New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-06


address of his own before the General Assembly
which he got Tilton to report. He expected
nothing more than full abstract. but
fiton made an almost perfect report
After 1881 for many years l saw little or
nothing of Mr.. Tilton. He had assumed larger re-
Iponsibilities, and was making for himself wide
and honorable reputation. i only heard of his sue
eesses however through public sources. but was
confident that he fulfilling tho expectations OF
his friends In every respect. The apparently sud
den change in his prospects and position before the
public l was and still at a loss to understand
While was absent from the country he, for some
reason lost ground But until after the publication
of the Woodruff scandal entirely unfamiliar
with his personal difficulties.
THE FIRST APPEAL FOR ADVICE.
II was week oS ten days after this paper was
issued that he came to me for ADVICE. some
public statement, he thought. was neces-
sary as reply. but in what form, OF
even how far il should so. be could not OF
himself decide. Upon this point he wished coun-
SELL For this he came to me as friend OF Mr.
Beecher. As Mr.. Tilton has stated before the Com
mittee | had not then read the paper OF Mrs Wood
hull, but told Mr. Tilton that L would borrow
copy of q friend who knew, had one. and read 1t
if be desired did this, and, as agreed upon. Mr.
Tilton called again. told him that had read the
statement with much care and that there were four
points in it to be denied-frst that Mr. Beecher ana
Mrs Triton had criminal relations secondly, that
Won discovered this; thirdly. that Mr. Beecher re-
ceiyed paper from Mrs. Tilton denying that such
relations had ever existed aud fourthly' that MI
Moulton obtained that paper from MI. beecher'
1 did not say, Mr.. Carpenter mas put
it, that had drawn four con-
illusions but that there were four points
to be denied. was of the impression that sim
ple and material denial by those concerned would
probably be made, and thus an eLd be put to the
whole vile story. Mr. TiltOn. however. said to me:
.Supposing these points cannot be deniedP told
him IN eff, ct that in that case plain statement of
the truth or absolute silence his part. were the
only alternatives open to him; that 1t would not
answer to attempt any evasion In public state
ment since that would not silence the scandal but,
instead would keep it alive and give 1t new force
Beyond this 1 declined to give advice, unless he
should b, disposed to acquaint me with sufficient
facts In the case TO enable me to form an
intelligent Judgment. He did not wish to do this,
and / did not urge him to do it. l was
very much dsinclinedto inquire into or become cog
infant Of his story although willing To counsel with
him as with very many Others who during my long
professional life in Brooklyn had consulted me upop
personal OF business affairs. This as part OF the
work which minister is called upon TO do, and not
the most agreeable part by any means. He cannot
decline t. give advice Mr.. Tiltou at this time
the second interview-suggested that, without stat
ing to ne any of the actual facts IN the case, he
should mention hypothetical cases. and L
should give my Judgment of the course to be pur-
sued, if certain supposed circumstances actually
existed. To this / objected, and when he
began to suppose cases. assured him that
no satisfactory conclusion could be reached
by such roundabout method, but that he
would only bring his own mind into deeper doubt
and make the complication, whatever it might be-
all the more iuextricable This ended the matter
for that day. Mr.. Carpenter not a witness to
this conversation.
MRS. TILTON's ADMISSION,
Soon after this however. Mr.. Tilton came to my
house accompanied by Mr.. Carpenter and said that
ne wished TO present 10 me sach facts as would
enable me TO comprehend his position, and TO give
him advice. At the same time he handed me q letter
from Mrs. Elizabeth Tilton. in her handwriting,
which read and returned TO him. did not take
copy OF that letter, but it of course deeply i'm
pressed Oh my mind and after Mr.. Elton went away
made notes of it, we'll as of tue statement. which
he afterward read. / have not those memoranda |
with me. but if remember correctly, and think |
cannot be mistaken regarding it, the letter began
ION q certain day in the Summer of 1870 in
formed my husband that Mr. Beecher had asked me
60 become wife to him, with all that these words
imply
This was most remarkable statement. I was, Of
course, shocked by it, / demuTred TO listening to
Mr. 1Ilton's statement, but with the understanding
from the letter and from Mr.. TIltOn that it the
wish aud request of Mrs. Tlton that should do so,
attended to the reading by Mr.. Tilton OF a paper
which included portion OF the letters ana
documents that have since been published. wlllnot
undertake to say exactly what was contained III that
statement 1t did not set forth the full array ofalleged
facts that make up the case of Mr.. Hilton before
the Committee nor did Mr.. TiltOn profess to state
20 me his whole case nor did suppose that he pre-
scented il TO me in it's entirety j understood that
me was making me acquainted with such facts as he
supposed would justify me ia advising him. Fer
this reason did not ask him If he mad other facts,
or if he was revealing to me the whole truth. had
long before learned that when any one in trouble,
especially if il be of domestic business nature,
seeks counsel, he will only communicate the min
imum necessary to elicit the desired advice, keeping
TO himself the most trying and delicate features OF
the case ] did not question Mr.. Tilton, because 1
naturally presumed that he had told me all that he
wished OF thought necessary for me TO know, and
because did not desire any further revelations
The impression was left however, that he had much
more upon bis mind.
INFFRENCEs FROM THE INTERVIEW.
The statement. for the most part, was written,
although he added some things that were not IN
writing Like the Bacon letter, this was intended
IN show that Mr. Beecher had committed an
"ofTensep for which he had made an apology"
and think the same part of the apology" was
opoted that appears in the Bacon letter. The letter
of Mrs. Tilton indicated how grave an otfense 1t
WAS AZ the best ard might have been construed as
statiny the fnll ofense to be improper proposal