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CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THIS BOOK IS ONE OF A 
 COLLECTION MADE BY 
 
 BENNO LOEWY 
 1854-1919 
 
 AND BEQUEATHED TO 
 CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
 
I=K.IOE 25 OEISTTS 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924082445812 
 
THE 
 
 f^eedlief-^iltoi^ Wkf 
 
 Theodore Tilton's Full Statement of the 
 Great Preacher's Chult. 
 
 WHAT FRANK MOULTON HAD TO SAY 
 
 The Documents and Letters from 
 Both Sides. 
 
 "I clasped a woman's breast, 
 As if her heart I knew. 
 Or fancied, would be true, 
 Who proved— alas, she too !— 
 False like the rest." 
 
 Theodore TUton. 
 
 -: O :- 
 
 NEW YORK. 
 
 A BOOK OF REFERENCE. 
 
The Beecher and Tilton ScandaL 
 
 niton's Full Statement of his Guilt. 
 
 l£ost Astounding cnarges Against the (}reat Preacher. 
 
 (From the Bronklyn Argus.) 
 
 Gentlemen of the Committee : 
 
 In communicating to yon the detailed statement of facta 
 of evidence wliich you have been several days expecting 
 at my hands, let me remind you of the circumstances 
 which ca]|l this statement forth. 
 
 In my recent letter to Dr. Bacon I alluded to an offence 
 and an apology by the Kev. Henry Ward Beecher. To 
 whomsoever else this allusion seemed indefinite, to Mr. 
 Beecher it was plain. The offence was committed by 
 him; the apology was made by him — both acts were his 
 own, and were among the most momentous occurrences of 
 his life. Of all men in Plymouth Church, or in the world, 
 the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was the one man who was 
 best informed concerning this offence and apology, and 
 the one man who least needed to inquire into either. 
 
 Nevertheless, while possessing a perfect knowledge of 
 both these acts done by himself, he has chosen to put on a 
 public affectation of ignorance and innocence concerning 
 them, and has conspicuously appointed a committer of six 
 of the ablest men of his church, together with two attor- 
 neys, to inquire into what he leaves you to regard as the 
 unaccountable mystery of this offence and apology ; as if he 
 had neither committed the one nor offered the other : but 
 
4 THEODORE TILTOM'S STATEfibNt. 
 
 -»s if both were the mere figments of another man's Imagl- 
 Tiation — thus adroitly prompting the public to draw the 
 •deduction that I am a person under some hallucination or 
 •delusion, living in a dream and forging a fraud. 
 
 Furthermore, in order to cast over this explanation tsie 
 delicate glamour which always lends a charm to the de-, 
 fence of a woman's honor, Mrs. Elizabeth E. Tilton, lately 
 my wife, has been prompted away from her home to reside 
 among Mr. Beecher's friends, and to co-operate with him 
 in his ostensibly honest and laudable inquiry into facta 
 ■concerning which she, too, as well as he, has for years past 
 had perfect and equal knowledge with himself. 
 
 This investigation, therefore, has been publicly pressed 
 upon me by Mr. Beecher, seconded by Mrs. Tilton, both 
 ■of whom in so doing have united in assuming before the 
 public the uon-existence of the grave and solemn facts into 
 ■which they have conspired to investigate, for the purpose, 
 :xiot of eliciting, but of denying the truth. This joint aa- 
 ■fiumption by them, which has seemed to your committee 
 'to be in good faith, has naturally led you into an examina- 
 tion in which you expect to find, on their part, nothing 
 but innocence, and on my part nothing but slander. 
 
 AN UNHAPPT DXJTT, 
 
 It is now my unhappy duty, from which I have in vain 
 hitherto sought earnestly to be delivered, to give you the 
 facts and evidences for reversing your opinion on this sub- 
 ject. In doing this painful, I may say heartrending, duty, 
 the responsibility for making the grave disclosures which I 
 am about to lay before you belongs not to me, but first> to 
 Mr. Beecher, who has prompted you to this examination, 
 anS jnext to Mrs. Tilton, who has joined him in a conspiracy 
 which cannot fail to be full of peril and wretchedness to 
 jnany ;heaatfi. 
 
 I csll ycxa to witness that in my first brief examination 
 !by your G®BMnittee, I begged and implored you not to ir- 
 tquize^iototlie facts of thia case, but rather to seek to bury 
 ithem beyond all possible revelation. Happy for all con- 
 <^med:had this entreaty been heeded. It is no<w too late. 
 
THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. m 
 
 The last opportunity for reconciliation and settlement has. 
 passed. This inveBtigation, undertaken by you in igaor- 
 ance of dangers against whicli Mr. Beecher should have 
 ■warned you in advance, will shortly jirove itself, to your 
 surprise, to have been an act of wanton and wicked foUy^ 
 for which the Eev. Henry Ward Beecher, as its originator 
 and public sponsor, will hereafter find no "space for re- 
 pentance, though he seek it carefully and with tears."' 
 This desperate man must hold himself only, and not me,, 
 accountable for the wretchedness which these disclosures- 
 ■Vfill carry to his own home and hearth as they have already 
 brought to mine. 
 
 I will add that the original documents referred to in the- 
 ensuing sworn statement are for the most part in my pos- 
 session ; but that the apology and a few other papers are-. 
 in the hands of Mr. Francis D. Moulton. Truly yours, 
 
 THEODOEE TILTON. 
 
 MR. TILTON'S SWORN STATEMENT. 
 
 "Whereas, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher has instigated 
 the appointment of a committee, consisting of six members 
 of his chm'ch and society, to inquire and report upon 
 alleged aspersions upon his character by Theodore Tilton ; 
 and, whereas, Mrs. Elizabeth R. Tilton, formerly the wife 
 of Mr. Tilton, has openly deserted her home in order to co- 
 operate with Mr. Beecher in a conspiracy to overthrow the 
 credibility and good repute of her late husband as a man 
 and citizen ; therefore, Theodore Tilton being thus author- 
 ized and required, and by the published demand made 
 upon him by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, and being 
 now and hereafter released by act of Mrs. Tilton from 
 further responsibility for concealment of the truth touching 
 her relations with Mr. Beecher — therefore, Theodore Tilton 
 Jiereby sets forth, under solemn oath, the following facts 
 and testimony : 
 
 I. That on the 2d of October, 1855, at Plymouth Church, 
 'Brooklyn, a marriage between Theodore Tilton and Eliza- 
 beth R. Richards was performed by the Rev. Henry Ward 
 
« THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 
 
 Beecher, which marriage thirteen years afterwards was dis- 
 lionored and violated by this clergyman through the crim- 
 inal seduction of this wife and mother, as hereinafter set 
 forth. 
 
 II. That for a period of about fifteen years, extending 
 "both before and after this marriage, an intimate friendship 
 existed between Theodore Tilton and the Rev. Henry 
 Ward Beecher, which friendship was cemented to such a 
 ■degree, that in consequence thereof the subsequent dis- 
 honoring by Mr. Beecher of his friend's wife was a crime 
 ■of uncommon wrongfulness and perfidy. 
 
 III. That about nine years ago the Eev. Henry "Ward 
 IBeecher began, and thereafter continued, a friendship with 
 Mrs. Elizabeth R. Tilton, for whose native ^elicacy and 
 extreme religious sensibility he often expressed to her hus- 
 band a high admiration ; visiting her from time to time 
 for years, until the year 1870, when, for reasons hereinafter 
 stated, ho ceased such visits; during which period, by many 
 tokens and attentions he won the affectionate love of Mrs. 
 Tilton ; whereby after long moral resistance by her, and 
 after repeated assaults by him upon her mind with over- 
 mastering arguments, accomplished the possession of her 
 person ; maintaining with her thenceforward during the 
 period hereinafter stated, the relation called criminal inter- 
 course ; this relation being regarded by her during that, 
 period as not criminal or morally wrong — such had been the 
 power of his arguments as a clergyman to satisfy her 
 religious scruples against such violation ol virtue and 
 honor. 
 
 A DIEEOT OHAEGE OF CEIMINALrrT. 
 
 IV. That on the evening of October 10, 1868, or there* 
 abouts, Mrs. Elizabeth R. Tilton held an interview with the 
 Rev. Henry Ward Beecher at his residence, she being then 
 in a tender state of mind owing to the recent death and 
 burial of a young child ; and dm-ing this interview an act 
 of criminal commerce took place between this pastor and 
 this parishioner; the motive on her part being, as herein- 
 'before stated, not regarded by her at the time criminal or 
 
THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 7 
 
 wrong ; which act was followed by a similar act of crim- 
 inality between these same parties at Mr. Tilton's residence 
 during a pastoral visit paid by Mr. Beecher to her on the 
 subsequent Saturday evening, followed also by other sim- 
 ilar acts on various occasions, from the autumn of 1868 to 
 the spring of 1870, the places being the two residences 
 aforesaid, and occasionally other places to which her pastor 
 would invite and accompany her, or at which he would meet 
 her by previous appointment ; these acts of wrong being 
 on her p^art, from first to last, not wantonly or consciously 
 wicked, but arising through a blinding of her moral per- 
 ceptions, occasioned by the powerful influence exerted on 
 her mind ati that time to this end by the Rev. Henry Ward 
 Beecher, as her trusted religious preceptor and guide. 
 
 V. That the pastoral visits made by the Rev. Henry 
 Ward Beecher to Mrs. Tilton, during the year 1868, became 
 so frequent as to excite comment, being in marked contrast 
 with his known hab^t of making few pastoral calls on his 
 parishioners, which frequently, in Mrs. Tilton's case, ia 
 shown in lettfers written to her husband during his absence 
 in the West ; these letters giving evidence that during tha 
 period of five or six weeks twelve different pastoral calls on 
 Mrs. Tilton were made by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, 
 which calls became noticeably infrequent on Mr. Tilton's 
 return to his home. 
 
 VI. That previous to the aforesaid criminal intimacy, 
 one of the reasons which Mrs. Tilton alleged for her en- 
 couragement of such exceptional attentions from the Rev. 
 Henry Ward Beecher was the fact that she had been much 
 distressed with rumors against his moral purity, and wished 
 to convince him that she could receive his kindness, and 
 yet resist his solicitations ; and that she could inspire in 
 him, by her purity and fidelity, an increased respect for 
 the chaste dignity of womanhood. Previous to the autumn 
 of 186§^-he maintained with Christian firmness toward her 
 past " ' his position of resistance, always refusing his amor- 
 pus j as, which were strong and oft-repeated; and in a 
 letter to her husband, dated February 3, 1868, she wrota 
 as follows : 
 
8 THEODORE TILTOJT'S STATEMENT. 
 
 To loTe is praiseworthy, but to abuse tbe gift is sin' 
 Here I am strong. No demonstrations or fascinations could^ 
 c^use me to yield my womanhood. 
 
 THE FIRST SrSPICION. 
 
 YII. That the first suspicion which crossed the mind of 
 Theodore Tilton that the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was 
 abusing, or might abuse, the affection and reverence which 
 Mrs. Tilton bore toward her pastor was an improper caress 
 given by Mi*. Beecher to Mrs. Tilton by the ******* 
 while seated by her side on the floor of his library over- 
 looking engravings. Mr. Tilton, a few hours afterward,, 
 asked of his wifb an explanation of her permission of such 
 a liberty, whereat she at first denied the fact, but then 
 confessed it, and said that she had spoken chidingly to- 
 Mr. Beecher concerning it. On another occasion Mr. 
 Tilton, after leaving his house in the early morning, 
 returned to it in the forenoon, arid on going to his bed- 
 chamber found the door locked, and when, on knocking, 
 the door was opened by Mrs. Tilton, Mr. Beecher was seen 
 within, apparently much confused, and exhibiting a flushed 
 face. Mrs. Tilton afterward made a plausible explanation^ 
 which, from the confidence reposed in her by her husband, 
 was by him deemed satisfactory. 
 
 Ylil. That in the spring of 1870, on Mr. Tilton's return 
 from a winter's absence, he" noticed in his wife such evi- 
 dences of the absorption of her mind in Mr. Beecher that 
 in a short time an estrangement took place between her 
 husband and herself, in consequence of -which she went 
 into the country earlier than usual for a summer sojourn. 
 After an absence of several weeks, she voluntarily returned 
 to her home in Brooklyn. On the evening of July 3, 1870, 
 when, and then and there, within a few hours after her 
 arrival, and after exacting from her husband a solemn 
 promise that he would do the Rev. Henry "Ward Beecher 
 no harm, nor communicate to him what she was about to 
 say, she made a circumstantial confession to her husband 
 of the criminal acts hereinbefore stated, accompanied with 
 citations from Mr. Beecher's arguments and reasonings 
 
THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. S 
 
 with her to overcome her long-maintained scruple against 
 yielding to his desires, and declaring that she had com- 
 mitted no wrong to her husband or her marriage vosv,, 
 quoting, in support of ■this opinion, that her pastor had 
 repeatedly assured her that she was spotless and chaste, 
 which she believed herself to be. She further stated that 
 her sexual commerce with him had never proceeded from 
 low or vulgar thoughts either on her part or his, but always 
 from pure affection and high religious love. She stated, 
 furthermore, that Mr. Beecher habitually characterized 
 their intimacy by the term " nest-hiding," and he would 
 suffer pain and sorrow if his hidden secret were ever made 
 known. She said that her mind was often burdened by 
 the deceit necessary for her to practice in order to prevent 
 discovery, and that her conscience had many times impelled 
 her to throw off this burden of enforced falsehood by making 
 a full confession to her husband, so that she would no 
 longer be living before him a perpetual lie. In particular 
 she said that she had been on the point of making this con- 
 fesftion a few months previously, during a severe illness, 
 when she feared she might die. She affirmed also that 
 Mr. Beecher had assured her repeatedly that he loved her 
 better than he had ever loved any other woman, and she 
 felt justified before God in her intimacy with him, save the 
 necessary deceit which accompanied it, and at which she 
 frequently suffered in her mind. 
 
 CONDONING THE WRONG. 
 
 IX. That after the above-named confession by Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Il> Tilton, she returned to the country to await 
 such action by her husband as he might see fit to take ; 
 whereupon, after many considerations, the chief of which 
 was that she had not voluntarily gone astray, but had been 
 artfully misled, through religious reverence for the Eev. 
 Henry Ward Beecher, as her spiritual guide, together, 
 also, from a desire to protect the family from open shame, 
 Mr, TUton condoned the wrong, r.nd he addressed to his 
 wife such letters of affection, tenderness and respect as he 
 feK would restore her wounded spirit, and which did 
 partially produce that result. 
 
10 THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 
 
 X. That in Deeember, 1870, differences arose between 
 Theodore Tilton and Henry 0. Bowen, which were aug- 
 mented by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher and Mrs. 
 Beecher ; in consequence whereof, and at the wish of Mrs. 
 Elizabeth R. Tilton, expressed in writing in a paper put 
 into the hands of Mv. Francis D. Moulton, with a view to 
 procure a harmonious interview between Mr. Tilton and 
 Mr. Beecher, such an interview was arranged and carried 
 out by Mr. Moulton at his then residence on Clinton street, 
 Mr. Beecher and Mr. Tilton meeting and speaking then 
 and there for the first time since Mrs. Tilton's confession 
 of six months before. The paper in Mr. Moulton's hands 
 was a statement by Mrs. Tilton of the substance of the 
 confession which she had before made, and of her wish 
 and prayer for reconciliation and peace between her pastor 
 and her husband. This paper furnished to Mr. Beecher 
 the first knowledge which he had as yet received that Mrs. 
 Tilton had made such a confession. At this interview 
 between Mr. Beecher and Mr. Tilton permission was sought 
 by Mr. Beecher to consult with Mrs. Tilton on that same 
 ■evening. This permission being granted, Mr. Beecher 
 •departed from Mr. Moulton's house, and in about half an 
 hour returned thither, expressing his remorse and shame, 
 ■and declaring that his life and work seemed brought to a 
 sudden end. LaAer in the same evening Mr. Tilton, on 
 returning to his house, found his wife weeping and in great 
 distress, saying that what she had meant for peace had 
 only given pain and anguish ; that Mr. Beecher had just 
 •called on her, declaring that she had slain him, and that 
 he would probably be tried before a council of ministers 
 unless she would give him a written paper for his protec- 
 tion. Whereupon she said he dictated to her, and she 
 copied in her own handwriting, a suitable paper for him 
 to use to clear himself before a council of ministers. Mrs. 
 Tilton having kept no copy of this paper, her husband 
 .asked her to make a distinct statement in writing of her 
 design and meaning in giving it, whereupon she wrote as 
 follows : 
 
THEODORE TILTOX'S STATEMEST. tl 
 
 THE LETTEE. 
 
 Deoembee 30, 1870 — ^Midnight. 
 My Bear Susband: 
 
 I desire to leave witt you, tefore going to bed, a state- 
 ment that Mr. Henry Ward Beeeher called upon me this 
 evening, ar.d asked me if I would defend him against any 
 accusation in a council of ministers ; and I replied, solemn- 
 ly, that I would in case the accuser was any other person 
 than my husband. He (H. W. B.) dictated a letter, which 
 I copied as my own, to be used by him aa against any 
 other accuser except my husband. This letter was designed 
 to vindicate Mr. Beeeher against all other persons save 
 only yourself. I was ready to give him this letter because 
 he said with pain that my letter in your hands addressed 
 to him, dated December 29, " had struck him dead, and 
 ended his usefulness." You and I are pledged to do our 
 best to avoid ])ublicity. God grant a speedy end to all 
 further anxieties. Affectionately, Elizabeth. 
 
 On the next day, namely, December 31, 1870, Mr. 
 Moulton, on being informed by Mr. Tilton of the above- 
 named transaction by Mr. Beeeher, called on him (Mr. 
 Beec'aer) at his residence, and told him that a reconcilia- 
 tion seemed suddenly made impossible by Mr. Beecher'9 
 nefarious act in procuring the letter which Mrs. Tilton had 
 thus been improperly persuaded to make falsely. Mr. 
 Beeeher promptly, through Mr. Moulton, returned the 
 letter to Mr. Tilton, with an expression of shame and 
 sorrow for having procured it in the manner he did. 
 The letter was as follows : 
 
 December 30, 1870. 
 
 Wearied with importunity and weakened by sicknesss, 
 I gave a letter implicating my friend Henry Ward Beeeher 
 under Assurances that that would remove all difficul- 
 ties between me and my husband. That letter I now 
 revoke. I was persuaded to it — almost forced — when I 
 was in a weakened state of mind. 
 
 I regret it, and recall all its statements. 
 
 E. E. Tilton. 
 
 I desire to say explicitly, Mr. Beeeher has never offered 
 any improper solicitation, but has always treated me in a 
 manner becoming a Christian and a gentleman. 
 
 Elizabeth R. Tiltok. 
 
12 THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT'. 
 
 At the time of Mr. Beecber's returning tlie above 
 document to Mr. Tilton through Mr. Moulton, Mr. 
 Beecher requested Mr. Moulton to call at his residence, in. 
 Columbia street, on the next day, which he did on the 
 evening of January 1, 1871. A long interview then 
 ensued, in which Mr. Beecher expressed to Mr. Moulton 
 great contrition and remorse for his previous criminality 
 with Mrs. Tilton ; taking to himself shame for having 
 misused his sacred oflSce as a clergyman to corrupt her 
 mind ; expressing a determination to kill himself in case 
 of exposure, and begging Mr. Moulton to take a pen and 
 receive from his (Mr. Beecher's) lips an apology to be 
 conveyed to Mr. Tilton, in the hope that such an appeal 
 would secure Mr. Tilton's forgiveness. The apology which. 
 Mr. Beecher dictated to Mr. Moulton was as follows : 
 
 THE APOLOGY. 
 
 [In trust with E. D. Moulton.] 
 My dear friend, Moulton, 
 
 I askj through you, Theodore Tilton's forgiveness, and' 
 I humble myself before him as I do before my God. He 
 would have been a better man in my circumstances than 
 I have been. I can ask nothing, except that he will re- 
 member all the other breasts that would ache. I will not 
 plead for myself. I even wish that I were dead. But others 
 must live to suffer. I will die before any one but myself 
 shall be inculpated. All my thoughts are running out 
 toward my friends and toward the poor child lying there 
 and praying, with her folded hands. She is guiltless, 
 sinned against, bearing the transgression of another. Her 
 forgiveness I have. 1 humbly pray to God to put it into 
 the heart of her husband to forgive me. 
 
 I have trusted this to Moulton, in confidence. 
 
 H. W. Beeoheb. 
 
 In the above document the last sentence and the signa- 
 ture are in the handwriting of the Kev. Henry Ward' 
 Beecher. 
 
 XI. That Mrs. Tilton wrote the following letter to a. 
 friend : 
 
 174 Livingston Street, Beookltn, Jan. 5, 1871. 
 Deae Feiend: A cruel conspiracy has heen formed' 
 against my husband, in which my mother and Mra^ 
 Beecher have been the chief actors. * * * * 
 
 Yours truly, Elizabeth K. Tilton. 
 
THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 13 
 
 XII. That in the following month Mr. Moulton, wishing 
 to bind Mr. Tilton and Mr. Beecher by mutual expressions 
 of a good spirit, elicited from them the following corres- 
 pondence : 
 
 MB. TILTON TO ME. MOULTON. 
 
 Beooklyn, Feb. 7, 1871. 
 My Dear Friend : 
 
 In several conversations with you, you have asked about 
 imy feelings toward Mr. Beecher ; and yesterday you said 
 tbe time had come when you would like to receive from 
 ime an expression of this kind in writing. 
 
 I say, therefore, very cheerfully, that, notwithstanding 
 the great suffering which he has caused to Elizabeth and 
 nnyselt, I bear him no malice, shall do him no wrong, 
 -shall discounteuance every project (by whomsoever pro- 
 
 ?)08ed) for any exposure of his secret to the public, and 
 if 1 know myself at all) shall endeavor to act toward Mr. 
 Beecher as I would have him in similar circumstances act 
 toward me. 
 
 I ought to add that your own good offices in this case 
 have led me to a higher moral feeling than I might ether- 
 ise have reached. 
 
 Ever yours, affectionately. 
 
 Theodobb. 
 To Feank Motjlton, 
 
 On the same day Mr. Beecher wrote to Mr. Moulton 
 ithe following : 
 
 mb. bbechee to me. moulton. 
 
 Febeuaey 7, 1,871 . 
 
 My Dear Friend Moulton. 
 
 I am glad to send you a book, &c. 
 
 ******** 
 
 Many, many friends has God raised up to me, but to no 
 'One of them has H« ever given the opportunity and the 
 "wisdom so to ■eerve me as you have. 
 
 You have also proved Theodore's friend and Elizabeth's. 
 Does God look down from heaven on three unhappier 
 creatures that more need a friend than these ? Is it not an 
 intimation of God's intent of mercy to all, that each one 
 •of these has in you a tried and proved friend ? But only 
 in you are thus we united. "Would to God, who orders all 
 hearts, that by his kind mediation, Theodore, Elizabeth, 
 and I could be made friends again. 
 
 Theodore will have the hai-dest task in such a case ; but 
 has he not proved himself capable of the noblest things? 
 
14 THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT 
 
 I wonder if Elizal)eth knows how generously he has 
 carried himself toward me. Of course I can never speak 
 with her again without his permission, Smd I do not know 
 that even then it would be best. * * * 
 
 Mr. Moulton, on the same day, asked Mr. Tilton if he 
 would permit Mr. Beecher to address a letter to Mrs. 
 Tilton, and Mr. Tilton replied in the affirmative, where- 
 upon Mr. Beecher wrote as follows. 
 
 ME. BEECHES TO MRS. TILTON. 
 
 Beookltn, Feb. 7, 1874. 
 ^y dear Mrs. Tilton : 
 
 When I saw you last I did not expect ever to see you 
 again, or to be alive many days. God was kinder to me 
 than were my own thoughts. The, friend whom God sent 
 to me, Mr. Moulton, has proved, above all friends that I 
 ever had, able and willing to help me in this terrible emer- 
 gency of my life. His hand it was that tied up the storm 
 that was ready to burst on our heads. 
 
 You have no friend (Theodore excepted) who has it in 
 his power to serve you so vitally, and who will do it with 
 such delicacy and honor. 
 
 It does my sore heart good to see in Mr. Moulton an un- 
 feigned respect and honor for you. It would kill me if I 
 thought otherwise. He will be as true a friend to your 
 honor and happiness as a brother could be to a sister's. 
 
 In him we have a common ground. You and I may 
 meet in him. The past is ended. But is there no future? 
 No wiser, higher, holier future % May not this friend 
 stand as a priest in the new sanctuary of reconciliation, and 
 mediate and bless Theodore and my most unhappy self? 
 Do not let my earnestness fail of its end. You believe in 
 my judgment. I have put myself wholly and gladly in 
 Moulton's hand. And there I must meet you. 
 
 This is sent with Tlieodore's consent, but he has not read 
 it. Will you return it to me by his own hand ? I am very 
 earnest in this wish for all our sakes, as such a letter ought 
 not to be subject to even a chance of miscarriage. 
 Your unhappy friend, 
 
 H. W. Beeohee. 
 
 XIII. That about a year after Mrs. Tilton's confession, 
 her mind remained in the fixed opinion that her criminal 
 relations with Mr. Beecher had not been morally wrong ; 
 BO strongly had he impressed her to the contrary ; but at 
 length a change took place in her convictions on this sub- 
 
THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 16 
 
 ject, as noted in the following letter addressed by her to her 
 Imeband : 
 
 MK8. TILTON TO ME. TILTON. 
 
 SoHOHAEiE, June 29, 1871. 
 My dear Theodore: 
 
 To-day through the ministry of Catherine Gaunt, a char- 
 acter of fiction, ray eyes have been opened for the first time 
 in my experience, so that I see clearly my sin. It was 
 -when I knew that I was loved to suflfer it to grow to a pas- 
 sion. A virtuous woman would check instantly an absorb- 
 ing love. But it appeared to me in such a false light. 
 That the love I felt and received could harm no one, not 
 even you. I have believed unfalteringly, until four o'clock 
 this afternoon, when the heavenly vision dawned upon me. 
 I see now, as never before, the wrong I have done y6u, and 
 iasten immediately to ask your pardon, with a penitence 
 so sincere that henceforth (if reason remains) you may trust 
 me implicitly. Oh! my dear Theodore, though your 
 opinions are not restful or congenial to my soul, yet my 
 own integrity and purity are a sacred and .holy thing to 
 me. Bless God, with me, for Catherine Gaunt, and for all 
 the sure leadings of an All-Wise and loving Providence. 
 Yes; now I feel quite prepared to renew my marriage vow 
 with you, to keep it as the Saviour requireth, who looketh 
 at the eye and the heart. Never before could I say this. 
 When you yearn toward me with true feeling, be assured 
 of the tried, purified, and restored love of Elizabeth. 
 
 Mrs. Tilton followed the above letter with these : 
 
 mrs. tilton to mr. tilton. 
 
 July 4, 1871. 
 O, my dear husband, may yon never need the discipline 
 of being misled by a good woman, as I was by a good 
 man. 
 
 [JVo date.] 
 I would mourn greatly if my life was to be made known 
 to father. His head would be bowed indeed to the grave. 
 [iTo date.] 
 Do not think my ill health is on account of my sin and 
 its discovery. My sins and life-record I have carried to 
 my Saviour. No ; my prostration is owing to the suffering 
 I have caused you. 
 
 XIY. That about one year after Mrs. Tilton's confession, 
 and about a half year after Mr. Beecher's confirmation of 
 the same, Mrs. V". C. Woodhul], then a total stransrertoMr. 
 
18 THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT, 
 
 Tilton, save that he had been presented to her in a company 
 of friends, a few days previous, wrote in the World^ Mon- 
 day, May 22, 1871, the following statement, namely : 
 
 I know of one man, a public teacher of eminence, who 
 lives in concubinage with the wife of another public 
 teacher of almost equal eminence. All three concur in 
 denouncing offences against morality. I shall make it my 
 business to analyze some of those lives. 
 
 ViOTOErA 0. "WoODHULL. 
 
 New Yoek, May 20, 1872. 
 
 On the day of the publi6ation of the above card in the 
 World, Mr. Tilton received from Mrs. "WoodhuU a request 
 to call on imperative business at her oflSce ; and on going 
 thither, a copy of the above card Was put into his hand hj 
 Mrs. WoodhuU, who said that "the parties referred to 
 therein were the Kev. Henry Ward Beecher and the wife 
 of Theodore Tilton." Following this aunouncemeat*Mrs. 
 WoodhuU detailed to Mr. Tilton, with vehement speech, 
 the wicked and injurious story which she published in the 
 year following. ^ Meanwhile Mr. Tilton, desiring to guard 
 against any possible temptation to Mrs. WoodhuU to pub- 
 lish the grossly distorted version which she gave to Mr. 
 Tilton (and which she afterward attributed to him), he 
 sought by many personal services and kindly attentions to 
 influence her to such a good will toward himself and family 
 as would remove all disposition or desire in her to afflict 
 him with such a publication. Mr. Tilton's efforts and asso- 
 ciation with Mrs. WoodhuU ceased in April, 1872, and six 
 months afterward, namely, Nov. 2, 1872, she published the 
 scandal which he had labored to suppress. 
 
 THE EEV. THOMAS K. BEEOHEE. 
 
 -. XY* That on the third dsyr thereafter, the Kev. Thomas 
 K. Beecher, of Elmira, N. T., wrote as follows : 
 
 Elmiba, Nov. 5, 1872. 
 
 " Mrs. WoodhuU ordy carries out Hermfs philosophy:, 
 against which I recorded my protest twenty years ago." 
 
 XVI. That in May, 1873, the publication by one of 
 Mr. Beecher'a partners of a tripartite covenant between 
 H. C. Bowen, H. W. Beecher, and Theodore Tilton led 
 the press of the country to charge that Mr. Tilton had 
 committed against Mr. Beecher some heinous wrong, which 
 Mr. Beecher nad pardoned ; whereas the truth was the 
 reverse. To remedy this false public impression, Mr- 
 Monlton requested Mr. Beecher to prepare a suitable 
 card, reUeving Mr. Tilton of this injustice, 
 

 N X "V XWKiI-*Ml 
 
 Rev. HENRY WARD BEECHER. 
 
THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. IT: 
 
 In answer to this request, Mr. Beecher pleaded his emr 
 barrassments, which prevented his saying anything with- 
 out bringing himself under suspicion. Mr. Tilton then, 
 proposed to prepare a card of his own containing a few 
 lines from the recently quoted apology, for the purpose of ' 
 showing that Mr. Beecher, instead of having had occa- 
 sion to forgive Mr. Tilton, had ha-d occasion to be forgiven 
 "by him. Mr. Beecher then wrote a letter to Mr. Moulton. 
 which, on being shown to Mr. Tilton, was successful iii 
 appealing to Mr. Tilton's feelings. Mr. Beecher said in, 
 it, under date of Sunday morning, June 1, 1873 : 
 
 ME. BEEOHEE TO MR. MOULTON. 
 
 My Dea/r Ffank: 
 
 lam determined to make no more resistance. Theo- 
 dore's temperament is such that the future, even if tem- 
 porarily earned, would be absolutely worthless, and ren- 
 dering me liable at any hour of the day to be obliged tO' 
 stultify all the devices by which we saved ourselves. It 
 is only fair that he should know that the publication of 
 the card which he proposes would leave him worse off' 
 than before. The agreement (viz., the " tripartite cov- 
 enant ") was made after my letter through you to him 
 (viz., the " apology ") was written . He had had it a year. 
 He had condoned his wife's fault. He had enjoined upon 
 me, with the utmost earnestness and solemnity, not to 
 betray his wife nor leave his children to a blight. * * * 
 "With such a man as T. T. there is no possible salvation 
 for any that depend upon him. With a strong nature, he 
 does not know how to govern it. * * * * There is no 
 nse in trying further. I have a strong feeling upon me, 
 and it brings great peace that I am spending my last Sun- 
 day and preaching my last sermon. 
 
 The hopslessness of spirit which the foregoing letter 
 portrayed on the part of its writer led Mr. Tilton to re- 
 consider the question of defending himself at the cost of 
 producing misery to Mr. Beecher ; which determination 
 by Mr. Tilton to allow the prevailing calumnies against 
 himself to go unanswered was further strengthened by the 
 following note received by him two days thereafter from 
 the office editor of Mr. Beeeher's journal : 
 
 OLIVBE JOHNSON TO THEODOEE TILTON. 
 
 128 East Twelfth Stebet, June 4, 1873. 
 Mt Deae Theodore : May I tell you frankly that when 
 1 saw you last you did not seem to me to be the noble 
 young man who inspired my warm affection gg many yeart 
 
18 THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 
 
 ago. You were yielding to an act which I could not help 
 thinking would be dishonorable and perfidious, and, 
 although it is easy for me to make every allowance for the 
 circumstftnces that had wrought you to such a frenzy, I 
 was dreadfully shocked. My dear Theodore, let me as 
 an old friend whose heart is wrung by your terrible sut- 
 fering and sorrow, tell you that you were theu acting 
 ignobly, and that you can never have true peace of mind 
 till you conquer yourself and dismiss all purpose and 
 thought of injuring the man who has wronged you. Of all 
 the promises our lips can frame, none are so sacred as those 
 we make to those who have injured us, and whom we have 
 professed to forgive ; and they are sacred just in proportion 
 as their violation would woik injury to those to whom 
 they are made. You cannot paint too blackly the wrongs 
 jou have suffered. On that point I make no plea in 
 abatement : hut I beg you to remember that nothing can 
 change the law which makes forgiveness noble and God- 
 like. 
 
 I have prayed for you night and day, with strong crying 
 and tears, beseeching God to restrain you from wronging 
 yourself by violating your solemn engagements. To-night I 
 am happy in the thought that you have been preserved 
 from committing the act which I so much dreaded. 
 
 In a letter written by Mr. Beecher, in order to be shown 
 to Mr. Til ton, Mr. Beecher spoke as follows : 
 
 MB. BEEOHEE TO ME. MOULTON. 
 
 No man can see the difficulties that environ me unless 
 he stands where I do. To say that I have a church on 
 my hands is simple enough, but to have the hundreds 
 and thousands of men pressing me, each one with his keen 
 suspicion, or anxiety, or zeal ; to see the tendencies which 
 if not stopped, would break out into a ruinous defence of 
 me ; to stop them without seeming to do it ; to prevent 
 any one questioning me; to meet and allay prejudices 
 against T. which had their beginnings years before ; to 
 keep serene, as if I was not alarmed or disturbed ; to be 
 cheerful at home and among friends when I was suffering 
 the torments of the damned ; to pass sleepless nights often, 
 and yet to come up fresh and fair for Sunday — all this 
 may be talked about, but the real thing cannot be under- 
 stood from the outside, nor its wearing and grinding on 
 •the nervous system. 
 
