Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-28
Elizabeth Cady Stanton Inter
viewed.

The Brooklyn Argus reports an interview
with Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton who says ::
Sometimes think it was in the fall of the
year, though won't be positive, while Mrs
Billiard was still connected with the revolu-
ton, Susan B. Anthony, Mr.. and Mrs. Til
ton, Mrs. Billiard and myself were in Brook
Ign together. 1t was in the afternoon, and
after calling at the office of the Revolution,
Mr.. Tilton and myself accompanied Mrs.
Billiard to her residence, and remained to
dinner. Through some misunderstanding
Mrs. Anthony went with Mrs. Tilton and
dined with her instead Of with us. There was
some feeling on the part of Mrs. Triton in
regard to this, although it was quite unnten-
tional on my part Well, at the table, no one
was present but Mrs. Bullerd, Mr.. Tilton and
myself. Theodore told the whole story Of
his wife's faithlessness; as l before observed,
he did not 60 into the details, but the sum and
substance of the whole matter he related in
the hearing of Mrs. Billiard and myself. We
we're reformers, and he gave US the story as
phase of social life"
''This was the first you heard of it,"
"This was the first"
''The next eve hearing that Miss Anthony
was little piqued at me for leaving her on
the day before, returned to my home here,
and to my surprise l found Susan awaiting
my arrival, and later when we were alone l
said to her, Theodore related a very strange
story to Mrs. Billiard and me last eve
Then recounted to her al that he had told
US. Miss Anthony listened attentively to the
end, then she said, Il have heard the same
story from Mrs. Tilton. We compared
notes, and found by both man and wife the
same story had indeed been told"
"What were the particulars of Mrs. Titon's
confession?'
II will tell you how it was made; when
Mr. Tilton returned home that eve, some an
cry words growing out of the separation in
the afternoon passed between him and his
wife. Both became intensely excited, and in
the heat of passion, and in the presence of
Miss Anthony, confessed each to the other
of having broken the marriage vow. In the
midst Of these startling disclosures Mrs. An
thony withdrew to her room. Shortly after
she heard Mrs. Tilton come dashing up the
stairs, and Mr.. Tilton following close after
She flung open her bedroom door and Eliza
beth rushed in. The door was then closed
and bolted; Theodore pounded on the out
side and demanded admttance, but Miss An
thony refused to turn the key. SO intense
was his passion at that moment that she
feared he might kill his wife if he gained &C
cess to the room. Several times he returned
to the door and angrily demanded that it
be opened. NO woman shall stand between
me and my wife, said he, but Susan who is
as courageous as she is noble, answered him
with the words, If you enter this room it
will be over my dead body And SO the in
furiated man ceased his demands and with
drew. Mrs. Tilton remained with Susan
through the night. In the excitement of the
hour, amid sobs and tears, she told all to Miss
Anthony. The whole story of her own faith
lessness, of Mr.. Beecher's course, of her de-
ception, and of her anguish fell upon the ears
of Susan B. Anthony, and were spoken by
the lips of Mrs. Titon. The next morning
Mr.. Tilton told Susan never to enter his
house again. She told him she should enter
whenever she chose, but believe she did not
60 there again"
"By Mr.. Tilton's cross-examination," OBJ
served the reporter, sit appears that Mrs.
Tilton was far from friendly to Miss Anthony
how could she have made this confession to
herr"
"On the contrary Mrs. Tilton thought a
great deal of Miss Anthony, Mrs. Billiard,
and all those ladies: | was very intimate
with her before Mrs Woodhull's thunderbolt.
At the time of our first knowledge of the
affair, Mr.. Wilkeson also heard of it, lie
besought the ladies not to make it public. To
him it was a matter of money. He was a
stakeholder in Plymouth Church. in tine
Christian Union and 'The Life of Christ.
| Now the destruction of Mr.. Beecher would
be the destruction of all these. As Mr.
Wilkeson expressed it, 1T would knock the
life of Christ higher than kite Hence
his concern in kapninp the matter secret"