The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-08-20


he began to fear that the Independent would be
taken from him, nor cid he break out into VIC
lence until on the eve of dispossesslon from botn
the papers-the Independent and the Brooklyn
UnSon-owned by Mr.. Bowen. During these
years of intimacy in Mr.. Tilton's family. ] was
treated as father or elder brother Children
were born-children died. They learned to love
me end frolic with me, as one of themselves.rl
loved them, and had for Mrs Tilton true and
hohest aegard. She seemed to me an affectionate
mother, devoted wife, looking up her husband
as one far above the common race of men, and
tuaning to nae with artless familiarity and with
. entire confidence. Childish in appearance she was
childlike in nature and would as soon have mis-
conceived the confidence OF her little girls as the
unstudied affection which she showed me. Deli
cate in health, with self-cheerful air, she was
boundless in her sympathy for those iu trouble,
and labored beyond her strength for the poor. She
had the charge, at one time of the married womenS
class at theBethel Mission School, and they per-
fectly wors hiped her there. i gave Mrs. Illton
copies of my books when published. sometimes
sent down from the farm to be distributed among
dozen or more families. and she occasionally
shared. The only present OF value ever gave heF
was on my return fir I'm Europein 1863 when dis
tr1buted souvenirs of my jauaney to come nifty or
more persons, and to her gave simple Droocn Oh
little intrinsic value. So far from supposing tnap
my presence and influence were alternating Mrs
Tilton from her family relations, thought, on the
contrary, that it giving her strength. ana en-
| couraging ner to hold fast upon a man eyIdently
sliding into dangerous associations, and HaDle TO
| be ruined by unexamned self eonce1t. Iregaroed
Mr.: Tlton as in very critical period OF MS l1le
home infdenees about him. -
MRS. T1LToN's FEARS FOR HER HUSBAND
During the late years of our friendship Mrs.
Triton spoke very mournfully to me about the
tendency OF her husband to great laxy Of doctrine
| on religion and morals. She gave me to un6ey
4 stand that he denied the divinity Of Christ the
inspiration OF the Scriptures, nd most articles Of
orthodox faith; while his views as to 8 e sancitv
OF the marriage relation were undergoing Constant
change in the direction of free love.
| IHE VISITS DURING MRS. TILToN's sICKNEss-A DIS
| TTNG
In the later part of July, 1870, Mrs TiIton was
SICK, and at her request WISHED her She seemed
much depressed, but gave me no hint of any
trouble aving reference to me. cheered her az
best could, and prayed with her Just before eay-
| ing; This was our last interview before trouble
broke out In the family. l describe it because il
was the last, and It's character has bearing upon
| later part of my story. Concerning ali nv other
visits tis sufficient to say that at no antergtsao
tossc9 suer took place 6eta0esn Mrs. zgton aadlnaa-
sey da9 anything occur sohicb might not haze CO
CURED Wane perfect pr0prSsy betaoee7a O brother.
ana sister, 6eaoeeH father and child, or between
man OF honor and the ao!te OfhiS dearest friend
nor dld anything ever happen which she or I
sought to conceal from her husband
Nh. TLToNs DOCTRINES AS EDIToRIALLY Ex-
PRESSED.
some years before any open trouble between
Mr.; Iilton and myself his doctrines as get forth
In the leaders of the Independent, aroused storm
OF Indignation among the representative Congrega-
slonailsts IN the West end as the paper was still
very largely supposed to be my organ Iiwas Writs
ten to on the subject, In reply indignantly dis
by MIR. L lton. My brother Edward then living in
Illinois, was prominent in the remonstrance AIDE
dressed to Mi. Bowen concerning the course Of
VI us paper unaer mr.. Tllton's management. 1t
was understood that Mr.. Bowen agreed, In con-
vie vs.; but instead Of that Theodore seemed -se.-
cuter In the saddle than before, and his loose no
tlons OF marriage and divorce began to be shadow.
ed editorialy This led to the starting OF the Ad-
00nce, In Chicago, to supercede the I1deDendent
IN the North west; and Mr.. Bowen was made to
feel tnat Tlltons management was seriously iniur-
ing the business and Mr. Tilton may have felt that
ms position was being undermined by opponents
or his views, with whom he subsequently, PRETEND
ca TO oeleye was In league Vague intimations
OF his feeling hard'' toward me I attributed to
this mlsconceptiOn. had in reality taken no stem
to harm him.
MRS, TILToN LEAVES HER HUSBAND.
AICer Mrs. T1rton's return from the West, in De
cember, 1870, young girl whom Mrs. Triton had
taken into the family, educated and treated like
an own child, her testimony. L unde stand, Is
before the committee,) was senG to me with an ur-
gent request that would visit Mrs filton at her
mother's She said that Mrs Titon had left her
nome and gone to her mothers in consequence Of
Ill treatment of her husband. She then gave an
account OF what she had seen of cruelty and abuse
on the part OF the husband that shocked me; and
yet more, when with 6cwncast look she said that
Mr.. Iilton had visited her chamber in the night
and sought her consent to his wishes immedi,
aGely visited Mrs. Tilton at her mothers and re-
ceyed an account OF her home life and of the des-
pousm or her husband, and of the management of
woman whom he had made housekeeper, which
seemed like nightmare dream, The question
was, whether she should 60 back or separate for
sver ISom ner husband. l asked permission to
Drlhg my wife to see them, whose Judgment in all
domestic relations thought better than my own,
ana accordingly second visit was made.
THE ADVICE WHICH TENDED To HARM"
The result of the ;ntervied was that my
wife was extremely indignant toward Mr..
Hilton, and declares that no consideration
On earth would induce her to remain an
hour with man who had treated her
with hundredth part of such insult and
cruelty. felt as strongly as she did, but
nesitated, as always do, at giving advice
10 favor of separation. It was agreed
hat my wife should give her finai advice
It another visit. The next day, when
'eady to go, she wished final word, but
here was company, and the children
we're present, and so wrote on a scrap
# paper: 81 incline to think that your
REV is right, and that separation and
settlement Of support will be wisest, and
hAt. il his present desperate state,
Ter presence near him is far more likely
o produce hatred than her ABSENCE
Mrs. Tilton did not tell me that NY
presence had anything to do with this
rouble, nor did she let me know that on
he July previous he had extorted from
Ter confession of excessive affection for
1e.
A STARTLING LETTER FROM Triton.
On che evening of Dec. 81, 1870, Mr..
owen, On his way home, called at my
ouse and handed me letter from Mr..
ilton. It was, as nearly as can re-
ember, in the following terms