 In still another letter, written for the same purpose as 
 the above, Mr. Beecher said : 
 
THEODORE T-II^TON'S STATEMENT. U) 
 
 If my destruction would place him (Mr. Tilton) all right, 
 that shall not stand in the way. I am willing to step 
 ■down and out. No one can ofler more than that. That 
 do I offer. Sacrifice me wiftioat hesitation if you can 
 clearly see your way to his safety and happiness thereby. 
 In one point of view, I could desire the sacrifice on my 
 part. Nothing can possibly be so bad as the power of 
 great darkness in which I spend much of my time. I look 
 upon death as sweeter far than any friend I have in the 
 world. Life would be pleasant if 1 could see that rebuilt 
 which is shattered. But to live on the sharp and ragged 
 «dge of anxiety, remorse, fear, despair, and yet to put on 
 an appearance of serenity and happiness, cannot be en- 
 dured much longer. I am well nigh discouraged. Ifyow 
 cease to trust me, to love me, I am alone — I do not know 
 any person in the world to whom I could go. 
 
 Mr. Tilton yielded to the above-quoted and other simi- 
 lar letters, and made no defence of himself against the 
 public odium which attached to him unjustly. 
 
 XVII. That the marriage union between Mr. and Mrs. 
 Tilton, until broken by Mr. Beecher, was of more than 
 common harmony, affection, and mutual respect. Their 
 house and household were regarded for years by all their 
 guests as an ideal home. As evidence of the feeling and 
 spirit which this wife entertained for her husband, up to 
 the time of her corruption by Mr. Beecher, the following 
 letters by Mrs. Tilton, written only a few months before 
 her loss of honor, will testify : 
 
 MES. TILTON TO ME. TILTON. 
 
 TuESBAT MoENiNG, Jan. 28, 1868. 
 Mt Belovkd: Don't you know the peculiar phase of 
 Christ's character as a Lover is so precious to me because 
 of my consecration and devotion to you ? I learn to love 
 you from my love to Him. I have learned to love Him 
 from loving you. I couple you with Him. Nor do I feel 
 it one whit irreverent. And as every day I adorn myself, 
 consciously, as a bride tO meet her bridegroom, so in like 
 manner I lift imploring hands that my soul's love may be 
 prepared. I, with the little girls, after you left us, with 
 overflowing eyes and hearts^ consecrated ourselves to our 
 work and to you. My waking thoughts last night were of 
 you. My rising thoughts this morning were of you. I 
 bless you ; I honor you ; I love you. God sustain us, and 
 help us both to keep our vows. 
 
20 THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 
 
 Satpkdat Evening, Feb. 1, 1868. 
 
 O, well I know, as far as I am capable, I love you. Now 
 to keep this fire high and generous is the ideal before me. 
 I am only perfectly contented and restful when you are 
 with me. These latter months I have thought, looked and 
 yearned for the hour when you would be at home, with 
 longings unutterable. 
 
 Monday, Feb. .'', 186S— 9 o'clock A. M. 
 
 What may I bring to my beloved this bright morning ? 
 A large, throbbing heart, full of love, single in its aim and' 
 purpose to bless and cheer him ? Is it acceptable, sweet 
 one? 
 
 Monday Moening, Feb. 24, 1868. 
 
 Do you wonder that I couple your love, your presence 
 and relation to me with the Saviour's 1 1 lift you up sa- 
 credly, and keep you in that exalted and holy place where 
 I reverence, respect and love with the fervency of my whole 
 being. 
 
 "Whatever capacity I have, I offer it to you. The clos- 
 ing lines of your letter are these words: "I shall hardly 
 venture again upon a great friendship — your love shall be 
 enough for the remaining days." That word '' enough " 
 seems a stoicism on which you have resolved to live your 
 life — but I pray God he will supply you with friendships 
 pure, and with wifely love which your great heart de- 
 mands, withholding not Himself as the Chief Love which 
 ijonsumeth not though it burn, and whose effects are al- 
 ways perfect rest and peace. 
 
 Again, ia one of your letters, you close with: "Faith* 
 fully yours " — that word. Faithful, means a great deal- 
 Yes, darling, I believe it, trust it, and give you the same 
 surety with regard to myself, I am faithful to you ; have 
 been always, and shall for ever be, world without end. 
 Call not this assurance, impious; there are some things we 
 jfcjioio. Blessed be God 1 
 
 Home, February 29, 1868. ) 
 Satueday Evening. \ 
 
 Ah, did ever man ever love so grandly as my Beloved % 
 Other friendships, public affairs, all " fall to naught" when 
 I come to you. Though you are in Decorah, to-night, yet 
 I have felt your love, and am very grateful for it. I had 
 not received a line since Monday, and was so hungry and 
 lonesome that I took out all your letters and indulged my- 
 self as at a feast, but without satiety. And now 1 long to 
 pour out into your heart of my abundance. I am con- 
 scious of three jets to the fountain of my soul — to the 
 
THEODOEE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 21 
 
 Oreat Lover and yourself — to whom as one I am eternally 
 ■wedded; my children; and the dear friends who trust and 
 love me. I do not wast another Jong separation. While 
 we are in the flesh, let us abide together. 
 
 Wednesday Moen, March, 1868. 
 
 O, how almost perfectly could I minister to you this 
 winter, my heart grows so perpetually. I am conscious of 
 great inward awakening toward you. If I live I shall 
 teach my children to iegin their loves where now I am. I 
 cannot conceive of anything more delicious than a life con- 
 secrated to a faithful love. I insist that I miss you more 
 than you do me, but soon I shall see my beloved. 
 
 Tope Own Deae Wite. 
 otheb letters. 
 
 In addition to the above, many other letters by Mrs. 
 Tilton to her huk.band, prior to her con'uption by Mr. 
 Beecher, served to show that a Christian wife, loving her 
 husband to the extreme degree above set forth, could only 
 have been swerved from the path of rectitude by artful and 
 powerful persuasions, clothed in the phrases of religion, 
 and enforced by strong appeals from her chief Christian 
 teacher and guide. 
 
 XVIII. That the story purporting to explain Mr. 
 Beecher's apology as having been written because he had 
 offended Mr. Tilton by engaging his wife in the project of a 
 separation from her husband is false, as will be seen by the 
 following letter written only three days after the date of 
 the apology : , 
 
 174 Livingston Steeet, Beooklyn, ) 
 January 4, 1871. ) 
 Mr. FrofMs D. Moulton : 
 
 Mt Deae Feiend — In regard to your question whether 
 I have ever sought a separation from my husband, I 
 indignantly deny that such was ever the fact, as I have 
 denied it a hundred times before. The story that I wanted 
 a separation was a deliberate falsehood, coined by my poor 
 mother who said she would bear the responsibility of this 
 and otker statements she might make and communicated 
 to my husband's enemy, Mrs. H. W. Beecher, and by her 
 communicated to Mr. Bowen. T feel outraged by the 
 whole proceeding, and am now suffering in consequence 
 more than I am able to bear. 
 
 I am yours, very truly, Elizabeth R. Tilton. 
 
 XIX. That during the first week in January, 1871, a few 
 days after the apology was written, Mr. Beecher commua- 
 
22 THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 
 
 icated to Mr. Tilton, through Mr. Moulton, an earnest wish 
 that he (Mr. Tilton) would take his family to Europe and 
 reside there for a term of years, at> Mr. Beecher's expense. 
 Similar offers have been since repeated by Mr. Beecher to 
 Mr. Tilton through the same channel. A message of kindred 
 tenor was brought from Mr. Beecher to Mr. Tilton, last 
 summer, by Mr. F. B. Carpenter, as will appear from the 
 following affidavit: 
 
 ATFIDAYIT OF F. B. CAEPENTEE. 
 
 HoMEE, ]Sr. T., July 18, 1874. _ 
 On Sunday, June 1, 1873, two days after the surrepti- 
 tious publication of the tripartite covenant between H. W. 
 Beecher, H. C. Bowen, and Theodore Tilton, I walked. 
 ■with Mr. Beecher from Plymouth Church to the residence 
 of Mr. F. D. Moulton, in Remsen street. On the way to 
 Mr. Moulton's house, Mr. Beecher said to me that, if Mr. 
 Tilton would stand by him, he would share his fame,.iil- 
 fortune, and everything he possessed with him (Tilton).. 
 
 Feancis B. Caepentee.. 
 
 Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 18th day ol 
 July, 1874. William T. Hicok, Notary Public. 
 
 Mr. Carpenter, in communicating to Mr. Tilton the 
 above affidavit, says, in a letter accompanying it : 
 
 I have no hesitation in giving you the statement, as I 
 understood at the time that it was for me to repeat in sub- 
 stance to you, and I did so repeat it. It was at this inter- 
 view Mr. Beecher spoke to me of his apology to you. 
 
 ' The charge that Mr. Tilton ever attempted to levy black- 
 mail on Mr. Beecher is false ; on the contrary, Mr. Tilton 
 has always resented every attempt by Mr. Beecher to put. 
 him under pecuniary obligation. 
 
 XX. Not long after the scandal became pdblic, Mrs. 
 Tilton wrote on a slip of paper, and left on her kusband's 
 writing desk, the following words : 
 
 Now that the exposure has come, my whole nature 
 revolts to join with you or standing with you. 
 
 Through the influence of Mr. Beecher's friends the 
 opinion has long been diligently propagated that the 
 Bcandal was due to Mr. Tilton, and that the alleged facts 
 were malicious inventions by him to revenge himself for 
 supposed and imaginary wrongs done to him by Mr. 
 Beecher. Many words were spoken from time to time by 
 Mrs. Tilton to the praise and eulogy of Mr. Beecher 
 which, being extensively quoted through his congregation 
 
THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 23 
 
 heightened the impression that Mr. Tilton was Mr. Beecher't 
 slanderer, Mrs. Tilton being herself the authority for the 
 statement. In this way Mrs Tilton and one of her relatives 
 have been the chief causes of the great difficulty of sup- 
 pressing the scandal. They have had a habit of saying, 
 "Mr. Tilton believes such and such things;" and their 
 naming of these things by way of denial has been a mis- 
 chievous way of circmating them broadcast. In this way 
 Mr. Tilton has been made to appear a defamer, whereas he 
 has made every effort in his power to suppress the inju- 
 rious tales which he has been charged with propagating. 
 On all occasions he has systematically referred to his wife 
 in terms favorable to her character. 
 
 Further, Mr. Tilton would not have communicated to 
 the committee the facts contained in the statement except 
 for the perverse course of the Kev. Henry Ward Beecher 
 and Mrs. Elizabeth E. Tilton, to degrade and destroy him 
 in the public estimation. 
 
 STRANGE. 
 
 XXI. That one evening, about two weeks afber the pub- 
 lication of Mr. Tilton's letter to Dr. Bacon, Mrs. Tilton, 
 on coming home at a late hour, informed her husband that 
 she had been visited at a friend's house by a committee of 
 investigation, and had given sweeping evidence acquitting 
 Mr. Beecher of every charge. This was the first intima- 
 tion which Mr. Tilton received that any such committee 
 was then in existence. Furthermore, Mrs. Tilton stated 
 that she had done this by advice of a lawyer, whom Mr. 
 Beecher had sent to her, and who, in advance of her appear- 
 ing before the committee, arranged with her the questions 
 and answers which were ' to constitute her testimony in 
 Mr. Beecher's behalf. On the next day, after giving this 
 untrue testimony before the committee, she spent many 
 hours of extreme suffering from pangs of conscience at 
 having testified falsely. She expressed to her husband the 
 hope that God would forgive her jerj'ury, but that the mo- 
 tive was to save Mr. Beecher and h.er husband, and remove 
 all reproach from the cause of religion. She also expressed 
 similar contrition to one of her intimate friends. 
 
 EECAPILUTATION. 
 
 XXII. Finally, that in addition to the foregoing facts 
 and evidencesj other confirmations could be adduced if 
 needed to prove the followmg recapitulated statement, 
 namely, that the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, as pastor and 
 friend of Mr. Tilton and his family, trespassed upon the 
 
24 THEODORE TILTON'S STATEMENT. 
 
 sancity of friendship and hospitality in a long endeavor 
 to seduce Mrs. Elizabeth R. Tilton ; that by the artful use 
 of his priestly authority with her, she being his pupil in 
 religion, he, accomplished this seduction; that for a period 
 of a year imd a half, or thereabout, he maintained crim- 
 inal intercourse with her,- overcoming her previous modest 
 scruples against such conduct by investing it with a false^ 
 justification as sanctioaed by love and religion ; that he 
 then participated in a conspiracy to degrade Theodore 
 Tilton before the public, by loss ot place, business, and re- 
 pute ; that he abused Mr. Tilton's forgiveness and pledge 
 of protection by thereafter authorizing a series of measures 
 by Plymouth Church having for their object the putting 
 of a stigma upon Mr. Tilton before the church, and also be- 
 fore an ecclesiastical council, insomuph that the Moderator 
 of that council, interpreting these acts by Mr. Beecher and 
 his church, declared publicly that they showed Mr. Beecher 
 to be the most magnanimous of men, and Mr. Tilton to be 
 a knave and dog ; that when Mr. Tilton, thereafter, not in 
 malice, but for self-protection, wrote a letter to Dr.' Bacon, 
 alluding therein to an offence and apology by the Rev. 
 Henry Ward Beecher, he (Mr. Beecher) defiantly appointed 
 a committee of his church members to inquire into the 
 injury done him by Mr. Tilton by the aforesaid allusion, 
 and implying that he (Mr. Beecher) had never been the 
 author of such offence and apology, and that Mr. Tilton 
 was a slanderer ; that to ihate this inquiry bear greviously 
 against Mr. Tilton, he (Mr. Beecher) previously connived 
 with Mrs. E. R. Tilton to give false testimony in his (Mr. 
 Beecher's) behalf ; that Mr. Beecher's course toward Mr. 
 Tilton and family has at last resulted in open destruction 
 of Mr. Tilton's household and home, and in the desola- 
 tion of his heart and life. 
 
 Thiodoee Tiltok. 
 
 Sworn to before me, this 20th day of July, 1874. 
 
 Theo. Buegmteb, Notary Public 
 
BEEOHER'S STATEMENT, 
 
 An Emphatic Denial of Mr. Tilton's Charges, 
 
 The chorus of conversation in the highways and byways of 
 Brooklyn and New York was upon the statement of Theodore 
 Tilton. Groups on the street, on the ferry boats, in the cars, every- 
 ■where, were talking over the charges, speculating on their truth, 
 and wondering what Mr. Beecher would say in reply. The pastor 
 of Plymouth Church took his good night's rest, as he said he should, 
 and yesterday morning went to work in his library. General Tracy 
 called upon him early in the day, and was closeted with him for over 
 an hour. Then the general called on Mrs. Tilton, who is staying 
 with Mrs. Ovington, and was with her for some time. 
 
 In the afternoon the members of the Investigating Committee met 
 in Mr. Storr's house in Monroe Place. Mr. Tilton rang the bell at 
 three o'clock, and entered with a bundle of papers under his arm.. 
 General Tracy conducted the cross-examination on the statement 
 which was made Monday night. After three hours' session he 
 stepped from the bouse. To a Sun reporter he said, "The cross- 
 examination of Mr. Tilton has not been finished. He still refuses 
 to produce the originals of the letters he uses in his statements. 
 
 MR. TILTON APPEARS. 
 
 Mr. Tilton soon followed. He said to the reporters; "I have not 
 refused to produce the original documents." 
 
 As he passed on, a reporter asked him whether he would be at 
 home in the evening. 
 
 He turned dramatically about and said, sternly: "I have no 
 home!" 
 
 General Tracy, after tea, went to Mr. Beecher's residence on 
 Columbia Hights, aiid was soon joined by Mr. Thomas G. Shear- 
 man, the clerk of Plymouth Church. Prof. . Rossiter W. Raymond 
 called afterward, and with Mr. Beecher the gentlemen went up 
 stairs. 
 
 In two hours Mr. Thomas G. Sherman met the newspaper men at 
 his residence, and delivered to them the following statement from 
 the Rev. Heury Ward Beecher: 
 
 MR. BEBCHEB'S statement. 
 
 I do not propose at this time a detailed examination of the re- 
 markable statement of Mr. Theodore Tilton, made before the Com- 
 mittee of Investigation, and which appeared in the Brooklyn Argus 
 of Julj 21, 1874. I Jfico^nize the many reasons which make it of 
 
26 BEECHER'S STATEMENT. 
 
 transcend ant importance to myself, the church, and the cause of pub- 
 lic mortality that I shall give a full auswer to the charges against 
 me. But having requested the Committee of Investigation to search 
 this matter to the bottom, it is to them that I must look for my yin- 
 dictiqn. 
 
 But I cannot delay for an hour to defend the reputation of Mrs. 
 Elizabetli R. Tilton, upon vphose name in connection with mine her 
 husband has attempted to pour shame. 
 
 One less deserving of such disgrace I never knew. From cliild- 
 hood she lias been under my eye, and since reaching womanliood she 
 has had my sincere admiration and afiection. I cherisli for her a 
 pure feeling, such as a gentleman might honorably offer to a Chris- 
 tian woman, and which she miglit receive and reciprocate without 
 moral scruple. I reject with indignation every insinuation which 
 reflects upon her honor or my own. 
 
 My regard for Mrs. Tiltoil was perfectly well known to my family ; 
 when serious difficulties Sprang up in her household, it was to my 
 wife that she resorted for counsel ; and both of us, acting from sym- 
 pathy, and as it subsequently appeared, without full knowledge, 
 gave unadvised counsel which tended to harm. 
 
 I have no doubt that Mr. Tiltou found that his wife's confidence 
 and reliance upon my judgment had greatly increased, while his in- 
 fluence had diminislied in consequence of a marked change in his 
 religious and social views, which was taking place during thoseyears. 
 Her mind, was greatly exei-cised lest her children should be harmed 
 by views which she deemed vitally false and dangerous. 
 
 I was suddenly and rudely aroused to the impending danger by 
 the disclosures of domestic distress, of sickness perhaps unto 
 death, of the likelihood of separation, and the scattering of a fam- 
 ily, every member of whicli I had tenderly loved.- The effect upon 
 "me of the discovery of tlie state of Mr. Tiltou's fceljiigs, and the 
 condition of his family, surpassed in sorrow and excitement any- 
 thing that I ever experienced in my life. That my presence, in- 
 fluence and counsel had brought to a beloved family sorrow and 
 alienation, gave in my then state of mind, a poignancy to my suffer- 
 ing which I hope no oth.er man may ever feel. 
 
 Even to be suspected of having offered, under the priviliges of a 
 peculiarly sacred relation, an indecorum to a wife and motlier, could 
 not but deeply wound any one who is sensitive to the honor of 
 womanhood. 1 here were peculiar reasons for alarm in tliis case on 
 other grounds ; inasmuch as I was then subject to certain malignant 
 rumors, and a flagrant outbreak in this family would bring upon 
 them an added injury derived from these shameless falsehoods. 
 
 Believing at the time that my presence and counsels had tended, 
 however unconsciously, to produce asocial catastrophe, represented 
 as imminent,! gave expression to my feelings in an interview with a, 
 mutual friend, not in cold and cautious, self-defending words, but 
 eagerly, taking blame upon myself, and pouring out my heart to 
 my friend in the strongest language, overburthened witli the ex- 
 aggerations of impassioned sorrow. Had I been the evil man Mr. 
 Tilton now represents,! should have been calmer and more prudent. 
 It was my horror of the evil imputed that filled me with morbid in- 
 tensity at the very shadow of it. 
 
 Not only was my friend affected generously, but he assured me 
 that such expressions, if conveyed to Mr. Tilton, would soothe 
 
BEECHEE'S STATEMENT. 37 
 
 wounded feeling, allay anger, and heal the ■whole trouble. He took 
 down sentences and fragments of what I had been saying, to use 
 them as a meditator. A full statement of the circumstances under 
 which this memorandum was made I shall give to the Investigating 
 Committee. , 
 
 That these apologies were more than ample to meet the facts of 
 the case is evident, in that they were accepted, that our intercourse 
 resumed its friendliness ; that Mr. Tilton subsequently ratified it in 
 writing, and that he has continued for 'four years, and until within 
 two weeks, to live with his wife. 
 
 Is it conceivable, if the original charge had been what is now 
 alleged, that he would have condoned the offense not only with the 
 mother of his children, but with him whom he believed to have 
 wronged them? The absurdity as well as the falsity of this story is 
 apparent when it is considered that Mr. Tilton now alleges that he 
 carried this guilty secret of his wife's infidelity for six months, 
 locked up in his own breast, and that then he divulged it to me 
 only that there might be a reconciliation with me! Mr. Tilton has 
 since, in every form of language, and to a multitude of witnesses, 
 orally, in written statements and in printed documents, declared 
 his faith in his wife's purity. 
 
 After the reconciliation of Mr. Tilton with me, every consid- 
 ertion of propriety and honor demanded that the family trouble 
 should be kept in that seclusion which domestic affairs have aright 
 to claim as asanctuary ; and to that seclusion it was determined that 
 it should be confined. 
 
 Every line and word of my private and confidential letters which 
 have been published are in harmony with the statements which I 
 now make. My published correspondence on this subject com- 
 prises but two elements: The expression of my grief, and that of 
 my desire to shield the honor of a pure and innocent woman. 
 
 I do not propose to analyze and contest at this time the extraor- 
 dinary paper of Mr. Tilton'; but there are two allegations which I 
 cannot permit to pass without special notice. They refer to the 
 only two incidents which Mr. Tilton pretends to have witnessed 
 personally; the one, an alleged scene in my house while looking 
 over engravings; and the other, a chamber scene in his own house. 
 His statements concerning^ these are absolutely false. Notliing of 
 the kind ever occurred, nor any semblance of any such things. They 
 are now brought to my notice for the first time. 
 
 To every statement which connects me dishonorably with Mrs. 
 Elizabeth R. Tilton, or which in anywise would impugn the honored 
 purity of this beloved Christian woman, I give the most explicit. 
 Comprehensive and solemn denial. Henry Waed Bbechek. 
 
 Bbookltn, July 22, 1874. ' 
 
 The statement was read to several members of the committee, 
 who expressed the greatest joy at its contents, and their belief that 
 it would carry conviction wherever it was read. 
 
Statement of Mrs. Elizabeth R. Tilton. 
 
 To pick up anew the sorrows of the last ten years, the stings and 
 pains I had daily schooled myself to bury and forgive, makes this 
 Imperative duty, as called forth by the malicious statement of my 
 husband, the saddest act of my life. Besides, my thought of fol- 
 lowing the Master, contradicts this act of my pen, and a sense of 
 the perversion of my life-faith almost compels me to stand aside till 
 God himself delivera 
 
 Yet I see in this wanton act an urgent call and privilege froip 
 which I shrink not. To reply in detail to the twenty-two articles 
 of arraignment, I shall not attempt at present. Yet, if called upon 
 to testify to each and all of them, I shall not hesitate to do so. 
 Suffice it for my purpose now, that I reply to . one or more of the 
 most glaring charges. 
 
 Touching the feigned sorrow of my husband's compulsery reve- 
 lations, I solemnly avow, that long before the WoodhuU publica- 
 cation, I knew him by insinuation and direct statement to have re- 
 peated to every near relative and friend the substance of these ac- 
 cusations which shock the moral sense of the entire cummunity this 
 day. Many times, when hearing that certain persons had spoken 
 ill of him, he has sent to me to chide them for so doing; and then 
 and there I learned that he had been before me with his calumnies 
 against myself, so that I was speechless. 
 
 The reiteration in his statement that he had "persistently striven 
 to hide " these so called facts is utterly false, as his hatred to Mr. 
 Beecher has existed these many years, and the determination to ruin 
 JVIr. Beecher has been the one aim of his life. 
 
 A.gain the perfidy with which the holiest love a wife ever offered, 
 has been recklessly discovered in this publication, reaches wtllnigh 
 to sacrilege, and added to this, the endeavor, like the early scandal 
 of Mrs. Woodhull, to make my own works condemn me, nas no 
 parallel. 
 
 Most conspicuously, my letter quoting the reading of Oriffith 
 Oaunt. Had Mr. Tilton read the pure character of Catherine, he 
 would have seen that I lifted myself beside it — as near as any hu- 
 man may affect an ideal. But it was her character, and not the in- 
 cidents of fiction surrounding it, to which I referred. Hers was no 
 ■am of criminal act or thought. 
 
 A like " confession " with hers I made to Mr. Tilton in telling of 
 my love to my friend and pastor, one year before. And I now add 
 that, notwithstanding all misrepresentations and anguish of soul, I 
 owe to my acquaintance and friendship with Mr. Beecher, as to no 
 ■other human instrumentality, that eccouragement in my mental 
 life, and that growth towards the divine nature, which enables me 
 to walk daily in a lively hope of the life beyond. 
 
 (28) 
 
STATEMENT OF MRS. ELIZABETH K. TILTON. 28 
 
 The shameless cliarges in articles 7, 8, and 9 are fearfully false in 
 each and every particular. 
 
 The letter referred to in Mr. Tilton's tenth paragraph was ob- 
 tained from me by importunity, and by representations that it was 
 necessary for him to use in his then pending difficulties with Mr. 
 Bowen. I was then sick, nigh unto death, having sufferetl a mis- 
 carriage only four days before. I signed whatever he required, witli- 
 out knowing or understanding its import. The paper I have never 
 seen, and do not know what statements it contained. 
 
 In charge 18,a letter of mine, addressed to Mr. Francis Moulton, 
 is quoted to prove that I never desired a separation or was advised 
 by Mr. or Mrs. Beecher to leave my husband. I reply tlie letter was 
 of Mr. Tilton's own concoction, which he induced me to copy and 
 sign as my own— an act which, in my weakness and mistaken 
 thought to help him, I have done too often daring those unhappy 
 year*. 
 
 The implication that the harmony of our home was unbroken till 
 Mr. Beeeher entered it as a frequent guest and friend, is a lament- 
 able satire upon the household where he himself, years before, laid 
 the corner stone of Free Love, and desecrated its altars up to the 
 time of my departure; so that the atmosphere was not only Godless, 
 but impure for my children. And in this eSort and throe of ago'ny, 
 I would fain lift my daughters, and all womanhood, from the in- 
 sidious and diabolical teachings of these latter days. 
 
 Hisfrequent efforts to prove me insane, weak-minded, insignificant, 
 of mean presence, all rank in the category of heartlessness, selfishness 
 and falsehood, have their climaxin his present endeavor to convince 
 the world that I am, or ever have been, unable to distinguish be- 
 tween an innocent and a guilty love. 
 
 In summing up the whole matter, I affirm myself before God to 
 be innocent of the crimes laid upon me; that never liave I been 
 guilty of adultery with Henry Ward Beecher in thought or deed; 
 nor has he ever offered to me an indecorous or improper proposal. 
 
 To the further charge that I was led away from my home by Mr. 
 Beecher's friends, and by the advice of a lawyer wliom Mr. Beecher 
 had sent to me, and who, in advance of my appearing before the 
 committee, arranged with me the questions and answer? which were 
 to constitute my testimony in Mr. Beecher's behalf, I answer, that 
 this is again untrue, having never seen the lawyer until introduced 
 to him a few moments before the arrival of the committee by my 
 step-father, Judge Morse; and in further reply I submit the follow- 
 ing statement of my action before the committee, and the separation 
 from my husband. 
 
 The publication of Mr. Tilton's letter in answer to Dr. Bacon I 
 had not known nor suspected when on Wednesday evening he 
 brought home the Oolden Age, handing it to me to read. Look- 
 ing down its columns I saw, well nigh with blinding eyes, that he 
 had put into execution the almost daily threat of his life — ' ' that he 
 lived to crush out Mr. Beecher ; that the God of Battles was in him ; 
 he had always been Mr. Beecher's superior, and all that lay in his 
 path, wife, children or reputation, if need be, should fall before 
 this purpose." 
 
 I did not read it. I saw enough without reading. My spirit arose 
 ■within me as never before. 
 
 "Theodore," I said, "tell me what means this quotation from 
 
Se STATEMENT OF MRS. ELIZABETH R. TILTON. 
 
 Mr. Beecher?" Two years ago you came to me at midnight saying: 
 'Elizabeth, all letters and papeis concerning my difficulties with 
 Mr. Beecher and Mr. Bowen are burned, destroyed ; now don't you 
 betray me, fori have notliing to defend myself with.' " 
 
 " 'Did you believe that?' said he. 
 
 " 'I certainly did, implicitly,' I said. 
 
 " 'Well, let me tell you — they all live; not one is destroyed.' 
 
 If this was said to intimidate me it had quite the contrary effect. I 
 had never been so fearless, nor seen so clearly before with whom I 
 was dealing. 
 
 Coming to me a little later, he said: " I want you to read it; 
 you will find it a vindication of yourself. You have not stood be- 
 fore the community for five years as you now do." 
 
 Roused still further by the wickedness hid behind so false a 
 mask, I replied: "Theodore, understand me, this is the last time 
 you call me publicly to walk through this filth. My character needs 
 no vindication at this late hour from you. There was a time, had 
 you spoken out clearly, truthfully and manfully for me, I had been 
 grateful, but now I shall speak and act for myself. Know, also, 
 that if in tlie future I see a icrap of paper referring to any human 
 being, however remote, which it seems to me you might use to per- 
 vert for your own ends, I will destroy it." 
 
 "This means battle on your part, then?" said he. 
 
 " .Just so far," I replied. 
 
 I write this because these words of mine he has since used to my 
 harm. 
 
 The next morning I went to my brother and told him that now I had 
 decided to act in this matter; that I had been treated by my hus- 
 band as a nonentity from the beginning, a plaything to be used or 
 laid aside at will ; that it had alM-ays seemed to me that I was a 
 party not a little concerned. I then showed him a card I had made 
 for publication. 
 
 He respected the motive, but still advised silence on my part. I 
 yielded to him thus far, as to appearing in the public priuts; but 
 counseling with myself, and no other, it occurred to me that among 
 the brethren of my own communion I might be heard. 
 
 Not knowing of any church committee, I asked the privilege of 
 such an interview in the parlors of those who had always been our 
 mutual friends. Mr. and Mrs. Ovington then learned for the first 
 time that the committee would meet that night, and advised me to 
 see those gentlemen, as perhaps the goodliest persons I could select. 
 This I accordingly did. 
 
 There, alone,! pleaded the cause of my husband and my children, 
 the result being that their hearts were moved in sympathy for my 
 family — a feeling their pastor had shared for years, and for which 
 he was now suffering. 
 
 On going home I found my husband reading in bed. I told him 
 where I had been, and that I did not conf-eal anything from him, 
 as his habit was from me. He asked who the gentlemen were; said 
 no more; arose, dresFed himself, and bade me good-bye forever. 
 
 The midnight following I was awakened by my husband standing 
 by my bed. In a very tender, kind voice, he said he wished to see 
 me. I arose instantly, followed him into his room, and sitting on 
 the bed-side, he drew me into his lap, said "he was proud of me, 
 loved me; that nothing ever gave him such real peace and satisfac- 
 
STATEMENT OF MRS. ELIZABETH K, TILTON. 31 
 
 tion as to hear me well spoken of ; that, meeting a member of th» 
 committee, he liad learned that he had been mistaken as to my mo- 
 tive ill seeing the committee, and had liastened to assure me that he 
 had been thoroughly wretched since his rash treatrrient of me the 
 night before." etc. 
 
 Then and there we covenanted sacredly our hearts and lives 
 — I most utterly renewing my trust in the one human heart 
 loved. 
 
 The next day, how happy we were! Theodore wrote a statement to 
 present to the committee when they should call upon him, to all of 
 which I heartily acceded. This document, God knows, was a true 
 history of this afiair, completely vindicating my honor and the 
 honor of my pastor. In the afternoon he left me to show it to his 
 friends. 
 
 He returned home early in the evening, passing the happiest 
 hours I had known for years; renewedly assuring me there was no 
 rest for him away from me. So in grateful love to the dear Fa- 
 ther, I slept. Oh, that the end had then come! I would not 
 then record the cruel blow "which made a woman mad out- 
 right." 
 
 Ihe next morning he called upon our friend, Mr. and Mrs. Ovirll;- 
 ' ton, and there, wiJli a shocking bravado, began a wicked tirade, 
 adding with oath and violence the shameless slanders against Mr. 
 Beecher, of which I now believe him to be the author. 
 
 This fearful scene I learned next day. In the afternoon he showed 
 me his invitation from the committee to meet them thut evening. I 
 did not then show my hurt, but carried it heavily within, but 
 calmly without, all night till early morning. 
 
 Beflection upon this scene at Mr. Ovington's convinced me that, 
 notwithstanding my hushaiid's recent professions to me, his former 
 spirit was unchanged ; that his declarations of repentance and affec- 
 tion were only for the purpose of gaining my assistance to accomplish 
 hiatends in his warfare upon Mr. Beecher. In the light of these 
 conclusions my duty appeared plain. 
 
 I arose quietly, and having dressed, roused him only to say, " Theo- 
 dore, I will never take another step by your side. The end has in- 
 deed come!" 
 
 He followed me to Mrs. Ovington's to breakfast, saying I was un- 
 duly excited, and that he had been misrepresented, perhaps— but 
 leaving me determined as before. 
 
 How to account fortlie change which twenty-four hours have beea 
 capable of working in his mind, these many years past, I leave for 
 the eternities with their mysteries to reveal. That he is an unrelia- 
 ble and unsafe guide, whose idea of truth-loving is self-loving, it is 
 nay misfortune in this late, sad hour to discover. 
 
 July 23, 1874. Elizabeth R. Tilton. 
 
TILTON'S TESTIMONY. 
 
 The Gross-Examination after the Reading of 
 the Charges, 
 
 The Committee's Own Report. 
 
 HENRY WARD BEECHER'S APOLOGY. 
 
 « nfr. Sage's Letter^ 
 
 Mr! Tilton's direct testiiliony having been published without the 
 knowledge or consent of the committoc of investigation, and fi'ag- 
 mentary and inaccui'ate reports of his testimony under cross-exam- 
 ination, liaving been published, by means unknown to the commit- 
 tee and without its consent, whereby it is said that Mr. Tilton feels 
 that injustice has beon, done to him, it is believed that ,iu fairness 
 to all parties the whole of Mr. Tilton's testimony, should be made 
 public at once. H. W. Sage, Chairman. 
 
 Brooklyn, July 25, 1874. 
 
 The Cross- Examination. 
 
 Brookltn, July 20. — The committee met at 8 o'clock. All the 
 members were present. Mr. Tilton was present with a written 
 statement which he read, and which has already been published in' 
 full. 
 
 After the reading of the statement a brief conversation en- 
 sued on the subject of its publication, the committee suggesting that 
 it would be wise to postpone such publication until after all the 
 testimony should be heard, and Mr. Tilton declining to be restricted 
 in the matter. The cross-examination of Mr. Tilton then pro- 
 ceeded: 
 
 Gen. Tracy. — Are you aUe to give the date of the transaction 
 which you say you witnessed at Mr. Beecher's house at the time of 
 the examination of the engraving? 
 
 A. I cannot state the date. 
 
 Q. At the time you received the information you speak of from 
 your wife, you were the editor of the Independent and of the Brook- 
 lyn, Union,, I believe ? 
 
 (3S) 
 
Mrs. ELIZABETH R. TILTON. 
 
TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 33 
 
 A. I WM. 
 
 MK8. TtLTON AT PLYMOUTH CHCRCH. 
 
 Q. Did your ■wife continue to attend Plymoutli Cliurch after 
 that information? 
 
 A. Yes, sir; that was in the summer time; she \reut into th« 
 country and was absent a long time ; she has always continued to 
 attend once or twice a year; she is a member of Plymouth Church. 
 
