Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-17
sEecHeR-nlroS.

REGENERATION.
4 Revival Of the Old scandal In Which
Mrs. T1lton a Full Confessioa-TAe
>Othse side Produces Numerous Dcnlals.
Ire TILToN.
New York, April J5.-Mrs. Tilton has
written the following letter TO- Mr.. Ira T..
Wheeler:
"DEAR SRA few weeks since, after long
months of mental anguish, l told, ~ you
known, a 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 I had lived 80 we'll the past four
years had become intolerable to me. That
statement 1 now solemnly reafirm, and
leave truth with God, to whom also l CON.
NIT myself, my children and all who must
suffer. I know full we'll explanations will
be sought by my acknowledgment Of a desire
to return to my husband, and vanity, malice,
everything save the true and only one-my
%quickened conscience and sense of what is
due to the cause Of ruth and justice-will
be charged. During all the complications
of these years you have been my confidential
friend, therefore l address this letter to you,
authorizing and requesting you to secure its
publication.
(Signedl ELIZABETH r. TILroN.
Brooklyn, April II, 1878"
Frank B. Carpenter, artist, in an inter-
view this evening stated that there was no
doubt about the g%enuineness of the letter.
Mr.. Ira B. Wheeler, he said, had been the
private legal advisor and confidential friend
80 NTro Ts1So~ all sh~o,ok II, t-o,Eln
Lawyers Sherman, Morris and Price re-
fused to be interviewed.
BEEcHER.
Mr.. Beecher was out of the city tonight
when Mrs. Tilton's letter was made public
and his whereabouts was not known save to
4 few friends. The New York Tribune
telegraphed him a copy of the letter at =
late hour tonight and received the follow
ing dispatch in reply from Mr.. Beecher:
.Waverly, n: y. April l5.-To the editor
Of the New York Tribune 1 confront
Mrs. Tilton's confession with explicit and
innocence and to mine which for four years
she had 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 uniform
eolemn and unwavering statements hitherto
made l utterly deny. l declare her TO be
innocent of the great transgression.
tSignedl HENRY WARD BEEcHER.
INTERVIEWS.
The Tribune says Mr.. Wheeler called at
the Tribune office yesterday afternoon with
the original of the above document and sub
mitted it for publication. There was no
question Of the genuine character OF the
document, no matter under what circum-
stances it had been Obtained and promulga-
ted, and a, Mr.. Wheeler's suggestion and
wish it wa put in type.
A Tribune reporter subsequently, had an
interview with Mr.. Wheeler. but he was
very r%eticent. He stated that he WAS a dis
tant relation of Mrs. Tilton. He stated
E any connection with the matter aud that in
fact his only connection was in toe submis-
sion of the document for publication. Mrs
Tiiton bad at once requested him 10 see
, that it was published. He added thst he
did not feel at liberty to state shy OF the
> circumstance which had led 10 the comics
4. sion. About four weeks ago Mrs. Tlltoi
had verbally made a confession in detail tc
. Mrs. NJ. Field and four other ladies al Ply
mouth church, stating allthe Circumstance:
{ Of the various adulteries, and about TIT
e same time she had written a letter to III,
same import to certain members Of Ply
8 mouth church, probably 10 the same per
, Sous. This letter he could not furnish, an,
u he said it was of such q confidential char
e ac.er that it was not likely to be published
Y At the same time, or about that time, t
. had received a private letter from Mrs. Til
: ton, but could not think of publishing i
& The document given nov TO the puoll
n uroc oil ho voc otfhnrizpH IN p11h1ich
). Mr.. Wheeler-Does not MI. Tilton kno,
, of this confession!
Emphatically not. Mr.. Tiiton says trul
when he states he has not made overture
for reconciliation with his wife. l wis
z you would state this positively.
A gentleman who was prominently col
: nected with the defense in the Beecher gu
on being shown the proof slip of the lette
D. after reading it carefully without evincip
% any surprise, looked up and said, well
On being asked his opinion he at first d.
clined to express it, but subsequently, n
marked that Mr.. Beecher's friends had e,
10 pectcd something Of the kind for some tim
at As to the statement OF Mr.. Wheeler,
whom the letter was addressed, that The
D. dore Tilton did not know of its existenc
the gentleman remarked with q smile th,
that would be the way he would 60
at WOIk. Iequenlly uuElpR tue winner. 81
he, Mr.. Beecher has been applied to f
money to aid Mrs. Tilton, the request {
demand not technically coming from b,
nor purporting to be made with her know
edge or consent. bu! for her benefit. Th
demand was accompanied BY threats and II
situations that if it was not met somethiu
a. would turn up. Mr.. Tilton's inhuen,
be over his wife 10 very great, this gentlems
,. continued, and she cannot resist 1t.
A gentleman living neat Mrs. Morse ar
9 Mrs. Tilton, and intimately acquainted wit
both, says: The events Of the last fe
be months bad led me to believe that arrang
ments for a reconciliation between The
y dore Triton and his wife have been cor
}. pleted. He frequently sent q carriage
at Mrs. Morss's house for his sons meetil
to them on Ystas avenue, two or three bloc
ID away, and after a drive of several hou
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