Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-08-21

NleWb were running tne paper. But ne eal0 thAt,
as soon as II was known that he had so far
broken with Tilton, there came pouring in upon
him so many stories OF Mr.. Titon's private
ihs, le and R habits that hs was oyeTShemed and
consistently retain him on the Brooklyn linton,
or as chief contributor to the Independent. lie
some like stories from the Northwest, and the
charges brought against Tlton in his own office.
Without doubt he believed these allegations, and
so did !. The other facts previously stated TO
me seemed full corroboratiOn. We conversed
for some time, Mr.. Bowen wishing my opinion.
II was frankly given. l did not see how he
could maintain former relations with Mr. Tilton.
The substance Of the full conversation was that
Iiton's inOrdinate vanity, his fatal facility for
blundering, for which he had genius, and the
ostentatious Independence In his own opinions
and general iInpracticabeness would keep the
Union at disagreement with the political
party for whose service 1t was published, and
now, added to all the revelations of these pro
miscuous imm0ralities, would make his con
nection with either paper fatal to Its interests.
l spoke strongly and emphatically under the
g5e" P5GoV0ds.ion tba Of his th6TsSSenng t9
concerning. his domestic afiairs. Mr.. Bowen
derided the letter of Tilton's, which he
had brought to me, and said earnestly that II
trouble came Of It might rely on his friend
ship. / learned afterward, in a further quarrel,
ending in Tilton's peremptory expulsion from
No service hns tb GbonVeIsat0n R was t9d to
view and received some further informa-
tion about Mr.. Tton from my wife, to
SaSSa ShSm had referred 1on HIM Although have
doubt that my influence was decisive, and
preciPitaied his ;, final overthrow. When
came to think Il all over, felt very unhappy at
the contemplation of Mr. Tilton's impending
disaster l had loved him much, and at one
time he seemed like son TO me My influence
had come just at the time Of his first unfolding
and had much to do with his carly development.
had aided him externally to bring him before
the public. We had been together in the great
controversies of the day, until afterward our
social intercourse had been intimate. Ii Is true
that his nature always exaggerated his own eX-
cellences, but as boy he looked up to me with
nhectiOnate admiration After some yearn he
felt himself my equal, and was very companions
Bile, and when he had outgrown me and reached
the position of the first man Of the age he still
was kind and patronizing. | had always smiled
at these weaknesses Of vanity, and had believed
that with larger experience, some knocks among
strong men, and by SORROWS that temper the soul
he would yet fulfill useful and brilliant career
But now all looked dark He was to be cast forth
from his eminent position, and his affairs did not
promise that sympathy and strengthwhi makes
ones house as mine has been in times of ad-
yersity, refuge from the storm and n tower Of
defense.
Besides generous suffering should have nau
a selfish reason for such, If had recalled that 1
was about to become an instrument by which Mr.
TiltOn meant TO fight his way back to the pros
perity which he had forfeited II now appears
that on the 29th of December, 1870, Mr.. Tilton,
having learned that had replied to his threaten
ing letter by expressing such an opinion as to
set Mr.. Bowen finally against him, and bring him
face to face with immediate ruin, extorted from
his wife, then suffering from severe illness. u
document eliminating me, and prepared an elab-
orate attack upon me. On Tuesday evening,
December, 1870, about { O'Clock, Francis d.
Moulon called at my house, and with intense
eagerness eaid II wish you to go with me to
see MIR Tilton." l replied that could not then,
as was just. going TO my prayer-meeting. With
the most positive manner he said: You must
GAV ahnAt ala xnfl tab of fha raaf
ing" | went with him, not knowing what
trouble had agitated him, but vaguely thinking
that might now learn the solution Of
the recent threatening letter. On the
way ! asked what was the of
this visit, TO which he replied that Mr..
1ilton would inform me, or words to that
effect. On entering his house, Mr.. Mouton
locked the door, saying something about not be-
ing interrupted. He requested me to go into the
front chamber, over the parlor. was under the
impression that Mr.. TiltOn was going to pour ont
upon me his anger for colleaguing with Bowen,
and for the advice of separation given to his wife
] wished Mr.. Moulton to be with us as a witness,
but he insisted that should go by myself Mr..
