Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-04
FIRST EDITION.


Mrs. Tilton was examined orally, before tho
investigating committee on Friday, for three
hours. The results were regarded by the COM
mittee and by Mr.. Beechers counsel as extreme
ly valuable and as affording satisfactory explain
alton OF the essential features in the charges OF
Mr.. Tilton. She denied the specific charges of
improperly in the bedroom and library scenes
as well as the general charge Of improper inti-
macy with Mr.. Beecher. She admitted that she
had told Miss Anthony that her husband had
charged her with criminal intimacy with Mr.
Beecher, but claimed that she asserted her inno-
cence throughout Her ter timony is somewhat
at variance with that OF Mr. Carpenter but she
admits that she copied, under the pressure of
her husbands appeals, the paper which was
shown to DR., Storrs. month before the Con-
gregational Conference she informed Or. Storrs
that the charge of improperly against MIR.
Beecher over her signature was false. She tes-
titled that her husband had often been violent
in word and deed, and had charged her with i'm
proper intimacy with others besides Mr.. Beecher.
Throughout the examnation--which entered
very fully into the details of her treatment from
her husband, and into the part he had played in
their married llfe-she preserved tone IF gem
tie consideration for him, and the frequent an
swers in which she was obliged to represent un-
favorably his character and actions, were evi-
IDENTIFY given with regret hnd reluctance. The
questioning went back to the beginning OF their
married life in 1866 when Mr.. Tilton was only
20 and Mrs. Tilton II years of age.
MR.. TILToN's ALIENATION AND UNKINDNEss.
Mrs. Tilton stated that it was evident years
before MIR. Tilton made any charge OF miscon-
duct against her that she had ceased to occupy
that large place in his heart which was due to
her as his wife, aud which she enjoyed in the
earliest part OF her married life. About the
time OF the birth Of her third child Mrs. Til
ton had long and severe sickness, lasting
from April to September. During that try
ing time her husband paid lltto attention to
her, and appeared cold and Indifferent. At this
time was first plainly apparent the lessening of
his affection for her, which was afterward shown
repeatedly in the most offensive way. Mr.. Til
ton seemed to feel that his wife brought discred-
1t upon him by her want of dignity and nobility
IN appearance (she is very small in fgure), and
to think that he missed in her the breadth and
depth of mind which he required for congenial
sympathy. He remarked to her repeatedly that
their disparity in size made them ridiculous
when walking together. On one occasion, when
they were walking together, they met very
beautiful woman. with whom Mr.. Tilton was
acquainted. He bowed to her. and then turning
to his wife he said in most cutting way, ard
give $500 this moment II you were not on my
arm"
BUT soRER TRIAL
to Mrs. Tilton than even remarks like these were
Mr.. Tilton's avowas OF his changed feelings
concerning the obligation of the marriage VOW
She said that Mr.. Tilton told her repeatedly that
at any time during his absence from home upon
lecturing tours he would have no hesitation in
violating his marriage vowe, il 30 disposed, al
though he had not then charged her with any
offence. He said only that his views Of the mar
riage relation had changed; and he no longer
felt their obligations. lit was remarked by The
persons giving this information OF Mrs. Tilton's
testimony that on this point it is i'll harmony
with the declarations of Mr.. Tilton himself be-
fore the Committed
THE wooDHULIs IN THE HOUSE.
She said that Mr.. Tilton also outraged her
feelings by forcing upon her the company OF
persons for whore principles and manner of
whose lives she expressed abhorrence. In spite
nf her remonstrances he brought the Woodruff
sisters TO his home Mrs. Tllton showed them
that their presence unwelcome, and when
they dIsregarded this she gave them hint that
she wished them to so. Even this did not dis
lodge them, and Mrs. filton declared that, hav-
ing found all other means unavaing, she was
compelled TO announce her determination to
send for the police and have them removed.
Hearing that the officers were coming, the
W1odhulls finally departed
Mr.. TILros's VIOLENCE AND SWEEPING CHARGES.
In recent years Mr.. Tilton's treatment of his
wife, according to her testimony of Friday even
ing, has been marked by frequent violence of
word and occasional violence Of action. Several
| times after the date of his alleged discovery OF
| improper relations between herself and NJ
Beecher, Mr. rIlton locked his wife i'll her room
cuaing her of violation OF her marriage vow,
not only with Mr.. Beecher, but with four or five
other men whose names were unhesitatingly
| given to the Committee by Mrs. Titon.
Mrs. Tlton also testified that Mr.. Tilton's vio-
lence was not always bounded by words only.
| On one occasion, when he was in wild fit of
/ rage, he brandshed his fiat before her face so
| closely that she felt sure he was about to strike
her. So also thought another person, young
| woman who was in the room. She rushed in
| between them TO prevent Mr. Tilton's striking
| his wife-as she feared-and received such q
blow from his cenched hand that she fell to the
floor, striking her head upon the sidepost OF the
parlor door as she fell and receiving a severe
bruise.
WHAT WAS TOLD MISS ANTHONY.
Mrs. Tilton's testimony in regard to the knowl-
| edge Miss Anthony gained of the trouble in the
family was of great interest She said that
the scene on the evening of MIR. Tilton's out
| break in the presence of Miss Anthony was
a very terrible one. Mr.. Tilton came in in a bad
humor, and Miss Anthony also seemed ruff
fed OH account of her disappointment about
| dining with Mrs. Stanton and Mr.. Tlton or some
| other matter. Mr.. Tilton broke out i'll out
rageous language, accusing his wife of infdelty
| with most profuse and violent profanity Mrs
rilton declares she hardly ever saw Mr.. Tilton
| in 30 terrible rage. His passion increased
| with the torrent of his abuse. Miss Anthony
was disconccrted and retired to her room, whith-
or Mrs. Tllton went with her, and where they both
| spent the night. Mrs. Iilton testified that she
told Miss Anthony the story OF all the accusa-
| tions made by her husband, and made her denial
Of them. Miss Anthony in turn informed Mrs
Titon of certain acts of infdelity on the part of
Mr.. Tlton.
DENIAL OF THE SPECIFIED IMpRoPRIETIEs Al
| LEGED.
In the course of Mrs. Tiltons examination the
two incidents of impropriety in Mr.. Beecher's
behavior towards Mrs. Iiton, which Mr.. Tilton
had alleged had taken place in his presence,
we're entered upon. The statement that Mr.
Beecher gave Mrs. Tilton an improper caress by
touching her ankle, when both were upon the
floor looking at engravings, was denied by her
in particular, besides her general denial that
there had been any improper intimacy. or the
other incident, the 30 called bedroom scene OF
which Mr.. Tton tried TO make 80 much at the
first, Mrs. Tilton said she remembered nothing
more than this She was sitting with her hus-
band and Mr.. Beecher one day III the bedroom,
which is connected by folding doors with the
common sittingroom in the home Of the Tlltons.
MIR. Titon went away for short time, and when
he returned found Mrs Tilton and Mr.. Beecher
in the same place where he had left them, IN
| badrOOm.