The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-19
THE GHOST NOT LAID.
TOUCHING UP THE CORPSE OF THE
BEEcHER SCANDAL.
"Reminiscences of Tilton. Moulton,
Bowen, Beecher and Thomas Kinselia
"A Little Misapprehension Removed
Mrs Tilton's Condition.

From the Brooklyn Citizen.
1t is, see, advertised that an esteemed
New York contemporary is to publish the
late Henry Ward Beecher's own account
OF the Beecher scandal, [printed in The
APPEAL of March Ia, from which infer
that the reverend gentleman left some
writing on the subject and that the same
has found its way TO market, though that
anything short OF a posthumous confession
would suffice to reawaken general interest
in the subject is not probable. OF the de-
tails OF that once seething mass OF lester
ing fraud and unregulated emotion, the
average man and woman had more than
enough'whle all the parties to the case
were still living. For myself, do not be-
lieye that there is anything to be told
about the matter, so far as guilt or inno-
cence Is involved. that was not told long
ago, though that there Is still some strictly
personal gossip to be peddled out, can
very well believe. So far rs the manage
ment OF the trial went, Mr.. Beccher knew
very much less than his wife, and shat
she knew was no more than gentlemen
who respected her feelings cared 10 impart.
There are two men living who could, per-
haps, ii so disposed, light up n few dark
spots in the controversy, but they are not
given to unnecessary talk. Gen. Tracy
and Thomas q. Sherman had special
means OF information, but they are both
uncommunicative by nature.
Theodore Tlton heard from quite re-
Gently. He is living in Paris, has become
frequenter Of the society OF artists and
actresses, and appears TO have fallen into
habits which may fairly be described as
epicurcan. knew Iiton well in the days
OF his prosperity, and had ample opportu-
mites OF seeing the interior OF his character
at that period when. as editor Of the hide
pendent he exercised large influence on
public opinion. He was a man in those
days egotistical beyond all belief, suscepti-
BILE to flattery, as all egotisis are, much
given to self-indugence and Enthusiastically
loose in his conception OF the nature OF the
marriage tie. He came to be prime IA
vorite with the free love fraternity, not be-
cause anybody misled him, but because he
had decided natural leaning in That di-
rection. lie was husband OF the kind
who cannot insist upon rigid conjugal
fidelity without reproaching themselves
IL Mrs 1lton did not feel herself 10 be an
injured woman IL was because she was u
blind as well as an unsuspicious lady.
Theodore had many lady visitors in his ed
itorial rooms and his treatment Of the less
angular OF them showed that had fortune
cast his lot in Turkey he would have been
deemed an exemplary followerof Nlahomet.
The scandal, curiously enough, was
forced upon the public ~ the result OF n
local newspaper fight, with which neither
TiltOn nor Beecher had anything 10 do.
The common impression, | think, is that
the Woodruff sisters, whoat thattimc were
publishing an exceptionally vile periodical
dedicated 10 the twin causes OF female
suffrage and sexual promiscuity were the
instruments OF exposure, but this Is a mis-
take. They did indeed make certain char
actcristically coarse references 10 the sub
ject in their paper, but they produced no
Impression on the public mind, and were
forgotten when the real storm burst. The
Beecher scandal, MS II Is known 10 history,
was opened up in consequence OF an at
tack or series OF attacks made by Henry g.
Bowen, then nominal editorandac pub
Usher Of the Brooklyn Union, on the late
Thomas kinscla. As the matter
Of Bowen's attack admitted Of no
satisfactory answer just then ON
Mr.. kinsella's part, II was deemed
judicious by the editorial associates Of the
latter 10 change the issue, and this they
accomplished by trotting out the story OF
Tillon against Bcccher, and holding Bowen
up 10 exccmtion as hcauthor Of H. Bowen
was pictured as peridious and heartless
old reprobaie who had innamed Tilton's
mini for the purpose OF squaring accounts
with Beccher, who, itmay be remembered,
had started n religious weekly In OPPOSE
ton 10 the Independent. Tho people OF
Brooklyn took 10 the Kinsella diversion
with great kindness. Quite overlooking
the cause which led the counselors OF the
latter 10 drag the scandal into the field Of
common discussion, they gave them great
credit for the earnestness and ability OF
their defense Al the accused preacher.
Until the period just spoken Of, Moul-
ton, the mutual friend, had remained far
In tho background. Shortly after the
opening OF the fire upon Bowen, however,
no threw of his reserve and began 10 per-
form actively. At frst when he intro
duced himself 10 Kinsella and his friends
he quite agreed with all the III things said
against the editor Of the Union, and SIREN
uously maintained that Mr. Bcccher was
innocent Of the main accusation, at least
II was not, II my memory serves me right,
ill the fight had been in progress for more
than three months that he began 10
change his tune, and even then the utmost
he said In the way Of ccnsure was that
Beechcr had been indiscreet and owed
Theodore an apology. His assertion that
Bcecher had confessed 10 him was first ut
tered IN the company 10 which refer with
the air Of man who had got himself into
false portion and was resolved, without
any particular regard for truth, 10 get out
Of Il In the manner least likely 10 injure
himscf. But when he reached this point
he had contrived 10 10 thoroughly destroy
the value OF his own word that nobody
would believe him.
Ii fell TO my lot 10 talk with Mr.. Bcccher
Il plain English terms about the accuse
ton. was sent 10 interview him and in
strucled 10 put the question OF guilt or In
nocence In such simple and direct way
that there could be no misunderstanding
about the exact nature OF the subject re-
ferrcd 10. | told him precisely what the
charge was, and remember with the most
perfect clearnees every word oil bis an.
swcr at Is falscl II Il false "a hell!
was the answer, and with that the inter-
view closed.
Mrs. Tilton I have not seen In many Q
day, but did see something Of her when
tho events lust outlined were Transporting
She was n pleasant modest looking little
woman about thirty-eight years OF age
who seemed 10 breathe the very air o
truth, and whose whole appearance 70
PEELED tho thought Of unwiiely conduct
What. however. learned beyond doubt