New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-03-28
BEECNER's OWN STORY.

which was written by the late Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher and compiled by
his son, to be published by Webster
d Co. of New York. Mr. Beecher, in
his own mimitable way, tells thestory
OF the great scandal in which himself
and Mr.. Tilton and wife were the prin-
cipal actors. Mr.. Beecher and the
mutual friend, Moulton, have crossed
the border into the unknown; Mr..
Hilton IS a Wanderer in foreign land,
while his wife is living a quiet life in
Brooklyn. Bessie Turner is a. wife
and mother, and Victoria Woodruff
and Tennie C. Claff1in are married to
wealthy Englishmen, Mr.. Beecher
speaks OF Tiiton as one who, by
his infatuation with Victoria
Woodruff, had fallen from a
high position to become almost a
dependent on the charity Of his
friends. Not until this time, according
to Mr.. Beecher, did he brooch the
scandal which had been in his knoWl-
edge Tor six months, and it was made
Known simply that he might extract
from MIR. Bowen. OF the independent,
$1,000, tine amount OF claim in dis.
pute. AS soon as the check for the
above amount was in his hand, his
supDosltlous griefs were forgotten
and he signed the famous treaty of
peace. This, Mr.. Beecher says, was
represented to him as necessary to re-
lieve him from the imputation Of hav-
Ing originated and circulated certain
old ISLANDERS about Mr.. Beecher. In
speaking OF Mr.. Moulton Mr.. Beecher
says: "My confidence in him was the
only thing that seemed secure in that
confusion of tormenting perplexities.
10 him | wrote freely IN that troub-
lous time, when I felt that secret
Vaccinations were going on around
and echoes of the vilest Islander
concerning me were heard OF in unex-
spected quarters. Mr. Tilton was
first known to me as a reporter of my
sermons. When became editor of
the Independent one of the induce
ments held out to me was that Mr.
Illton should be my assistant and re-
lleve me wholly from routine office
work. In this relation | became very
much attached to him. He frequent
ly urged me to make his house my
home. He used to often speak il ex-
travagant terms Of his wife's esteem
and affection for me. After I began
to visit his house he sought to make
it attractive. He urged me to bringmy
papers down there and use his study
to do my writing in, as it was not
pleasant to write in the office OF the
independent.
Mr.. Beecher then goes on at length
to show how he was beguiIed by Til
ton after the latter had left his posi-
ton upon the Independent and the
Brooklyn Union. Mr.. Beecher says.
CATER Mr.. Tilton's return from the
west in December, 1870, q young girl
whom Mrs. Tilton had taken into the
family, educated and treated like an
own child. was sent to me with an ur..
gent request that | would visit Mrs.
Tilton at her mothers. She said that
Mrs. Tilton had left her home and
gone to her mothers in consequence
Of lll-treatment OF her husband. She
then gave an account Of what she had
seen OF cruelty and abuse on the part
OF the husband that shocked me- [
immediately visited Mrs. Tilton at her
mothers and received an account of
her home life and OF the despotism Of
her husband and Of the management
OF q woman whom he had made
housekeeper, which seemed like a.
nightmare dream. The question
was whether she should 60 back or
separate forever from her husband. I
asked permission TO bring my wife TO
see them, whose Judgment in all
domestic relations | thought better
than my own, and accordingly q
stcond visit was made. The result of
the interview was that my wife was ex-
tremely indignant:toward Mr.. Tilton,
and declared that no consideration
on earth would induce her to remain
an hour with a man who had treated
her with a hundredth part CT such in.
suit and cruelty. i felt as strongly as
she did, but hesitated, as always do,
at giving advice in favor of a separa-
ton. 1t was agreed that my wife
should give her final advice at anoth-
.er visit. The next day, when ready
to go, she wished a final word, but
there was company and the
children were present, and so wrote
on scrap of paper: I decline to
think that your view is right and that
a separation and a settlement Of sup
port will be wisest, and that in his
present desperate state her presence
near him is far more likely to produce
hatred than her absence
DEMANDING BEEcHEk's WITHDRAWAL.
"Mrs. 'Tilton did not tell me that
my presence had anything to do with
this trouble, nor did she let me know
that on the July previous he had ex-
torted from her a ,confession of excess
sive affection for me.
"On the evening OF Dec. 27, 1870.
Mr.. Bowen,o n his way home, called at
my house and handed me a letter
from Mr. Tilton. It was, as nearly
as | can remember, in the following
terms:
"Henrv Ward Beecher: For reasons
which you explicitly know, and which
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