The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-04-25
Beecher-Tilton.


newal of the Beecher-T Ilton scandal
entirely out of our columns but a
vitiated popular taste for such read
ing demands it of us. Here it is
briefly as possible:
Brooklyn, April 13.-Mr. Ira. b.
Wheeler-My Dear Sir: A few
weeks since. after long months of
mental anguish, l told, as you know,
few friends whom l had bitterly
deceived, that the charge brought
by my husband of adultery between
myself and Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher was true, and that the lie L
had lived so well the last four years
had become intolerable to me. That
statement / now solemnly reat1irm
and leave the truth with God, to
whom also commit myself, and my
children who must suffer. l know full
well the explanations that will be
sought by many for this acknowl-
edgement-I desire to return to my
husband, insanity, malice, every
thing save the true and only one,
my quickened concience and a sense
of what is due to the cause Of truth
and justice. During all the compli
cations of these years, you have
been my confidential friend, there's
fore l address this letter to you, au-
thorizing and requesting you to Sc
cure its publication.
(Signed) ELIZABETH R. Triton.
IT, +A;. ronIiao fAllnuuc.
Waverly, N. Y, April 15.-To
the Editor of the N. Y. Tribune: L
confront Mrs. Tilton's confession
with an explicit and absolute denial.
The testimony to her own limo
cence and mine, which for four
years she has made to hundreds, in
private and in public, before the
court in writing and orally, l declare
to be true, and the allegations now
made in contradiction Of her uni
form, solemn and unvarying state
ments hitherto made, utterly
deny. | declare her to be innocent
of the great trapsgression.
Henry Ward Beecher.
In support o! Mr., Beechers dec
laration we subjoin little of Mrs.
Tiltop, written in 1875, when the
great trial was in progress. The
privilege to testify had been denied
her, and on the following day she
suddenly rose like an apparition in
her place, and facing the judge,
said, Il have a communication which
l hope your honor will read aloud"
The Judge took the paper and re-
marked that he would give it his
Two days later
Judge Nelson furnished the press
witch copies OF the communication,
which contrasts curiously with the
last statement made by Mrs. TIlton.
Her letter was as follows:
Brooklyn, May 3, 1875.-Judge
/ ask the privilege from |
you for few words in my own be-
half. feel very deeply the injus-
tice of my position i'll the law and
before the court now sitting, and
while l have understood and expec-
ted from the beginning Mr.. Evarts'
principle in the matter, yet since
your last decision, i have been so
sensible OF the power of my enemies |
that my soul cries out before you |
and the gentlemen of the jury that
they beware how by a divided yer
dict, they consign to my childrenia
false and irrevocable stain upon |
their mother. For five years have
been the victim of circumstances |
most cruel and unfortunate, strug-
Cling from time to time only for a
place to live honorably and truth
fully. Released for some months
from the will by whose power,
l eliminated myself |
again and again, declare solemnly |
before you, without fear of man
and with faith in God, that am
innocent of the crime charged |
against me. / would like to tell |
nv whole sad story truthfully, to
acknowledge the frequent falsehoods |
wrung from me through compulsion,
though at the same time unwilling |
to reveal the secrets of my married |
life, which only the vital Importance |
of my position makes necessary. / !
assume the entire responsibility of
this request, unknown to friend or
counsel of either side, and await
your honor's honorable decision.
With great respect,
/. ELlzABErH X. TuxoH.