calamity.
Mr. Tilton seemed TO me at times monomanac in re
Iation 10 Mr. Beechcr. He often rascibc and some
times almost violent when reminded him OF the solemn
promises which he said he had made To keep silent In
these circumstances for his sake quite much as toi
Mr. Beeehers and not lee. for the sake Of his wfe and
children, aN0lOed lffil8tlne MN NY "l'hs iii" 'h"t
no longer believed his main accusation was true; even
pleaded with him at times the seeming adnssio that
his proyocation black he said IL was dealt
with him as would with partially dcranged, aud
In my with his intimate friends took care to
drop hint Of my change OF opinion lest II did 20 II
should he reported 10 him, and should lose all
power TO restrain hun from mining himself and his fam
ily foresaw that IL explosion should ever come
this course on my part would expose TO ml-uDdcr
standings IN quarters; but was willing TO incur
this risk myself 10 guard Others from terrible caam
ity III was wrong In this, my motive unselsh and
pure. Some persons may think my judgment was al
fault; but n ! placed similar circumstance
again. should take the course and that Ia the in
terest of pablo morals and % al the parties concerned
Yours, respectfully, Oliver JDHS.pS.
Eetc- York, Feb. 20, 1876.