 Q. Did she attend regularly after returning from the country? 
 
 A. No, sir; she attended occasionally for communion service, 
 and would steal in quietly at the corner of the building, so aa to be 
 'Unobserved. 
 
 Q. Previous to announcing your discovery, or pretended dis- 
 covery, to Mr. Beecher you had fallen into trouble with Henry C. 
 Bowe'n, had you not? 
 
 A. Yes, sir. 
 
 Q. How long before? 
 
 A. Two days. 
 
 Q. You had ceased to be the editor of the Independent when yoa 
 made this announcement? 
 
 A. No, sir ; I ceased to be the editor of the Independent on the 
 1st day of January. 
 
 Q. Was not your valedictory published on the 23d of December? 
 
 A. Yes, sir;. but my engagement ended on the Slat. 
 
 Q. Had you not entered into a contract with Mr. Bowen to be 
 editor of the Union and contributor of the Independent before you 
 made any announcement to Mr. Beecher of the pretended discovery, 
 and had not Mr. Bowen discovered immoralities on your part, and 
 did he not threaten to break the engagement with you? 
 
 A. No, he did not. 
 
 SCORKING MR. BEBCHER'S AID. 
 
 Q. Did you complain of Mr. Beecher for not aiding you to re- 
 BiaiQ in the Indtpendenf ? 
 
 A. No, sir; I would have scorned it. 
 
 Q. Yon have read Mr. Wilkeson's statement? 
 
 A. I have not. 
 
 Q. Yon know Samuel Wilkeson? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Did you say to him about that time that Mr. Beecher had 
 not befriended you in that matter? 
 
 A. I did not, and Mr. Wilkeson will not dare to say that under 
 oath. 
 
 Q. You say you never complained of Mr. Beecher for not helping 
 you? 
 
 A. No, not for nothelping me, but for being unjust to me and 
 saying that I ought to be turned out. I understood that he said to 
 Dr. Spear that they were going to have Mr. Tilton out of the 
 Independent. Mr. Charles Briggs told :ne that. He said, "I know 
 something about this thing; I beard some such thing." 
 
 Q. You say tliat Mr. Beecher apologized and that you accepted 
 the apology? 
 
 A. I read the account of that in the document. 
 
 Q. Did you, or did you not, as a matter of fact, accept the 
 apology which Mr Beecher made, and forgive the offense? 
 
 A. I accepted the apology and forgave the offense with as much 
 laigeness as I thought it was possible for a Christian man to assune- 
 
»* TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 
 
 Q. Friendly relations contiuued after that between you and Mr^ 
 Beecher? 
 
 A. Well, uot friendly; you can understand what such relatione 
 would be; they were not hostile; they were relations which Moulton 
 forced with au iron hand; he compelled them. 
 
 Q. Did you or not, after or about the time of the tripartite agree- 
 ment, express friendly sentiments in regard to him? 
 
 A. I have taken pains to make it appear in all quarters that Mr. 
 Beecher and I were uot in hostility, and have suppressed my self- 
 respect many times in doing it. 
 
 Q Did you ever state this offense of Mr. Beecher as committed- 
 i^ainst you to Mr. Storrs? 
 
 A. I never did. 
 
 Q. Was it ever stated in your presence to him? 
 
 A. No, sir. He read a statement that Mrs. Tilton made, and that 
 I helped her to make. 
 
 Q. Did you go with her when she made that statement to Dr. 
 Stoirs? 
 
 A. I did not. 
 
 MB8. TILTON's complaints. 
 
 Q. Have you any letters from Mrs. Tilton complaining to you? 
 
 A. Yes, I have. 
 
 Q. Have you not many letters from her setting forth her com- 
 plaints and her grievances? 
 
 A. No. She very rarely wrote such letters. She used occasionally 
 to write me letters begging intercession in regard to her mother, and 
 complaining of my views in theology. 
 
 Q. Did you never receive letters from her complaining in other- 
 respects? 
 
 A. In what respects? 
 
 Q. Well in regard to people who were in the habit of frequenting 
 your house at your solicitation? 
 
 A. I have had letters from her mother, complaining of Susan 
 Anthony and Mrs. Stanton; Mrs. Tilton thought Mr. Johnson and 
 others were leading me astray; she is very orthodox; and she wrote 
 me letters expressing strong and earnest hopes that I would be in- 
 tensely orthodox. 
 
 Q. Did she complain of any female society on that ground, or in 
 any way? 
 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. Did she never complain of the presence of any ladies at your 
 house? 
 
 A. I do not think of any. 
 
 Q. Not of Susan Anthony? 
 
 A. She said she would consider it an insult if they came to the 
 bouse; I ''.o not remember of any others. 
 
 Q. Mrs. Wood hull came a great deal, didn't she? 
 
 A. She was three times in my house, once to meet Mr. Beecher, 
 and on two other occasions. 
 
 Q. Only three times? 
 
 A. Three only. 
 
 Q. You say slie came to meet Mr. Beecher? 
 
 A. She did on Sunday afternoon at my house. 
 
 Q. Do you know when tliat was? 
 
 A. 1 tbink Mr. Moulton made that interview. It must have been 
 
TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 36 
 
 in 1871 or 1873, because my acquaintance -with Mrs. WoodhuU 
 began in May, 1871. My impression is that it was warm weather. 
 Mrs. WoodhuU and lier husband came. She always came with her 
 husband. 
 
 MRS. TILTON AND MES. WOODHULL. 
 
 Q. Did your wife complain of her being at your house? 
 
 A. Yes. My wife came home, and Mrs. WoodhuU and Mr. Moul- 
 ton were there sitting in the front parlor. 
 
 Q. What happened? 
 
 A. Oh, nothing, except that Elizabeth expressed her indignation 
 against the woman. I told Elizabeth that she was too dangerous a 
 woman, and that too much of the welfare of our family depended 
 upon her. Elizabeth was wiser than I was. 
 
 Q. Did you excuse your acquaintance with Mrs. WoodhuU to 
 your wife by exciting her fears? 
 
 A. I did not; I explained tliat acquaintance; I told her the way 
 to get along with Mrs. WoodhuU and prevent this coming out, was 
 to keep friendly with her; but then it seemed the only thing that 
 we could do. 
 
 Q. Was the time that Mrs. Tilton expressed her indignation at 
 Mrs. WoodhuU being at your house, the first time that she had seen 
 Mrs. WoodhuU, to your knowledge? 
 
 A. My impression is that she saw her in the Oolden Age office 
 once. It may have been l.)efore or after. I. think Mrs. WoodhuU 
 came to see me while Mrs. Tilton was the'-e. 
 
 Q. With that exception, was the time when Mrs. Tilton expressed 
 her indignation at Mrs. WoodhuU being at your house the first 
 time' that she had seen her? 
 
 A. I do not know. Oh, no; Mrs. WoodhuU and Colonel Blood 
 )iad taken tea at our house. 
 
 Q. Before Mrs. Tilton came in and found her there? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. At whose invitation did they take tea there? 
 
 A. At mine. 
 
 Q. Was it the first time Mrs. Tilton saw Mrs. WoodhuU? 
 
 A. I do not know. 
 
 Q. Mrs. Tilton expressed indignation at her being there, did she 
 not? 
 
 A. Yes, she had a violent feeling against her. She had a woman's 
 instinct that Mrs. WoodhuU was not safe. The mistake was in not 
 being friendly with Blood instead of Mrs. WoodhuU.. That was 
 the blunder. I was at fault for that; nobody else. 
 
 Q. Tliis first letter which you quote from Mrs. Tilton, on page 35, 
 in which she says; "Love is praiseworthy, but to abuse the gift 
 is sin ; here I am strong; no temptations or facinations," &c., what 
 did you understood by that? 
 
 A. I understood this; that she was in the receipt of visits from 
 him, and that she had onco or twice felt that perhaps he was ex- 
 ercising an undue influence upon her; I know that once I was 
 afraid that she did not give me a correct account of his visits; there 
 were a great many visits mentioned in her correspondence. 
 
 Q. Have you the letters here? 
 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. I thought that you were to bring them? 
 
 A. All the originals from which I have quote I will carry before 
 
36 TILTONS CBOSS-EXAMINATION. 
 
 Judge Rcyuolds or any other Judge in the presence of Gen. Tracy. 
 I have great confidence in you, gentlemen; but I do not propose to 
 produce the originals here. If you will release one of your number 
 to go with me before any magistrate I will produce them. Mr. Moul- 
 ton will of course be asked to produce his for examination, line for 
 line. I do not suppose you would snatch them away or keep them ; 
 but at the same time I propose that if you would see the originals 
 Gcii. Tracy should go with me. 
 
 WILLING TO SHOW THE LETTERS. 
 
 Q. Do you refuse to produce the originals before this committeet 
 
 A. I do not refuse to produce them to the committee in the pres- 
 ence of some putside parties. 
 
 Q. Do yoii refuse to produce tliem to the committee alone! 
 
 A. Yes, unless I can have some friends here with me. 
 
 Q. Why did you not take tliat position yesterday? 
 
 A. Because yesterday we had only achat. 
 
 Q. Yes, but did you not promise to produce them? 
 
 A. Yes, and I do now. 
 
 Q. But you decline except in the presence of an officer? 
 
 A. I decline unless I can be perfectly certain that thoy will be re- 
 turned tome. Idon'twant you to consider that as a disparagement. 
 It is only a necessary element in this discussion. You shall see the 
 originals, but I will only show them under safeguards. 
 
 Q. Why do you make that qualification? 
 
 A. For this reason* You are six gentlemen determined, if possi- 
 ble, 'not to find the facts, but to vindicate Mr. Beecher, and I am 
 alone. There are eight of you, and I am a single man ; and if I 
 should hand over to you now Mr. Beecher's apology, perhaps you 
 would not return it to me. Though I do not mean to make that 
 implication, I do not mean to give you the chance. That is frank. 
 
 Mr. Hill — Let me say kindly, speaking on behalf of both of the 
 counsel — the committee may speak for themselves — that the sugges- 
 tion on such a theory is altogether groundless. 
 
 General Tracy — It is not only groundless but outrageous. 
 
 Mr. Hill — I think you are unjust. 
 
 Mr. Tilton — I Imve been informed that this is a matter of life 
 and death. 
 
 Mr. Claflin — This committee could not afford to take that posi- 
 tion. It would not do to take those letters from you. 
 
 Mr. Tilton — I am perfectly willing to bring several friends of 
 mine and make an examination of these letters. You shall see 
 them, butunder proper safeguards — that is all. If Mr. Tracy were 
 in my position he would take the same ground. 
 
 General Tracy — No he would not, I beg your pardon. 
 
 Q. At the beginning of the acquaintance of Mr. Beecher with 
 your family — not with you or your wife; but with your family — did 
 not you invite him frequently to your house! 
 
 A. Yes, sir ; and I was always very proud when he came. 
 
 ■Q. Did you not say to him frequently that you desired him to 
 visit your house frequently? 
 
 A. I did, and always scolded him because he did not come 
 ofteuer; during the first part of our life we were in Oxford street, 
 80 far away that he very rarely came. The frequency of his visits 
 took place after I purchased the house in Livingston street. 
 
 Q. When was that? 
 
. TILT0>r3 CROSS EXAMINATION. 97 
 
 A. 1 have forgotten the year; I should say it was seven, eight, 
 nine, or ten years ago. 
 
 tilton'b esteem for bbecher. 
 
 Q. Did you not say that there was a little woman at your house 
 that loved him dearly? 
 
 A. I did many a time; I always wanted him to come oftener. 
 
 Q. You frequently spoke to him of the high esteem and affection 
 ■ that your wife bore to him, did you not? 
 
 A. I did ; he knew it and I knew it. 
 
 Q. You always knew it? 
 
 A. I cannot say that I always did, because at first, during the 
 early years of my married life, I felt that Mr. Beecher rather slighted 
 my family. He was intimate with me, and I think loved me, but 
 lie did not use to come very often to my house, and ft did not please 
 me. I wanted him to come oftener. 
 
 Q. And it wounded you, did it not? 
 
 A. I cannot say that I was wounded. I was a mere boy. It was 
 a matter of pride to have bim there. Elizabeth at first was modest 
 and frightened. She did not know how to talk with him, or how 
 to entertain him; and it was a slow process by wbicli he obtained 
 her confidence so that she could talk with him. It was the same 
 with Mr. Greeley. He had great reverence for lier, and had an ex- 
 alted opinion of her. I do not think there was a woman'that he had 
 a higher regard for than for Mrs. Tilton. 
 
 Q. And did not she have a high regard for him also? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. And that was known to you too? 
 
 A. Tliat was known to me; and I was very glad of it. 
 
 Q. Mr. Greeley came to your house often? 
 
 A. He used to come and stay soinetimes in the summer a week or 
 two at a time; we kept bachelor's hall; yes, he came often; it was 
 always a white day when Mr. Greeley came; he used to say that he 
 never would come in my absence ; he said that it was not a good 
 habit. 
 
 Q. Did you urge him to come when you were oS lecturing? 
 
 A. I did. 
 
 Q. Did not you impress upon Mr. Beecher the necessity and desire 
 that you had that he would call upon your family and see your wife 
 frequently during your absence? 
 
 A. I did. 
 
 MRS. TILTON THE HEROINE OF "TEMPEST TOSSED." 
 
 Q. Now, Mr. Tilton, you have stated the religious character of 
 your wife; will you describe it again? 
 
 A. My wife's religious cliarncter I have, if you will pardon the al- 
 lusion, undertaken to set forth in the book that I have spent a year 
 in writmg — a work of fiction called "Tempest Tossed" — a name 
 strangely borrowed from my own heaving breast ; in that novel is a 
 character, Mary Vail; I do not want to say vainly before the public 
 that I drew that character for Elizabeth; but I did; there is a chap- 
 ter — the ninth I think (I won't be certain about the number) — 
 which is called "Mary Vail's Journal," I know it is good, because 
 I made it up from Elizabeth's letters, and my heart was cleft in 
 twain to find in these letters some of the same sentences that crept 
 into this chapter. I changed them considerably to make them con- 
 form to the story. I had this feelinjr, that if in this novel I could, 
 
88 TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 
 
 as a mere subordinate part of the story, paint that character, and 
 have it go quietly in an underhanded way forth, that that was 
 Elizabeth (for I think I drew it faithfully) it would be a very 
 thorough answer, as comihg froni me, to the scandals in the com- 
 munity, and that people would say: "Theodore respects his wife" 
 — as I do to-day. 
 
 Q. Was it a truthful character of Elizabeth? 
 
 A. It was. It was not drawn as well as the original would war- 
 rant. 
 
 Q. You say it was not drawn as well as the original would warrant. 
 Then her devotion and purity of life would warrant a higher char- 
 acter than you have given "Mary Vail" in that book? 
 
 A. Yes, unless you attach a technicalmeaningto the wOrd purity; 
 she was made a victim. 
 
 Q. You say that that character in that book falls below the orig- 
 inal? 
 
 A. Yes, because I did not make it a prominent, but subordinate 
 character. 
 
 Q. Are there any other persons that figure in this drama who are 
 described in that book, "Tempest Tossed?" 
 
 A. No, except by mere suggestions. 
 
 Q. la not your true friend described there? 
 
 Mr.Tiltop.'— You mean Mr. Monlton? 
 
 Gen. Tracy. — Yes. ^ 
 
 A. No ; of the characters in "Tempest Tossed," Mary Vail is the 
 only one that is true to life; the character of the colored woman 
 was partly suggested by a colored woman that I knew. 
 
 "gkifpith gaukt. " 
 
 ,Q. You have brought forward the letter of your wife where she 
 describes herself as having received new life, as having read the 
 character of Catherine Gaunt in "Griffith Gaunt;" have you read 
 the character of Catharine Gaunt? 
 
 A. Yesterday I said no ; but I have an impression that I have. 
 A friend of mine yesterday morning, said, that is a singular result 
 from "The Terrible Temptation." Charles Reade has written a 
 book called "The Terrible Temptation." I have never read that 
 book, but on second thought I think I have read "Griffith Gaunt." 
 My impression is, that I read it on a journey, and that I wrote 
 sometliing to Elizabeth about it, and asked her to read it. 
 
 Q. Did you think that the guilt in " Catherine Gaunt " was that 
 of adultery ? 
 
 A. I have no idea that I did. 
 
 Q. Has there been a change in your religious views since you 
 were married? 
 
 A. Yes, sir, very decided, I am happy to say. I think there is in 
 every sensible man's. 
 
 Q. Do you know whether the change in your religous convictions 
 was a source of great grief and sorrow to your wife? ' 
 
 A. It was a great source of tears and anguish to her. She said 
 to me once, that denying the divinity of Christ in lier view nullified 
 our marriage almost ; and I think next to the sorrow of this scan- 
 dal it has caused that woman to sorrow more than anything else ; 
 she suffered because I cannot look upon the Lord Jesus Christ as 
 the Lord God; I think her breast has- been wrenched with it; she 
 
TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 39 
 
 is almoat an enthusiast on the subject of the divinity of her Sav- 
 iour. 
 
 Q. You think her a Cliristian, do you? 
 
 A. Yes, she is the best Christian I know of, barring her faults; 
 Ijetter than any minister. 
 
 Q. Well, on the whole, do you think she is about as white as 
 most Christians? 
 
 A. Yes, whiter than ourselves. 
 
 BOB WIPE NOT TO BLAME. 
 
 Q. Then you would not qu^ify the expression when you say that 
 she is the best Christian you know, barring her faults? Do not 
 you think that she is the best Christian you know with her faults? 
 
 A. No. I would not say that, because there has been a strong 
 deceit wrought out in Elizabeth that comes from the weakness of 
 her character. She has had three strong persons to circulate among 
 — Mr. Beecher, her mother, and me. In sentiment she outdoes us 
 all. Her life is shipwrecked. But she is not to blame. I will 
 maintain that to my dying day. 
 
 Q. Do not you know that in these exigencies she sought consola- 
 -tion from her pastor? 
 
 A. I think she did ; and he took advantage of her orthodox views 
 to make them the net and the mesh in which lie ensnarqd her, and 
 for which I hold him in a contempt which no English words can 
 describe. 
 
 Q. The change of your religious views has been the subject of a 
 great deal of conversation and anguish and labor on her part, has it 
 not? 
 
 A. Oh, yes — of letters, and prayers, and tears, and entreaties, 
 many a time and oft. 
 
 Q. When you say that this has been the thing which has enabled 
 her to be ensnared, do you mean by that you think that was the 
 cause why, in seme degree, her confidence in the advice and judg- 
 ment of her pastor was increased, and why your influence over 
 her was lessened? 
 
 A. Oh yes, largely so, thoroughly so. 
 
 Q. Then when you found that she was leaning more strongly 
 than formerly on the advice and consolation of her pastor, and less 
 on your own, you attributed it naturally to your change in reli- 
 gious sentiments? 
 
 A. Yes; at the same time I did not want Elizabeth to hold my 
 Tiews; I said that she might be a Catholic or a Mohammedan. 
 
 Q. Did she not feel that your views were a source of danger ta' 
 the children? 
 
 A. Yes ; she would not let the children have playthings on Sun- 
 day; John G. Whittier came to our house (he appointed the time), 
 and Mr. Greeley, and met Mr. Johnson; and it almost broke Eliza- 
 beth's heart to think that the best man in New England, whom she 
 reverenced, should have appointed Sunday night; she never re- 
 ceived visitors on Sunday. 
 
 HER REVEEENCE FOR GREAT IfEN. 
 
 Q. Is it not a feature of lier character thatshe has great reverence 
 for those men whom she believes to be pure in life and noble in 
 :thougbtand spirit? 
 
 A. Yes ; she would kiss the hem of their garments. 
 
 Q. Tliat is a marked fratiire of her character, is it not? 
 
40 TILTONB CB06S EXAMINATION. 
 
 A. Uncommonly so. 
 
 Q. Does it not almost go to the extent of idolatry in one senset 
 
 A. Well, no; there arc a great many women who lookupon a mau' 
 with a sense of worship. Elizabeth never did that. Elizabeth is 
 the peer of any man ; at the same time she reverences. It was not 
 vanity— it was reverence. She never regarded Mr. Beecber as a 
 sUly woman regards him. She was not a silly woman taken captive. 
 Therearoa great many people, particularly women, who, if Presi- 
 dent Grant should callou them, would feel greatly flattered. I do 
 not think she would. But if she regarded President Grant as a 
 ;nan of high religious nature coming with the Gospel in his hand, 
 and devoted to the evangelical religion, then whather lie were fa- 
 mous ot.lowly, she would reverence him. 
 
 Q. So must there not be connected with her reverence the idea of 
 absolute purity of life as well as of religious character! 
 
 A. Yes, I think Elizabeth regarded Mr. Beecher in early days as 
 the essence of all that was religous, apostolic. I think she looked 
 upon him very much as she would look upon the Apostle Paul. 
 
 Q. And you understood that? 
 
 A. Yes, and in fact looked upon him so iu my early life. I loved 
 that man as well as I ever loved a woman. 
 
 Q. And is it not true that there is nothing that your wife so much' 
 abhors in man or woman as impurity? 
 
 A. Exactly so. 
 
 RE9ENTINO AN INSULT. 
 
 Q. The fact that she believed that any persons were impure, how- 
 ever, if it were otherwise, she might reverence them, would destroy 
 her respect and reverence for them, would it not? 
 
 A. It would in those days. [Here Mr. Tilton gave in illustra- 
 tion the instance of a gentleman who his wife felt had insulted her 
 by saying that be sympathised with her, and hoped that she would 
 lif ir up lier head in self respect, remarking that Tilton's chief temp- 
 tation had been temptation to the sin of the sexes. Mr. Tilton re- 
 suming.] I do not think he did it indicatively ; but the fact that he 
 could have done it at all burned in her blood. 
 
 Q. Was she not distressed at any suggestion of impropriety? 
 
 A. She was particularly so ; and she is more so now tliiin ever, 
 because in her early days such a thought was never iu her mind;, 
 but when it had passed through her experience it came out with 
 this contrition! I think that hers is one of the white souls; that is 
 the truth of the case. She never ought to have been taken invay 
 from her home ; you gentlemen did it ; you did it Mr. Tracy — ' 'thou 
 art the man." 
 
 Q. Will you state more distinctly than you have done, what you 
 understood by that letter of Feb. 3, 1868, in which she says: 
 *' Love is praiseworthy, but to abuse the gift is siu. There I am 
 strong. No temptation or fascination could cause nie to yield my ' 
 womanhood?" 
 
 A. I quoted that letter to show how strong- lier views were at that 
 time. 
 
 Q. Did you quote it for the purpose of showing lliat at that time 
 the was being tempted? 
 
 A. I have heard her say the substance of that over and over 
 agun. 
 
 Q. WhejtiV 
 
TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATIOS. 41 
 
 A. I do not know when ; a long time ago, years ago, when he 
 (Mr. Beecher) used to go there. It was not because I had any sus- 
 picion of him then. Elizabeth always felt that when Mr. Beecher 
 went to such and such a place, there were women that would flatter 
 him. I do not think she did at all. She has always been a stickler 
 for the honor of her sex. She said to herself, "I will represent 
 my sex." 
 
 Q. In other words, she wanted to show him purity of sentiment,, 
 and of communion of mind without passion ? 
 
 A. That is what she meant, I think. 
 
 Q. That is what you understood her to mean? 
 
 A. That is exactly what I understood her to mean. 
 
 tilton's first suspicions. 
 
 Q. That is the way you looked upon the relation between them 
 for years? 
 
 A. I ought to say for the earlier years. 
 
 Q. When did you first biiug your wife's attention to the fact tliat 
 you feared that there was something wrong? 
 
 A. Elizabeth so blotted that out of my mind that I did not think 
 of it again. 
 
 Q. How long ago was it? Years ago? 
 
 A. Yes, as I recollect it, it must have been during the early years 
 when we lived in Livingston street, in our present house. 
 
 Q. How long have you lived there? 
 
 A. I do not know. 
 
 Mr. Winslow. — About ten years. I remember. 
 
 Gren. Tracy. — It was a great many years ago? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Was it before 1868? 
 
 A. Long before. 
 
 Mr. Claflin.— In '64, probably. 
 
 Gen. Tracy.— Was it before 1865? 
 
 A. About 1863. 
 
 Q. Where did you live at the beginning of the war? 
 
 A. I am very much ashamed that I am never able to answer such a 
 question. 
 
 Q. You say that it was in the early years of your living at 174 
 Livingston street? 
 
 A. Yes. Pictures are vivid to me, and I remember where Eliza- 
 beth was sitting in the corner of my parlor. I spoke to her about it 
 when we came home. 
 
 Q. How long since was it that you have mentioned that subject 
 to any one until you put it in this communication? 
 
 A. She blotted it out of my mind. 
 
 Q. Bid you ever speak of it to any one? 
 
 A. She blotted out all wrong as concerning lier in the circum 
 stance. 
 
 Q. You never mentioned it to Mr. Beecher? 
 
 A. I was very young in those days and utterly unsuspicious of 
 such things, and when I spoke to her about it she was a little con- 
 fused and denied it ; and then said it was so, but that she had said : 
 "You must not do that." I had in those days something of the 
 same reverence for Mr. Beecher that I have since so eminently lost. 
 
42 TILXON'S CROSS. EXAMINATION. 
 
 THE PABLOK SCENE. 
 
 Q. Do you know who was present besides your wife and Mr. 
 Beeclier? 
 
 A. Nobody. 
 
 Q. There was nobody there but you three? You were looking at 
 engravings? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 By Mr. Winslow. — Were you sitting on the floor? 
 
 A. Not the whole of the time; I remember that those two were 
 sitting down on the floor with the pictures ; I am h restles<i sort of a 
 man, and I do not know where I was ; it was a long time ago. 
 
 Q. Do you say that you saw it with your own eyes? 
 
 A. With my own eyes. 
 
 Q. Do you remember whether Mr. Beecher looked at you first? 
 
 A. No. He did not know that I noticed it'. I was standing up, 
 I think. I have to bring up the ^picture in my mind. I do not 
 remember exactly whether 1 was standing or sitting; perhaps I was 
 in a chair. I know that there was a kind of portfolio folded out, 
 and that the pictures were folded down (indicating with the hands). 
 She was sitting on the floor or on o stool, and he on the floor. 
 
 Q. Were you where he could see you? 
 
 A. He was looking at the pictures. 
 
 Q. If he had looked up would he have seen you? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 By Gen. Tracy. — You were looking at some pictures in the room? 
 
 A. Yes ; these things were on her lap. 
 
 Q. What part of her person did lie touch? 
 
 A. Her ankles and lower limbs. 
 
 By Mr. Winslow. — Not above the knee? 
 
 A. No. If he had he probably would have been struck. It was a 
 ■question in my mind whetheraminister could consider that aproper 
 sort of caress. 
 
 Q. Was it done slyly? 
 
 A. Yes, very slyly. His right or left arm was under her dress. 
 
 By Gen. Tracy. — How were they sitting? 
 
 A. My impression is that she was sitting on some little stool and 
 he ou the floor by her side, and that some pictures were, perhaps, 
 put up against the chair and folded, and that it was by an accidental 
 brushing up of her dress that I saw his hand on her ankle. 
 
 Q. Do you know whether it was accidental or casual with him? 
 
 A. I only know that asked her. 
 
 MRS. TILTON CHIDtNG BBECHEB. 
 
 Q. Could you know whether it was accidental or intentional? 
 
 A. I spoke of it to her. She at first denied it, and then confes- 
 sed it, and said that she had chidden bim. I did not attach much 
 importance to it after explanation was inade. 
 
 Q. You were in doubt whether it was intentional or accidental? 
 
 A. It was merely a suspicion. 
 
 Q. How about the bed-chamber scene? 
 
 H. That was a long while ago, and that was blotted out of my 
 niind,too. 
 
 Q. When was it? 
 
 A. I do not remember the year; it was a good while ago. 
 
 By Mr. Winslow. — Before or after the ankle scene? 
 
 A. Before. 
 
TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 4S 
 
 Q. How long? 
 
 A. I do not know. 
 
 Q. Before '68? 
 
 A. I do not know. 
 
 Q. After you were living in Livingston street? 
 
 A. Yes ; I remember the room. Again, I identify it by the pic- 
 ture. It was in the left hand room. I have two front rooms in 
 the second story, and it was the left hand of these front rooms. I 
 knocked at the door, and Elizabeth came. I was surprised that it 
 was locked.. She was surprised at finding me. Mr. Beeclier was 
 sitting in a red plush rocking chair — a sort of ottoman chair — with 
 his vest unbuttoned. His face colored like a rose when I saw 
 him. 
 
 Q. How long ago was that? 
 
 A. I do not know. 
 
 Q. How long had yon lived in Livingston street at this time? 
 
 A. I do not remember. 
 
 Q. Had you lived there for two or three years? 
 
 A. That I do not know. I should say I had lived there perhaps 
 two years. 
 
 Q. Was it during the war? 
 
 A. That I do not know. 
 
 Q. Do you kuoy whether it was before or after your vif it to 
 Jort Sumpter? 
 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. The explanation was satisfactory to you on that occasion? 
 
 A. Entirely so. 
 
 WHAT SURPRISED TILTON. 
 
 . So that you let it be, and attributed nothing to it? 
 
 A. Yes, I attributed nothing to it. If the door had been simply 
 shut I should not have thought anything of it; but the door being 
 locked, I wondered at it. 
 
 Q. Was there more than one door leading to that room? 
 
 A. One door comes in from the hall. 
 
 Q. Was there any other door leading into the room from the 
 other room? 
 
 A. There is a middle door communicating between the two 
 
 looms. 9' 
 
 Q. Two sliding doors ? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. And was there a door leading from the hall to the other 
 room? 
 
 A. Yes, that is the plan of the liouse. 
 
 Q. And the room that Mr. Beecher and your wife were in waa 
 a room communicating with another room with sliding doors? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. What was that room for that Mr. Beecher was in? 
 
 A. A bedroom. 
 
 Q. Was there a bed in it? 
 
 A. Yes, sir. 
 
 Q. Is the other room a sitting-room? 
 
 A. It is. 
 
 Q. Did you try that door which led into the sitting-room. 
 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. Why? 
 
44 TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 
 
 A. Because I came aud knocked at the hall door 
 
 Q. For aught you know the} had gone into the Bittiug-room from 
 the hall, and from there Mr. Beecher may have gone into the bed- 
 room. 
 
 A. Yes. I will give them the benefit of the doubt. 
 
 Q. Was it explained to your satisfaction? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. What was the explanation that satisfied you? 
 
 A. The annoyance of the children. My wife said that our chil- 
 dren and some of the neighbors children' were making a noise, and 
 she wanted to have a quiet talk with Mr. Beecher, and so she locked 
 herself in. 
 
 Q. That satisfied you? 
 
 A. That satisfied me. It was entirely reasonable. I only quote 
 it as a suspicion. 
 
 Q. Do you remember whether the sliding doors leading from thig 
 room to the sitting-room were open? 
 
 A. They were shut. I remember it because I looked in. I saw 
 the two white doors coming together. The picture is distinct in 
 my mind. I do not forget pictures. 
 
 NO SUSPICIOKS. 
 
 By Mr. Claflin^Was this door opened immediately? 
 
 A. Yes. 1 do not want you to think that there was anything wron» 
 at that interview at all. 
 
 Q. The picture of the room was the only reason you have for be- 
 lieving that the sitting-room door was shut? 
 
 A. Yes, sir. 
 
 Q. Did the explanation so satisfy you that that thing was blotted 
 from your remembrance? 
 
 A. Yes, sir. 
 
 Q. So you have never regarded that circumstance as evidence of 
 wrong in any one? 
 
 A, No. 
 
 Q. Have you ever mentioned that? 
 
 A. I rather think I have. 
 
 Q. Why? 
 
 A. Because afterward there arose circumstances which made me 
 feel that the explanation which she had given of these two events 
 was not true. 
 
 By Mr. Winslow— To whom did you state it? 
 
 A. I think to my mother ; I do not recollect ; I never made any 
 blazonry of it, you know, abroad ; I never thought, really, that there 
 was any wrong in it until in the light of subsequent events ; I do 
 not say now -that there was any wrong in it; Elizabeth always de- 
 nied stoutly to me that anything wrong had taken place at that 
 time. 
 
 Q. What kind of a room was that sitting-room? 
 
 A. It was the common sittiug-room of the house. 
 
 Q. The right-hand part was the sitting-room, and the left-hand 
 part was a bedroom communicating with it by sliding doors? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. That is where you receive your intimate friends? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. If you had found Mr. Beecher with your wife in the sitting. 
 
TILTON'S CBOSS EXAMINATION. 45 
 
 room you would have found him where you would have expected to 
 find him, would you not? 
 
 A. Yes.' 
 
 Q. If the door had not been locked you would not have thought 
 anything of it? 
 
 A. No; I should have been happy to have seen him; we were in 
 the best possible relations in those days; nobody was a more wel- 
 come guest at our house than he. 
 
 Q. Now, Mr. Tilton, can you say whether this scene was before 
 the date of that letter of Feb. 3, 1868? 
 
 A. Yes, it must have been a long time before that, I think ; I 
 won't be certain ; it must have been a long time before 1868. 
 
 THE PASTOHAi VISITS. 
 
 Q. You say tliat her letters informed you that Mr. Beecher had 
 made twelve pastoral visits at your house in five weeks? 
 
 A. I have those letters. 
 
 By Mr. Hill. — You have all the letters from which you say you 
 discovered that the twelve pastoral visits were made wlien you 
 were away? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. And those you will produce? " 
 
 A. I think that perhaps I will. 
 
 By Gen. Tracy. — It was written here (in Mr. Tilton's communi- 
 cation) six and changed to five weeks ; which is correct? 
 
 A. (After some explanations). It is correct as it is there. 
 
 Q. You say, Mr. Tilton, for a year after what you state as Mrs. 
 Tilton's confession, she insisted to you that she had not violated 
 ber marriage vow? 
 
 A. Yes; Elizabeth was in a sort of vaporous like cloud. She was 
 between light and dark. She could not see that it was wrong. She 
 maintained to her mother in my presence that she had not done 
 wrong; she cannot bear to do wrong; a sense of having done wrong 
 is enough to crush her ; she naturally seeks for her own peace a con- 
 scientious verdict; she never would have had these relations if she 
 had supposed at the time that they were wrong; Elizabeth never 
 does anything that at the time seems wrong; for such a large moral 
 nature, there is a lack of a certain balance and equipoise; she has 
 not a will that guides and restrains; but Elizabeth never does at 
 any time that which does not have the stamp of lier conscience at 
 the time upon it. 
 
 Q. Do you say that she did or did not insist that she had violated 
 her marriage vows? 
 
 A. She always was saying that " it never seemed to her wrong,'' 
 and "Theodore, I do not nowisee that I have wronged you." 
 
 Q. What do you understand her as meaning by " To love is praise- 
 worthy, but the abuse of love is sin?" 
 
 A. I rather think she meant carrying love to too great an extent. 
 
 Q. Would not that include criminal relations? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Then you understand her, as early as 1868, as saying that the 
 abuse of the gift of love by adultery would be a sin? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 MKs. tilton's intelligence. 
 
 Q. She is a lady of intelligence, is she not? 
 
 A. She is in some respects a lady of extraordinary intelligence; 
 
46 TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATIQN . 
 
 sbe has a remarkable gift at times which anybody mightenvy; there 
 IB nothing low about Elizabeth. 
 
