The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-04


evening, at the Second Congregational
Church, under the auspices of the Young
Mems Christian Association, the subject be-
ing advertised as "The True Woman" Mr..
Tilton was accompanied by a lady, and
driving to the Beardsley House, then kept by
MIR. George w. Lincoln. now proprietor of a
hotel at birmingham. Conn, registered him
self and companion thus: Theodore TiIton
and lady" The parties were assigned
separate rooms on the same floor. and at a
ward evening Mr. Rufus E. Holmes, presi-
dent of the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton, called on Mr.. Tilton in reference to the
lecture. He knocked at the door once
twice, three times, and, receiving no re-
Spouse, YVES about to turn away, when the
door was opened a few inches and lady
pcered out cautiously and asked what was
wanted. Recognizing Mr. Holmes voice in
reply, Mr.. Elton invited him in and was
found lying ON the back part of the bed di-
vested of coat, vest and boots. Mr.. Holmes
naturally thought this a little strange, but not
knowing but that the lady was Mrs. Tilton,
said nothing. Completing his business, he
left, and shortly afterward Mr.. Tilton and
bis companion went to tea az the residence
of the Rev. DIR. Wethersby pastor of the
Second Congregational Church. Here he
introduced her as Miss Lovejoy, daughter of
Congressman Lovejoy, of Illinois, and re-
marked that she had been an inmate of his
family fer some time past, and had come TO
Winsted at his invitation, to hea- his lee
ture on "The True Woman" she being
deeply
INTERESTED IN FANTALE SUFFRAGE
and kindred subjects; but, in conversation
with Mrs. Wethersby, she evinced strange
ignorance OF the members of Mr.. Tilton's
family, and even OF the residence eff the Illl-
nois congressman. She attended the lee
m hot lofQ and folx inc
front seat, giving the audience good oppor-
tunity to criticise her personal appearance.
She was about % years of age, OF medium
height and build, with rather dull face and
hair curly or arranged in curls. During the
entire delivery of the lecture her in
attention was noticeable, seeming to be
wholly wrapt up in her own thoughts. She
returned to the hotel after the lecture, and
within half an hour or more Mr.. Tilton sent
for the porter and ordered pitcher of cider.
On returning to the room and entering, the
porter found the lady snugly curled up in
Mr.. Tilton's couch, with her clothing scat
tered around on chairs and sofas, and Mr..
Tilton sitting before the CRATE
with his boots of, resting himself after his
arduous labors on the platform. Not
knowing the relationship of the parties, the
porter believed it to be all right, and did not
even refer to the matter on returning to the
Office. The next morning a Mr.. Albert
this time resident of Plainville, passed
their doc on his way to breakfast, and, it
being ajar saw the couple completing
their toiletes. He mentioned the fact to
the clerk of the hotel, who, however, said
nothing to Mr.. Tilton, as the parties
wereto leave on the morning train for New
York, and no good would have been accom-
plished by it. But the story spread like
wildfre through the quiet little town,
and finally the lecture committee made
quiet investigation, Mr.. Rufus e. Holmes
and the Rev. Mr.. Forbes holding various con-
situations with parties cognizant of the facts.
The statement above given is substantially
the result of that investigation, stripped,
it is believed, of all rumors in connec-
ton with the subject which 10 not seem to
have good foundation. 1t was hard to be-
lieve the statements at first as to the mu-
tual occupancy of Mr.. Tilton's room; bus the
fact that the lady's room had not been dis
turbed was strong proof. For the credit of
the town, and with a desire to shield Mr..
Tilton, the real facts were concealed as far
as possible, and the local papers made no
reference to the matter at that time.
WHAT FRED. DOUGLASS THOUGHT.
A week after the occurrence of this scandal
Mr.. Frederick Douglass lectured in Win
sted, and heard of it. In a conversation
with Mr.. Vail, editor of the Winsted
Herald, he referred to the subject, and said:
"Oh, there is no truth in it. / know the
man Tilton is foolish and indiscreet in his
conduct with women. but would do nothing
wrong" A few minutes later Douglass
returned to the subject, and said: Mrs
Tilton is an excellent woman. hsve been
in the family; 1 know them all we'll. 1
think, however, that there is cloud. there,
but do not believe this story, and wish you
would publish statement denying it; for /
am confident 1T is false. 1t must be false,
from what 1 know of Tilton." Mr.. Vail
complied with the urgent request of Mr.
DOulaSs, and the next issue of the Winsted
Herald contained the following article:
DENIAL.
The Winsted correspondent of the Litch-
field Enquirer says, concerning Theodore
Tilton and his recent visit here: "Tilton re
marked that the man was not yet made who
could be trusted out of the sight of woman.
1t is thought he meant what he said, and
spoke his honest convictions. There is some
scandal going the rounds in regard to him
here that might be silenced." Well, then,
let it be silenced. The scandal is without
lust foundation. Mr.. Tilton was accompan-
led on the occasion of his lecturing tour
here by Miss Lovejoy, daughter of
the late congressman from Illinois, and
when the local quidnunecs brought their vir-
tuous optics to bear on the Beafdsley House
of entries 'Theo. Tilton-a lady," they
hastily concluded that something must be
unsound in Denmark. Since the Richard
son murder and Byron revelations no man
is safe from suspicion if he as much as looked
at one of those stuffed women on pedestal
that merchants use to hang shawls and
cloaks on. Suspicion is an extremely cpl
demical thing and sometimes sweeps the
nation like the chelera.
This was the denial. The weight of the
impression it may have had on Winsted
readers may easily be estimated. The careful
exclusion of the alleged facts is remarkable
in ITSELF However, the Winsted people
were not fullysatisfied, andabot this time Gen.
c., we'll known western congressman,
was written to as to whether the Congress-
man Lovejoy had daughter, and whether
she had been east. The letter in
reply has been lost, but was
systematically in the affirmative. Whether the
ladxr M I.ONaiQz at