New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-08
THEODORE TILTON's PARENTS.

THEY REFUSE TO BELIEVE MRS. TILToN GUILTY
UNTIL SHE CoNFEssEs TO TIEM-THEIR FAITH IN
THEIR son UNDIMINIsHED NO HEREDITARY
LUNACY IN THE FAMILY.
Two persons who, next to those directly con-
cerned, most deepy and painfully interested in
the Tilton-Beecher scandal arc the mother and
father Of Theodore, living at Keyport N J. Five
minutes walk from the steamboat landing brings
one to the door of the unassuming house IN which
they have lived for the past nineteen years. 1t is
plain white dwelling in two parts, one of which
stood upon the spot when the Tiltons moved there
from Bay Shore in 1855, and is story
and half high, while tho other, which
is two stories, was built by them years
after 1t is surrounded by a garden patch
of an acre or two and tempting orchard. while in
front and at the side tidy walks are bordered with
many species of plants and flowers. Within doors,
the same indications of comfort and happiness meet
the eye. Choice house plants stand In the windows
and upon the tables the walls are covered with pic
tures-small paintings and portraits Of National
heroes; and there is air of order and neatness
and refinement all which makes surmse that
young hands have something to do with the ar
rangement and adjoining Of the house. This is not
the case, however. for the same care is bestowed
upon these rooms that for more than 40 years has
administered to the demands of a large and promis-
ing family.
THE MOTHERS STATEMENT.
The mother of Theodore Tilton is woman OF
about 81 years. of great frame, full face and large
features. The burdens of life seem to have fallen
lightly upon her, and she still appears equal to many
years Of toilsome care. She is the mother OF hve
children of whom Theodore and his sister Annie
are the only ones living. Both of these have long
been married and removed from home, so that now
the family here consists of only the father and
mother. They are frequently visited by their
daughter whose home is on Staten Island while the
wife and children of Theodore Tilton have visited
them nearly every year. and the mother often spends
a week or two at the house in Livlngston-st.
Recent reports purportng to give history of the
Tton family, and which represented it to have had
many insane members aud to be generally impreg-
mated with insanity, had imbned both Mr. and Mrs
Tton with no little hostility to newspaperrepresent-
atlves but when they fully assured that the re-
porter of TIE TRIBUNE seeking for the truth they
spoke freely of the subject occupying all of their
thought although very careful to have it under
stood that they had taken no sides as between The
odore OF Elizabeth" and were confident that they
loved each other still, whatever might have hap
pened. Mrs. Tilton said that Elizabeth was to her
as an own daughter. and she not willing to be-
lieve anything to her discredt.
And 50 far as Theodore Is concerned said she.
81 have never known anything bad of him and
don't believe the stories that have been told about
him. He was good boy as any one could wish
| to have, and not wild and ungovcrnable rs some
have represented him to have been. Since he has
| become man. of course, have not known so much
| about him. but have always thought him kind and
| affectionate."
In answer to questions regarding the happiness OF
her sons home Mrs. Tilton said
m thew
| were not happy then knew nothing about it. They
scanned TO love each other very much and to treat
zach other as man and wife should, III they were
| miserable they didn't let me know it. 1t seems
strange that shouldn't have found it out. But all
that ever heard has been through the newspapers
| I have loved Elizabeth, and think she mas loved
| me very dearly If there had been so much unhap-
! pness in her home il seems should nave heatd Oh
| il from her when she has been here or when nave
| been in Brooklyn. always have Thought just the
opposite-that they everything to each other
Mrs Tilton said further, that when Elizabeth had
been there she used to receive letters from theodore
every day, and that she wrote very often 10 hlih'
81 don't understand it," said she, and don't want
to talk about it longer"
| Mrs. TiltOn expressed considerable indignation a'
the false reports Of hereditary insanity IN tue ram
ily She said they were untrue in almost every par
been some queer people in the family M there were
in every other family. ave may all be peculiar
| don't know. But we are not crazy" Inc only
living onc on the fathers side at all OF nnsouhd
| mind ia n cousin. a lady whose mind dwels upon
relo;ous matters constantly and this mas become
mania with her. The son Edgar, who died ho' long
| ago exhibited no signs of insanity when young
child but very severe illness, when was inee'''
| bv a hard cold left him dear anu Win JIG
80. ra;ns in his head, and FROM these
| thinos insanity was induced. The family
na ,ho nhys;cions attributed his condition wholly
.. ,o.o oo,,s.s He was very bright and active Us
hoy INT in everything that he undertooA u w n'
deafness and the suffering from hea'acne iiiae ni'
moody and troubled and finally crazeu Nc wac
thot he could not be well taken care Oh III
io''i 'o :. 90 ,,itbout his mothers consent or
I-no,yIedge that he was sent to the asylum Hc
80, :. rhoodore,s house, The John Hilton, spoken
e . .ho ronorts referred to as a brother Oh Iheo-
-, s,hor il a wholly fictitious character, SO that
,N.Ia. ;,sa,e or not is of little moment. The
H. hrotbors were never before known I'd nave
Laan demented. George Tilton the cousin. who was
s,.t.d In have become insane throueh eAasSeiateu
o,a.ripo from dyspepsia came into the room whlie
.,a ronorer was there and during long CONVERSE
,o, betrayed no signs OF the possession Oh anything
mara unusual than good common sense. Insanity
was also attributed to George liltons brother with
M more regard to the truth than in his own case.
No blood relation of Mrs. Tilton the mother-ex-
cepting Edgar, her son, and half-brother-have
ever been crazy. The condition OF the latter was
never, the mother says, attributed to her family, but
vas easily traceable on the other side. Neither her
father nor any other Of her ancestors were insane.
The family aud their friends regard this recent at
tempt to prove hereditary insanity to be malicious
IN the highest degree. Some of the persons who
furnished information to the reporter who wrote the
when II