 Q. Is she a lady of large reading? 
 
 A. There are vei-y few ladies of larger reading. She was educa- 
 ted at the Packer Institute. I do not think she took quite a full 
 course. She reads much to her blind aunt and to the children^ I 
 used to road a good deal to her. She was a good critic. Mr. 
 Beecher carried to lier sheets of his "Life of Christ "and many 
 chapters of " Norwood." I used to read to her many things. 
 
 Q. What do you say about the " Life of Christ " and "Norwood " 
 — that he carried them to her to criticise? 
 
 A. Yes ; or uot exactly to criticise ; she is not a critic in the sense 
 that she can take a particular phrase and change the language of it; 
 but she could tell whether a little speech put into "Rose Went- 
 worth's" mouth was one a woman would be likely to say. 
 
 Q. He took those chapters to read to her for that purpose, having 
 a high regard for her opinion in that matter — not a high regard for 
 her opinion in a strictly critical sense? 
 
 A. No. But in the sense whether it was womanly ; and larger 
 than that, whether it touched human sympathy orliot. I remem- 
 ber that he took her the first sheets of the "Life of Christ." She 
 wrote to me saying, "He said he had not read it to anybody else." 
 
 Q. When did he write "Norwood?" 
 
 A. I do not know. 
 
 Q. When did he write his first volumne of his " Life of Christ?"' 
 
 A. It was after "Norwood," I think. 
 
 Q. It was published after "Norwood?" 
 
 A. I do not know about that. 
 
 Q. You know he took it to her to read ? 
 
 A. I know, because she wrote it in Iier letters. I believe she told 
 the truth. You ask about " Norwood," and the " Life of Christ." 
 He had brought the opening part of tlae"Lifeof Christ," and I 
 think also chapters of "Norwood." 
 
 Q. You understand that he brought them to her for the purpose 
 of criticism? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 A GOOD CMTIC. 
 
 Q. You yourself would regard her as an admirable critic? 
 
 A. Oh, yes. I always liked to take everything I wrote to Elizabeth. 
 Sometimes when I thought I had written anything particulai'ly nice 
 I ran down and read it to her. She was one of the best of critics. 
 She never praised an article, because it was mine or his, but only 
 when she liked it. 
 
 Q. You found her judgment not warped by her affections in that? 
 
 A. No, that is the particular feature of her character. If a lady 
 were sitting at the piano and playing, and Elizabeth loved that lady 
 very much, she would tell her about the playing — tliat it was good or 
 that it was not — but she would uot say the playing was good be- 
 cause she loved the woman. Slie would not say so unless it was 
 good. I was always quite certain that if Elizabeth liked what I 
 wrote, she did not like it on my account, thoughshe was glad when 
 I wrote a good thing. It was an honest criticism. If I had been 
 a minister, none of this trouble would have come. She was always 
 in sorrow that I was not a minister — which is the only virtue that 
 
TILTOirS CROSS-EXAMINATION. 47 
 
 I poBsesB. Thank God I do not belong to the priesthood or the 
 chnrch. It may not be an acceptable statement to the committee. 
 
 Q. Do you mean by that Mr. Tilton, that the want of a strong 
 religions feature in your character was what she missed in you? 
 
 A. No, Mr. Tracy, it was not that; because, though I should not 
 Kke to say it to myself, yet I am a more religious man than most 
 men of my acquaintance. That is, I am a man of religious sympa- 
 thies who thoroughly hates and despises religious creeds. I do not 
 believe in one of the Tliirty-nine Articles, nor in either of the cate- 
 chisms, nor in tlie divinity injunctions of the scriptures, nor in the 
 divinityof Christ, in the sensein which it is held. I believe his writings 
 to be euflooded by the Divine breath. It was not that I lack religious 
 spirit. A man ought not to say that, perhaps of himself ; butldonot 
 lack the religious spirit. I love God, and am fond of religious senti- 
 ment ; but I hate the creeds. I was tauglit to hate them during the anti- 
 slavery controversy. I saw the churches selling the negroes, and I 
 despise a church. Now put it down there (to the reporter); say 
 that I despise the church, and generally despise ministers. 
 
 WHAT MKS. TILTON MISSED. 
 
 Q. Well, it was that lack of reverence for the church and its 
 ordinances, and your lack of belief in the divinity oi Christ as she 
 held it, that she missed in you. 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. And she grieved over it? 
 
 A. Oh, yes, indeed; grieved over it with tears. 
 
 Q. And what she found wanting in you she found in Mr. Beecher, 
 did she not? 
 
 A. Yes, she did, and he took advantage of it. That is why I say 
 be ought to spend the rest of his life in penitence and anguish. If 
 Mr. Beecher had held the same religious views that I hold, and gone 
 to that house, denying the divinity of Christ, he never could have 
 made any approach to her, and the affection and love which she 
 bore to him would never have existed — I mean the strong affection; 
 it could not possibly have done so. 
 
 Q. The enthusiasm for him which she felt would never have ex- 
 isted in that case? 
 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. You have no doubt that it was that feature in his character 
 which roused her enthusiasm and made him to her a sort of poem, 
 did it not? 
 
 A. Yes, a sort of Apostle. I think slie regarded Mr. Beecher al- 
 most as though Jesus Christ himself had walked in. That is an ex- 
 travagant expresson, but yoa must not take it literally. I know that 
 she wanted to make the children look upon the clergy with rever- 
 ence. She ought to be an intense Roman Catholic, like Madame 
 Guion — a mystic. I think she certainly spends hours on lier knees 
 some days; I don't suppose a day ever passes over Elizabeth, that 
 the sun, if he could peep through the windows, would not see her 
 on her knees, and my oldest daughter Florence, though she looks 
 like me, is like her mother. Here has come this great calamity on 
 my house. There was that publication last night. She saw it; and 
 this morning what did she do? I heard a noise in 'the house, and 
 found that she was down in the front parlor playing on the melo- 
 deoD, like a heroine, standing in the midst of this calamity like a 
 rock jn the sea. She gets that somewhat from me. I can stand all 
 
48 TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 
 
 storms. She gets also from her motlier the religious inspiration. 
 Florence this morning had a genius for religion, when you would 
 suppose that she would have been crushed. You (Gen. Tracy) are 
 not stronger in the court room, than she was this morning at that 
 musical instrument. 
 
 THE daughter's GENIUS FOR RBLIGTOK. 
 
 Q. You use the expression in regard to your daughter, "genius 
 for religion ;" does not that express the character of your wife? 
 
 A. Yes — even mote so. My daughter is more intellectual; she is 
 an abler and more stable woman, though not so sentimental, and less 
 demonstrative. They are both great characters. 
 
 Q. Well, she is a character that couldhave an intimacy and rev- 
 erence and enthusiasm for a man of Mr. Beecher's temperament and 
 religious convictions and teachings, and carry it to an extrame 
 length without the thought of passion or criminality? 
 
 .^ I do not think the thouglit of passion or criminality were in 
 her breast at all. I think they were altogether in his. I think she 
 thought only of her love and reverence. j 
 
 Q. Such a character would not excite the thought of jealousy as 
 to her? 
 
 A. Not in the slightest ; I never had the slightest feeling of jealousy 
 in regard to Elizabeth. , 
 
 Q. The fact that she was manifesting this enthusiasm, and all 
 that, would not lead you to suspect her motives and purity origi- 
 nally? . . 
 
 A. It would not; later it did. 
 
 Q. For how long a period ? 
 
 .A. I do not know; I remember I wrote her some letters which, if 
 she has kept them, would fix the date^, there was a time when I felt 
 that Mr. Beecher was using his influence greatly upon her. 
 
 Q. To coiitrol her in her domestic relations. with you? 
 
 A. No, but to win her. He was always trying to get her to say 
 that she loved him better than me, 
 
 Q. She. never would sayjt? 
 
 •A. Don't think she ever did. 
 
 Q. You do not believe she ever felt or believed it, do you? 
 
 A. No; that is to say,. in one sense she loved him. She loved his 
 religious views, she loved him as an evangelical minister; but I 
 <lon't think that on the whole he was as much to her as I was. 
 Still, of course, Mr. Tracy, I cannot question her motives. If she 
 should say that he was more to her than I was, I cannot dispute it. 
 
 Q. You set out a letter that she wrote on the night of Dec. 80, 
 after you returned to your house, referring to the retraction she had 
 given to Mr. Beecher; did she write that letter, or did you? 
 
 A. She wrote it. 
 
 Q. Did you dictate ii? 
 
 A. No. 
 
 HELPING BEECHER TO FORTIFY HIMSELF. 
 
 Q. Why did she write it? 
 
 A. Because I asked her to make a calm statement of what she had 
 designed in thisjetter to Mr. Beecher. She was in such a state of 
 agony that she told me she could not recall her letter to him. She 
 said she had given him this letter that he might fortify himself in a 
 council of ministers. I asked her to take a pen at the end of the 
 evening and give the exact circumstances, and explain what she 
 
FRANCIS D. MOULTON. 
 
TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 49 
 
 meant by it ; and she wrote tliat letter. It was only pext day that 
 the other letter came back, and then this one ceased to be of any 
 importance. "What struck me in that business as so damnable in 
 Mr. Beecher was that after coming and confessing to me and Mr. 
 Moulton his criminal relations with Mrs. Tilton, and then asking to 
 see her a few minutes, and going around the corner to see her, he 
 should have come back again in half an hour, expressing his heart- 
 brokenness, whereas he had in pocket this retraction from her. I 
 say it was damnable and nefarious. 
 
 Q. Do you say that wlien you saw Mr. Beecher at Mr. Moulton's 
 house Mr. Motiltpu was present? 
 
 A. Yes, he was present in this way ; I wanted a lengthy interview 
 \rith Mr. Beecher alone; and when he came into the room I locked 
 the door and put the key in my pocket, and narrated in order Eliz- 
 abeth's coufe.ssioH. It was a long one, and it would have been in- 
 delicate for me touch it with any more elaboration than I have here. 
 I do not wish to be questioned about it. It was a long story. 
 
 Q. Was Mr. Moulton present? 
 
 A. Not at that part of tlie interview. After the door was opened 
 lie was. The interview that we three togetlier had was very sliort. 
 I was on the stairs while Mr. Beecher talked with Mr. Moulton on 
 the stairs. That interview was to bring me and Mr. Beecher to- 
 gether. The next time we all three had an interview. 
 
 Q. This retraction, you say in your communication, Mr. Beecher 
 returned to you through Mr. Moulton. Is that true? 
 
 A. Yes, sir. 
 
 THE RETRACTION IN A SAFE PLACE. 
 
 Q. Was that retraction ever delivered to you? 
 
 A. I have got it now. 
 
 Q. Is it not in the possession of Mr. Moulton? 
 
 A. Yes, but it belongs to me. Mr. Moulton had'a safe place and 
 I had not, and he has some of my papers. 
 
 Q. Do you mean to say that Mr. Moulton delivered that retrac- 
 tion to your actual keeping, and that you have had possession of it 
 for any length of time? 
 
 A. He did deliver it to me, and it was sent back to him. 
 
 Q. I ask you whether Mr. Moulton delivered that retraction to 
 you and you kept it? 
 
 A. Mr. Moulton put that retraction into my hand; exactly what 
 I did with it — whether I carried it to my safe or not — I do not re- 
 meipber; I took a number of papers and put them in his keeping 
 because I had np safe place. 
 
 Q. How long do you think you had possession of tliat paper? 
 
 A. I do not remember. I never saw the retraction till itwa« 
 brought back to me. Then I read it. It may be that I never took 
 it away from Mr. Moulton's house. It was sent back to me. It was 
 put into my hand. I read it and made a copv of it. 
 
 Q. In shorthand? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Did you ever have it-longer than that? 
 
 A. Yes, long enough to make forty copies in shorthand. 
 
 Q. But you returned it to :jlr. Moulton, and he has kept it, and 
 has it now? 
 
 A. Yes, unless he has been robbed. 
 
 Q. The letter wlijch you say Mr. Beecher wrote Mrs. Tilton with 
 
50 - TILTON'S CROSS EXAMINATION. 
 
 your permission, I see, as published, directs her to return to him 
 through, your hands? 
 
 A. It was returned to Mr. Moulton by me. 
 
 Q. Did you make a copy of it? 
 
 A. I did. 
 
 Q. Then you took advantage of Mr. Beecher's direction to liave 
 that letter returned to him through your bauds to make a copy, and 
 you made and preserved a copy of the letters? 
 
 A. I did, exactly; and I have found a very good use for it in tliis 
 late emergency. 
 
 THE APOLOGY IN MOULTOS's HANDWRITING. 
 
 Q. What you call t)ie "apology" — is that in Mr. Beecher's hand- 
 writing? 
 
 A. It is not. 
 
 Q. In whose handwriting is It? 
 
 A. In Francis D. Moulton's, except the last sentence, which is 
 Mr . Beeclier's. 
 
 Q. " I trust this to Moulton in confidence," is in Mr. Beecher's' 
 handwriting, is it not? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. The words "in confidence" are underscored, are they not? 
 
 A. I do notrknow. 
 
 Q. That document is written on how many half sheets of paper? 
 
 A. I do not think on any. It is on sheets as big as that (legal 
 cap.) 
 
 Q. On how many — two or three? 
 
 A. Yes, large sheets. 
 
 Q. Do you know whether the last sentence, "I trust this to Moul- 
 ton in confidence," is separated by a wide space from the rest? 
 
 A. I do not know. Frank can show it to you. 
 
 Q. Is it not separated by a wide space? 
 
 A. No, not by a wide space. 
 
 Q.- I ask you whether the last sentence of this letter is not here 
 somewhere [indicating with the hand], and the line, "I trust this 
 to Moulton in confidence, H. W. Beeoher," down there [indicat- 
 ing]? 
 
 A. No, it is not. 
 
 Q. It is not at the bottom of the page? 
 
 A. It may be at the bottom of the page. 
 
 Q. Is it not away from the writing? 
 
 A. No, it is not ; it is a part of the letter. 
 
 Q. Your were not present when it was written? 
 
 A. No; otherwise it would not have been written. 
 
 Q. Because it would have been spoken? 
 
 A. Yes; the substance was spoken to me a day or two afterwarj 
 in Mr. Moulton's bedchamber. 
 
 Q. You say if you had been present it would not have been 
 written ? 
 
 A. Ycp. 
 
 THE APOLOGY rNSOLICITKD. 
 
 Q. That k'tter is not addressed to yon, is it? 
 
 A. It was addressed to Mr. Moulton, In' it was brought to me on 
 the authority of Mr. Beecher liimself. Ii.was brought to me greatly 
 to my surprise. Mr. Moulton put it before me as evidence that I 
 shouh^ maintain peace. I did not t;«k for it; it came un»rvlicited. 
 
TIL.TON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 51 
 
 Q. You quote a letter dated on the 7th of January, to you from 
 Mr. Beecher; was your suit with Bowen then pending? 
 
 A. My suit with Bowen was pending from the 1st of Janunry to' 
 the middle of the next year; I think it was in April, 1873; I never 
 enedlii'ffl; Mr. Moulton Tvanted to assume the management of my 
 afiairs with Mr. Bowen ; Mr. Moulton, when sick, summoned us to 
 him, and said, ''I want to keep you on record, and bind jou to 
 good will." 
 
 Q. You had a controversy? 
 
 A. I had a controversy. I had agreed not to do anvthing but at 
 Moulton's discretion. Mr. BoWeu owed me $7,000; and Frank 
 said, "He has got to pay that; but I would rathei pay it myself 
 than it should bring Mr. Beecher in collision; and I will agree that 
 you shall have it, if I have to pay it myself, therefore, let this thing 
 remain with roe as loiig as I like^a year or ten years. Frank was 
 determined that peace should be kept. 
 
 Q. Were there any proceedings to perpetuate testimony taken? 
 
 A. Frank thought Mr. Boweu ought to come to a settlement, and 
 said, ''I think I will put this in court," and Mr. Ward instituted, 
 some proceedings. It was the mere suggestion of a suit, done with- 
 out my knowledge. I think it was to perpetuate Mr. Johnson's tes- 
 timony. I have forgotten. 
 
 Q. Was that in 1872? 
 
 A. Yes, it must have been in March. 
 
 Q. You say you put the management of your matter against 
 Bowen in the hands of Moulton? 
 
 A. I did. 
 
 Q. Did not he represent to you that it was absolutely indispensa- 
 ble, or material, that you and Mr. Beecher should keep on friendly 
 terms in reference to this controversy with Bowen? 
 
 A. No. The sum and essence of his management was the man- 
 agement of my relations to Mr. Beecher. He regarded Mr. Boweu 
 as an incident. I could not afford to lose my oflSce, and Mr. Moul- 
 tpn said : " You have got to keep peace with Mr. Beecher for the 
 sake of yourself and family." Mr. Moulton always made Mr. 
 Bowen subsidiary to Mr. Beecher — and me also, till I revolted, after 
 Dr. Bacou's letter. 
 
 bowen's hatbid op beecher. 
 
 Q. Do you mean to say that it was never regarded as important 
 that friendly relations should be maintained between you and Mr. 
 Beecher, having reference to your difficulty with Bowen ? 
 
 A. Not a particle. The more I quarreled with Mr. Beecher, the 
 better Mr. Bowen liked it. If, as a result of the controversy, Mr. 
 Beecher should be dead, Mr. Bowen would not be one of the monrn- 
 ners, but one who would uplift the horn of gladness. He never 
 wanted peace with Mr. Beecher. He always wanted war with Mr. 
 Beecher. He is an enemy of Mr. Beecher, and would rejoice ia his 
 downfall. Perhaps I ought not to say that; it is speaking of the mo- 
 tives of people, but it is true. 
 
 Q. The tripartite treaty was not signed untill after Feb. 7, 
 1871? 
 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. Was not your letter to Mr. Moulton of that date written for 
 the purpose of calling out a reply from him. 
 
 A. No; I wrote it because Frank insisted upon it. Prank had an 
 
82 TILTON'S CBOSS-EXAMINATION. 
 
 idea that if I gave my word he would have me bound. ^ He want- 
 ed me to write the utmost of what I could of good will in this let- 
 ter. 
 
 Q. And did he get a corresponding answer from Mr. Beecher? 
 
 A. Perhaps so ; I do not think that he informed me that he was 
 going to get an answer from Mr. Beecher. 
 
 Q. He informed you that he had got an answer from him after- 
 wards, did he not? ' 
 
 A. Yes, he showed it to me, and I copied it. 
 
 Q Do you say that your letter was not written in order to draw 
 out an answer from Mr. Beecher? 
 
 A. No; I wrote ft to please Frank, because he wanted me to; per- 
 haps there may be a sense in which I was to write what I could of 
 goodwill, and Mr. Beecher what lie could of good will; perhaps 
 there may be correctness in your plirase ; there was no collusion on 
 my part with Mr. Beecher ; it was Mr. Moulton's iron-like way of 
 compelling things to go on in peace and harmony; he is a man 6t 
 desperate strength of will. 
 
 Q. Nuw, will you produce all the letteas which you quote on 
 pages 113 and 114 of yoar communication beginning "My dear 
 Frank: I am determined to make no more resistance. Theodore's 
 temperament is such, that the future, even if temporally earned, 
 would be absolutely worthlesSj and rendering me liable at any time 
 of day, etc? 
 
 A. I cannot; Mr. Moulton can. 
 
 Q. Have you a copy of it? 
 
 A. Yes; I think I am not wrong. 
 
 COPTINO BVEEVTHING. 
 
 Q. Can you produce a copy? 
 
 A. I do not know; I am sorry I cannot tell you; I have a mass of 
 phonographic notes , whenever these letters came, whenever there 
 was anything in them that Frank wanted me to see, he would read 
 them to me ; whenever Mr. Beecher said anything that he thought, 
 being read to me, would gratify my feelings and conduce to a com- 
 promise or peace between us, speaking of the kindness with which 
 I treated him, or of his difiSculties, Frank read them to me, and as 
 I wrote shorthand, I always used to make a copy of them. 
 
 Q. And is that the only copy that you have of these papers? 
 
 A. It is the only Copy I have of Frank's papers. 
 
 Q. Copies in shorthand being read and never being compared 
 with the originals? 
 
 A. When Frank read to me three or four or five sentences, I 
 would write them down. 
 
 By Ml. Hall. — Did you compare them with the originals? 
 
 A. What do you mean by comparing them with the originals? 
 
 Q. Do you know that they are the exact transcript of the origi- 
 nals? 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. You wrote them from your phonographic notes? 
 
 A. You will find these extracts all perfectly correct, every one 
 absolutely. 
 
 By Mr." Winslow. — Do yoH remember the purport of what you left 
 out? 
 
 A. My impression is that this one of Mr. Beecher's .letters to 
 Prank was very long. It would certainly occupy four pages on a 
 
TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 53 
 
 sheet of foolscap. There was a long argument in it to show what 
 difficulties he was in. If I had quoted the whole it would liave 
 made this statement much stronger, but it would have made it a 
 cumbered document. 
 
 Q. Is there some that you have not quoted? 
 
 A. A great deal ; but there is nothing in that quotation that 
 violates the whole spirit of the letter. 
 
 Q. Had you no reason for omitting what you did except to avoid 
 length? 
 
 A. No. Only it alluded to interviews, for instance, in this way: 
 " I am greatly distressed with wliat the deacon said," or "The 
 Brooklyn Eagle must not go on in this way." Many things might 
 he added that are unimportant in this exhibit, but that were im- 
 portant at the time. 
 
 FRAGMENTS OP LETTERS. 
 
 Q. On page 103. "No man can see the difficulties that environ 
 me etc.," did you quote the whole of that letter? 
 
 A. Only a fragment of it. There is not a whole letter in all these 
 quotations. 
 
 Q. In making those quotations I see no stars? 
 
 A. I do not know whether it is the omission of the printer, but I 
 put in stars to show where the connection was broken oS. Where 
 I took a paragraph which was long, and it was continuous from be- 
 ginning to end, there is no need of stars. 
 
 Q. Your letter, "To a complaining friend ;" that was published, 
 to whom was that written? 
 
 A. That was written to nobody; everybody was saying: "You 
 ought to answer the WoodhuU scandal," and I put my wits together 
 to frame a possible answer. 
 
 Q. Then you say that the letter, "To a complaining friend," 
 was a fiction? 
 
 A. Yes; it was written on purpose as a public card. 
 
 Q. How long after the WoodhuU scandal was that? 
 
 A. It was published a long time after that date ; not longer than 
 two or three weeks. I think, perhaps not ten days. My impression 
 is that it was not published until a long time after. I thought I had 
 written an ingenious card, but it did not amount to anything. Wen- 
 dell Phillips said: "It is'a fine thing, but for one thing; you ought 
 to have said that your wife was not guilty ;" but I could not say 
 that, and the card went for nothing; it was one of a number of in- 
 genious subterfuges; I wrote it thinking that it would, please 
 Bllizabeth; I read it to her before it w^as printed, and she liked it; 
 afterward she spoke to me violently^bout it, and said it was another 
 way of perpetuating the scandal. ' 
 
 Q. And charged you with publishing it for that purpose? 
 
 A, No ; not that. 
 
 Q. But did not she say that the effect of that publication would 
 be to perpetuate the scandal and revive it. 
 
 A. Yes, after it was published. 
 
 Q. The WoodhuU scandal was dying out of the minds of the peo- 
 ple, was it not, then, whpn that was published? 
 
 A. I think not ; I did not know the time when it was ; it is a death 
 which I have had no notice yet; I thought I did a crafty thing of 
 in the card, but it failed. 
 
 Q. I asked whether the WoodhuU scandal was not dying out of 
 
64 TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 
 
 the minds of the people, and whether it would not have died out but 
 for that? 
 
 A. Well, I don't know; you are a better judge of tliat than I am; 
 I think I heard les3 of it. 
 
 "bvbbtthing kevives the scandal." 
 Q. Do you not liuow that the publication of that letter revived 
 the talk and the scandal? 
 
 A, Yes, yes, everything revives the, talk. The appointment of an 
 investigating committee revived it in the same way, in genieral 
 terms. 
 
 Q. What other j)ubIications have you made since the publication 
 of the WoodhuU scandal and the letter " To a Complaining Friend," 
 and the Bacon letter, and letters to the Council? 
 
 A. The letter "To a Complaining Friend " was put in the Eayle 
 vpith a ferocious comment. If it bad not been printed With a bad 
 comment, I think it would have had a good effect, but the letter did 
 harm. 
 
 Q. You mean to say that it revived or perpetuated the scandal in- 
 stead of allaying it? 
 
 A. It did harm in the sense that it purported to be a denial, looked 
 as if it was meant for a denial which did not deny, and it left about 
 this impression — that Mr. Tilton, a direct man, who knows what he 
 means and could say it, if lie could have denied this squarely would 
 have done it. The impression was that it was written to deny, but 
 that it did not deny. 
 
 Q. Did it not carry in it a strong implication of guilt? 
 
 A. Well, perhaps in a sense you might infeientially say bo. I 
 think you might say that. I think if I had never said a word on the 
 subject at all, from the beginning down, it would have been a great 
 deal better. 
 
 Q. The scandal would have died out long ago, would it not. — it 
 has only been tce^pt alive by your writings? 
 
 A. I have acted like a fool, I admit. 
 
 By Mr. Tracy. — We will concede that, and do not need to call 
 witnesses to prove it. 
 
 Q. Now, when the council was in session, that took the form, did 
 it not, of an ecclesiastical controversy in which the scandal proper 
 dropped out of sight? 
 
 A. There 18 no scandal proper. 
 
 Q. Well, this scandal itself dropped out of sight, and Ihe contro- 
 versy was over an ecclesiastical question, was it not? 
 
 A. 'In a technical sense; but everybody said that that council re- 
 lived the business. 
 
 LETTERS TO BACOK. 
 
 Q. Did not you know that your letters revived the scandal? 
 
 A. Yes; or it did not need reviving, it had life in it. 
 
 Q. Did not your letters to the council largely call out the letters 
 by Dr. Bacon? 
 
 A. I think Dr. Bacon took a sublime indifference to my letters ip 
 the first place. He sent them back from the council. I do not 
 now recollect that there was any extract from my letters to the 
 council that were introduced at all by Dr. Bacon ; perhaps there 
 was. If he made any allusion at all to them it was a most uuim- 
 portant one. 
 
TIL,TON'-t< OROSS-EXAMINATION. 55 
 
 Q. Ton knew that tlie effect of your letters to the council would 
 be to revive the scandal, did you not? ' 
 
 A. No, I did not. I wrote tliem to tindicate myself. I did not 
 c:ire whether they revived the scandal or not. < 
 
 Q. Did you not know what the effect would be? 
 
 A. I thought of vindicating myself. I had been attacked, and 
 I wrote a defense; the scandal had to take care of itself. I was not 
 so tender toward the scandal that I should refrain from defending 
 myself if it would revive it even. 
 
 Q. That is evident. Mrs. Tilton's letter to you, quoted Feb. 9, 
 1868, and commencing, "Ah! did angel ever love to grandly as 
 my beloved." In that letter, on page 164, this sentence occurs: 
 *' And the dear friends who love us." You originally wrote it, and 
 you have erased us and put in me. Do you know which is correct? 
 What is in the original? 
 
 A. I think it is me? It is we (examining the first draft of the 
 ■communication). '^ 
 
 Q. How came Mrs. Tilton to write that letter to Moulton, deny- 
 ing that she ever tliought of separating from you? 
 
 A. Frank, as soon as he undertook to make the .compromise be- 
 tween us, undertook to straighten out whatever was wrong. There 
 was a story that Mrs. Morse set afloat about my being divorced, and 
 Frank wrote a note to her, or went to see her, and she wrote this 
 note. 
 
 Q. Did not she write it at your suggestion? 
 
 A. I do not think she did. I think she wrote it at Frank's sug- 
 gestion. I had forgotten that paper until I found it among the 
 papers. - 
 
 By Mr. Hill. — Did not you make any suggestion toherabout writ- 
 ing that letter? 
 
 A. I do not recollect distinctly. Tt may be that"! did. I do not 
 know. I co-operated with Prank. 
 
 A DBCEPTIVE LETTER. 
 
 Gen. Tracy — Has she not during this controveisy signed letters 
 lliat you have written for her? 
 
 A. No; she wrote a letter to Dr. Storrs, a part of which I sug- 
 <;ested the phraseology , of a delicate statement of her relations to 
 Mr. Beecher, which, wliile it was not false, did not convey more than 
 half the truth. The remainder she wrote herself. She was going 
 to state too mu; h in it. 
 
 Q. ,Is there any other letter that sli.e has ever written at your dic- 
 tation, and sighned after you had written it in this controversy? 
 
 A. Well, I do not know ; I do not recollect any at present. 
 
 Q. Do you remember a letter she wrote to Mr. Moulton, com- 
 mencing, " Dear Francis, I told you a falsehood last night?" 
 
 A. I never saw it. 
 
 Q. Do you remember that Mr. Moultou reported to you, on any 
 occasion, that she had made a sttUement that what you claimed was 
 her confession that she had made at your solicitation and instance, 
 and at a time when you were also confessing to her, or anything of 
 that description, and that you were angry about it, and took Moul- 
 ton to your house to have him see whether she would make such a 
 statement or not, and that Mr. Moulton coming, and repeating the 
 stat^ement in your presence, you asked her whether she hsd ever 
 
66 TILTON'S CROSS-EaCAMINATION. 
 
 said so, and she said she had not, and you turned to Moulton, and 
 said, " Then you see who is the liar?" 
 
 A. I do not remember any such phrase as that. Frank Moultoa 
 said to me, as nearly as I can recollect (his memory is better than 
 mine), that Elizabeth, in a mood of criticism on me (which she did 
 not very often have), had said that I made to her confessions against 
 myself corresponding with the confession which she had made t» 
 me against herself, which was not true; and Frank asked her 
 squarely if it was so. 
 
 Q. Did he ask her or did you! 
 
 A. I do not remember. 
 
 Q. "What did she say? 
 
 A. She said " no," and theu Prank afterward told me she said 
 the opposite. 
 
 Q. Now did you not know that the very next morning she wrote 
 to Mr. Moulton a letter beginning, "Dear Francis, I told you two- 
 falsehoods," and proceeded to say iu substance: "The fact is that 
 when I am in the presence of Mr. Tilton he Ites such a control oyer 
 me that I am not responsible for what I say," or "I am obliged to 
 say whatever he wills that I should say. But the truth is that I had 
 reported the story just as you had heard it." 
 
 ' A; I do not. I know that she had some conversations with him 
 which she reported to me as being greatly like a see-saw — saying 
 one thing and unsaying it. 
 
 A POSITIVE ANSWER. 
 
 Q. Have you ever had doubts of her sanity? 
 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. Never? 
 
 A. No, sir. 
 
 Q. Have you ever threatened to put her in an asylum? 
 
 A. No, sir. 
 
 Q. Have you ever circulated the story among her acquaintances 
 or friends that she was becoming insane? 
 
 A. No ; but that her mother was. There was one time about thea 
 when she was a little delirious. 
 
 Q. When? 
 
 A. I do not remember; her mind wandered a little in sickness; 
 she has never had a taint of insanity ; you know that we have a cus- 
 tomary phrase; "You say an extravagant thing, my friend; you are 
 insane," that is the only possible way in which Elizabeth has beeu 
 insane; she is not insane at nil. 
 
 Q. Mr. Tilton, you Iiave quoted the letters of your wife here to 
 prove what the character of your home was iu the beginning of 186& 
 and through 1868? 
 
 A. I quoted them to show what it was previous to her surrender 
 to him. 
 
 Q. You have stated, Mr. Tilton, that there were acts of criminal- 
 . ity, first at Mr. Beecher's house, and secondly at your own house;, 
 do you pretend to have a personal knowledge of those acts? 
 
 A. Only the knowledge of Mrs. Tilton's confession — that is alU 
 I was absent at the time. 
 ,Q. Mr. Moulton was in college with you? 
 
 A. Yes, sir. 
 
 Q. He has always been your friend from your college days? 
 
 A. Yes, sir, and I liope he will be to the end of my life. 
 
TILTON-S CfiOSSEXAMINATION. ST 
 
 Q. Your novel is dedicated to him? 
 
 A. Yes; but lie has not done me the houer of reading it. I will 
 never dedicate another. 
 
 ' Q. You say that jou had not reported this scandal to the Wood- 
 bull women or woman ; but you do not deny that you had frequent- 
 ly spoken harshly of Mr. Beecher to her? 
 
 A. Oh, not harshly. I liave spoken often critically of him, but 
 always with a view to do no harm to him. I expressed my opinion 
 about him. 
 
 Q; How came she and Mr. Beecher to have an interview? 
 
 A. I do not remember the circumstances. I tliiuk Frank Moul- 
 ton devised it. Mr. Beecher had a number of interviews with her 
 at Frank's house, and one at mine. 
 
 Q. Was not the object to get Mr. Beecher committed to her views 
 of free love? 
 
 A. No ; to her views of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amend- 
 ments of Woman's Suffrage. Mr. Butler and I championed it, and 
 we wanted Mr. Beecher to do the same. 
 
 Q. Was it not to get him to preside at Steinway Hall? 
 
 A., That was not at my house, but at Frank's ; I think at mine it 
 was in regard to the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. 
 
 A THREAT FKOM COL. BLOOD. 
 
 Q. Well, an effort was made to get him to preside there and in- 
 troduce her at Steinway Hall, and an exposition of this scandal was 
 threatened if he did not preside there? 
 
 A. Frank received a letter from Col. Blood that he thought wa» 
 a threat; it angered Frank a good deal. 
 
 By Mr. Winslow. — Did you see the letter from Col. Blood, in 
 which it was threatened that this scandal would be exposed if Mr. 
 Beecher did not preside at the Steinw.ay Hall meeting? 
 
 A. I do not think that is so. If it was, I did not know. I do 
 not think there was any truth in it. 
 
 Q. Mr. Beecher had been importuned to preside, had lie not? 
 
 A. Yes; there came a note from Col. Blood about the Woodhulls 
 not being received in some hotel; they said it was because they 
 were unpopular, and they wanted Mr. Beecher's help; there was 
 something in the letter which Frank regarded as unhandsome, and 
 I knew he was angry and expressed himself strongly about it, and 
 said it looked like blackmail. It wag the first indication of their 
 attempting to use us. 
 
 Q, Do you not know that Mr. Beecher was threatened that in 
 case he did not preside at that meeting this scandal should be pub- 
 lished? 
 
 A. It is the first time I have heard it suggested. 
 
 Q. Was he not threatened by Mrs. Woodhnll? 
 
 A. Not that I have any knowledge of. 
 
 Q. Was not the very object of soliciting Mr. Beecher to preside at 
 the Steinway Hall meeting on the part of you and Mr. Moulton, iu 
 order to place Mrs. WoodhuU under obligations, so that she should 
 not make the publication? 
 
