The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-04-16
BY TELEGRAPH.
TIE SCANDAL REVIVED.
After Repeatedly Protesting Her
Innocence
MRS. Triton NOW SAYS SHE
WAS GUILTY.
A Confession Entitled to Little
Credit.
MIR. BEECHER REITERATES HIS
INNOCENCE.

from Mrs Tilton will appear in the morning
papers tomorrow.
Mr.. Ira B. Wheeler:
My Dear Sir,-A few weeks since, after
know, few friends whom l had bitterly de-
ceived, that the charge by my husband OF adult
terry between myself and the Rev. Henry w ard
Beecher, was true, and that the lie had lived
SO well the last four years had become intolera-
BILE to me. That statement l now solemnly re-
affirm and leave the truth with God. to whom
also commit myself, my children and all who
must suffer. L know full well the explanation
that will be sought by many for this acknowl-
edgement-a desire to return to my husband,
insanity, malice, everything save the true and
only one-my quickened conscience and the
sense of what is due to the cause of truth and
justice. During all the complications of these
years you have been my confidential friend and
therefore 1 address this letter to you, authoriz-
ing and requesting you to secure its publication
(Signed) ELIZABETH r. luton.
Brooklyn, April 18Th, 1878.
Frank B. Carpenter, the artist, tonight ex-
expressed his belief in the genuineness of Mrs.
Tilton's letter, and said that Mr.. Wheeler, to
whom it is addressed, has for years been her le-
gal adviser and confidential friend. Mrs. Car
pener added to the remark of her husband
that she was glad the poor woman had told the
truth at last
Messrs Sheaman, Morris, Pryor and Judge
Porter of the council in the scandal case" de-
Cllu6u bO give any lQlUEIIldblOu 4ubOu ID
on lecturing tour at the west He has been
living some time in Second Avenue, New
York, but gave up his apartments by pre-ar-
rangement on Saturday last. Mr.. Beecher lee
tured at Waverly New York, this evening.
The Tribune telegraphed him copy of Mrs.
Tilton's letter and received the following in re-
ply:
WAvERLY, N. Y, April Is, 1873.
To the Editor of the Neao York Trobune:
confront Mrs. Tilton's confession with ex-
plicit and absolute denial The testimony to
her own innocence and to mine, which for four
years she had made to hundreds in private and
public before the court in writing and orally,
declare to be true, and the allegations now
made in contradiction of her uniform, solemn
and unvarying statements hitherto made, I
utterly deny. I declare her to be inno-
cent of the great transgression.
(Signed) HENRY WARD BEEcHER
The Sun publishes the following:
A lady member of Plymouth Church called
on Mrs. Tilton last evening. Mrs Tilton OPEN
ed the door, The hair above her forehead had
grown ten years older within few weeks. The
lady asked her:
Libby, what is all this trouble about?'
"There is trouble enough; but what do you
mean!' was the reply.
"Did you write the statement that purports
to be your confession of guilt and that has been
sent to the newspapers for publication"
81 did," replied Mrs. Tilton firmly, "and
every word of it is true''
"Then wish" said the lady, Chat you were
forty feet under the sod.
"Well,' replied Mrs. Morse, who had entered
the rooms, III cont think grief will ever kill
u.s."
'How could YOU" Continued the visitor
holding her attention fixed on Mrs. T. "sit for
all this time pefj1ring yourself every day." :,
81 don't know how l could do it, replied
Mrs. Tilton, "but did,
"Did your daughters know what you now
say is the truth before they went to Europe?"
eyes, they did"
Mrs. Tilton was almost broken down. She
displayed wonderful courage in maintaining
the rightfulness of her attitude towards Mr..
Beecher, but she was in state of great ner-
vous excitement.
elias Mr.. Tilton been supporting his chill
dren' asked the visitor of Mrs. Morse.
''Sumptuously" replied that lady.
'Has he seen Mrs. Tilton lately?"'
HE has had two interviews with her after
his last return from lecturing, but he is now off
lecturing again thousands of miles."
