Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-25
THE REECHER-TILTON SCANDAL


Theodore Tilton in the form of an interview
with one of its reporters, IN which lIlton says
ali the accounts vi lis cross examination by the
committee have been Incorrect, one-sded aud
half malicious representations OF hun turolshed
10 renorters by The counsel of the committee,
for which the committee themselves are not
RESPONSIBLE The latter have grave case on
their hands and are wise enough to acknOWl,
edge its gravity, but their counsel are full OF
tricks aud stratagems TO belittle and dlstort IT,
Thew will 10 the end be the TWO worst beaten
attorneys who ever conducted case. They
have made hideous bunder in divertlDg their
examination from the facts at issue into an IN
uirv into the names aud characters of his lii
,nn's) female acuuaiutances. This gives HIN
the right to institute counter inquiry INTO the
standing of the ladies of Mr. Beechers ac-
ouaintance. He informed the committee yes
terday that he deprecated such plan OF battle
but if forced upon him by the committee s
counsel he could draw a sword with two edges
| to their one. If this new aspect is to charac-
terlze the remainder OF the controversy, IL
would be better tor Bcecher If he had never
| been born.
Replying to the statement printed 10 this
mornings papers that he told the committee
he had no other evidence of Bcechcr' adultery
except what Mrs. Tilton told him, IlIton said
TO the reporter | wish you could do me the
favor to say that though have hitherto de-
cliued bciug interviewed CONCERNING my appear
ancc before the committee and have steadiaSlly
| remained silent concerning the proceedings IN
the committee, yet the above report, coming as
! il does from the committees counsel, Is an a0-
solu,e fabrication. | told the committee dis
timely tina, Mr.. Beecher has confessed his
adultery to me: that he had confessed 1t to
Mr.. MouIton; that he had confessed 1t TO other
persous Won 7 uamed; aud furthermore, L
gave the namcs of several person who tor the
last four years have been perfectly Well aware
that Mr.. Moullon's cutlre connection With this
case from beginning to end, has been based on
the one and only cornerstone Of Mr.. Beecher $
criT,inaIily | asked that all these persons be
produced before the comnltee. l asked, lur-
thcrnore, for the privilege Of being present to
cross-examine Mr.. Beccher and the other wit.
nesses. still further suggested that the case
had coule to be OF such magnitude that 1t would
be better Tor the committee to DISMISS TINS 10
formal examination 10 which no one but my
self has thus far spoken under oath, and ad-
juurn TO meet in court. | expressed Wiling
ness to be sued for libel or to be put In any
other way before tribunal which could com
| pei witnesses to testify under oath, aud which
cnud punish PERJURY with the States prison.
If this case, with all the facts which lie behind
il, revealed or unrevcaed, were now before a
Criminal Court instead of voluntary commit
tee, aud If Mr. BvcchcrS printed statement
had been made under OATH subject to cross
questioning and overthrow, he would indeed be
cumreled to "Step down and out" feel at
liberty to speak freely because Mr. Bcechcr 5
counsel have inisliied me To the world, and
have no recourse but 10 snte them III the lace.
The Becclcr Examining Committee resumed
their session this evening al the residence OF
Mr.. Augustus Stnrrs Brooklyn. Mrs. Owing
ton was cxumincd at some length with refer
eucc to statements by Mrs. Tllton to her aud
her husband. The committee refused al! H.
formation relating to the investigation.
Mrs. Victoria Woodruff has arrived. She
declares that the statement attributed TO her IN
regard to her relations with Mr. llton Is abso-
iutely without foundation. She says she will re-
serve what she has TO say Oh the Bcecher Til
ton matters until both parties have exhausted
themselves
The New York Tribune Of yesterday gives
the following in regard to the cross exaulluatlOn
of Mr.. Tiltou:
The several examinations Of Mr.. Tilton be-
fore the committee have been OF very search
ing character. One Of the committee states
that the intention was to make 10th Mr., Ill
lou aud Mr.. Bcechcr's verbal explanations as
full and complete as possible, and that Mr..
| Bcecher would be subjected to more rigorous
examination than Mr.. TiIlon had been. 10
fact Mr.. Bccchcr has been informed that he
mus, prepare himself for severe ordeal, as
not only the charges in Mr. 'Fton's statements,
but his insinuations 10 his cross-cxaminaton,
would be inquired into The regulations OF
both men are to be thoroughly investigated
| The committee informed Mr.. Tllton of this
on his first appearance before them, aud under
| singular circumstances.
| On his first appearance before the committee
| he made the proposition that if Mr.. Beecher
would leave the pulpit and his sacred office, he
| (Mr. Tilton) would submit a statement justify
ing him and setting all scandal at rest. The
committee laughed at the proposition, aud
Mr. Titon was provoked iuto abiding to Mr..
Bcecher as a coward. Mr. Sage, chairman of
the committee, replied at once, "Whatever MIR.
| Bcccher may be, sir, this committee is not
| composed of towards. 1t intends to go to the
| bottom Of this matter, aud somebody will be
! hurt" 1t Is believed that In the hope that
| Beecher would accept this offer, Tilton wrote
the statement referred to by Mrs TiIton as
| having been acceptable to her and as being
Fad TO Mr.. and Mrs. Oviuglon.
Subsequent eXamluatlIuS OF Mr.. lt0n we're
intended by Mr.. Tracy, the lawyer Of the COM
mittee, to break down his statement as to the
character of his ideal home before MIR. Beecher
invaded it, and his own course Of life for years
previous to the alleged iu6dety Of his wife.
He was asked concerning his alleged intimacy
with tnur other women than Mrs. Victoria e.
Woodruff. These we're named to him, but it
is only proper to state publicly that they were
represented to be lecturers and advocates Of
various reforms for women. Mr.. Tilton was
furious at being asked these Insulting ques
tous, except ID one instance where Mr.. Tracy
knew he was not guilty. This question Mr..
Tlton answered with great grace by an explicit
denial; but in every instance where the lawyer
had evidence of the alleged intdelity, it was
confirmed by Mr.. Tiltop's falling into a rage.
Among other questions, MIR. Tracy asked if
Mr.. Tiou's Intimacy with public lecturers,
speakers and women's rights rcformers
OF the gentle sex had not greatly disturbed the
peace of his home. He answered 20, yes;