 A. Precicely so ; we did not know there was to be a publication ; 
 we wanted to keep her on our side, and wanted to take every possi- 
 ble occasion to do it; her husband had spent considerable length of 
 time to devise this Steinway Hall speech ; what it was about I do 
 not know; she gave me and Frank the proofs; and he put them iu 
 
58 ■ TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 
 
 his d'awer ; I never looked at them ; it was our folly that we did 
 hot, for I might have known what was in that speech. She wanted 
 Mr. Beecher to preside; I told Mr. Beecher that hbwCver unpopular, 
 •he was, he might go and preside ; and I sketched a little sort of a 
 speech (and I think Franfc sketched one) that, if he could see his 
 way to doit, hemight make: "Fellow-citizens, here is a woman 
 who is going to speak. Slie will probably speak on what you do not 
 believe, but that is no reason why she should not be heard. It is be- 
 cause I disagree with her that I would introduce her. I like free 
 speech. I havethe honor 6f presenting her." I said to him that 
 he was able to carry a liktle speech of that sort, and I felt that if he 
 went and presided, it would put her under the same obligation to , 
 him, as I fancied I had put her under to me in writing her biogra- 
 phy. I considered that I had secured her good will by writing that 
 and other things, and I tlvought tliat if Mr. Beecher would do some 
 signal service of that kind, which he could do, and which would be 
 noted as 8uch,it would fix her under gratitude, and we would all be 
 fixed; Frank had done her some service,Frank had been very friend- 
 ly to her, he had done her many services, and he had great respect 
 for her. '^' , 
 
 I 
 
 PRBSSINO THE AKOUMKNT. 
 
 Q. You pressed that argument on Mr. Beecher? 
 
 A. Yes, and Frank also. 
 
 Q. As a matter of safety? 
 
 A. Yes, I said : "Think it o.vev, and if you find that you can, go 
 and do it." 
 
 Q. Do you know whether the letter from Coloiiel Blood had beea 
 received at that time? 
 
 A. I do not know. , ~ 
 
 Q. Mr. Beecher rejected your arguments and refused to preside? 
 
 A. He did not refuse, but said that if he saw his way clear he 
 would come and let us know. 
 
 Q. But he did not let jou know? 
 
 A. He did not let us know. 
 
 Q. And you presided instead? 
 
 A. I did not want to; but I had no idea of what the speech was 
 going to be. 
 
 Q. Although the proofs were in your hands and you might have 
 known? 
 
 A. Yes, but I never did knOw. The proofs liad been brought to 
 Frank's study. I may have had the idea that they were for Mr. 
 Beecher to see the speech ; but it was not the printed speech that 
 did the damage; it was tlie interjected remarks in response to the 
 audience; slie said violent things. 
 
 Q. Had you written her life at that time? 
 
 A. Yes, I had ; I am pretty certain of it. 
 
 Q. What other thin^fs liad you done to put her under obliga- 
 tions? 
 
 A. I will tell you what I did ; I wrote that idea of the Fourteenth 
 and Fifteenth Amendments, and spent three of the solidest weeks 
 of my life in working it into an argument and printing it into a 
 tract. It was her idea; but she did not know how to expose it, and 
 I worked it up in one of the most elaborate pieces of writing that 
 I ever did. That was one of the great "lervices. The second was 
 
TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 59 
 
 the writing of a sketch. Then, also, when Senator Carpenter at- 
 tacked that proposition, 1 made an elaborate reply. 
 
 MBS. WOODHTJLI/'s MEETIKG. 
 
 Q. You went to the meeting yourself, and deliberately intended 
 to go? 
 
 ■A. No, I did not. Frank came to the Golden Age 
 ■office. It rained and it was late, 7:30 o'clock, and I went to 
 see who was to preside. There wiis no expectation that I would 
 ; preside at all. We got,there at 7.50, and the crowd was bo great that 
 we could not get in at the front way, and we went to the rear and 
 went to a large ante-room, and theic was Mrs. Woodhull, flushed 
 and excited, because there was not a brave man in the circle of the 
 two cities to preside at her meeting. Mr. Beecher did not come, 
 and one or two others that had been invited were not there. She 
 felt that there was no courage in men ; and slie was going on alone, 
 and I said ; "I will preside at your meeting." It was with not more 
 than ten minutes, I do not believe five minutes, foretliought. I went 
 on the platform and made a few remarks, and introduced her. 
 That's the way it came about. 
 
 . You quote letters from your wife in 1868 to show the affec- 
 tion she bore for you at that time; and then you say tliat in 1870 
 jou thought you discovered that her mind was absorbed in Mr. 
 Beecher to too great an extent. Between the l)ej];innii>g of 1868 
 and the spring of 1870 liad there been any act on your part calcula- 
 ted to disturb the happiness of your liome, or alienate the affections 
 of your wife! 
 
 A. Not that I remember. 
 
 Q. Had there been no aSection of a marked character existing 
 , between you and another lady which was calculated to disturb the 
 happiness of a wife? 
 
 A. No, 1 think not. 
 
 [Here followed a series of circumstantial inquiries concerning Mr. 
 Tilton's relations with difirent women, and equally circumstantial 
 denials on his part of anything improper; or of any connection be- 
 tween these stories and his wife's estrangement from him.] 
 
 ■WHY BO WEN DISCHARGED TILTON. 
 
 Q. Do you know tliat made charges against you and that that 
 
 was one of the reasons why Mr. Bowen discharged you? 
 
 A. I cannot say what operated on Mr. Bowen. 
 
 Q. That was one of the things discussed, was it not? 
 
 A. Yes, the only thing discussed; but, Mr. Tracy, I decline tliis 
 examination. You have introduced names here, and you must take 
 the consequences. There are cliarges against one of tlie names. I 
 took pains to introduce no names. There are written charges made 
 and filed concerning a lady whom you have named. Now, I do not 
 take the responsibility of reviving it. 
 
 Gen. Tracy. — We have to mention naiiies here, but I Ihink they 
 won't be mentioned in the record. 
 
 Q. What is the character of the charges that made against 
 
 you? 
 
 A. I never knew that made any until afterwards. Mr. 
 
 Bowen said there had been a story told, prejudicial to me. He 
 •would not tell me by whom, and lie would not tell me the story. I 
 said: "If there ia any story prejudicial to me, bring the person who 
 
00 J ILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 
 
 telle the story face to face with me." Mr. Bowen said: "That i» 
 fair." After that I heard that she wrote a letter. 
 
 Q. Was there aoy other lady that was in the habit of seeing you 
 at your house? 
 
 A. If there was, do you suppose I would be little enough, as a 
 gentlemen, to name it?' I itm not a minister. 
 
 Gen. Tracy. — Then perhaps you might mention it? 
 
 A. I should not. There are ladies whom I know and honor, and 
 
 1 should scorn to answer such a question. 
 
 Q. I asked you whether there "were any other ladies who were iu 
 the habit of visiting your house, and whose visits disturbed the 
 quiet and happiness of your wife? 
 
 A. You may ask her, and take her answer. I scorn to answer.' 
 Elizabeth shall have the benefit of any statement she pleases to 
 make concerning names. This examination I understand the point 
 of perfectly well. There is no woman that I have respected or hon- 
 ored whom I have not brought to my house, which is not the prae-. 
 tice always of men in their relations with ladies. If Elizabeth has 
 been troubled concerning my attentions, to any lady, take her testi- 
 mony upon that subject. 
 
 THE CAUSE OF AlIKNATION. 
 
 Gen. Tracy. — I will do that, and I shall doit because you have 
 brought into the controversy the character of your home. Tou have ■ 
 said that her afiections were alienated ; and it is proper and essen- 
 tial that we should show that that was not the cause to which you 
 attributed it. 
 
 Mr. Tilton. — I say if Ehzabeth's change of mind was due iu- her 
 opinion to the fact that I hud loves and affections for other ladies, 
 take her testimony for that fact; I will not deny her. 
 
 Q. You are confident she will state the truth of that? 
 
 A. She will state what she wants to have appear; and that she 
 is welcome to. 
 
 By Mr. Hill. — Won't you say generally whether you had aflfections 
 for other ladies which your wife knew of? 
 
 No answer. 
 
 By Gen. Tracy. — Do you refuse to be examined on that point? 
 
 A. No; I don't jefuse to be examined on that point. 
 
 Q. Then state whether there are not other ladies who have beea 
 intimate with you and in your society at your house often and re- 
 peatedly, and in a manner calculated to disturb the quiet and peace 
 of mind of your wife? 
 
 A. I think I brought Miss Anthony there. She hated her, but it 
 was because she thought she was a radical, and so on. 
 
 Q. Did you ever hear it stated or intimated that you had undue 
 familiarities with ladies at your house? 
 
 A. No, no. 
 
 Gen. Tracy. — I don't mean criminal familiarities, but undue fami]> 
 iarities, sucli as visiting in their room before they were dressed? 
 
 A. No, I didn't; I cannot imagine any reason why anybody 
 should. 
 
 MRS. WOODHULL's AJ^NOYANCE. 
 
 Q. Was there any other lady besides those that you have men- 
 tioned who annoyed Elizabetli? 
 
 A. Mrs. WoodhuU always annoyed her when she came. Eliza 
 beth always took fire at every person who did not come within the 
 
TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMINATION. 61 
 
 limit of the orthodox ordinances. She always loved all the -womeo 
 ■who were connected with the church. My life was outside, and it 
 gradually happened that nearly all my public friends were radical 
 in one way or another, and slie could not bear it, and it annoyed 
 her. 
 
 Q. Don't you know of the visits and attentions of anotlier lady 
 that disturbed your wife very much? 
 
 A. No. 
 
 [A series of questions then followed concerning another lady, 
 which Mr. Tilton answered frankly, and afterward with anger, 
 claiming that tlie lady was an intimate and valued friend of his 
 wife as well as himself. 
 
 OTHER SCANDALS. 
 
 General Tracy. — Do you know that about the time of your quit- 
 ting the Union in 1869, your name and 's were associated to- 
 gether by public rumor? 
 
 A. By Henry Ward Beecher ; and he wrote an apology to Mr. 
 Bowen, which I possess, recalling it; it was liis slander, and I can 
 produce it; the first thing Mr. Beecher did within a week after his 
 apology on the 4th of January, was to write to Mr. Bowen a retrac- 
 tion of what he had said in regard to- 
 
 Q. When was it that he said it? 
 
 A. I never heard of it until he had unsaid it ; it was a voluntary 
 thing; in making his retraction he confessed the fact; I had never 
 heard that he had spoken unhandsomely until he apologized to me 
 and wrote the retraction ; that retraction was put into my hands. 
 
 Q. You mean to say that public rumor did not connect your name 
 and 's at the time you were on the Umon^ or about that time? 
 
 [Mr. Tilton admitted that there was a paragraph in one of the 
 New York papers that they were going to elope together. He was ^ 
 then on the Union. Other questions followed concerning his visits 
 to the lady, etc., which he explained as natural and proper.] 
 
 Q. Did it come to the knowledge of yonr wife? 
 
 A. I carried it to th« knowledge of my wife. It was during the 
 summer of 1870, when I'edited the Union. I only edited it eight 
 months. It never was a good paper before or since — begging par- 
 don for improprieties. 
 
 Q. Afterward you made the acqctaintance of Mrs. WoodhuU, did 
 you not? 
 
 A. The next year, 1871. 
 
 Q. Did you ever express your attachment for in the presence 
 
 of your wife? 
 
 A. Ask my wife; take her answer; you may depend that I never 
 
 gaid to or any other lady, in the absence of my wife, what I 
 
 would not have said in her presence ; I have no secrets from Mrs. 
 Tilton, I never had any, and never should havehad any but for this 
 break-up; I never had any secrets from Mrs. Tilton until within 
 this last year or two, during which we have not harmonized as in 
 former years. 
 
 Q. Have you ever admitted to her that you had committed adul- 
 tery? 
 
 A. I never admitted to her anything of the kind. 
 
 Q But you don't mean to say that you have not, do you? 
 
 A. Mr. Tracy, talk to me as one gentleman to another. 
 
02 TILTON'S CROSS-EXAMlNAXfON. 
 
 Q. Gen. Tracy.— You charge your wife with having committed 
 adultery; I mean to ask you whether you have or not? 
 A. I Bay, let my wife make the charge, if she wishes to. 
 Q. I ask you the question? 
 A. You may ask it till doomsday. 
 Q. You decline to answer? 
 A. I do not; I say I will take my wife's answer. 
 
 DECLINING TO ANSWBH. 
 
 Q. How could she' know that you had, if you had not confessed it 
 to her? I ask you whether you have bfeen guilty of the crime? 
 
 A. I decline to hold a conversation with you on such a subject, 
 
 Q. Have you admitted to others your commission of adultery? 
 
 A. Mr. Tracy, have you committed adultery? 
 
 Gen. Tracy. — I have not charged my wife with that crime. 
 
 Mr. Tilton. — If I am to be charged with the crime of adultery in 
 this business, I wish to know it; I wish my wife, in whose interest 
 you speak, to make the charge if she chooses. Now let her choose. 
 If you, gentlemen, suppose that you are to fight this battle in refer- 
 ence to my cliaracter,! will make it it ten times harder than you see. 
 Yesterday we were on the edge of peace; but if you mean to draw 
 the sword, the sword shall be drawn. 
 
 Mr. Hill. — Don't you think it is pretty well out? 
 
 Mr. Tilton, — There is one thing that I was born for, and that is 
 war. 
 
 Q. Did you make the acquaintance of Mrs. WoodhuU in the ab- 
 sence of ? 
 
 A. I don't remember whether she was absent or present. 
 
 Q. Don't you remember whether it was while she was at home or 
 not that you were associating with Mrs. WoodhuU? 
 
 A. I knew Mrs. WoodhuU a whole year. 
 
 Q. [After several questions involving reference to another 
 woman] — Do you know whether or not information was communi- 
 cated to your wife that you were living with Mrs. WoodhuU? 
 
 A. I never lived with her. 
 
 Q. Do you remember whether your wife was told that you were 
 living with her? 
 
 A. I never heard of it till now. I saw something the day before 
 yesterday in a salacious newspaper. 
 
 Q. The Chicago Timei f 
 
 A. Yes. 
 
 Q. Have you read it? 
 
 A. Yes; 
 
 Mite, claflin's talk. 
 
 Q. Don't you know that information of precisely the character 
 then published was communioited to your wife by the mother of 
 Mrs. WoodhuU during your intimacy with Mrs. WoodhuU? 
 
 A. I never heard of such a thing; I remember that Mrs. M6rse 
 was with Mrs. Claflin ; the old ciazy woman came at the foot of Her 
 stairs one night, and made a hideous racket of some sort of trash; 
 Mrs. Morse quoted that and got quite frightened about it. 
 
 General Tracy. — ^I hope all the motliers of your friends are not 
 insane. Don't you know that Mrs. Claflin at the same time com- 
 municated that to your wife? 
 
 A. I did not know that she saw my wife. I understood that that 
 
MR. TILTON'S CHALLENGE. 68 
 
 woman made a visit to Mrs. Morse's. It may be perhaps that Mrs. 
 Tilton was there at tliat time. ' 
 
 Q. Don't you know that your wife's miud has been disturbed in 
 regard to your own infidelity to her by Jour associations with public 
 women? 
 
 A. No, sir. If that pretense is made, Mr. Tracy, on your part, it 
 is unmanly; if it is made on her part, it is false. I have never as- 
 sociated with public women. 
 
 General Tracy. — I don't mean prostitutes; I mean reformers? 
 
 A. Oh, yes; I said before that Elizabeth had been annoyed, over 
 and over again, by my associatiohs with all persons out of the realm 
 of religious orthodox ideas. 
 
 Q. In that class of people, whom among your lady acquaintances 
 do you include? 
 
 A. I include Miss Anthony and others, though I have not seen 
 those people Bince Elizabeth ordered them out of the house; beyond 
 those persons I don't know ; Luoy Stone was one; slie lived m Bos- 
 ton ; she did not come very often ; Elizabeth was a reformer at one 
 time, and had the getting up of women's rights meetings, and had 
 the children take the tickets; she arranged the campaign; but now 
 she can't endure them. 
 
 Sessim of July 23, 1874. 
 
 At the session all the members were present, and examined with 
 Mr. Tilton, who was also present, the letter from his wife which he 
 had quoted in his statement. The other letters which he quoted 
 from, he said were in the hands of Mr. Frank Moulton, After some 
 convereation the committee adjourned. 
 
 Mr. Tilton Cballenges the Committee to take tbe scan* 
 dal to the Courts. 
 
 From the BUxMyn Argut. 
 
 A gentleman called on Mr. Tilton this morning at his residence 
 in Livingston street, and asked him if his examination before the 
 committee had been concluded. Mr. Tilton replied that he did not 
 know. He had promised to go before the committee as often as 
 . they sent for him. He had been before them already four times. 
 Whether they would want him any more he could not say, but he 
 said he h&d never failed to respond to their summons, and if they 
 should ask for him forty times iu succession he would be certain to 
 appear. 
 
 Upon being asked whether the reports which have appeared in 
 pretending to give accouufsof his cross-examination before the com- 
 mittee were correct, Mr. Tilton said: ' ~ ; , _ 
 
 "I have never yet seen one that was correct. They all bear evi- 
 dence of being one-sided and half-malicious presentiitions of my ex- 
 amination, furnished to the reporters by the connsel to the com- 
 mittee. The.commitlee themselves arc not responsible for these 
 misrepresentations. lama journalist and know the reporters. The 
 reporters themselves have informed me that these travesties of the 
 truth come to them by design from Mr. Tracy and Mr. Hill. These 
 
64 MR. TILTON'S CHALLENGE. 
 
 two gentlemen ■would deny tliis fact ; but a number of my friends 
 OQ the press have communicated to me in confidence that Mr. Tracy 
 and Mr. Hill are directly responsible for these misrepresentations of 
 my examination. Please do not understand that I object at this 
 juncture, to be misrepresented eitlier by the press or by Mr. Beecher's 
 counsel. 
 
 HIS RIGHT OP DEFENSE. 
 
 "The move I am misrepresented, the more right I have to defend 
 myself. Mr. Tracy and Mr. Hill, the counsel for Mr. Beecher, al- 
 ready have as little influence -with the committee as they have with 
 the public. I have just ground of accusation against Mr. Tracy, 
 and I have been advised by far more eminent counsel than himself 
 that his course would not be sustained it submitted to the bar. I 
 do not wish to press it, because tlie .committee themselves, or at 
 least a few of them, are of too much dignity of character aud moral 
 integrity to be tossed up and down like a ball on a fountain by the 
 gushing leakages of Mr. Tracy and Mr. Hill. Tlie committee them- 
 selves have a grave case on their hands, and they are men wise 
 enough to acknowledge its gravity; but the committee's counsel are 
 full of tricks and stratagems to belittle it, to distort it, and to pilay 
 upon the public with it. 
 
 " So far as the committee themselves are concerned — I mean the 
 six men who compose it — they exhibit a sad and grieved willing- 
 ness to listen to the truth. 
 
 *' The substance of the examination up to the present time, so far 
 as I am concerned, is briefly this; Gen. Tracy asked me if I com- 
 mitted adultery. I asked Gen. Tracy if he had committed adultery. 
 But neither Gen. Tracy, nor Mr. Hill, nor anybody in the commit- 
 tee, has yet asked me whether Mr. Beecher committed adultery." 
 
 ALLEGED MISREPRESENTATION. 
 
 Mr. Tilton's visitor remarked: "These reports, then, seem to 
 misrepresent you?" ' - 
 
 Mr. Tilton, — Yes ; but do not misanderstand me. There are cer- 
 tain gentlemen on this committee wbo would not willingly mis- 
 represent any one; but tlie counsel are playing a mad frolic with the 
 facts, and will in the end be the two worst beate,n attorneys who 
 ever conducted a case. 
 
 "You think, then, that they have made blunders?" 
 
 Mr. Tilton. — Yes ; and they have made one liideous blunder. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 Mr. Tilton. — They have diverted their examination from the facts 
 at issue, into an inquiry into the names and characters of my female 
 acquaintances — particularly those who, as writers or speak- 
 ers on various reforms, have attained eminence in public life. The 
 animus of this inquiry was obvious ; its design was to associate me 
 with the extreme and radical sentiment against which the conserva- 
 tive class in the community are arrayed in large majority. I, my- 
 self, did not object to this inquiry, though I, myself, would not 
 have begun any such line of policy in this case. Gen. Tracy's su- 
 premeblunder has been that in iustitutiugthat inquiry into the stand- 
 ing of the ladies of my acquaintance, he gives me the right to insti- 
 tute a counter inquiry into the standing of the ladies of Mr. Beecher's 
 acquaintance. I informed tbe committee yesterday that I deprecAted 
 such a plan of battle, but that if it was forced upon me by the com- 
 mittee's counsel ; I could draw a sword with two edges to their one. 
 
Mli. TILTON'S CHALLENGE. 6S 
 
 If lliis new aspect which Gen. Tracy flings upon the ease like a sha- 
 dow 18 to characterise tlie remainder of the controversy, it will be the 
 better for Gen. Tracy's chief client that lie had never been born. 
 
 NEW SCAND.*LS HINTED AT. 
 
 Reporter.— I perceive that Mr. Tracy questioned you concerning 
 your acquaintance with Mrs. Woodhull? 
 
 Mr.Tilfon.— Yes; but Mr. Tracy was careful not to elicit the 
 fact that Mr. Beecher's apology addressed to me through Mr. Moul- 
 ton was written lialf a year before I ever saw the face of Mrs. Wood- 
 hull. He was careful also not to elicit the fact that Mr. Beecher 
 liimself had had private interviews with Mrs. Woodhull, and that 
 that lady had taken far more pains to associate herself with him 
 and he with her than ever I liad done. 
 
 Reporter. — In what other respects have the reports of your exam- 
 ination misrepresented you? 
 
 Mr. Tilton. — Well, on the day after I presented my sworn state- 
 ment, I met the committee and held an interview with them which 
 ■was described in the next day's journals as a pitiful spectacle— my 
 having broken down on cross-examination. The truth is there was 
 no cross-examination whatever on that day by the counsel, and 
 nothing but a kindly interchange of talk between tlie committee and 
 myself. I have my faults, and many of them, bnt I have never 
 need the sentimental, declamatory and nngrammatical English 
 Gen. Tiacy and Mr. Hill have emitted to their reportorial friends 
 as coming from me. The report which I am criticising says that I 
 admitted that I was the authpr of the Woodhull scandal— which wa« 
 a falsehood. Have yon a knife in your pocket? 
 
 Reporter. — Yes. 
 
 Mr. Tilton. — Please cut out the fallowing extract. 
 
 The reporter then took his [>enknife and cut out the following 
 paragraphs: 
 
 The following question wag put to Tilton by Mr. Tracy : 
 
 Mr. Tilton. — have yon any evidence of Mr. Beecher's adultei'y »s- 
 cept what yon say your wife told you? 
 
 Tilton, — ^I have none whatever. 
 
 MR. beecher's confessions. 
 
 " I wish you would do me tlie favor tosay, through the column* of 
 the Argus, that though I have hitherto declined being interviewed 
 concerning my appearance before the committee, and have steadily 
 remained silent concerning the proceedings in the commttee, yet the 
 above report, coming as it does from the committee's counsel, is an 
 absolute fabrication. I told the committee distinctly, that Mr. Beecli- 
 er had confessed his adultery to me; that he had confessed to Mr. 
 Moulton, that he liad confessed it to other persons whom I named, 
 and furthermore, I'gave the names of several persons who for the 
 last four years have been perfectly weU aware tliat Mr. Moulton's en- 
 tire conection with this case, from beginning to end, has been based 
 on the one and only corner stone of Mr. Beecher's criminality. I ask 
 that all these persona be produced before the committee. 
 
 " I ask, furthermore, for the privilege of being'present to cross-ex- 
 amine Mr. Beecher and the other witnesses. I still further suggest- 
 ed that the case had come to be of such magnitude that it would be 
 better for the committee to dismiss this informal examination, in 
 ■which no one but myself has thus far spoken under oath, and ad- 
 journ to meet in court. I expressed n willingness to be sued for U- 
 
66 MRS. WOODHDLL APPEARS ON THE SCENE. 
 
 bel, or to be put in any other way before a tribunal wliicli could com- 
 pel witnesses to testify under oath, and which could punish perjury 
 with tlie state prison. It this case, with all the facts which lie be- 
 hisd it, revealed and uurevealed, were now before a criminal court 
 instead of a voluntary committeS, and if Mr. Beecher's printed state- 
 ment had been made under oath, subject to cross-questioning aii'l 
 overthrow, he would indeed be compelled to "step down and out." 
 I feel at liberty to speak freely, because Mr. Beechei's counsel has fal- 
 sified me to the world, and I have no recourse but to smite them in 
 the face." 
 
 :o:- 
 
 Ifrs. VToodliull Appears on tbe Scene. 
 
 From tlu Ifews. 
 
 Mrs. Victoria WoodhuH arrived yesterday morning from Chicago. 
 She has improved wonderfully in personal appearance, and her wau- 
 looking features, that were so conspicuous on the trial in General 
 Sessions, have given place to rosy cheeks and well-rounded form. 
 When the reporter accosted her she smilingly s^id : 
 
 " You come in regard to the Tilton-Beecher matter, I suppose?" 
 Reporter. — Yes, madam. ' 
 
 Mrs. WoodhuU. — I am very sorry, then, but I have determined 
 not to say anything about it at present. What I shall say will be ia 
 my own paper. 
 
 Reporter. — But you have been interviewed in the west in regard' 
 to the matter. 
 
 Mrs. WoodhuU. ^No, sir; although I have been persistently fol- 
 lowed by reporters all the way from San Francisco, I have steadily 
 refused to say anything. I understood on my arrival this morning 
 that the Chicago Times published what purported to be an interview 
 with me, in which I inculpated •Beecher and exonerated Tilton. It 
 is not so. The Times reporter followed me from Aurora in a car- 
 riage for the purpose of talking to me, but I told him what I tell you 
 
 DOW. 
 
 Reporter. — Have you read Mrs. Tilton's statement published this 
 morning? 
 
 Mrs. Woodhull (hastily) — Yes, sir, I have, and I know it is not true. 
 Mrs. Tilton should be honest and tell all slie knows. Let her tell 
 the public what she has told me at her own tea-table, and then see 
 who falls. 
 
 Reporter. — Then I suppose you are no believer in spiritual love? 
 
 Mrs. WoodhuU. ^Faugh 1 Spiritual lovel Henry Ward Beecher 
 talk of spiritual love! Why, the man's whole physique is full of 
 sensuousness. 
 
 Reporter. — What do you think of Mr. Tilton's charges of adul- 
 tery? 
 
 Mrs. Woodluill. — I believe them true, every word. You know 
 what I have suffered in this matter. I have not been spared by 
 Plymoutli Church". I have been hounded down, incarcerated ia 
 jail, my bondsmen worked upon to surrender me, and all for expos- 
 ing a hypocrite. 
 
THE HOME OF MR. BEECHEB. , 67 
 
 Beporter. — Have jou ever talked to Mr. Beeclier on this subject? 
 
 Mrs. "Woodhull.— Yes, sir, often. I Iiave told him, time and time 
 i^in, " Mr. Beecher, why don't you preach wJiat you practice?" His 
 reply has been: " Why, Mrs. Woodhull, my church would be empty 
 in a day. I dare not." Then I have said to him: " You would preach 
 to 60, 000 when you speak to 600." 
 
 Reporter. — Will you appear at all before the investigating com- 
 mittee of Plymouth Church! 
 
 Mi-3. Woodhull. — Of what use is it? They are Mr. Beecher's se- 
 lected friends. Three of them have sat at my own table. They 
 know well enough that what I long ago charged is true. 
 
 Reporter-- Would you be kind enough to tell me to which member 
 •f the committee you refer? 
 
 Ml-s. Wooodhull. — Well, I don't cars to say ; I will tell you, how- 
 •ver, that Mr. Clnflin is one. >, 
 
 Reporter. — ^I see it stated that the investigation will close proba- 
 bly tliis week. 
 
 Ml-s. Woodhull. — What (surprised)! with only the statements 
 they have already taken? 'I'hatij decidedly unfair. Why don't 
 they call Mr. Bowen and Mr. Carpenter? Ah, yes; and a dozen oth- 
 ers who were visitors at Ilr. Tiltou's and Mr. Beecher's houses. Let 
 the trial be thorough and conclusive. 
 
 Reporter. — Mr. Moulton's testimony is said to be important. 
 
 Mrs. Woodhull. — Yes; and when it is made public you will be 
 surprised. If Frank Moultou tells all he knows, he will swamp 
 Beecher. And Frank is one of nature's noblemen. I am con- 
 rinced that he can sustain all the allegations in Mr. Tilton's state- 
 ment, and (significantly) more too if he desires. 
 
 Reporter. — You have other facts iu connection with the scandal, 
 I (uppo&e, that you have not already published. 
 
 Mrs. Woodhull. — Yes; but as I said before, I do not care to dis- 
 «lose them just yet. I am waiting uutil all the evidence is in, and 
 the inTestigation closed, then (triumphantly) I will sum up the case. 
 
 -:o:- 
 
 Tlie Home of Mr. Beecher. 
 
 A brown-stone, three-story house at 124 Columbia Hights, only 
 Ihree blocks from Plymouth Church, is Mr. Beecher's residence. Ho 
 kas owned it and lived there for many years. It is one of a row of 
 ■early like structures, and the property in the neighborhood is very 
 valuable. *' The Hights" is the Murray Hill of Brooklyn, and Mr. 
 Beecher's place is just within the limits of the district covered by 
 that designation. The door has a plate inscribed, " H. W. Beech- 
 er." Just inside the hall stands au old fashioned hat rack with a 
 ■lirror iii it. Along the wall of the stairway leading to the second 
 floor hang many framed engravings. The parlor opens off the hall, 
 «nd the door is always open. Looking in, one sees au apartment 
 which has no counterpart as to odd variety of contents. It is long 
 «nd wide, and an old style in finish. The walls are divided into 
 panels by projecting posts and by a wooden ledge that runs entirely 
 around the room about four feet from the floor. Bunches and fes- 
 
68 THE H0ME OF ME. BEECHKK. 
 
 toone of autumn leaves are hung plentifully about, and there are 
 enough pictures, from oil paintings to cheap ferrotypes, to leave 
 but litttleof the walls uncovered. The furniture is a chaos of styles. 
 A sofa is high-backed and mushy-bottomed, niergiug into the soft- 
 ness of second childhood. A concert grand piano is new and shiny. A 
 nondescript cabint, huge and time-worn, is in a corner. A contrast- 
 ing new bookcase is full of fresh, gilt-backed volumes. Two yel- 
 low geographical globes, on high pedestals, stand like sentinels at 
 the corners of the fireplace. A table is covered with a brown wool- 
 len spread. Everything is littered with big and little ornamental 
 articles, as though the tokens of all the Beechers' birthdays and 
 Christmases were there preserved. Handsome bronacs, plaster fig- 
 ures, china articles, countless things impossible to describe as to 
 material or intent, are on the carved brackets. Lacking any sem- , 
 blaoe of n^ethod or taste in its furnitui'e, the apartment gains in an 
 air of careless comfort. 
 
 Back of the parlor and connected by wide doors is Mr. Beecher'f 
 study. Sitting atone of the large windows one can look down upoi; 
 the harbor, upon New York city, or over into Jersey City and 
 Hoboken. The view is one of, busy life and commerce spread out 
 like a diorama. A large, flat-topped writing desk, with many 
 drawers, stands in the middle of the room. Paintings — better than 
 any in the parlor — hang on the parts of the wall that are not covered 
 by book shelves. Camp chairs and a lounge furnish ample seating 
 capacity for visitors. A stuffed easy chair provides for the own- 
 er. " 
 
 The late occurrences have changed Mr. Beecher's home habits. 
 Formerly, when not away on his farm, his hours for visitors were 
 from 2 to 4 every afternoon, and he saw everybody who called. The 
 pdd parlor was his reception room, and at 2 o'cloak it usually held 
 not less th(^n half a dozen visitors. To everybody, high or low, he 
 was courteous and unstilted. His manner was off-hand and un- 
 dignified. *' How are you, old fellow," was his usual -salutation to 
 acquaintances. His study was the rendezvous for Plymouth's leadr 
 ers, and many of the Brooklyn clergymen were frequent loungers 
 there. Indeed, that floor of the house was much like the offices of 
 ft business man, the family occupying the two more secluded upper 
 stories. 
 
BEECHER'S AND MOULTON'S LETTEBa «» 
 
 IBeecIxer Deiiaandins tlie Original Z^etters from the Mo. 
 tiial Friend Frank JMoulton. 
 
 l^om the New Vork Sun. 
 
 Jui-T 24, 18T4. 
 
 Mr Deab Mb. Moulton : I am making out a statement, and I need the letters 
 «Dd papere In your hands. Will you send me by Tracy all the originals of my pa- 
 pers f Let them he numbered and an inventory taken, and I will return them to you 
 as soon as I can see and compare, get dates, make extracts or copies, aa the caw 
 maybe. 
 
 Will you also send me Bowen's " Heads of Difficulty," and all letters of my sister 
 If any are with you. 
 
 I heard you were sick— are you about again? God grant yon to see peaceful 
 tlmee. Yours grafefully, H. W. Bekcher. 
 
 P. D. MOULTON. 
 
 As no answer was received to this, a messenger was sent 1o Xarragansett, near 
 where Mr. Monlton has a summer residence, with the following 
 
 LETTEH FROM ME. BEECHEH. 
 
 Brooklyn, July 28. 1874. 
 
 MTDsiBfRisHD: The Committee of Investigation sre waiting mainly for yon 
 iMfore dosing their labors. I, too, earnestly wish that you would come, and clear 
 your mind and memory of everything that can beai on the case. ■ J pray you also to 
 bring all letters and papers relating to it which will throw light upon it, ana bring 
 to a result this protracted case. ^ 
 
 I trast that Mrs. M. has been reiuvlgorated, and that her need of your care w ill not 
 be so great as to detain you. 
 
 Truly Tottrs, H. W. Bei.cheb. 
 
 P. D. MoiTLTON, Esq. 
 
 The messenger traced Mr. Monlton to a Boston depot, and after a vain search for 
 him returned to Brooklyn, and late on Tuesday nl^ht took the above to Mr. Moul- 
 ton'e house. The first letter having been received earlier in the day, Mr. Moulton 
 replied as follows : . 
 
 MR, MOXILTON TO MR. BBlBOHBK. 
 
 49 Rehsen Street, Bbookltk, Aug. 4, 1874. 
 
 My Deab Mb. Bbechee : I received your note of July 84, informing me that yon 
 are making a statement and need the letters and papers in my hands, and asking me 
 to send to you for the purpose of having extracts or copies made from them, as the 
 case may be, that you may use them in your controversy with Mr. Til ton. 
 
 I should be very glad lo do anytliine that I may do, consistent with my sense of 
 what is due to justH:e and right, to aid you ; but if you reflect that I hold all the im- 
 portant papers entrusted to me at the desire and request, and in the confidosice of 
 both parties to this unhappy affair, you will se» that I cannot in honor give them or 
 any of them to either party to aid him as agoinst the other. I have not given or 
 shown to Mr. Tllton any documents or papers relating to your affairs since the re- 
 newal of yonr controversy, which had been once adjusted. 
 
