The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-07-31

said it was so, but that she said, You
must not do that. Ny reverence of
Beecher prevented me from speaking to
him about it, or to any one else. Mr..
Beecher and Mrs. Tilton were sitting on
the floor with the pictures; don't remem-
ber whether | was sitting with them or
not, it was so long ago. The improper
caress saw with my own eyes; Beecher
did not look at ME first; he did not know
I nnticed it; she may have been sitting
on stool, he on the floor.
Q. Were you where he could see your
A. He was looking at the pictures.
Q. If he had looked up would he have
seen you?
A. Yes.
@. What part Of Der person did he
touch?
A. Her ankles and lower limbs.
@. Not about the knee?
A. No.
@. Was it done slyly?
A. Yes, very slyly, with his right or
left arm under her dress. Ny impress
sion is it was by the accidental brushing
up of her dress that l saw his hand on
her ankle.
Q. You were in doubt whether the
gesture was intentional or accidental?
a. II was merely suspicion.
The committee then proceeded to ex-
anime Mr.. Tilton about the bedroom
scene. He did not known the year. II
was a good while ago, before the ankle
scene, and while they were living on
Livingston street. He remembered the
room identified by the picture. 1t was
the left hand room on the second story.
I knocked at the door: Elizabeth came;
I was surprised; the door was locked
She was surprised at finding me. Beech.
er =as sitting in red-plush rocking
chair with his vest unbnttoned; his face
colored like a rose when I saw him.
Q. The explanation was satisfactory
to you on that occasion?
A. Entirely so. shonld have thought
nothing of it had | not wondered at the
door being locked. The room was a bed
room, connected with sitting-room by
folding doors; both rooms opened into
! the hall.
Q. May they not have gone into tho
sitting-room from the hall, and thence
into the bedroom?
4. will give them the benefit of thu
doubt.
@. What was the explanation given
which you found satisfactory?
\. Annoyance of the children. M
wife said ours and neighbor's childrei
were making a noise. She wanted
quiet talk with Mr.. Beecher and 50 sh
locked herself in.
/ q. That satisfied yon?
4. Yes; it was entirely satisfactory.
q. Was the sliding doors open?
4. They were shut.
Q. Was the hall door door opened i'm
mediately?
A. Yes.
III reply to further questions, Tiltol
said he never regarded the circumstance
as evidence of wrong. The explanation
blotted it from his remembrance; but h
had since mentioned it because the ciI
cumstances arose which made him fec
r her explanation Of both scenes was III
, true. He first mentioned it, he though
t to his mother. Never thought there ws
] any wrong in it until in the light {
4 subsequent events. lie would not "a
there was anything wrong in it now
, Elizabeth always denied stoutly an
] wrong.
a Q. You FAY for a year after what yo
state as Mrs. Tilton'a confession, she il
t sisted to you that she had not violate
O her marriage vow?
I A. Yes: Elizabeth was in a sort of VI
e porous-like cloud; she was between ligl
! and dark; she could not zee that it wi
d wrong. She maintained to her moth
il in my presence that she had not dol
Il wrong. She can not bear to do wron
J. A sense of having done wrong is enouf
= to crush her. She naturally seeks &
5 her own peace a conscientious verdiS
r She never would have had these rel
N tions if she bad supposed AZ the tin
Or that they were wrong, Elizabeth nev
TO does anything that at the time seeI
N wrong; for such a large moral natu
n there is lack Of certain balance al
Sc euuipoise. She has not a will III
m guides and restraints, but Elizabeth nc
ze er does at any time that which does +
as have the stamp of her conscience at
rs. time upon il.
K O. Do you say that she did OF did I
IT, insist that che had violated her marria
ed VOWS?
n A. She always was saying that il M
en- er seemed to her wrong, aud, "Theodo
sc do not now see that have wrong
li- you"
.at Q. What do you understand her
le. meaning by "To love is praisewort
70. but the abuse of love is sin?"
ur A. rather think she means carry
love to too great an extent.
@. Would not that include crimi
ITS relations?
he A. Yes.
'm @. Then you understand her rs ca
as 1868 as saying that the abuse of
ton gift of love by adultery would be
he A. Yes.
tie Mr.. Tilton continued that Mrs. Til
was fond Of large reading, and said
vo- Beecher carried TO her sheets OF
she Life of Christ" and Norwood"
ap- criticism. She was one Of the bes
ade critics, and judgment not wrapped
She affections, and he [Tiltonl was alv
and certain that IL Elizabeth liked wha
ews wrote It was not on his account, tho
Iich she was always glad when he wro
ness good thing. 1t was an honest critic
,nR- IL he had been a minister, none Of
trouble would have come. She wa
'esa- ways sorry he was not minister, "
? IL the only virtue he possessed. I'll