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Show BEECHER - TILTON SCAN DAL. Now York, lll.Tho Jh mhl prints the statement of Smnucl Wilkc-jn beforo the investigating commilU'C. Following is the substance: In March. 1S72, 'J'ilt(n came to his office and ahowtxl the press proof of x letter lie proposctl to pul'lifih in the Gvhlni J;e im'css Henry Ward Becchcr did him ju&licc. The letter, under dale of .1 Miliary. 1S7J, was from Henry C. Bowcn. acknowledging the receipt of a notice breaking his two contracts with the Independent and Brooklyn Union. It states that it was really part ol a rebellion. Bowen liut in-timatctl in-timatctl to him tlifit Bceehcr hud committed acts of mlnUery, which, if cxposetl, wv.nld drive him from the pulpit. That henceforward hence-forward Bowen 's references to the subject 'were frequent, he having called Becchcr an unsafe visitor in the house of his parishoners. Dur-ingan Dur-ingan intorviowin his own hoic Bow-on Bow-on had mentioned one case where Becchcr had improper relations with a woman, now a widow. He also mentioned the caso of another woman on whom Bceehcr success fully and forcibly accomplished his deviltry and suggested a demand that he quit the ministry. That Llm letter was shown to Mr. Becchcr by Mr. Bowen. The latter shortly afterward with auger, unbraided Mr. Tilton for informing in-forming Bcocher of these statements, and compelling Bowcn to adduce evidence evi-dence to sustain the demand for Beecher's withdrawal. Bowcn threatened threat-ened to deprive Tilton of engagements with the independent and i ntvn, and eject him from the offices if he appeared ap-peared there, and soon after the threat was executed. Wilkeeon says he remonstrated against the publication of the above mentioned letter, and Tilton, in a noisy and passionate manner, complained com-plained that Bowen had disgraced him without cause and ruined him in fame, prospect and estate; had crowned this wrong hy refusing to pay a large debt for editorial services of which he was in pressing need, compelling him to bring suit to collect col-lect it; that Beecher had not made the slightest effort to help him in his troubles, and had appeared very in-diflerent, in-diflerent, Tilton trumped through the room in rage and said: "I wi!l have my revenge on him. J will pursue pur-sue him to his grave!" Wilkeson nays ho observed Tilton's object was money, and when he outlined to him a place for obtaining it from Bowen, he left the oflice happy and calm. The result of thia interview was the famous tripartite agreement, agree-ment, in which Bowen agreed to pay Tilton's salary, and publish a reparatory card ir- the Independent. Tilton was very anxious to sign the paper when prepared, and overflowed with love and admiration of Beecher. The terms of the agreement were read 1 in a meeting of four gentlemen. Til-! ton professed his willingness to sub- J scribe twe ve times if Bowen would once. It was suggested that Bowcn would prefer to sign it before Tilton. Wilkeson says in a later conversation conversa-tion with Tilton he put the direct question to Til Ion, the latter said the only wrong Becchcr ever did him was to address improper language to his wife, and fur this he had amply apologized in writing. lie denied j spiritedly any graver offence on1 Beecher's part, and denied the truih ! of the rurnord that such had been committed. He expressed amaze-j ment that any one pretended to have inibrmaliun that Beecher's conduct : had been criminal, and denied such allegation. He reiterated that the only ollenso of Beecher was in language, and was amply atoned for. Tnton came to Wilkeson's oflice in a sullen mood and said abruptly that money matters were not going smoothly and he would not sign the agreement unles'3 it was altered. He had been left out in tho cold while Becchcr and Bowen had been provided pro-vided for. He refus'xl to listen to : words kindly spoken, and in a rage said he would never sign the paper : prohibiting him from pursuing Beecher. He began to ro-write and interline his part of the agreement, but left the work uncompleted. Subsequently Sub-sequently Bowcn paid the lull amount of Tilton's claim and another tripartite tripart-ite agreement, w modification of . that drawn by Wilkeson, was signed. Tilton, in his part, backed out of his disavowal of the imputations on Beecher and secured to himself liberty to pursue the great preacher forever with unrelenting un-relenting hate. Bar ts of the agreement agree-ment obliterated from tho linal one : "I, Henry C. Bowen, know nothing derogatory to Mr. Beecher's reputation reputa-tion at a clergyman or a man, ami 1 expressly disavow tho charges, imputations im-putations 'and inuendoes imputed to have been made by me, and set forth in a letter written to me, by Theodu c Tilton, on the 1st of January, 1S71, a copy of which letter is hereto annexed an-nexed ; and I declare that these charges, imputations and inuendoes are without any foundation, in fact, to the best of my knowledge and belief." be-lief." "I, Theodore Tilton, returning ol my free will to a man whom I have revered and loved as a father, hereby confirm my faith in Henry Ward Beecher, as a grandly good and generous gen-erous man. I, too, disavow each and all tho imputations and charges in said annexed letter, repeated and contained, and any and all other imputations im-putations upon his character and conduct, which have been said tc como from me: I disavow and covenant coven-ant never to repeat or renew." |