 I need not tell you how deeply I regret your position as foes each to the other after 
 my long and, as you-, I have no doubt, fully believe, honest and faithful effort to have 
 
 I will sacredly hold all the papers and information I have until both parties shall 
 reanest me to make them publfc, or to deliver them into the hands of either or both, 
 orto lay them before the committee, or I am compelled In a couit of justice to pro- 
 duce them, if I can be so compelled. - ,„,,.. .„ 
 
 My regret that I am compelled to this course is softened by my belief that you wjll 
 not be substantially injured by it in this regard; for all the facts are of course known 
 to you, and 1 am bound to believe and assume that in the statement you are prepar- 
 ing you will only set forth the exact facts ; and, if so. the docnmeuts, when prodnccd, 
 wfil only confirm, and cannot contradict, what you may state, so that you will suffer 
 
 ""if on the contrary— which I cannot presume— you deeire the possession of tho 
 itocuments in order that you may prove your statemeht in a manner not to be con 
 
70 BEECHER'S AND MOULTON'S LETTERS. 
 
 ttavened by the facts BOt forth In them to the disadvantage of Mr.TiUon,! ahoold 
 be then aiding yon in doing that which T cannot belinve' the atrictest and firmest 
 friendship for you calls npon me to do. With grateful recollections of yonr kin* 
 confidence and trnst in me, I am very trnly yours, I", D. Moultos. 
 
 Eev. Hbnbt Wabd Beeceeb, Brooklyn, N. T. 
 
 F. D. MouUon, Esq. 
 
 MR. BBBCHBE'S EEPLT. 
 
 Bbookltn, Aug. 4, 1874. 
 
 Sir : Tour letter bearing date Aug, 4, 1874, is this moment received. Allow me t« 
 'express my regret and astonishment that you refuse me permission even to see cer- 
 tain letters and papers in your possession, relating to charges made against me by 
 Theodore Tilton, and at the reasons given for the refusal. 
 
 On your solemn and repeated assurances of personal friendship, and in theunqnes- 
 tioninsr confidence with which you inspired me of your honor and fidelity, I placed 
 !n your hands for safe keeping various letters addressed to me from my brother, my 
 lister, and various other parties; also memoranda of affairs not immediately con- 
 nected with Mr. Tilton's matterp. I also from time to time addressed you confiden- 
 tial notes relating to my own self, as one friend would write to another. These pa- 
 pers were never placed m your house to be held for two parties, nor to be used 1h 
 anyway. They were to be hjld for me. I did not wish them lo be subject to risk 
 ,of loss or scattering, from my careless habit in the matter of preserving documents. 
 They were to be held for me. In so far as these papers were concerned, you were 
 only a friendly trustee, holding papers subject to my wishes. 
 
 Mr. Tilton has made a deadly assault upon me, aiid has used letters and fragments 
 of lett"rs, purporting to be copies of these papers. Are these extracts genuine t Are 
 thej; garbled ? What are their dates ? What, if anything, has been left out, and what 
 pufcin? 
 
 Tou refuse my demand for these papers on the various pleas, that if I speak the 
 truth in my statement I do not need them ; that if I make a Fuccessf ul use of them 
 itwill be an injury to Mr. Tilton, aid that you, asafriendof both parties, are bound 
 not to aid either in any act that shall injure the other. 
 
 Biit I do not desire to injure anyone, but to repel ai injury attempted upon me by 
 the use of papers committed sacredly to your care. These documents have been' 
 seen and copied ; they have been hawked for pale in New York newspaper oi&cea; 
 what purport to be my confidential notes to you are on the market. 
 
 But when Idemand a sight of the originals of papers of which you ar3 only a trus- 
 tee, that I may defend myself, you refuse, because you are the friend of both partiesi 
 Mr. Tilton has access to yourdepository of materials with which to strikome; but 
 I am not permitted to use' them in defending myself. 
 
 I did not ask you to place before the committee any papers which Mr. Tilton may 
 have given yon. But I do demand that you forthwith place before the committee every 
 paper •which I have written or deposited with you. 
 
 Truly yours, H. W. Bebchbb. 
 
 MB. MOULTON'3 ANSWER TO MR. BEECHEE. 
 
 „ „ .„ 46 Eemses Stbebt, Buookltn, Aug. 5, 1874. 
 
 Hci'. Henry Ward Beechet\ 
 
 MtDeab Sib : In all our acquaintance andfiiendshiplhave never received from 
 youa letter of the tone ofyonrs of Aug 4. It seems unlike yourself, and to have 
 oeou inspired by the same ill-advisers who had so lamentably carried your private 
 affairs before a committee of yonr church and thence before the public. 
 
 In reply let me remind yon that during the whole of the past four years all the docu- 
 ments, notes, and memoranda, which you and Mr. Tilton have Intrusted to me 
 have baen so intrusted because thev had a reference to yonr mutual differences. I 
 hold no papers, either f yours or hi8,cxcept such as bear on this case. You speak of 
 
 memoranda of affairs no' immediately connected with the Tilton matter.*" Tou 
 prohabiy allude to the memoranda of your difflculties with Mr. Bowen,but these have 
 a direct reference to your present case with Mr. Tilton, and wnre deposited with mi 
 py you because of such reference. You speak also of a letter or two from your bro- 
 ther and Sister, andl am sur >, you have not forgotten the apprehension which we en- 
 tertained lest Mrs. Hooker should fulfil a design which she foreshadowed to invade 
 ffion "" ^^^ '" ^°'"' •"'°g^'^g»"°° " confe-^sion of your intimacy with Mrs. 
 
 ., Ji?"..^'"'^^ %K?^}^^^ papers whichi hold " subject to yonr wishes." I hold none 
 h^?h'™ W°^^ ""y subject to Mr. Tilton's wishes. The papers which I hold, 
 S„, ,-h2 1™ '"-.were not given to b'! subject to the wishes of either of the parties. 
 !M?ii„«L F °°\'"^-^ °'.™.y holding themhas been, and still is, to prevent the wish of 
 one party from being lojurioualy exercised against the othe .'. 
 r ou are luc^r.ect in saying that Mr. Tilton had access to my "depository of mate- 
 
BEECHERS AND MOULTON'S LETTERS. n 
 
 rials;" on the contrary I have refQfled Mr. Tllton sach ivccess. During- the prepara^ 
 tion of his sworn statemont'he came to raa and said his case would bu incomplete un- , 
 less I permitted him to use all the documents, but I refused; and all he could rely up- 
 on were such notesasbehad madefrom time to timefrom writings of yours which 
 you had written to me to read to him, and passages of which he caught from my lips 
 in shorthand. Mi'. Tilton has seen only a part o.' the papers in my possession, and 
 would be more surprised to learn the entire facts of the case than you can possibly 
 be. 
 
 What idb rumor.! miy have existed in newspaper ofllccs I know not; -but they 
 have not come from me. 
 
 In closing your lettjr you say, ^'I donot ask youto p'ace before the committee 
 any papers which Mr. Tiltoa may have piven you ; but I demand that you forthwith 
 
 ? lace before the committee every paper which I have written o. deposited with you." 
 n reply I cnn only say that I cannot justly place before the committee the papeis 
 of on^ of the parties without doing ths same with the papers of the other, and I 
 cannot d j this honorably except either by legal process compelling me,or else by con- 
 sent m writing, not only of you self, but of Mr. Tilton, with whom I shall confer on 
 the subject as speedily as possible. 
 
 Yju will, I trust, see a greater spirit of justice in this reply than you have infused 
 into your unu-^ual letter of Aug, 4. ■ 
 
 Ve.y respectfully, Frahcu D. MouL-foN. 
 
 MR. MOULTON TO MR. TILTON. 
 
 BnoOKLYN, Aug 5, 1874. 
 Theodore Tllton, JEsq. 
 
 MtDkah Sir: I have received under date of July 28 a letter from the Kev. Henry 
 Ward Beech:r, 1 i which he expresses the wish that I would go before the investi- 
 gating commiiteeand" clear my mind and memory of everytuing that can bear on 
 xhis case " — referring, of cou se, to the controversy between you aud him. 
 
 I cannot, in v ew of my conflaential relations with you, m ke any statement be- 
 iore the investigating committee, unless you release me, as Mr. Beecher has done, 
 explicitly from my obligation to maintain your confidence. 
 
 Ifyou will express tomeclearlya request that I should go before the investiga- 
 ting committee and state aiy and all facts within my knowledge concerning your 
 case wi hMr. Be chei-, and to exhibit to them any or all documents in my possea- 
 sion relating thereto, I shall in view of Mr. Beecher's letter, consider myself at liber- 
 ty to accede to the request of the committee, to state such facts and to cxhibitsuch 
 documents. 
 
 Very respectfully, Francis B. Moulton. 
 
 MR. TILTON TO MR. MOULTON. 
 
 Brooklyn, Aug, 5, 1874. 
 
 Francis D^ Moidioii, Esq, 
 
 My Dear Sir : In responsa to yonr note of this day mentioning Mr. Beecher'a re-* 
 quest that you should exnibit to the committee the facts and documents hitherto 
 held in confidence by you touching hi i difference with me, I hereby give you notlco 
 that yoQ have my own consent and request to do the same. < 
 
 Truly youra, Tusoi>orb TiltoeT. 
 
78 MOULTON'S STATEMENT. 
 
 Monlton's Statement. 
 
 In making bis statement, Mi\ Moulton addressed a lengthjr cai'd to ths' 
 pablic. The substance of which was a history of how became connected 
 with the matter, and his efforts for four years to arrange the affair. We hav» 
 deemed it proper to omit his card, as it does not seem material to the ques- 
 tion at issue between Tilton and Beecher. In the statement itself there la 
 much that has reference to outside issues that have an only indirect bearing- 
 on the great scandal. These we thought proper to omit. The following ia 
 the first letter that passed between the parties : 
 
 Dec. afi, 1870— Bbookltk. 
 Henry Ward Beeclier. 
 
 Sib: I demand that, for the reasons' which you explicitly undorsiand, yon im- 
 mediately cease from the ministry of Plymouth Church, and that yon quit the city of 
 Brooklyn as a residence, 
 
 (Signed,) Thbodork Tiltok. 
 
 The above was written at the suggestion of Henry C. Bowen, who Mr. 
 Moulton believes was using Mr. Tilton for his own purpose. The next fully 
 •xplains itself, 
 
 Bbookltw, Jail 1, 1871. 
 Mr. ffenry O. Bonem, 
 
 SiK : I received last evening your sndden notices hreakfng my two contracts— oh« 
 ^th the Independent., the other with tlie Brooklyn Union, 
 
 With reference to this act of yonrs I will make a plain statement of fact". 
 
 It was during the early part of the rebellion (if I recollect aright) when you first 
 Intimated to me that the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher had committed acts of adaltry 
 for which, if yon should expose him, be would be driven from his pulpit. From 
 that time onward your references to this subject were frequent, and always accom- 
 panied with the exhibition of a deep-aeated injury to your heart. 
 
 1 1 a letter which you addressed to me from Woodstock, Juue, 16, 1863, referring to- 
 this subject, you said; *' I some times feel that I miw( break «tie?ice, that I tnust no 
 longer suffer as a dwrnb wan, and be made to bear a load of grief mont unjuftUy, One 
 word from me would make a revolution throughout, Christendom,! had almost said— 
 And ymi know it, * * * You have just a little of the evidence from the m*eat vo- 
 lume iu my possession. • • * X am not pursuing a phaii.om, but solemnly brood- 
 ingover ah awful reality." 
 
 The underscoringa in this extract are your own. Subsequently to the date of 
 this letter, and at frequent Intirvals from then till now, yon haverepeated the state- 
 ment that you could at any moinent expel Henry Ward Beecher from Brooklyn. You 
 have reiterated the same thing not only to me but to others. 
 
 Moreover, during the year just closed, your allusions to the subject \vere uttered 
 with morefeeling than heretofore, and were not unfrtquently coupled with your em- 
 phatic doclaratio i that Mr. Beecher ought not to be allowed to hold a public posi- 
 tion as a Christian preacher and teacher. 
 
 On the 26th of Dectimber, 1870, at an interview in your house, at which Mr. Oliver 
 Johnson and I were present, you spoke frequently and Indignantly against Mr. 
 Beecher as sn unsafe visitor among the families of his congregation. You alluded 
 by name to a woman, now a widow, whose husband's death you had no doubt was 
 hastened by his knowledge that Mr, Beecher had maintained with her an impropm 
 intimacy. You avowed your knowledge of several other cases of Mr. Beecher's adul- 
 teries. Moreover, as if to leave no doubt on the mind of either Mr. Johnson or my- 
 self, you informed us that Mr. Beecher had made to you a confession of his guilt, 
 andimplored your forgiveness. After Mr. Johnson retired from this interview, you 
 related to me the case of a young womau whom you said (as nearly as I can recall 
 your words) that * * * 
 
 During the recital of the tale you were full of anger towards Mr. Beecher. You 
 said with terrible emphasis that he ought not to remain a week longer in his pulpit. 
 You immediately suggest that a demand should be made upon him to quit his sa- 
 cred office. You volunteered to bear to him such a demand in the form of an open 
 letter, which you would present to him with your own hand; and you pledged your- 
 self to sustain the demand which this letter should make— namely, that ho should, 
 for reasons which he explicitly knew, immediately cease from the ministiv of Ply- 
 mouth Chrrch and retire from Brooklyn. 
 
MOVLTOKS !iTATMMENT. Ti 
 
 The first draft of the letter did not contain the phrapo "tor rcaBona which he ex- 
 plicitlv knew, and these words (or words to this effect) were incorporated in a ee- 
 cond, at your motion. You urged furthermore (and very emphatically) that the let- 
 ter fchonlddemand not only Mr. Beecher'a abdication of his pulpit, lint cessation of 
 his writing for the Christian Union, a pointon which you were overruled. This let- 
 ter you presented to Mr. Beecher at Mr. Freeland's house. Shortly after its presen- 
 tation you sought an interview with mein the editorial office of the Brooklyn Ujiimt, 
 during which, with unacconntable i motion in your manner, your face livid with 
 rage, you threatened with a loud voice that if I ever should inform Mr. Beecher of 
 the statements you had made concerning his aduliry, or should compel you to ad- 
 duce the evidence on which you agreed to sustain thedcmand for Mr. Beecher's with- 
 drawal from Brooklyn, you would immediate deprive me of my engagement to write 
 ^ forthe iTidependent and to edit the Brooklyn Union, and that iu case fshould ever at- 
 tempt to enter the offices of those journals, you would have me ejected by force. 
 I told you that I should inform Mr. Beecher or anybody else, according^to the dic- 
 tate of my judgment, uninfluenced by any threat from my employer. You then ex- 
 citedly retired from my presence. Hardly had your violent words ceased ringing In 
 my ears, when I received your summary notice breaking my contracts with the Inde- 
 Tpmdent and the Brooklyn IJnion. To the foregoing narrative of tacts I have only to 
 add my surprise and regret at the sudden interruption, by your own act, of what hag 
 been, on my part towai-ds you, a faithful friendship of fifteen years. Truly yours, 
 
 (Signed) Theodobe Tixton. 
 
 In this letter I have omitted the sentence quoted as the words of Mr. Bow- 
 eii, after the words, " as nearly as I can recall your words, that " simply 
 desiring to say that it contained a charge of a rape, or something very near- 
 ly like ravishment, of a woman other than Mrs. Tilton, told in woi-ds that 
 are unfit to be spread upon the record, but, if desired, the original is for the 
 inspection of the committee. 
 
 MRS. TILTON'S confession. 
 
 On Friday evening, the 30th ofDeoember, being the night of the Plymouth 
 Church prayer-meeting, Tilton came to me and said, in substance, that by 
 his wife s request he had determined to see Beecher, in order to show to 
 Beecher a confession of his wife of the intercouree between them, which he 
 (Tilton) had never up to that time mentioned to him (Beecher), and thefact 
 of the confession, of which his wife had told him that she had never told 
 Beecher, although her confession had been made in July previous in writ- 
 ing, whicli writing he (Tilton) had afterward destroyed ; but tliat his wife, 
 fearing that if the Bowen accusations against Beecher were made public, tho 
 whole matter would be known, and her own conduct with Beecher become 
 exposed, had renewed her confession in her own handwriting, which he 
 handed me to read, which was the first knowledge I had of its existence. 
 
 Tilton did not tell me how his wife came to make the confession in July, 
 nor did I at that time or ever after ask. Indeed I may state here, once for 
 all, that I refrained from asking confessions of the acts of all the parties fur- 
 ther than they chose to make them to me voluntarily for the purpose for 
 which I was acting. 
 
 Tilton wanted me to go down and ask Beecher to come up and see him at 
 my house, which I did. I said to Mr. Beecher, " Mr. Tilton wants you to 
 come and see him at my house immediately." He asked, "What for? " I 
 replied, "He wants to make some statement to you in reference to your re- 
 lations with his family." He then called to some one in the back room to 
 go down and say that he should not be at the prayer-meeting, and we went 
 oat together. 
 
 It was storming at the time, when he remarked, " There is an appropri- 
 ateness in this storm," and asked me, " What can I do ? what can I do < " 
 I said, " Mr. Beecher, I am not a Christian, but if you wish, I will show you 
 how well a heathen can serve you." We then went to my house, and I 
 showed him into the chamber over the parlor, where Mr. Tilton was, and 
 left them together. In about an hour Mr. Beecher came down and asked me 
 if 1 had seen the confession of Elizabeth. I said I liad. Said he. "This 
 will kill me," and asked me to walk out with him. I did so, and we walk- 
 
74 MOULTOifS STATEMJEM: ■ 
 
 ed to Mr. Tilton'e Louse together, and he -went in. On the way hfe ™d, 
 "This is a teirible catastrophe : it comes upon me as if struck by lightning. 
 
 He went into Tilton's house and ^ returned liome. Witliiii an hour he re- 
 turned to Toy house, and we left my house again together and I walked with 
 him tu his house. Tilton remained at my house while Beecher was abseDt 
 at Tilton's house, and when he returned tliere was no conversation between 
 them. When we arrived at Beethei-'s house, he wanted me to staud by him 
 in this emergency and procure a reconciliation if possible. I told him I 
 would, because the interests of women, children, and families were involved, 
 if for no other reason. That ended the interview that night. Duritig this 
 evening nothing was said by Beecher as to the truth orfalsityofMrs. Tilton's 
 confession, nor did he inform nie that he had obtained from her any recanta- 
 tion of the confession, which I afterward learned he had done. The next 
 morning as I was leaving home fur business Tilton came to my house, and 
 ■with great anger said that Beecher liad done a muan act; that he had gone 
 from that interview of last night to his liouse and procured from Elizabeth a 
 recantation and retraction of her confession. He said for that act he would 
 smite him ; that there could he no peace. He said: " You see that what I 
 have told you of the meanness of that man is now evident." Tilton said that 
 Beecher at the interview of last night had asked his permission to go and 
 see Elizabeth, and he told him he might go, which statement was confii-med 
 by Beecher himself, and Beecher left him for that purpose. I said to Tilton ; 
 " Now, don't get angry; let us see if even this cannot be arranged. I will 
 go down and get that retraction from him." 
 
 I was then going to my business, so that I was unable to go that morn- 
 ing, but went that evening, saw Beecher, and told him that Ithuughthehad 
 been doing a very mean and treacherous act — treacherous, first, toward me, 
 from whom he wauled help, in that he did not tell me On our way to his 
 houselast night what hehad procured from Mrs. Tilton, and that he could 
 not expect lay friendship in this mattei- unless he acted truthfully and hon- 
 orably toward me. I further said : "Mr. Beecher, you have had criminal 
 intercourse with Mrs. Tilton ; you have done great injury to Tiltoji other- 
 wise. Now when you are confronted with it you ask permission of the man 
 to again visit his house, and you get from that woman who has confessed 
 you have ruined her a recantation and retraction of the truth for your mere 
 peisonal safety. That won't save you." 
 
 At that interview he admitted with grief and son-ow the fact of his sexual 
 relations with Mrs. Tilton, expressed some indignation that she had pot 
 told him that she had told her husband, and that in consequence of being is 
 ignorance of that fact he had been walking upon a volcano. 
 
 MRS. TILTON'S EECANTATION. 
 
 Dec. 30, 1870.— Wearied witli importunity, and weal£ened with sickness, I gave » 
 letter inculpating my friend, Henry Ward Beecher, under aesurauccs that tnntwoald 
 remove all Sifflcultles between me and my husband. That letter I now revoke. I 
 was persuaded to it, almost forced, when I was in a weakened state of mind. I re- 
 gret it and recall all its statements. 
 
 (Signed) E. E. Tiltoh. 
 
 MES. TILTON'S KBTKACTION OP^KR RECANTATION. 
 
 Decembeb 30, 1870— Midnight. 
 
 My Dbab EtJSBAND : I desire to leave with yon before going to sleep a statement 
 that Mr. Henry Ward Beecher called upon me this evening, asked me if I would de- 
 fend him against any accusation in a council of ministers, and I replied solemnly that 
 I would in case the accuser was any other person than my hnshaud. He (H. W. B.> 
 dictated aletterwhich I copied as my own, to be used by him as against any ctha- 
 accuser except my hnsband. This letter was designed to vindicate Mr. Beecher 
 against all other persons save only yourself. I was ready to give him this letter te- 
 
MOULTONS STJTJSMK-yT 75 
 
 <atieG ho eaid vciQi pain tliat my lett«rln 7onr hands addressed to him, dafred Dec, 29, 
 •^had Btmck him dead andendedhia uBefulnoes.'l 
 
 Yon and I both aro pledged to avoid piihllcity. God grant a speedy end to all fur' 
 ihor anxieties. Affeciionatoly, 
 
 , (Signed) Elizabeth. 
 
 On the Sunday following, January ist, Beeoher and Moultoii had an inter- 
 view, Moulton Bays : 
 
 He took me into his study, and then told me again of liia great surprise 
 that Elizabeth should Lave made the confession of his criminal commerce 
 with her lo her husband without letting him (B.) know anythiiig about it, 
 making liis" desti-uciion at any moment possible,, and without warning to 
 ' him. He expressed liis great grief at this wrong which he had done as a 
 minister, and friend to Theodore, and at his request I took pen and paper, 
 and he dictated to me the following paper, all of which is in my handwriting 
 except the words : "I have ti-usted this to Moulton in confidence," and the 
 signature, which latter are in Mr. Beecher's. It is here produced and mark- 
 ed "F." 
 
 LETTER OP CONTHITION. 
 
 BEooKirs, Jan. 1, 1871. 
 In trust with Jt D. Moulton. 
 
 Mt Dear Fbiend Moulton ; laskthronphyou Theodore Tilton's forgiveness 
 and'l humhlemyeelf before him as I do before my God. He would have been a bet- 
 ter man In my circumstances than I have been. 1 can ask nothing escept that he 
 will remember all the other hearts that would ache. I will not plead for myself. I 
 «ven wish 1 were dead ; but others must live and sufTer. 
 
 I will die before anyone but myself shall be i'nplicated. All my thoughts are run- 
 ning toward my friends, toward the poor child lying there and praying with her fold- 
 ed Sands. She is guiltless— sinned against ; bearing the fransCTession of another. 
 Her forgiveness I have. I humbly pray to God that he may put it into the heart of 
 her husband to forgive me. 
 
 I have trusted this to Moulton in confidence. 
 
 (Signed^ H. W. Beecheb. 
 
 This was intrusted to me in confidence, to be shown only to Tilton, which 
 I did. It had reference to no other tact or act than the confession of sexual, 
 intercourse between Mr. Beecher and Mrs. Tilton, which he at that interview 
 confessed, and denied not, but confessed. He also at other interviews sub- 
 sequently held between us hi relation to this unfoilunate affair unqualifiedly 
 •confessed that Vie had been guilty of adultery with Mrs. Tilton, and always 
 in a spirit of grief and sorrow at the enormity of the crime he had commit- 
 ted against Mr. Tilton's family. 
 
 At this point, Mr. Moulton's statement is devoted to the details of a mis- 
 understanding betweeu Beecher and Bowen, in whicli Tilton's name figures. 
 The next document is one that Moulton says is so full and clear that he does 
 not need to add a word.^ 
 
 MES. HOOKER TO BEECHER. 
 
 HAKTroRD, Nov. 1, 1872. 
 
 Dear Brother : In reply to your words " if you still believe in that woman," 
 Ac let me say that from her personally I have never heard a word on this subject, 
 andnear'y a year ago, 1 heard that when in this city she said she had expected you 
 to introduce her to Steinway, 1 wrote her a most indignant and lebuking letter, to 
 which she replied In a manner tlist astounded me by its calm assertion that she con- 
 fiiderel you as true a friend to her as I, myself. ,,. ,, 
 
 I enclosed this letter to Mr. Tilton,a8king him to show it to j-ou if he thought best, 
 Jiudtowrite me whatit all meant. He never replied or return 'd the Icttertomeus 
 I reaueeted ; but I have a copy of it at your service. In the month of February, af- 
 ter that on returning from Washington, I went to Mrs, Stanton's lo spend Sunday. 
 At Jersey City I met Mrs.W., wli» had come on in the same tram with me, it seemed, 
 and who urged me in a hasty way to bring Mrs. Stanton over on Monday for a 
 mfferage consultation as to a spring convention. Remembering her assertion of the 
 iriendsTiip between you, and of her meeting you occasionally at Mr. Moulton's hon-se 
 <I think that is the name), I thought I would put this to test, and replied that if I 
 
MOVLTOSa STATKMHyT. 77 
 
 It tcoms to me that God has be n preparing mc for this worji, and yon alio, for 
 years and years. I send you a reply that I sent to Dr. Todd long ago, and which I 
 could never get publiBhed without my name (which for the sake of my danghteral 
 V. ished to withold), although Godkin of the Nation, Holbrook of the Herald o/Health, 
 Ward of the Indepetident, and to every mother to whom I hare read it, all told m« 
 it was the best thing ever written on the subject, and ihe men said they would pub- 
 lish it if they dared, while Mrs. urged me to give my name and publish, and 
 
 saldshe wouldrather have WTittenit than anything else of i elength In the world, 
 and if itwere hers she would print it withonthesitation. 1 send also a letter I wrote 
 John Stuart Mill on Ms sendi g me an early copy of his -"Subjection of Wo- 
 men," and his reply. I am sure that nearly all the thiuldng men and woman are 
 aomewhere near you, and will rally to your sapportif you are bold, frank, and abso- 
 lutely truthful in stating your convictions. Mrs. Burleigh told Dr. Channing that 
 fhe was ready to avow her Iwlief in social freedom when the time came; she was 
 weary now and glad of a reprieve, but should stand true to her convictions when she 
 must, ily own conviction is that the one radical mistake you have made is suppos- 
 ing you are so much ahead of your time, and in dAring to attempt to Irad when you 
 have any thing to conceal. Do not, I pray you, deceive yourself with the hope that 
 the love of your church, or any other love, human or divine, can compensate the 
 loss of absolute truthfnlness to your own mental convictions. I have not told you 
 the half I have snlTered since February; but yon can imagine, knowing what my 
 hnsbandistome, that it is no common level have for you and for the truth, and for. 
 all mankind, w omen as well as men, when I decided to nearly break his heart, already 
 lacerated by the course I wascompelled to pursue, by sending hira cwcy to die, per- 
 haps, without me at his side. 
 
 I wish yon would come here in the evening sometime (to the Burton cottage), or I 
 will meet yon anywhere in New York you appoint, and at any time. 
 
 Ever vouTK, Bbllk. 
 
 Bead the letters from John and Mary in the order I have placed them. 1 will send 
 these now and the other documents I have mentioned another day, waiting till 1 
 know whether yon will meet me. 
 
 On the 3d of the same month Mrs. Hooker addresssed a letter to her 
 brother, the Eev. Thomas K. Beecher, which 1 produce, marked "N6." 
 
 MKS. HOOKER TO ME. THOMAS K BEBCKEK. 
 
 [Please return this letter to me when you have done with it.] 
 
 Habtpobd, Fnnday, Nov. 3,187*. 
 DEAB Bbother Tom : The blow has fallen, and I hope you are better prepa ed 
 for it than you might have been but for our interview. I wrote H. a single line last 
 week, thus: "Can I help yon?" and here is his reply: "If yon stiU believe in that 
 woman you can't help me. If yon think of her as I do you can, perhaps, though I 
 do not need much help. I tread the falsehoods into the dirtfrom whence they spring, 
 and go on my way rejoicing. My people arc thus far heroic, and would give their 
 lives for me. Their love and confidence would make mo vi-llling to bear far more 
 than I have. Meanwhile the Lord has a pavilion In which to hide me until the storm 
 bo overpast. I abide in peace, committing myself to Him who gave Himself for me. 
 I trust you give neither countenance or credence to the ab .minaole coinage that has 
 been put aooat. The speekB of truth are mere spangles upon a garment of false- 
 hood. Thetruthitsclf ismade tolie. Thank you for love and truth and silence, 
 but tbink of the barbarity of dragging a poor dear child of a woman into this slongh, 
 
 "Tours truly.** 
 
 Now Tom, BO far as I can see it is he who has dragged the dear child into the 
 Blcneh'and left her there, and who is now sending another woman to prison who is 
 Innocent to all crime but a fanaticism for the truth ao revealed to her, and I, by my 
 silence am consenting unto her death. ^ ^ . ^^ , 
 
 Head the little note she sent me long ago, when, in a burst of enthusiasm over a 
 public letter of hers which seemed wonderful to me, I told her how it affected me, 
 and mark its prophetic words : 
 
 "New Yokk, Aug. 8, 1871, 
 " Mt Dear, Dbab Feieni) : I was never more happy in all my life than I am this 
 mornine and made bo by yon, whom I have learned to love so mnch. From you, 
 from whom I bad expected censure, I receive the first deep, pure words of approval 
 sndlove Iknow myconree has often been contrary to yourwishes, and it has 
 i-ppn mvereatest grief to know that it was so. Bince yon have bo nobly been my 
 defender But ell the time I knew It was not I for whom you spoke, but all wo 
 manhooi and I was the more proud of you i hat your love was general and not per- 
 ■Brmat I am often compelled to do things from which my sensitive soul shrinks, and 
 tor which I endure the thocensnreof most of my fncnds. But I obey a Poww 
 
7b MOULTOirafSTATEMBhT. 
 
 which knows better than they or I can know, and which has never lef i me itrandad 
 4nd withont hore. I Blionld he a falthleBS servant indeed were I to f .liter now when 
 regnired to do what I do not fuHy uuderstand, yet in the ieane of which I have 
 full faith. None of the Bcenes in wliich I have enacted a part were what I wovila 
 have selfishly chosen for my own happiness. I love my home, my children, my husr- 
 band, and could live a sanctified life with them, and never desire contact with 
 the *idc world. Butsuchis not to be mymiseion. 1 know what is to come, though 
 J cannot yet divulge it. My daily prayer Isthat heaven m^yvoucheafo mo strength 
 to meet evfipy chiae which I know must be encountered ana overcome. My heart is, 
 however, too luu 10 write you alllwish- IsoetPenear approach of the grandest 
 revelation the world has yctknown, and for the part you will play in it thousLinds 
 will rise up and call you blessed. It was not for nothing that; un and I met so slnffa- 
 lariy. Let ns watch and pray, that we faint not by the wayside before we re ich the 
 coneammation. Wo shiill then lookback with exceeding great joy to all wb have' 
 been called upon to BufiTer for the sake of a cause more holy than has y tcomoupou 
 «anh. AgainI bless you for jour letter. Affectionately and faithfully yours, 
 
 "ViCTOElA C. WoODHirLI.." 
 
 Oh, my dear brother, I fear the awful straggle to live according to law has^ wrought 
 an absolute demoralization as to : ruthfulness, and so he can talk about "Spangles on 
 a Kannent of falsehood," when thegarmentis truth and the specks are the falsa- 
 hood. I 
 
 Hia first letter to me was so diilerent to this. I read it to you, but will copy It lost 
 yon have forgotten its character : 
 
 Apeil »5, I87S. 
 
 ■* Mt Dkab Belle : I was aorry when I met yon at Bridgeport not to have had a 
 longer talk with you about the meeting in May. Idonotintendtomakcanyspceches 
 on any topic during anniversary week. Indeed J shall be out of tuwn. 1 do not 
 want you tQiaha ani/ ground this year except upon suj/'era^e. You know my sympa- 
 thy with you. Probably you and I are nearer together than any of our family. I 
 cannot give reason now. lam clear; still, you will follow your own j'jdgmeut, I 
 thank you for your letter. Of some things / neitlier .talk, nor will I be talked with. 
 For love and sympathy, I am deeply thankful. The only help that ( an be giatef ul to 
 me or useful is {ntofice and a silencing infiueuce on all others. A day may come for 
 converse. It is not now. living or dead, my dear sister Belle, Ume me, and do not 
 talk about me or suflfer others to In your presence. Qod love and keep yon. God 
 keep us all. Tour loving brother, "H.W. B." 
 
 The underscoring Is his own, and when I read In that horrible story that he bog- 
 ged a few houre' notice, that he might kill himself, my mind flew back to this sen- 
 lenco, which suggested suicide to me the moment t read it ; " Living or dead, ray 
 dtiar sister Bell :■, love mey and I believed even that. 
 
 Now, Tom, can't you go to brother Edward at once and give him ihepe letters of 
 mine, and tell him what I told you ; and when you have counselled together as bro- 
 thers should, counsel me also, and come to me if you can. It looks as if he hoped 
 to buy my silence with my love. At present, of course, I shall keep silence,, but 
 truth Is dearer than all things else, and if he will not speak it in some way I cannot 
 always stand as conseniing lo a lie,. " Qod help us all." 
 
 Tours In lore. Belle. 
 
 If you don't come to mo, send Edward. I am utterly alone, and my heart aches 
 for that woman even as for my own flesh and blood. I do not understand her, but 
 I know her to be pure and nnE^elflsh and absolutely driven by some power foreign 
 to herself to these strange utterances, which are always in behalf of freedom, piiniy 
 —truth, as sh" understands It— always to befriend the poor and oulcast, and bring 
 low only the proud, the hypocrites In high places. The word about meeting at Mr. 
 Phelps's house I have added to the copy. If you see Henry tell him of this. 
 
 The reply to this letter by the Rev. Thomaa K. Beeoher to his sister is iia 
 folIowB, and needs but a single remark — the thought of a good miin ns to 
 the value of testimony ia this case, 1 refer to the last sentence of the post- 
 script 
 
 THE BEV. THOMAS K. BEECHER TO HIS SISTER. 
 
 Elmika, Nov. 5, 18TC. 
 Dbab Bslle : To allow the devil himself to be crashed for speaking the truth Is 
 nnflpeakably cowardly and contemptible- I respect, <m at prenent adviaed, Vx". Wood- 
 hnll, while I abhor her phllosoph'^. She only carries out Henry's philosophy, 
 against which I recorded my protest twenty years ««o, and parted (lovingly anl ach- 
 ingly) from blm, saying : " We cannot work together." Be has drifted, and I have 
 
JiOVLTOKS STATEMENT 79 
 
 Hardaned like a crystal till I am sharp-cornered and exacting. I cannot help him 
 except by prayer. I cannot help him through Edward. In my Jndgnieht, Henry 1^ 
 following Ma slippery doctrines of ejpcdieucy, and in his cry of progress and the 
 nobleness of hnman nature has sacrificed clear, exact, Ideal integrity. Hands off, 
 until he is down, and then my pnlpit, my heme, my church, and my purse and heart 
 arc at his service. Of the two, Wi.oclhU'l is my hero and Henry my co^\ard, aaat 
 pr^entadvi td. But I protest against the whole batch and all its belongings. I was 
 not anti-slavery ; I am not anti-family. But as I wrote years ago, whenever I ns- 
 Banlt slavery because of its abominations, I shall assail the Church, the State, the 
 family, and all other institutions of sel&sh usage, 
 
 I return the piipcrs. Tov cannot help Henry. Toujnust be true to WoodhuU. I 
 am out of the circle as yet, and am glad of it. When the storm-lino include me I 
 •ball suffer as a Christian, saying : '■ Cease ye from man." 
 