In other conversation the visitor ascertained
that Mrs. Morse had sent for Mr.. Tilten. She
was told the house in which they live, 229
Madison street, Brooklyn, was to be occupied
by other tenants on May LIST and they did not
know where they were going to remove to.
The Sun has also an interview with Ira B.
Wheeler at his residence in Elizabeth, N. J..
The reporter asked Mr.. Wheeler to tell him
Mr. Wheeler-All L can say is what she
herself says, namely, that her true and only
motive is her ''quickened conscience" and the
sense of what is due to truth and justice. In
deed do not feel justified in going beyond
what Mrs. Tilton says herself.
Reporter-Did Mrs Tilton confess to you
prior to the writing of this confession.
Mr.. Wheeler that decline to answer but
do not object to tell you that she did make prac-
tically the same confession to a number Of
friends.
R-Do you and Mrs. Tilton's other friends
believe this last confession?
W-Certainly.
Rs it true that Mr. and Mrs. Tilton are
about to resume their relations as husband and
wife?
R-Does Mr. TIlton know that his wife has
written this confession?
W-Not to my knowledge, no. don't be-
lieve that he knows anything about it.
R-DO you think that in making this con-
fession Mrs. Tilton was swayed by her desire
for reconciliation with her husband?
W-Not 10 the least.
The Sun has also an interview with Rev. Mr..
Halliday, assistant pastor of Plymouth Church.
He was shown the coEfe ssiOn of Mrs. Tilton,
and asked if he had known of it. He replied
l have not seen it, but am not in the least
surprised by it. In fact, L have anticipated
something. AS soon as l knew that Mr.. Triton
was visiting his wife expected some develop
ment, and in fact said he would of course in
fuence her to make some false move. Mrs.
recrossed her track so often. Why, she once
wrote confession of her sin against Mr..
Bsecher to the church, aud unless [ am mis-
taken the original is in the hands of Mr..
Sherman now. If she be insane it might not
be fair to excommunicate her, if she be sane
she certainly deserves to be put out.
Q.-What will Mr.. Beecher do?
A.-What can be do. He has denied the
charge already. What more can be say. I
think this will not disturb him especially:
The Sun also has the following:
The threat of war seems first to have come
Mrs. Morse, Mrs. Tilton's mother. A gentle
man said last night that early in the winter
Mrs. Morse visited Mr.. Beecher and told him
that Elizabeth had to be taken care of and if
she was not literally supported there would
be trouble.
Mr. Beecher consulted with some friends and
they agreed that it would not do for him to be
known as supporter of Mrs. Tilton
after all the scandal and they endorsed
him him mot. not to Pay az. ao her any :. money;
accompanied it with strong and abusive Lam
guage, and wrote several pointed notes to
Beecher, but without effect. Mrs. Tilton was
induced to start school in Henry street under
the promise of liberal support from families of
Plymouth church. Persons from whom she
expected favor expressed the opinion that after
her course she was not fit person to instruct
chiidren. This stung her to desperation and
she threw up the school, She complained of
harsh treatment by Mr.. Beeche and his friends
after, as she said, they had used her for all
their purposes, and she blamed herself for de-
sorting her husband who had been magnani-
nous to forgive her sin and promise her pro-
lection.
Sac wrote letter to Mrs. Raymond, wife of
Prof ROssiter w. Raymond, which the re-
porter's informant said had been seen and read
by several persons in Plymouth church. He
understood also that she had written letter
saying she was no longer going to live lie, to
Mrs. Anna Field, who accompanied her daily
to the trial to the Tilton-Beecher suit
Mrs. Field was shown the confession the con-
fession this evening and said she knew nothing
of it and had nothing to say on the subject ex.
cept that the truth would be disclosed. Subse-
uuently it was learned from leading member
Of Plymouth church that Mrs. Tilton had writ
ten Mrs. Field declaring her intention to make
a confession, and that Mrs. Field in vain tried
to dissuade her from her intention, telling her
it would draw her down to shame.
S.V. White said he had heard that Mrs I.
was very angry because some one would not
procure the reinstatement at her brother in the
custom house. He had heard lady describe
Mrs. Tilton's dramatic action in friends par