Tilton received me coldly but calmly. After a
word or two, standing in front OF me with mem
orandnm in his hand, he began an oration He
declared in an unfricndly spirit that had sought
his downfall; had spread injurious rumors about
him; was using my place and influence To under
mine him; had advised Mr.. Bowen to dismiss
him, and much more that cannot remember. lie
then declared that had injured him in his fani-
y relations; had Joined with his mothcrn-lnw
in producing discord in his house; had advised a
separation; had alienated his wife's affections
from him; had led her to love me more
than any other being: had corrupted her
moral nature, and taught her to be insinCcrc. ly-
ing, and hypoeritcal, and ended by charging that
| had made wicked proposals to her. Until he
reached this had listened with some contempt,
under the impression that he was attempting ia
bully me; but with the last charge he produced
n paper, purpOrting to be a certified statement of
q previous confession made to him by his wife OF
her love for me, and that had made proposals to
her OF an improper nature lie said that this con
icssion had been made to him in July, six months
previous; that his sense Of honor and affection
would not permit any such document to remain
in cNistcnce; that he had burned the original
aud should now destroy the only copy, and nc
then tore the paper into small pieces. If hat
been shocked at such statement was abso
lutcly thunderstruck when he closed the in
tcrNicw by requesting me to repair at once 10 hi
house where he said Elizabeth was waiting fo
me, and learn from her lips the truth OF hi
stories in go far as they concerned her. This fel
like a thnnderbolt on me. Gould il be possibn
that his wife, whom | regarded as the type o
moral goodness, should have made such false ant
atroCous statementst And yet If she had no
how would he dare to send me to her for a con
hrmation of his chargest l went forth like
slccp-walker, while the clouds were flying in tn
sky. There had been a snow-stOrm which wa
breaking away. The winds were out and whistlin
through leafess trees, but all this was peace
compared to the mood within. believe tina
Moulton went with me TO the door of Titon'
house. The housekeeper, the same woman q
whom Mrs. Tilton had complained, seemed {
have been instructed by him, for she eyidcntl
expected me and showed me at once to Mrs. I'll
tons room. Mrs. Tilton lay upon her bed, whit
as marble, with closed eyes, as In q trance, an
with her hands upon her bosom, palm to palm
like one in prayer. As look back upon It, tn
| picture is like some form carved in marble tina
l had seen upon monuments in Europe. Sh
made no motion, and gave no sign {
| her and said: "Elizabeth, Theodore has bee
making very serious charges against me an
sends me to you for continuation" She made
reply or sign, yet It was plain that she was col
| sCiOus and listening. | repeated some OF hi
| statements: that had brought discord TO tn
family; had alienated her from him; had sougl
| to break up the family, and usurped his intucnc
and then, Us well as ! could, added that b
said that made improper suggestions to her an
| that she had admitted this fact to him last Jul!
| | said, Elizabeth, have you made such stat
| mcnt to himf" She made no answer. / repea
| ed the question. Tears ran down her cheek
| and she very slightly bowed her head in acqnic
| ccnce. | said, "You cannot mean that you haN
| stated all he has chargedt" She opened her eyt
| aud began in a slow and feeble way to explai
| how sick she had been; how wearied out with IN
| pOrtunity; that he had confessed his own allie
| loves, and said that he could not bear to thin
| that she was better than he; that ehc might wi
| him 10 reformation II she would confess that n
| had loved me moro than him, and that they woul
| repent and go on with future concord. i cAnn'
give her language, but only the tenor Of her rel
rcsentatOns. / received them impAtiently
| spoke to her, in the strongest language, Of h
course | said to her: Have ever made Al
improper advances to your" She said No
| Then asked "Why did you say so to your hu
| bnndy" She seemed deeply distressed. IN
friend (by that designation she almost alwal
| called mel, am sorry, but could not help
| What can dor told her che could state
writing what she had now told me- She bee konI
for her writing materials, which handed h
| from her secretary standing near by, and she =
up in bed and wrote brief counter-statement.
In sort of postscript she denied explicit
| thai had ever offered any improper solicitatiI
| t,,b bn hniuo The OulV ChaTng made nuAin
mo by Mr.. Tilton, or sustained by the statemel
about the confession which he had read to ne-
| dreamed of no worse charge at that time-th
was horrible enough. The mere thought that
could make It, and copld have extorted any oN
| drlGc on which to base IL, was enough To tal
away my senses. Neither my consciousness
lis utter falschOOd, nor Mrs. Tilton's retraotiOn
hcI part in II, could remove the shock from II
heart Indeed, her admission to me that she hi
stated, under any circumstances, so wicked
ialschuod, was the crOwIhng blow Of all.
seemed to me as II she was going to die; that h
mind was OyerthTown, and that was In son
dreadful way mixed up with II, and might be Il
by her death with this terrible accusatit n han