 Uoii't write to me. Follow the truth, and when you need me cry out. Youi's lov- 
 ingly, 
 
 (Signed) Tom. 
 
 P. 8.— I am so overworked and hurried that I see upon review that my letier 
 »<mi«f8 hard— because of its sententionsness. But believe me, dear Bella, that I see 
 and safier with you. You arc in a tight place. But having chosen your principles I 
 •an only counsel yon to be true and take the consequences. For :^'ear8. you know I 
 have been apart frum all of you except in love. I think you all in the wrong as to 
 anthropology and social science. But I honor and love them who suffer for convic- 
 tion's sake. My turn to suffer vrill come in due time. In this world all ( hristians 
 •hall suffer tribulation. So eat, sleep, pray, take good aim and shoot, and when the 
 ache comes say even hereunto wewerecalled. But I repeat — Toa can't help Henry 
 at present. . 
 
 P. S. — I unseal my letter to enclose print and add : Tou have no proof as yet of 
 any offense on Henry's parr. Tour testimony would be allowed in no court. TU- 
 lon, wife, Moulton & Co., are witnesses. Even Mrs. Stanton can only declare hear- 
 •ay.' So if you move, remenber that you are standing on uncertain information, and 
 we shall not probably ever get the facts, and I'm glad of it. If Mr. and Mis. Tilton 
 are brought Into court nothing will be revealed. Perjury for good reason is with 
 advanc^ tlunkers no sin. 
 
 MRS. HOOKEE TO BEECHEE. 
 
 Hartford Wednesday 27th, 1872. 
 
 Deab Brother! Eead the encloseed, clipped from the Times of this city iast 
 evening. [See enclosure below.] I can endure no longer. 1 must see you and 
 persuade you to write a paper which I will read, going alone to your pulpit and 
 taking sole charge of the services. I shall leave here on 8 A. M. train Friday 
 Boming, and unless you meet me at Forty-second street station, 1 shall go to 
 
 Mrs. 's house, opposite the Young Men's Christian Association, Ho. — 
 
 Twenty-third street, wnere I shall hope to see you during the day. Mi's. 
 
 kindly said to me, when last in New York, ■' My daughter and 1 am now widows, 
 Kving quietly in our pleasant home, and 1 want you to come there, without 
 warning, whenever you are iu New York, unless you have other frienda-whbm 
 you prefer to visit.'* 
 
 So I shall ,eo as if on a shopping trip, and stay as long as it seems beet. 
 
 I would prefer going to Mis. Tilton's to anywhere else, but I hesitate to ask 
 ker to receive me. 
 
 I feel sure, howerer, that words from her should go into the paper, and with, 
 her consent I could write as one commissioned from on high. 
 
 Do not fail me, I pray you ; meet me at noon on Friday as you hope to meet 
 
 Jonr own mother iu Heaven I In her name I beseech you, and I will take no 
 eniaL 
 
 Ever yours in love unspeakable, (signed.) Bbllb. 
 
 [Enclosure mentioned in above letter.] 
 BEECHES AND. MES TILTON. 
 
 " Eli Perkin's " of the New York Commn-ciat, a prominent Republican paper, 
 
 " Nast's very boldness— his terrible aggressiveness— is what challenges ad- 
 miration and makes 5<irp«-;;! TTmHi/ a success. J .,. , „ ,M 
 "When I asked him if he didu t think it a great undertaking to attack Mr. 
 
 " ' Yes- but I knew he was an old humbug. 1 knew I was right, and I knew 
 richt would win in the e-.id. I was almost alone, too. The people were fooled 
 wHh Greeley, as they are fooled with Beecher, and he will tumble further than 
 Qreeley yeU' 
 
?0 MOULTON'S STATJEMENT.- 
 
 " We had a talk about Beecher and Tilton, Hud putting this with other eonver- 
 I- ,ition» with personal friends of Mr. Tilton, and with newspaper men in New 
 ■^'ork, I an> satisfied that a terrible downfall surely awaits the one who has erred 
 
 and conceals it." 
 
 Beecher then informed me of his apprehension that Lis sister, in her anx- 
 iety that he should do his duty in presenting this truth as she understood 
 it, and in protecting Mrs. WoodhuU from the consequences of having pub- 
 lished the truth, from which she was then suffering, would go into his pul- 
 pit and insist upon declaring that the WoodhuU publication was Bubstan- 
 tially tiue; and he desired me to do Avhat iu me lay to pi'eventsuch a dis- 
 aster. 1 suggested to him that be should see Mrs Hooker, speak to liei' 
 kindly, and exhort her not to take this course, and that Tilton should see 
 her and so lar shake her confidence' iu the truth of ^the story as to induce 
 her to doubt whether she would be safe in making the statement public. In 
 this coui'se Beecher agreed, and such arguments and inducements were 
 brought to bear upon Mrs. Hooker as were in the power of all three of us, 
 to prevent her from doing that which w^ould have certainly brought on an 
 exposure oi the whole business. During the consultation between Beecher 
 and myself as to the means of meeting Mra. Hooker's ijitentions, no sugges- 
 tion was ever made on the part of Mr. Beecher that his sister was then or 
 ever had been at other time iusane. ' ' 
 
 Moulton says Beecher was exceedingly anxious that Tilton should repudi- 
 ate the statement published by WoodhuU. and denounce herfor its publication, 
 and adds : 
 
 Beecher told me to say to Tilton, substantially: " Theodore may for his 
 own purpose, if he cheose, say that all his misfortune has dome upon him 
 ou account of his dismissal from the Vnion and the Independent, and on ac- 
 count of the offence which I committed against him. He may take the po- 
 sition against me and Bowen that he does ; yet the fact is that liis advocacy 
 of Mrs. WoodhuU and her theories has donehim the . injury which prevents 
 hie rising, jfifowi in order to get support from me and from Plymouth 
 Church, and in order to obtain the sympathy of the whole community he 
 jnust publish this card ; and unless he does it he cannot rise." He also , 
 said the same thing to Tilton in my presence. 
 
 To this Tilton answered, in substance, to Mr. Beecher; "You know why 
 I sought Mts. WoodhuU's acquaintance. It was to save my family and 
 yours from the consequences of your acts, the facts about which had become 
 known to her. They have now been published, and I will not denounce 
 tliatwomian to save you from the eonsequences of what you yourself hav* 
 done."* ! 
 
 BEECHEB TO MOULTON. 
 
 Febbday,?, 1871. 
 
 Mt Dear Mb. Moulton : I am glad to send yon a book which you will rel- 
 ish, or which a man on a sick bed otight to relish, I wish I hadjnore hke it, and 
 that 1 conld send yon one every day, not as a repayment of your great kindness 
 to me — for that can never be repayed, not even by love, which I give you 
 freely. 
 
 Many, many friends has God raised up to me ; but to none of them bos he given 
 tlie opportunity and the wisdom so to serve me as you have. My trust in you 
 is implicit. You have also proved yourself Theodore's friend and Elizabeth's. 
 Does God look down from Heaven pn three unhappy creatures that more need 
 a fiiend than these 1 
 
 Is it not an intimation of God's intent of mcrcv to all, that each one of these 
 has in yon a tried and proved friend 1 But only in you are we three united. 
 "VVould to God, wh« orders all hearts, that bvyonr k'ind meditation "Theodore, 
 Elijabeth and I could be made friends again. Tneodore will have the hardest 
 task in such a case ; but has he not proved himself capable of the nobleet 
 things! 
 
 I wonder if Elizabeth knows how generously he has carried himself toward 
 me! Of ooorec, I can never speak with her again, except with hie permiiMioa, 
 
THEODORE TILTON, 
 
MOULTOKfi STATEMEXr. 81 
 
 and I do not know that even then it would be best. My earnest longing is to 
 see her in the full sympathy of her nature at rest in him, and to see Tiim once 
 more trusting in her, and loving her with even a better than the old love. I am 
 always sad in snch thoughts. Is there any way out of this jnight ? Miy not ■ f 
 day-star arise ? 
 Truly yours always, with tnist and love, 
 (Signed) 
 
 Heney Ward Bbechee. 
 
 On the same day there was conveyed to me fi'om Beeclier a request to Til- 
 ton that Beeclier might write to Mra. Tilton, because all panties had then come 
 to the conclusion that there should be no communication between Beecher 
 and Mrs. Tilton, or Beecher and Tilton, except wtth mf knowledge and 
 consent, and I had exacted a promise from Beecher that he would not com- 
 municafe with Mrs. Tilton, or allow her to communicate with him, unless 
 I saw the communication, which promise, I believe, was, on his part, faith- 
 fully kept, but, as I soon found, was not on the part of Mrs. Tilton. 
 
 Permission was given to Beecher to write to Mrs. Tilton,. and the follow- 
 ing is his letter, here produced, marked " P : " 
 
 BEECHES TO MKS. TILTON. 
 
 Beookltn, Feb>7, 1871. 
 
 Mt Deab Mk8. Tilton: When I saw you last I did not expect ever to see 
 jou again or to be aliVe many days. God was kinder to me than were my own 
 thoughts. The friend whom God sent to me (Mr.iMop(tonj has proved, aboy^ 
 all friends that ever I had, able and willing to nelp me in t'hia terrine emergency 
 of my life. His hand it was that tied up the, eit<^i;qi that was ready to burst up- 
 on our head. I am not the less disposed to trust him from finding that he has 
 your welfare mpst deeply and tenderly at heart. You have no friend (Theodore 
 excepted) who has it m his power to serve you so vitally, and who will do it 
 with so much delicacy and honor. 1 beseech of you, if my wishes have yet any 
 influence, let my deliberate judginent in this matter weigh with you. It does 
 my sore heart good to see in Mr. Moulton an unfeigned respect and honor for 
 yen. It would Kill me if ' he thought otherwise. He will be as true a friend' to 
 your honor and happiness as a brother conldbe to a sister's. - In him we ha^e a ' 
 common ground. 'Yon and I may meet in him. The past'isended. But is there ' 
 nO future ! no wiser, higher, holier future ! May not this friend stand as a priest ' 
 in the new sanctuary of reconciliation, and mediate and bless you, Theodore, and 
 my most nnhappy self? Do not let my earnestness fail of its end ; you believe 
 in my judgment. I have put myself wholly and gladly in Monlton's hands and 
 "there I mast meet you. This is sent with Theodore's consent, but he has not 
 read it. Will i/ou rttnrTi it to me hy his hands? I am very earnest in.this wish 
 for all our sakes, as such a leitter ought not to be subject to even ,a chance of 
 miscarriage. , 
 
 Toui nnhappy friend, 
 (SigTied) ; H. W. BEiifcH^E. 
 
 At that time Moulton says : ,, , 
 
 Beecher was very anxious to ascertain throughme the exact condition of 
 Tilton's feelings toward bim,'aud how far the.feqonciliption was real, and to 
 get a statement in writing that would seem to free him (Beecher) from 
 imputation thereafter. I more than once applied to Tilton to get a state- 
 ment of his feelings toward Beecher, and received from him, on the 7th of 
 February, 1871, the following letter, wliich I produce, marked "AA" : 
 
 TILTOX TO MOULTON. 
 
 , I . Beookltn, February 7, 1871. 
 
 My Very Deae Feiend : In several conversations with me yon liave asked 
 about my feelings toward Mr. Beecher, and yesterday you said the time had 
 come when you woald like to receive from me an expression of them in writing. 
 I say .therefore, very cheerfully, that notwithstanding the great suffering which . 
 be has caused Elizabeth and myself, I bear him no malice, shall do him no wrong, 
 
ehall discountenance every project (by whomsoever proposed) for any exposure 
 of his secret to the pflWic, and (if 1 know myself, at all) shall endeavor to act 
 toward.Mr. Beecher as.I.would have him in similar circumstances act toward. 
 
 me. '. . , ,, , ,,' s ,1 , ■, . , V,' , ■■ 
 
 I ought to add that your own good oificea in this case haveled me to: a higlier 
 moral feeling than I might otherwise have reached. p]ver yours affe0tioftately, 
 
 (Signed) '" I' Thkodoke Tn.TON. 
 
 To Fkakk Moultox. i 
 
 Bi'om that time everything was quiet,i Nothing occurreu to mar- the liaf- 
 raony existing between Tilton aud.Beechej', or the kindly Jrelatibns(l)etween 
 'ISlton iliid Mrs. Tiltou,damngithe summer; of 1871, except idle gossip which 
 floated about the city of Brooklyn, and sometimes was hinted atiu: the news-, 
 papers, but \vhich received no support in any facts known to the gossiper or , 
 th« writer.y or through any communication of Mr. and Mrs. 'Uilton or Mr. 
 Beeclier; ' 
 
 I have already stilted that I had, as a necessary jirecautioii to the peace 
 of tlia familyj and the parties interested/ interdicted all the parties from hav- 
 ing any communication with each other — except. the. husband: and wife — 
 unless that communication was known no me, aud the letters sent tlu'ough 
 me or shown to me. Mr.'Tilton atidi'Mr:B^echer,iateI have before stated, 
 both faithfully complied with their promise in that regard, so far as I know. 
 I was away sick iitlie spring of 1871, as before stated, and went to Florida. 
 Sooni after my return, Beecher placed in tnyhafids an unsigned letter from 
 Mrs.' Tilton, in her haud-«Titing, nudited, but marked iu his handwriting, 
 "Eeceived March 8, '1871*.'"I here produce it, mljrked"FP''; ,'■ 
 
 JiBS., TIlAoN TO BEECHER. 
 ' ^ ' ' ' ■ • WedkkspAt. 
 
 Mr Dear Fkienr: Does your heart bound (owarrf* oW as it used .' .Sodocs. 
 mine! (I am myself again. I did not dare to telL you till I Was sure ; hut the 
 bird has sungin my heart tliese four ;wecks, and he , has covenanted with me 
 never again to leave. "Spring has come." Because! tbougjit it would glad- 
 den yau to know this, and not to trouble or emb^ijrass .yoUi . in any (uia;/, I now 
 write:, Of course I should like to share with you my joy ; IjutiCan WjSat for th«. 
 Beyond, . '. , 
 
 When dear Frank says I may once aapin go to old Plymouth, I willahank the 
 dear Father. , , . , 
 
 Such a communication from Mrs.lTiUon to her pastor, under tliei circum- 
 stances and her promise, sealed tome to be a breach of good faith. But 
 desirous to have the rteace kept', and hoping' that if unanswered it miglit 
 not be repeated, I did not show it to Tilton„or inform him (jf its exist- 
 ence. ■ '" '■ 
 
 On Fi-iday, ApKl 21, 1871, Mr. Beecher received anoihci'lettei' of that 
 dale, unsigned, from Mrs. Tilton, which he gave to me. It is here iirodiiced, 
 marked "GG." as follows: ■ ' 
 
 MRS. TILTON TO BEECHER. 
 
 PiiiDAY, .\firil 21', 1871. ' ' 
 fin. Beecher: As 'Mr. Moulton has returued, will you use yourinfiuenoe to 
 have the papers in his possession destroyed! My heart bleeds night and day 
 at the injustice of their existence. 
 
 As I could not comply with this request for reasons before stated, I did 
 lioit show this letter to Tilton, lior did 1 call Mrs. Tilton's attention to it. 
 
 On the 3d of May Mr. Bfeecher handed me still another letter; ttnsis^neil, 
 but in Mrs. Tilton's handwriting, of that date, which is here produced, ' 
 marW'HH;". 
 
MUVLTOXS STATiEilEXT. . 83 
 
 MRS. TILTON TO BEECHER. 
 
 BpooKLTN, May 3, 1871. 
 Me. BeecheR! My future, eitbcr for life or death, would he happier could I 
 l)ut feel that jovi/orgam -while you forget me. In all the sad complications of 
 the past year, my endeavor was"to entirely keep from mu all suffermg ; to bear 
 myself alone, leaving ^ou forever ignorant of it. My weapons were love, a 
 large, untiring generosfty, and nast-hidiny ! That .1 have failed utterly we both 
 know. But now I ask forgiveness. 
 
 The contents of . this letter were so remarkable that 1 queried within ray' 
 own mind whether I ought not to .show it to Tilton ; but as I was as8ure<l 
 by Beficher, andTerily believed, and now believe, that tliey wereunan-' 
 swered by him, I thonght it best to retain it in my own possession, as T! 
 have done until now. But fiom the hour of its reception what remained of 
 faith in Mrs. Tilton's character for truth or propriety of conduct was wholly 
 lost, and from that time forth I iiad no thought or care for her reputation only 
 so far as it affected that of her cliildren. 
 
 MRS. TILTON S STATEMENT. 
 
 Dec. 16, 1872. 
 
 In July, 1870, prompted by my doty, I informed my husband that Mr. H. W. 
 Beecher, my friend and pastor had solicited me to be a wife to him, together 
 with all that this implied. Six months afterward my husband felt impelled by 
 the circumstances of a conspiracy against him, in which Mrs. Beecher had taken 
 part, to have an interview with Mr. Beecher. 
 
 In order thai Mr. B. might know exactly what I had said to my husband,,! 
 wrote a brief statement (I have forgotten in what form), which my husband show- 
 ed to Mr. Beecher. Late the same evening Mr. B. came to m« (lying very sick at 
 the time), and filled me with distress, sayingi had ruined him — and wanting to 
 know if I meant to appear against him. This I certainly did not mean to do, and 
 the thought wasagonizing to me. I then signed a paper which he wi'ole, to 
 clear him in case of a trial. In this instance, as in most others, when absorbed- 
 by one great interest or feeling, the harmony of my mind is entirely disturbed, 
 and I found on letlection that this paper was so drawn as to place me most un- 
 justly against my husband, and on the side of Mr. Beecher. So in order to repair 
 so cruel a blow to my long-suffering husband, I wrote an explanation oJ the first 
 paper and my signature. Mr. Monlt«n procured from Mr. B. th? statement 
 which I gave to him in my agitation and excitement, and now holds it. 
 
 This ends my connection with the case. 
 
 (Signed) Elizabeth R. Tilton. 
 
 P. S. — This statement is made at the request of Mr. Carpenter, that it may be 
 i^own confidentially to Dr. Storrs and other friends, with whom my husband 
 and I are consulting. 
 
 This paper was delivered to me, and the theory of the confession then was 
 that Mr. and Mrs. Tilton should admit no more than the, solicitation ; but 
 that endeavor to make an explanation of the business fell through, and 
 after it was shown to those interested, as I was told, the paper remained 
 with me. 
 
 MRS. WOODHULL %0 BEECHER. 
 
 15 East Thirty-Eighth Street, lOth, 11th, 1871. 
 Jhv. H. W. Betchtr. 
 
 Dear Sir : For reasons in which you are deeply interested as welj as myself, 
 and the cause of truth, I desire to have an interview with you, without fail, at 
 some hour to-morrow. Two of your sisters have gone out of their way to as- 
 sail my character and purposes, both by the means of the public press and by 
 numerous private letters written to various persons witfi whom they seek to in- 
 jure me, and thus to defeat the political ends at which I aim. 
 
 You doubtless know that it is in my power to strike back, and in ways more 
 disastrous than anything that can come to me ; but I do not desire to do, this. I 
 eimplvdesire justice from those from whom I have a right to expect it; and a 
 jeaeoJiable course on yonr part will assist me to it. I speak guardedly, but I 
 
84 MOULIOh'S STATEMENT. 
 
 hinkjrou will understand me. I repeat that I must have an interview to-mor- 
 row, since I am to Bpeak to-morrow evening at Steinway Hall, and what I shall 
 or ehall not say will depend largely upon the result of the interview. Youre 
 veiy truly. 
 
 (Signed) Victoria C. Woodhtol. 
 
 P. S.— Please return answer by bearer. ' ; 
 
 The foregoing letter occasioned Mr. Tilton much anxiety lest Mrs. Wood- 
 hull, in proceeding against Mr. Beecher and his sisters, would thereby in- 
 volve Mrs. Tilton. 
 
 Accordingly, knowing that Mr. Beecher and Mrs. Woodhull were to have 
 an interview at my bouse on the next day, he came to jt, uninvited, and, 
 ur^ed Mr. Beecher to preside on that evening at Steinway Hall. After Mrs. 
 W. left, Tilton repeated this urgency to Beecher. 
 
 On that evening I went to Steinway Hall with Tilton; and finding no 
 one there to preside. Tilton volunteered to preside himself, which I believe, 
 had the effect of preventing Mrs. Woodhull's proposed attack on the Beech- 
 er family at that time. On the 30tli of Decembeir, 1871, Mrs. Woodhull al- 
 so sent a letter to Beecher, desiring that he would speak at a 
 woman's suffrage convention in Washington, to be held on the 10th, 11th, 
 and 12th of January foUvwing. Tiiatlettej- Eeecher forwarded to m^, with 
 the folio wing pote of the dateof2d of January, 1872, herewith prpdticed 
 and marked "NN:" 
 
 BEECHER TO MOULTON. 
 
 Brooklyn, Tuesday Evening, Jan. 2d, iSl% 
 
 Mi Dear Moblton: 1. I send you V. W's. letter to me, and a reply which I 
 
 submit to your judgment. Tell me what you think. Is it too long? Willshi 
 
 nse it for publishing ? I do not wish to have it so used; I do not mean to speak 
 
 on the platform of either of the two suffrage societies. What influence I exert 
 
 . . sbrry 
 
 for it. , 
 
 2. I was mistaken about the <7A, fJawMi coming out so early' that I could' not 
 get a notice of G. Age iu it. It was /<«( the other way, to be delayed, and I send 
 you a rough proof of the first page, and the Star article. 
 
 In the paper to-niorrow a line or eo will be inserted to soften a little the touch 
 about the Xa&. Christian. ' 
 
 3. Do you think I ought to keep a copy of an.y letters to V. W. ? Do yon think 
 it wonid be better to write it again, and not say so much 1 Will you' keep the 
 letter to me, and send the other if you judge it wise! 
 
 4. Will you send a line to my house »» the tooth ing saying what von conclude I 
 1 am f uH Qf con^pany . I , ,' ''.■'," 
 Tours truly, and aifectionatelv- 
 
 (Sigue<^) ■ . ■ H. W. B. 
 
 MOULTON TO BEECHER 
 
 Mt Dear Sir: Firpt with reference to Mrs. Woodhull's letter and yonr an- 
 swer : I think that yon would have done better to accent the invitation to speak 
 in WaBhington, but if lectm'o, interferes, ypur letter in reply is good enough, and 
 will bear publication. . ■. 
 
 , .^^'h "-elation to yonr. notice in the Goldf/iAgel tell ym.ftiiMy, as yauT 
 &iend, that I am ashamed of it, and would rather you had written nothing. Your 
 early associations with ^nd your present knowledge of ,the man who edits that 
 paper are grounds upon whjch ypu might have so written that no reader would 
 Save doubted that in your opinion Theodore Tilton's pubKoand private integrity 
 was unquestionable. If the attjcle had been written to compliment the Inot^mi- 
 tut It would have received my unqualified approval. 
 
 On the 5th of February, 1872, I received fromMr. Beecher the letter which 
 i her? piiodvice, of this date, and marked 'TP. :" 
 
MOUITON'S STATEMENT. 8 5 
 
 BEECHER TO MOULTON. 
 
 Monday, Feb. 5; 1872. 
 
 Mt Dear Friend: I leave town to-day, and expect to paas tl^rough from 
 Philadelphia to New Haveu. Shall not be here till Friday. 
 
 About three weeks ago I met T. in the cars going to B. He was kind. Wo 
 talked mnch. At the end he told me to go on with my work without the least 
 anxiety, in bo far as his feelings and actions were the occasion of apprehension. 
 
 On returning home from New Haven (where I am three days in the week, de- 
 livering a course of lectures to the theological students), I found a note from S. 
 euyingthat T. felt hard towards me, and was going to see or write me before leav- 
 ing for the West. 
 
 She kindly added, " Do not be cast down. I bear this almost always, but the 
 God in whom we trust will deliver vs all safely. I know you do and are willing 
 abnntantly to help him, and I also know your embarrassments.** These were 
 words of warning, but also of consolation ; for I believe E. is beloved of God, 
 and that her prayers for me are sooner heard than mine for myself or her. But 
 it seems that a change has come to T. since I Saw him in the cars. Indeed, ever 
 since he has felt more intensely the force of feeliiig in society and the humilia- 
 tions which environ his enterprise, he has growingly felt that I had a power to 
 help which I did not develop, and I believe that you have participated in this 
 feeling. It is natural to you that yon should. T. is dearer to you Ihan/can be. 
 He is with you. All his trials lie open to your eye daily. But I see you but sel- 
 dom, and my personal relations, environments, necessities, limitations, dangers, 
 and perplexities you cannot see or imagine. If I had not gone through this great 
 year of sorrow I would not have believed that any one could passthroiigh my ex- 
 perience and be alive or sain. I have been the center of three distinct circles, 
 each one of which required clear-mindedness and peculiarly inventive or origina- 
 ting power, viz : 
 
 1. The great church. 
 
 2. The newspaper. 
 
 3. The loot. 
 
 The first I could neither get out of nor slight. The sensitiveness of so mnny of 
 my people would have made any appearance of trouble or fany remission of force 
 an Occasion of alarm and notice and nave excited when it was important that ru- 
 mors should die aiid everything be quieted. 
 
 The newspaper I did roll off doing but little except give general directions, 
 and in so doing I was continually sparred and exhorted by those in interest, h 
 coold not be helped. 
 
 The *' Life of Christ," long'delayed, had locked up the capital of the firm, and 
 was likely to sink them — finished it must be. Was ever book bom of such sor- 
 row as that was 1 The interior history of it will never be written. 
 
 During all this time you,, literally, w'ere all my sta^ andcovjfort. I should have 
 fallen on the way but for the courage which you inspired and the hope which 
 yoa breathed. 
 
 My vacation was profitable. I came back, hoping that the bitterness of death 
 was passed. But T. s trouble brought back the cloud, with even severer suffer- 
 ing. For all this fall and winter I have felt that you did not feel satisfied with 
 me, and that I seemed, both to you and T., as contenting myself with a cauiiousi 
 or sluggish policy, willing to save myself but not to risk anything for T. I have 
 again and again probed my heart to see whether I was truly liable to such feel- 
 big, and the response is unequivocal that I am not. No man can see the diificuU 
 ties that environ me unless ne stands where I do. 
 
 To say that I have a church on my hands is simple enough— but to have the 
 hundreds and thousands of men pressing me, each one with his keen suspicion, 
 •r anxiety, or zeal ; to see tendencies which, if not stopped, would break out in- 
 to ruinous defense of me ; to stop them without seeming to do it ; to prevent any 
 «ne questioning me ; to meet and allay prejudices against T. which had their be- 
 ginning years before this ; to keep serene, as if I was not alarmed or disturbed, 
 to be cheerlnl at home and among friends when I was suffering the torments of 
 the damned ; to pass sleepless nights often, and yet to Some up fresh and full for 
 Sunday — all this may be talked shout, but the real thing cannot be understood 
 from the outside, nor its wearing and grinding on the nervous system, 
 
 God knows that I have put more thought, and judgment, and earnest desire in- 
 to my efforts to prepare a wav for T. and E. than ever I did for myself a liua- 
 4red-fold. As to the outside public I have never lost an opportunity to soften 
 
86 MOULTOK'S STATEMENT. 
 
 prejudices, to refute falsehoods, and to excite kindly feeling among all whom I 
 met. I am thrown among clergymen, public men. and generally the makers of , 
 
 Eublic opinion, and 1 have used every rational endeavor to repair the evils which 
 ave been visited upon T., and with increasing success. 
 
 But the roots of this prejudice are long. 1 he catastrophe whicl( precipitated, 
 him from his place only disclosed feelings that had existed long. Neither he nor 
 you can be aware of the feelings of classes in society, on other grounds than late 
 'rumors. I mention this to explain why / himc with absolute certainty, that no 
 mere statement, letter, testimony, or affiimatiou will reacb the root of afiairs and 
 reinstate them. Time arid woikk will. 
 
 But chronic evil requires chronic remedies. If my destruction w,o,nld, place him 
 all right, that shall not stand in thfe way. I am willing to step down and out. 
 No one can offer more than that. That I do offer. Sacrifice me without hesita- 
 tion, if you can deafly see your.way to his safety and happiness thereby. X do 
 not think that anything would be gained by it. I should be destroyed, but he 
 would not be saved. E. and the children would have their future clouded. In 
 ' one point of view I could desiie the sacrifice on my part. Nothing ca^i, .possibly 
 
 ■ be so bad as the hori'or Of great darkness in which I spend much oi my time. , I 
 look upon death as sweeter-faced' than aiiy friend I have in the world. , Liife 
 would be pleasant if I could see that rebuilt that is shattered. But to Ijye 
 on the sharp edge of anxiety, remorse, fear, despair, and yet to put on all the 
 appearance of serenity and happiness, cannot be endured much longer. 
 
 I am vvell nigh discouraged. If you, too, cease to trust me — to love me — I am 
 
 ■ .alone ; I have pot another person in the world to whom I could , go,. 
 
 'Weil, to God I commit all. Whatever it may be here, it shall be well 
 ■there." 'With sincere gratitude for your heroic friendship, and with sincere af- 
 fection, even though you love me not, I am yours (though unknown to yon). 
 
 (Signed) H. W. B, 
 
 This letter was to let me know that Elizabeth had written liini, contrary 
 to lier promise; without my penniseion, and also to inform me of his fears as 
 to the change in Tilton'smind, and itsclear statement of the case as it thea 
 stood cannot be further elucidated by me. 
 
 Atler Tilton had written a campaign document again&t .Grant's Adminis- 
 tration, and In favor of Mr. Greeley's election, Beecher discussed with me 
 the position taken by Tilton.' Beecher also gave me a copy of his (Beech- 
 evV) speech opening the Grant campaign in Brooklyn, After the speech was 
 delivered he sent me the following note ol May 17, 1872, which I here pro- 
 duce, marked " ER " : 
 
 BEECHEE TO MOULTON 
 
 JI..IY ir, 1S72. 
 
 My Deak Feank: I send you the only copy I have of my speech^ at the 
 Academy of Music on Grant, and have niarked the passage that we spoke about 
 last night, and you will see jnst what I said, and that I argued then just as I do 
 now. 
 
 Pray send it hack, or I shall be left without a speech ! 
 
 I read Theodore's on Grant. I do not think it just. It is ably writteri ; it is a 
 case of grape-shot. Yet, I think it will overact ; it is too strong-^wiH be likely 
 to produce a feeling among those not already intense, that it isex'ceesivS. Yours 
 sincerely and ever. 
 
 H. W. B. 
 
 Don't forget to send back my speecn .' 
 
 About the time of this occurrence Beecher and Tilton met atmy house on 
 friendly terms. In fact I cannot exhibit better the tone of Tilton's mind in 
 tiie winter and spring of 1871-2 than to produce here a letterj written to me 
 at that time without date, but I can fix the date as early as that. It is hers 
 produced, and marked " SS " : 
 
MOVLTOS*t< SrATKilENl W 
 
 TILTON TO MOULTON. • ! 
 
 HuDSOX KivBR Railroad, Monday Moi'niug. 
 
 Mr Dear Frank: I am writing while the train'is iamtttinn— which ac- 
 counts for the apparent dtunhenness of tills shaken chirogiaphy. Mrs. Beeclier 
 sits in the next seat. We are almost elbow to elbow in the palace car. She is 
 \Yhite haired and looks a dozen years older than when I last had a near view of 
 her. My heart hasbeenfuU of 'pity'for;her, Uolwithatanding the cruel way in 
 which ahe has treated my good name. Her face is written over with many 
 volttmfes of human auflferin^. I" do not think she has been aware of my presenoi^, 
 for she has been absorbed m thonght-— her eyegt-rooted to one spot. ' '' 
 
 A ehggestion has occurrfed to me, which I hasten to commnnicttte. She is 
 going to Florida, and may never return alive. If I ain ever to be vindicated 
 from the slandei-s which she has circulated, or which Mr: Bowen' pretends to 
 have derived from her and Mrs, Morse, why wotld it not be well to |;et from 
 herald Mrs. Morae.a statement)' under' oath (by such a process as last evening's 
 documents make easy and harmless) of the exact uaiTations which they made to 
 him and to others. 
 
 It would be well to have iliem say what they said belore he gets a 6hance to 
 say what they said to him. Speak to Mr. Ward about it. Of course I leave the 
 matter wholly to you arid him. ' ' 
 
 I am unusually iieavy-hearted this moi'ning. My Sullen neighbor keeps the 
 dark and lurid past vividly before my mind. If she actually knew the conduct 
 which her priestly husband has been guilty of, 1 believe she woiild shed hi.^ 
 blood — or perhaps, saving hiin, she would wreak her Wrath on his victiim. Theru 
 is a look of deaperfttion in her eye to-day as if she were competent to anything 
 bitter or revengeful. But perhaps I misjudge her mind. I hope I do. 
 
 I shall not be home till Thursday afternoofi instead of morning, as I said — leav- 
 ing for Washington at 9 P. M. that evening. Ever yours, 
 
 Theodore. 
 
 > On the 3d of Jnne^ 1872, Beecher received from Mrs. WoodhtiU the fol- 
 lowing letter of that date, which I here produce, marked " TT " : 
 
 MRS. WOODHULL TO BEPCHEK. 
 
 48 Broad Street, June 3, 1875:. 
 Sev. Heni'y\Wm-d I^eecher. 
 
 Myt Dear Sir: Thesociftl fight against me being now waged in, this, cityjs 
 becoming rather hotter than I can well ' endure longer, standing unsupported 
 and alone as I have until now. Within the past two wegks I haye been shut 
 . out of hotel after hotel, and am now, after having pbtamedaplnce,, hunted dpwn 
 by a set of males and females, who are determined that I shall not be permitted 
 to live even if thev can prevent it. .u, " ■. ' 
 
 Now, I "Want yo'iir asaistaiice. I -want ^p be sustain(:d ill my, position in the 
 Gilsey JHoiise, from whicM am ordered out, and from wliich I do not -vyish to 
 go — and. all this simply hecause I am Viotqria C,. Woodhull, (he advopate of 
 social freedom. I have 'Submitted to this persecution just so longas I ca^ endiire 
 to ; my business, my projects, in faCt everything for which I live suffers from 
 it, and it must cease. Will you lend me you raid in this ! Yours very truly, 
 
 Victoria C. WoopHnLL. 
 
 The aboye letter was sent to nie enclosed in la note from Beecher of the 
 satne date, which is here produced and marked " XJU " : 
 
 . ' , .. . . •• I 
 
 BEECHER TO MOULTON. 
 
 Monday Evening, June 3, 1872. 
 
 My Dear M^, Mouiton : Will yon, answer this ! Or will yon see that she 
 is to nnderstaud that I can do nothing? I certainly shall not, at. ;aBy and all 
 hazards, take a single step in that direction, and if it brings trouble — it mast 
 
88 MOVLIOirS STATISMEI^T. 
 
 Please drop me a line to say thrt aU is right— it' in your judgment all w right. 
 Truly ydnra, H. W. B. 
 
 This letter of Mrs. WoodhnU, together with tUose before produced asking 
 Beecheritp speak at a suffrage convention, are all the letters I hare from 
 her to Beecher. To this letter no reply was made. 
 
 BEECHEE TO MOULTON. 
 
 Sunday Morning, June 1, 1873. 
 
 Mt Dear Frank : The whole earth is.tranquil and the heaven is serene, as 
 befits one -who has about finished his world-life. I could do nothing on Saturday 
 — my head was confused. Butagood sleep has made it like crystal. I have de- 
 termined to make uo more resistance. , Tbeodoi^e's temperament is such that tha 
 future, even. if temporarily juried, would be absolutely worthless, filled with 
 abrupt charges, and rend^rin^ me liable at any hour or day to be obliged to stul- 
 tify all the devices by which we have saved ourselves. It is only lair that he 
 should know that the publication of the card which he proposes would leave 
 him far worse off than before. 
 
 The aqreement was made fSiet piy letter through you was written. He had 
 had it a year. He had condoned his wife's fault. He had enjoined upon me 
 with the utmost earnestness and solemnity not to betray his wife nor leave his 
 children to a blight. 1 had honestly »nd earnestly joined in th^- purpose. Then 
 this settlement was made and signed by him. It was not my making. Here- 
 vised his part so that it should wholly suit him, and signed it. < > It stood unques- 
 tioned and unbiamed for more than a year. Then it was pvhlvshed. Nothing but 
 that. Thatwhich he did in private , when made public excited him to fury, 
 and he charges me with; vuiHng Atnt appear as gracUmsbj pard^med by me! It 
 was his own deliberate act, w^tn which he was perfectly content tiil others saw 
 it, and then he charges a grievous wrong home on me ! 
 
 My mind is clear. I am not in haste. I shall write for the public a state- 
 ment that will bear the lights of the judgment day. _ God will take care of me 
 and mine. When I look on efirth it is deep n^ght, ';When I look on the Hea- 
 vens above I see the morning breaking. But, oh ! that I could put in golden 
 letters my dsep sense of your faithful, earnest, undying fidelity ,vour disenterest- 
 ed friendship ! Your noble wife, too. has been to me one of God's comforters. It 
 is suohashethatreilews a waain^ faith in womanhood, Now, Frank, I would not 
 have yon waste any more energy on hopeless task. With such a man as T.T.thera 
 is no possible salvation for any that depend upon him. With a strong nature he 
 does not know how to govern it. With generous impulses, the underchrrent 
 that rules him is self. With ardent alfections, he cannot love long that which 
 does not repay him with admiration and praise. With a strong, theatric nature, 
 ' he is constantly imposed upon with the idea that a position, a great stroke, a 
 ««» d'efo(, is the way to success. . 
 
 Besides these he has a hundred good things about him, but these named, traits 
 make him absolutely unreliable. , 
 
 Therefore there is no use iu further trying. I have a strong feeling upon me, 
 and it brings great peace with it, that lam spending my ((M« Sunday and preac.h- 
 ing my last sermon. 
 
 Dea . ~ . - 
 
 The] 
 
 less,. , -_ „ f ^ - - - 
 
 know you there, and forever hold fellowship with you, and look back and smilo 
 at the past. Your loving, H, W. B. 
 
 I have now produced to the committed all the letters and dociiiiients bear- 
 ing upon the subject-matter of this inquiry which I'liave in my possession, 
 either from Beecher,Tiltou, or Mrs. Tilton, previous to the Bacon letter, and 
 there is but one collateral matter iof Which I desire to speak. 
 
 I saw questions put in the cross examination of Tilton, as published in 
 the Brooklyn Eagle, and also published in the newspapers — with how much 
 of truth I know not — that Mr. Sainuel Wilkeson, Jiad, charged, that 
 Tiltoa's case in controversy with Bowen, was for the purpose of blacKmailing^ 
 him and Beech er, and that he (Wilkeson) knew that'ther^ had been no 
 crime committed against Tilton or his household by Beecher. Beecher never 
 intimated to me that he thought there was any desire on Tilton's part to 
 
MODLTONH STATEMENT. 89 
 
 blackmail liim ; and hs.l had the sole management of the money controvei'sy 
 between Tilton and Bowen, which I hare already fully explained, I know 
 there was no, attempt on Tilton's part to blackmail or get anything more 
 than what I believed his just due from Bowen. So that I am certain that 
 Mr. Wilkeson is wholly mistaken in that regard. 
 
 The question whether Wilkeson knew or believaJ that any offense had 
 been committed will depend upon the fact whether he knew of anything that 
 had been done by Beecher or Tilton's wife which called for apology at fha 
 time he wrote the tripartite covenant. It will be remembered that the trip- 
 artite covenantwas made solely in reference to the disclosures which Bowen 
 had made to Tilton and Tilton had made to Bowen; and Tiltonfs letter sets 
 forth that the only disclosure he made to Bowen of Beecher's acts toward 
 himself were of improper advances made to his wife, and he so limited his 
 •barge in order to save the honor of bis wife. These questions will be an- 
 swered by the production of the letter of April 2, 1872, written by Samuel 
 Wilkeson, 
 
 WILKESON TO MOULTOK. 
 
 NoRTHEKN Pacific Eailroad CoMPAirr, 
 Secketakt's Office 120 Bhoadway, 
 New York, April 2, 1872. 
 
 Mt Dbas Moulton : Now for the closing act of justice and duty. 
 
 Let Theodore pass iuto your hand the written apology which he holds fpr th* 
 improper advances, and do you pass it into the flames of the friendly fire in your 
 room of reconciliation. Then let Theodore talk to Oliver Johnson. 
 
 I hear that he and Carpenter, the artist, have, made this whole affair the sub- 
 ject of conversation in the clnbs. Sincerely yours, 
 
 Samhei, Wilkeson, 
 
 This letter, it will be ob8erved,.contains no protest againpt blackmailing, eith 
 er on Tilton's part or my own, npon Beecher or Bowen, and is qf the date of tho 
 tripartite covenant. Wilkeson, also, hearing of Tilton's troubles, kindly offered 
 to procure him a very lucrative employment in a , large enterprise with which 
 he waa connected, as appears froin a letter dated Jan. 11, 1871, which I here- 
 with produce, marked "BBBl ;" 
 
 WILKESON TO TILTON. 
 
 NoRTHEKN Pacific Eailroad Company. 
 
 January 1], 1871. 
 Dbah Tilton: If on are m trouble. I come to you with a letter just mailed 
 from Jay Cooke, advisinp, him to secure your services as a platform speaker/ to 
 torn New England, Old England, or the great West upside down about our 
 Northern Pacific. , , , „ . t. 
 
 Pluck up heart I , You shan't be tiampled down. Keep quiet. Don't talk. 
 DON'T publish! Abide your time and it wiU be a very good time. Taka 
 
 my word for it. • • 
 
 Samuel Wilkeson. 
 
 It will be observed that this letter was dated after the letter of apology, and 
 irfter the letter of Tilton to Bowen, and Wilkeson could hardly have deisired t» 
 eronloy in so grave an enterprise one whom he then knew or believed to be at- 
 tempting to blackmail his employer. And besides, his kindly expressions and 
 advice to Tilton seem to me wholly inconsistent with such an allegation. 
 
 I think it just in this connection, to state a fact vyhich bears in my mind npon 
 ^lis subiect. On the 3d of Mtay. 1873, I knew that Tilton was in want of money, 
 and I took leave, without consulting him, to send him my check for a thousiind 
 dollars' and a due bill for that amount to be signed by him, enclosed in a letter 
 which i here produce, marked " 8662," all of^ which he returned to me with 
 an endorsement thereon: The foUovping is the document • / 
 
90 MOULTONS STATEMENT. 
 
 MOULTON T.0 TILTON." i, . . 
 
 - '; \ ' ^ , ' ' ^ N'Ew'Y,0Rk,'>la7 3.' 1873. 
 
 t)EAB Thkodobe : I, enclbse to yAii a check for one thoUBand dollars," for 
 ■which/Dlearo «ign the 'enclosed, Yonre, 
 
 P. D. MoULTON. 
 
 {Endorsement on ahirce iy TilUm-l 
 
 Dear Frank : I can't borrow any money— ^for'I see no way of returning it. 
 Hastily. • , 
 
 ■ ' I. 't. T. 
 
 ' After the above paper was returned to me, on the same day I seBt htm tbe 
 thousand dollars, leaving it to be a matter as between ourselves, Bnd not a mon- 
 ey transaction. ... 
 
 1 know to the contrary of this so. far as Beecher is concerned, that Tilton nev- 
 er made any demand oji him for money or pecuniary aid in any way or 
 fortn. He aSfeed only thai. Beecher should iaterpose his' influences and power 
 to nroteothim from ihe'slatiders of those who claimed to be Beecher's friends, 
 wnile Beecher himself; w'ith generosity and kindness toward Tilton which had 
 always characterized his act during the whole of thif unhappy controversy, of 
 his own motion insisted, throuffh me, in aiding Tilton inestavlishing his ffcter- 
 priSe of the 6oHe)i. .k^e, for which purpose he gave me the sum of five thoiisaud 
 dollars, which' I was to expend in stich manner as I ■ deemed judicious to , keep 
 the enterprise along, aiid if Tilton wfts at any time in need personally, to aid 
 ' him. It was uhdferstood between myself and BeScher that this money shoilld go 
 to Tilton asif it came from my own voluntary contributions for his benefit, and 
 that he should not know — and he does not know until he reads this statement, 
 for I do not believe he has derived it from any other source — that this money 
 came from Beecher, or thinks that he is in any W!W indebted to him for it. I 
 annex an account of the receipt and expenditure of 'that snm, so far aait haa 
 befen expended, in a paper marked " CCC " : 
 
 STATEMENT OF ACCpUNT 
 
 187^ ' ' ' 
 
 May 2, received $5,000 
 
 May 3, paid $1,000 
 
 July 11, paid 650 
 
 August 15, paid ■. , .4 i250 
 
 Sept. 12. paid. ; .'.... i . . -. j.u. ., .- ;.►.;..<.; 500 
 
 Sept. 30, paid.....i ....i.. ..:...;;;; ....,...j,.. 300 
 
 Dec. 16, paid.. ..J .v..... ...^ 200 
 
 1874. ' „, . 
 
 Feb.'24, ^paid ..i ..'. ., SOO 
 
 March 30, p'aidv-.i.. ^ijv..-'.^; ' i.;...j.... 400 
 
 May 2, paid : -350 
 
 May26,p?id.., 300 
 
 Total $4,5.50 
 
 " I annex also two letters of MarSh 30, 1874, from the publishers of the Oolden 
 Age, which will tend to votich the expenditure of ' a part of the above amount. 
 They are marked " DDD" and " EEE" respectyeily : 
 
 EULAND TO MOULTON. 
 
 The Golden Age, New York, ilarch 30, 187*4. 
 [Private.] 
 
 Dear Mr. Moclton : We are, in a tight spot. Mr. — iS away, and we 
 
 have no money and no paper. Can't get the latteir without the fortner. We 
 
J!/C>firOA'>' STATEMBJS'T. 01 
 
 owe about $100 for paper, and the firm we liave been ordering from refnee to 
 let US have anymore without money. Haven't any paper for this week's issue. 
 Truly yours, 0. Wl KntAiro. 
 
 If you can do anything for us I trust you will, to help us ride over the chasm. 
 
 Fi?OM SAME TO SAME. ■ , , 
 
 The Golden Age, New York, March 30, X874. , 
 
 Dear Mr. MotiLTON : I am more grateful than I can tell ybu for the noble 
 and geueroas w4y you came to the rescue of the Golden Affe this afternoon. 
 
 Truly your friend, ' 0. 'W. Ruland. 
 
 I think proper to add further that Tilton more than once said to me that he 
 could and would receive nothing from Beecherin the way of pecuniary assist- 
 ance. I remember one special instance in which the subject was discussed be- 
 tween us. Beecher had told me that he was willing to furnish money to pay 
 the expenceSof Tilton and his family in ■traveling-Sbi'oad,'in order that 'TiRon 
 might Be saved fiom the constant state of irritation which arose from the ru- 
 mors he was daily hearing. 1 rather hinted than infoi-med Tilton of this fact 
 and he replied even the intimation of such a thing with the utmost jnctigiiation 
 and anger. Therefore I only undertook the disbursement of this sum at 
 the most earnest and voluntary request of Beecher. : • 
 
 In closing his statement, Mr. Moulton uses this language ; 
 
 Having retained tli» friendship of the principal parties to this controversy 
 down to to-day,I have not thought it proper to produce herewith any lettera 
 that I have received from either of them except the single one exonerating 
 me fi'om blame and showing Mrs. Tilton's confidence in me, which I thought 
 was due to myfeelf to do because of the peculiai statement attributed to her; 
 nor have I produced any papers or proposals for a settlement of this csn- 
 troversy since it has broken out afresh, and since the publication of Titton'a 
 letter to Dr. Bacon, and the ball ot Beecher fur a committee; nor have I 
 «iuoe then furnished toeithfr party, although called upon by both, anydoou- 
 tnents in my possession that one might use the same against the other. I 
 have endeavored to hold myself strictly as a mediator between them, and my 
 endeavor has been, even down to the very latest hour, to have all the scan- 
 dals arising out of the publication of the fact of their controversies and 
 wrongs hui-ried out of sight, deeming it best that it should be so done, not 
 only for the good of the parties concerned and their families, but that of the 
 community at large. 
 
 If any evidence Were needed that, in the interest of the parties, anil eispe- 
 cially of Bteecher, I was endeavoring to the Jatest hour to prevent ,tlie /pub- 
 lication of these documents and this testimony, and that I retained the confi- 
 dence of at least one of the parties in th'at endeavor. I produce a letter of 
 July 13, 1874, being a note arranging a meeting between myself and Beech- 
 er in regard to this controversy. It is marked " Jjj." 
 
 BEBCHEE TO MOtTLTON. 
 
 JlTLT 18, mi. 
 
 Mt DiAa TKASfK : Iwill be with you at 7 or a little before. I am ashamed to pat 
 a etrawmoreupon you, andhavebutasingle consolation— that the matter cannot 
 distress yon ;oiv7, as it must soon end: that is, there will be no more anxiety a1x>Qt 
 the future, whatever regret there may be for the past. 
 
 Truly yours and ever, H. W. Bkeohbc. 
 
 If there is any paper or fact supposed by either of these parties, or by the 
 committee, to be in my possession which will throw any further light npop 
 the subject of your Inquiry, I shall be most happy to produce if I have it, 
 although I do not believe there are any such ; and I am ready to answer 
 any proper question which shall, be put to me in the way of cross-examina- 
 
93 MOULTOSS STAiTHMES r. 
 
 tion by any of the parties concerned, or their counsel, as full as my memory 
 or any data I have willserve, so that all the facts mey be known. For it 
 any part of them be known, I deem it but just to truth and right that all 
 should be known. As, howerer, controverey has already arisen as to the 
 correctness of the reports of evideni-e taken before the committee, I must 
 ask leave if any cross-examination is to be had orally, to be accompanied 
 by my own stenographei-, who shall take down the evidence I may give as 
 a necessary measure for my own protection . 
 
 Leaving to your committee, without comment, the fact and document^ 
 herewith presented. • 
 
 1 have the hpnor to remain, yours truly, 
 
 Frascis D. Moulton. 
 
 The luTestigating Committee's Report. 
 
 J\> tile Xlxamming CommitUe ofPlyviouth Church. 
 
 Deak Brethren: The pastor of Plymouth Churth, the Eev. Henry 
 Ward Beecher, addressed to us a letter, J lihe 27, 1874, of which the follow- 
 ing is a copy : 
 
 Brooklyn, June 27, 1874. 
 
 Gbstlemek : In the present state of the public feeling, I owe it tp_ my frlenda 
 and to the Chnrch and the Society over which I am pastor to have some proper In- 
 vestigation made of the rumors, insinuations, or charges made respecting my con- 
 duct, as compromised by the late publications made by Mr. Tiiton. I have thought 
 that both the Church and the Society should be represented, audj take the liberty 
 of asking the following gentlemen to eervc in this inquiry, and to do that which iruta 
 and Justice require. Ibeg that each of the gentlemen named will consider this as if 
 it had been separately and personally sent to him, namely: 
 
 Prom, the Church — Henry W. Sage, Augustus Storrs, Henry M. Cleveland. 
 
 From the SoWety— Horace B. Claflin, John WinBlow, S. V. White. 
 
 I desire yow, when you have satisfied yourselves by an Impartial and thorough ex- 
 amination of all sources of evidence, to communicate to the Examimng Commit- 
 tee,or to the Church, such actions asihen may seem to you right and wise. 
 
 Henbt Wakd Bbboheb. 
 
 The committee named having signified their willingness to serve in the grave 
 matters so referred to them, Mr. Beecher sent the following letter to the Exam- 
 ining Committee of Plymouth Church : 
 
 Jxjvr 6, 1874. 
 
 Deab BbbthbeS ; I enclosed to you a letter in which I have requested three 
 
 Sintlemen from the Church, and three from the Society of Plymouth' Church (gen- 
 emen of unimpeachable repute, and who have not been Involved in any of the 
 trials throuKh which we have passed during the yeor) to make a thorough and Im- 
 partial examination of all charges or insinuations against my good name, and to 
 report the same to you ; ond I now respectfully request that you will give to this 
 eommitteo the authority to act In your behalf also. It seemed wise to me that 
 the request should proceed from Bie,and without your foregoing lEnowledge,and that 
 yon should give to it authority to act in your behalf la so far as a thorotigh investi- 
 gation of the facts should be concerned. 
 
 Hknbt Wabd BBEcnsn. 
 
 Thereupon the Examining Committee dtily aath6r!2ed the committee named in 
 the letter of June 27 to act in their behalf also. 
 
 SMond— Your committee cannot here refrain from referring to the Inexpressible re- 
 gret which they in common with all good men feel, that nnoontrollflble circnmstan- 
 ces have made it necessary to discuss In the most public manlier the unhappy scan- 
 dal which is the subject of the present inquiry. 
 
 But accepting ihe situation as we found it when we entered upon the high and 
 solemn trust thus impost-d, we have been profoUndlv impressed from the be^nnlnff 
 with the grave importance of the work before us. 
 
TBE COMMITTKE'S BEPOBT. »« 
 
 THE BACON LETTBB, i ■ ' 
 
 Fob a comlderablc time vague a .d indeflniie rnmors wefe in ci'calaWo* tondilne 
 in a vital manner the Christian integrity of onr beloved pastor But notutng naa 
 appeared from a linown responsiljle source in a tangible form until the letter ol mi. 
 ■AeodoreTilton to the Kev. Dr. Bacon, which was published the 2Sth day or June, 
 
 "it was the appearance of this letter that moved Mr. Beecher two days ^'ff^'l','? 
 request immeduite investigation. It will be seen by the terms of such r«q"/«„J"" 
 someproper investigation is asked for by him of the rumors inBiunatious, or cnargea 
 made respectinghis conduct as compromised by the late publications made by Mr. 1 u- 
 
 We were invited to make an impartial and thorough examination " of all sources 
 of evidence," and to advise such action as may seeni right and wise- „„vp ,t 
 
 Third-ln conducting this investigation we have faitTifully endeav°red to make u 
 tho.ough and impartial, and to obtain such facts as are re'e^a""" '^« •F^?''^ '"? 
 all attMnablc sources o^ evidence. For this purpose we have summoned or request 
 ed the attendance of the following persons to testify before the «''°JJ,i™.«,- t^"; 
 Elizabeth E. Tilton, Mrs. H. W. Beecher, Samuel Wilkesoii, John K. Howard, lh<»- 
 doreTilton, Samuel B. Belcher. Mrs! N. B, Morse Oliver Johnson the Kev K. S 
 Stoors, D. ri., Dwighl Johnson, Isaac ■. Bailey. Mrs Putnam, J^X^ie?^ Albert F 
 Eev. \fr.W. PattonfMary 0. Ames, Hichard P. feuct Francis B. Carpenter, Albert *• 
 Norton, Thomas M. Vaill, B. M. holmes, the Hon. N. B. Mors^JIrs, ^ary B BraJ 
 Shaw, J'osoph Eichards, lAiss Elizabeth A Turner Francis W. SkUee, M- P-v^'',^'^ 
 Cerez. M. ]5., Dr. Minton, Miss Oakley, Mrs. Elizabeth A, CW>°«'°°l^'?V,Ss d' 
 the Eev. S. B., Halliday, Thomas G. Shearman, Benjamm F. Tra£|yj*!?°«" "■ 
 Moultan" Frank|in 'Woodruff, John W. Harmon, the Eev. Henry Ward Beecher. 
 
 At an early period of the investigation Mr. Tilton was called before the com- 
 mittee, and made au extended written statement, and in a sense, specific charges, 
 which showed that the offense referred to in t,he Bacon letter, so called was, as 
 Mr. Tilton now alleges, adultery with his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth K.: lilton,, ay 
 this statemehl so made by Mr. Tilton the field of inq^uiry was somewhat enlarged 
 by the alleged'facts,, letters and circumstances therein set forth ,■.'..■'< 
 
 BEECHEES INTERVIEW WITH MRS. TILTON. 
 
 Mr. Beecher says tdis charge of impure proposals fell upon him like a thunder- 
 bolt. Could it be possible that Mi-s. Tilton, whom he had regarded as the typo 
 of so much moral goodness, should have made such false and atrocious atatemeritsi 
 Tilton requested Mr. Beeoh^rj to repair to his house where Elizabeth was waiting 
 for him, and learri from her lips the truth of the stories in so far as they concern- 
 ed her. The interview was had and resulted in a written retraction ofthe ch^g- 
 es of Mrs. Tilton, who seemed in great distress. In a sort of 'postscript tb the re- 
 traction slie denied explicitly that Mr. Beecher had ever offered any improper 
 solicitations to her; that being the only charge made by Tilton, or .referred to in 
 the statement about the confession in July. On the next evening Moulton called 
 at Mr. Beecher's house, and we(nt up into his bedroom. 'He said that he and Til- 
 ton had learned that Mrs. Tilton had given the retraction. He expostulated, 
 and said the act was unfriendly, and would not mend matteirs, and that Mrs. 
 Tilton had already recanted the retraction. That Tilton Iiad already destroyed 
 his wife's iirst paper of confession. Moulton claimed that Mr. Beecher, l^ad- acted 
 unfairly. That all difficulties could be settled without such papers, .andituat Mr. ' 
 Beecher ought to give it up. Moultoii was under great apparent e^tement. 
 He made no verbal threats, but displayed a pistol and laid it on the bureau near 
 which he stood. TIhe, paper was given to him, and after a few moments' talk he 
 left. It is an amazing pity that at this juncture Moulton was not handed over, 
 to the police. It would have saved much that followed, which ia deeply de- 
 plored, 
 
 PLYMOUTH'S PASTOR'S DISTRESS. 
 
 Mr. Beecher's distress at the situation was boundless. He saw the peril of be- 
 ing even falsely accused. He blamed himself for much that had occurred. Ho 
 could not tell how much of the. impending trouble cpuld be attributed to Mrs. 
 Tilton's nndue affection for'him, wqich it was his duty to have repressed. •' My 
 earnest desire," he says, "to avoid a public' accusation, and the evils which 
 must necessarily flow from it, and which have ' now resulted from it,' has' been ' 
 one ofthe leading motives that must explain my action during these fo\ir > yeai-g 
 in this matter. While in a morbid condition of mind produced by those disti-e*- 
 
• 94 TME COMMITTEE'S REPORT, 
 
 ing difScnltiea, Moulton again called on him. Hie nianner was kind aiid concili-' 
 atory. He profegeed, however,' lo belieye that Mr. Beecher had been seeking 
 Tilton's downfall ; had leagued with Mr. Boweu against, him, and by his,a.4vice 
 had come' near destroying Tilton's family. Mr. Beecher expreased many and 
 etrong regrets at the misfortunes of that family, Moulton caught up some ot these 
 expressions and wrote them down, saying that if Tilton could see them there 
 would be no trouble in procuring a reconciliation. This paper, which is dated 
 Jan. 1, 1871, was intrusted by Mr. Beecher to Mr. ' Moulton's keeping without 
 reading it, nor was it read to him. This paper — sometimes called the apology, 
 and sometimes the confession — is in no proper sense, Mr. Beecher's production, 
 or a cbrrect report of what he said. No man will believe, for instance, that Mr. 
 Beecher said; " I humble myself before him (Tilton) as I do before niy God." 
 Another sentence, " Her forgiveness I have." Mr. Beecher states that it was not 
 said, nor the semblance ofit. Pausing here, a very important question arises in 
 this connection. To what does the apology refer? It declares Mrs. Tilton 
 "guiltless," and yet Tilton says it refers to adultery, which Mr. Beecher denies. 
 Without now considering the weight of credit to which the respective parties 
 are entitled where there is a conflict between them, we believe, and propose to 
 show from the evidence, that the original charge was improper advances, and 
 that as time passed, and the conspiracy deepened, it was enlarged into adultery. 
 
 EXPLAINING ME. BEECHEE'S LETTEES. 
 
 Much has been said, and not without some justice, of the extraordinary words 
 mid tenor of Mr. Beecher's letters. But in interpreting these letters it must be' 
 remembered : First, that Mr. Beecher, under the excitement of deep feeling, uses 
 strong words and emotional expressions. This is, and always has been, a 
 marked quality of Ms mind. Second, in this sore trouble he was dealing with. 
 Tilton, vfho had shown himself at times fiokle, malicious, revengeful, and mer- 
 cenary. In the light of these facts there is not, a letter from Mr. Beefiher, nor 
 an act of his, however ill-judged, through three or four years of anxiety and , 
 grief, that cannot be accounted for upon the plain theory that he was fighting to 
 suppress an outrageous scaniial which consisted of a false accusation against nim 
 made by a reputable. Woman.; and, further, that he was endeavoring to help a 
 man whom he felt he had unduly injured in business matters upon reprepen^- 
 tions which he was afterward made to believe, chiefly by Moulton, were not 
 well founded. 
 
 The statement of this branch of the case would not be cbmplefce without ref- 
 feience to. the fact that Mr. Beecher had a warm friendship for Mrs. Tilton which 
 began in her early womanhood, and that Mrs. Tilton, reciprocating this friend ; 
 ship, began, as her domestic troubles came on, to look more than ever to Mr. 
 Beecher for sympathy and advice. That this feeling on Mrs. Tiltori's part be- 
 came, under the Qircumstancea, so strong as tO diminisn the proper influence that 
 belojiga to every good husband is not unlikely.. 
 
 GEEENLEAP'S OPINION. 
 
 Greenleaf further illustrates the kind of evidence required to prove adultery, as 
 follows : 
 
 Adnltery of the wife may be proved by the birth ol a child and non-access of the 
 husband, he being out of the realm. Adultery of the hvAbani may be proved by i 
 habits of adulterous intercourse, and by the birth, maintenance and aotnowledg- 
 ment of a child. A married man going into a known brothel raises a suspicion of 
 adnltery, to be rebutted only by the very best evidence. His going there and re- 
 maining alone for some time In a room wth a common prostitute is sufficient proof 
 of the crime. The circumstance of a woman going to such a place with a man fur- 
 nishes similar proof of adnlterj'. 
 
 These citStions are pointed but useful. 
 
 Under the guidance of these precedents and principles it is essential to observe 
 that there is nothing whatever clis<;losed by the evidence that proves that the 
 (larties have ever been found together under any suspicious circumstances, such, 
 as in some unusual house or place, or consulting together in some secret way 
 fo avoid observation and exposure. There is no proof of clandestine correspond- 
 ence, nor attempts in that direction. Mr. Beecher's letters were, as a rule 
 opened, arranged and read by his wife. She testifies that she had read and an- 
 swered as manv as one thousand in three months. Such as reached the Chmtian 
 Union office were opened bv others, and those that went to the church were 
 
TEE COMMITTEE'S KETOET, 95 
 
 opened by the direction of Mr. Beecher, by the derk, before being iilacell on 
 the desk. Ko sort of restrictions were imposed as to his letters. The usual 
 facts and circumstances suggestive of wrong-doing are utterly wanting in this 
 case. What, then, does the case, as put ^ly the accuser, rest uppn j We an- 
 swer, upon mere words and assertions, supported, by no circumstances whatever 
 that are' the usual indications of adultery. " 
 
 POOR MRS. TILTQN. 
 
 It is not forthe coinmittee to defend the course of Mrs! Tilton. ' Her conduct 
 upon any theory of human responsibility, is indefeiieible. Our hope is that it 
 it may be made clear, as the testimony atfords much reason to believe it may be, 
 that this distreesed woman was so beset by her designidg husband, when in 
 states of mind differing little, if at all, from mental aberration, brought on by 
 illness and domestic sorrow and gloom, as to induce her, at least passively, to 
 make a charge of improper advances by Mr. Beecher. But when her attention 
 was pointedly called to the greatwrohg she had done, she quickly took it back 
 in Bon'ow and penitence, as follows : 
 
 December 30, 1870. — Wearied with importunity and weakened by sickness, I 
 gave a letter implicating my friend Henry Ward Beecher, under assurances that that 
 would remove alt difficulties between me and my husband. That letter Lnow re- 
 voke. I was persuaded to It— almost forced— when I was in a weakened state of 
 mind. I regret 1 1 and recall all i ts statements. 
 
 i, ! .E. E. TrtTON. 
 
 I desire to say explicitly, Mr. Beecher has never offered me any improper Bolicita^ 
 tipn, bnt has always treated me in a manner becoming a Christian and a gcutle- 
 man. ' . 
 
 Elizabeth E. Tilton. 
 
 There is medical testimony before.the committee, given by two eminent physi- 
 cians, Drs. Minton and Corey, to the effect that such cases of mental power and 
 domination by a husband of strong will over a wife weakened by disease and 
 domestic trouble are not infrequent. Dr. Corey, who isetninent and haehad , 
 l^irge experience in mental diseases and phenomena, says such conduct on the ' 
 part of Mrs. Tilton, when subjected to tlie influences referred to, is even con- 
 siBt«nt with an honest mind. ' 
 
 MRS. TJLTON'S SUFFERINGS. 
 
 It is not for us to jiaas judgment on Mrs. Tilton uncharitably. She htts suf- 
 fered unparalleled trials. Mdnlton quotes her as saying in a letter to him, as we 
 have seen, that it was physically impossible for her to tell the truth, in her hus- 
 band's presence. It wiUtfe noted that the pretended confession was obtained in 
 that presence j andifurther, it was when she was awav from him and fromhome 
 at Schoharie .that she stated' her sip to be like that of Catherine'Gandt, an undne 
 affection for her pastor. In this letter to her husband she says ; "I felt unfal- 
 teringly that the love I felt and received harmed no one, not even youj until' the, 
 heavenly vision dawned upon me." And again : ' Oh. my dear Theodore, though 
 your opmions are not restful or congenial to my soul, yet my integrity and puntv 
 are a sacred and holy thing to me. Bless God with me for Catharine Ghant, andall 
 the pnre leadings of an allwise and loving Providence." This leti«r was written 
 June 29, 1871, a!bout a year after the pretended confession. In no sense can its 
 words be construed as referring to adultery. Tilton, when before the committee, 
 when reference was first made to this Schoharie letter, seenfied to think that the 
 offense in the story of Griffith Gaunt was adultery, and accordingly relied upon 
 this letter as incontrovertible evidence of hia charge. In this he was mistaken. 
 
 We herewith submit a complete stenographic copy of all the evidence before 
 the committee, with some unimportant or irrelevant exceptions. 
 
 STATEMENT OF CONCLUSIONS. . 
 
 First — We find from the evidence that the Rev. IJenry Ward Beecher did not 
 commit adultery with Mrs. Elizabeth R. Tilton, either at the time or times, place 
 or places, set forth in the tbird and fourth sub-divisiqnsof Mr.Tilton's statement, 
 nor at any other time or place whatever. 
 
 Secokd— We find from the evidence that Mr. Beecher has never committed 
 Miy unchaste or improper act with Mrs, Tilton, nor made any unchaste or im- 
 
9b THU COMMITTEE'S REPOJST. 
 
 proper remaik, proffer, or solicitation to her of any kind or description what- 
 ever. ' ' 
 
 Third— If this were a question of errors of judgment on the part pt Blr. 
 Beecher, is would be easy to criticise, especially in the light of recent eveilts. In 
 ench criticism, even to the extent of regret and censure, we are sure no maa 
 would join moie sincerely than Mr. Beecher himself 
 
 FouKTH— We find nothing whatever in the evidence that should impair the 
 perfect confidence of Plymouth Church or the world in tb^ Christian character 
 and integrity of Henry Ward Beecher. ' ' 
 
 And now let the peace of God that passeth all understanding rest and abide 
 with Flymonth Church and her beloved and eminent pastor, so much and so long : 
 afflicted. 
 
 Henby W. Sage, 
 Augustus Stokbs, 
 Henry M. Cleveland, 
 Horace B. Claflin, 
 
 JuHN WiNSLOW, 
 
 S. V. White. 
 
 Committee <tf 
 Investigatioa. 
 
 Uated, Brooklyn, August 27, 1874. 
 
 WHAT MOULTON SAYS OF THE MEETING. 
 
 "Ii was the most disgusting instance of theological cowardice," he said, "I 
 ever witnessed. I was, in a minority of one against two thousand, and they 
 need hardly nave been afraid to allow me to speak. I bad a right to do so for 
 two reasons : firstly, as a representative of my wife, who is a member of Plymouth 
 Church; and secondly, in my own defense. I sent a iierfectly inoSensive note 
 to the chairlnan of the committee asking to be allowed to say afew words, l)nt 
 they refused to hear me. However, I had the satisfaction of voting, and though 
 I seemed to be in a minority, I was the only one there who voted nghti ;1 don't 
 think I am a man to be frightened by threats or vaporings, and if I showed any 
 lack of nerve I am sorry for it. Had I been peimitted to speak I should not 
 have referred to the intercourse between Beecher and and Mrs. Tilton but I 
 should certainly have spoken of another occasion when Mr. Beecher came to 
 my house and told me of a rape he had committed upon another woman, who 
 threatened to expose him. I asked him what kind of a man he supposed me to 
 be that he shonld come to me with a tale like that. He said he ■ wanted my «8- 
 Eistance, and I advised him to obtain a retraption, if possible, from the woman. 
 He succeeded in getting a paper exonerating him and brought it to me.: That 
 retraction, I have nfiw m my possession. I did not produce it before the com- 
 mittee, but I shall show it to.the Judge of the Supreme Court when the proper 
 time comes."; 
 
 Aft«r some further remarks about the report Of the committee, which Mr. 
 Monlton thought would do Mr. Beecher more haim than good with the pnblioj 
 be spoke of the pastor's statement. < 
 
 • " Jle says I am a lover of intrigue, and a remark of Lady Montague might be 
 applied to me : that I could not carve a cabbage unless 1 stole npon it from be 
 hind and did it by stealth. 1 should appreciatfe the "wit of this (quotation, iliore 
 thoroughly if I hadn't heard Mr. Beecher use it before, both with reference to 
 Mr. Sherman and Mr. Cleveland." 
 
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