Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-20

! consistently retain him on the Brooklyn TEz0n-
/ or a chief contributor 10 the IHdepsHdeEt He
narrated the story OF an affair at Winsted Conn
! some like stories from the Northwest. and rbe
charges brought against III, on III his own Office
Witfout doubt he believed these allegations. and
50 did l. The other facts previously stated 10
me seemed = full confederation We cOuyurs cd
for some time Mr.. Bowen wishing nv opinion
Il was frankly given. l Glu not how he
could maintain former relations with 1Ir TiI+n1
The substance of the full conversation was tb,+
TfIton-s iuOrdiuaTe vanity. his fatal facility for
blunGeriug. for which he had genius and The
gSteuratiOus independence IN his own opinions
and general Observation-Disclosures would keen INC
TuiyH a. disagreement with the political
party for whose service II was published aId
now. added 10 ali the revelations OF these ,,r,-
miscUous immoraAiieS. would make his CON
nectfon with either paper fatal 10 lis interests
| 7 spoke strongly and emphatically under The
GREAT proyocation OF his threatenipg ~
nr and the revelation I hsd ir-- r,sd
concerning his domestic affairs Mr. Bowen
Gerided he letter ot IiIton's, which he
trouble came of II l might rely on bi- fr;,.gd
shin I learned attcrwarG. ii further ,.,I,rr,.
ending in TiltOns pcEenptory expulsion from
BOweu's service. this conversation was tod 10
Mr Tii.0u. ! believe that Bowen had an inter
4icw and received some further infnrIl,s-
lion about Air. Tiiton from my wife to
doubt that Nr. Il'on would have I0s1
his place AT any raie, l have also no
douDt tuat my influence was decisiv, and
prccipitared his final overthrow when I
came 10 fuiul, il All over, felt very uDbaI,1L ~
the contemplation Of Mr. TiIton.s i1,IrpI q.
disaster | had loved him much and ~ ,,r.7.
time d. seemed like son To- me Ny Influence
had come just at Inc il!nc II his first uuiuldiag
and had much TO do with III carly degeIopn-Iif
I had aided him externally to bring him before
the public We had been together in thn GREAT
controversies 81 Inc day, until afferward our
social intercourse had been intimate 1t j. +rue
that his nature always exaggerated his own cx-
ceIlences. but as 4 boy he looked ND TO me with
attectunate admiration. After some wears he
q a. Z Il Fvv,y- a,y l Il AZ.
bic. and when ne had outgrOWn me and reached
the position OF the first man Of the aoe h, iii
was kind and patroniZlng | had always smiled
at these weaknesses OF vanity and had believed
that with larger experience, some knocks aIrouc
strong men, and by SORROWS that temper tb,. Sou
he would vet fulfill useful and brilliant career
But no~ all looked dark. He was 10 be cast forth
from his eminent position. and his affairs did not
promise that sympathy and strength which n akes
ones house a. mine has been in times Of nd
vcrsiJy, rcfage from the STORM and u tower Of
defense.
Besides a generous suffering | should have had
d selfish reason for such il had recalled that
was about to become al instrument by which Mr.
Tilton meant 10 fight his way back to the pros
perty which he had forfeited. 1t now alyTtars
that on the 2gh OF December, 1870 Mr. f'ilron.
having learned that had replied to his threaten
ing letter hv expressing such an opinion q TO
set Mr., Bowen finally against him, and bring him
face 10 face with immediate ruin, extorted from
his vile, then suffering from q severe illness. 4
document eliminating me, and prepared an eiab-
crate attack upon me. On Tuesday evening
December 1870. about { O'Clock Francis D
huultOn called nj my house, and with intense
eagrrugsS said: II wish You to 20 with me to
see Mr.. TinOu." | replied that could HUt then.
as was lust going to my praycr-mccting. With
the most positive manner he said: You must
90. Somebody else will take care Of the meet
ing." / went with him, not knowing what
trouble had agitatcd him, but vaguely thinking
that | might now learn the solution ui
the recent threatening letter On the
way asked what was the reason of
Wis a hp cd Mr.
Titou would inform me, words to that
effect On entering his house Mr. Muulton
locked the door, saying something about not BE-
ing interrupted. He requested me to go into the
front chamber, over the paTlor. / was under the
impression that Mr.. Titon was going TO poHr ont
upon me his anger for col!eaguing with Bowen.
and for the advice OF separation given to his wife.
| wished Mr.. MoultOn 10 be with as n witness.
but he insisted that | should 80 bv myself. Mr..
Tlton received me coldly but calmly. After q
word or two. standing Iii front OF me with mem
Orandum in his hand, he began an Grafton. lie
declared in al Untrcndly spirit that | had sought
his downtall 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. He
then declared that had injared him in his fami-
" relations; had joined with his muthCr-iu-}Hw
in producing discord III his house; had advised a
separation; had alicnatcd his wifc's affections
from him; had led her to love re more
than any other being; had corrupted her
moral nature and taught her 10 be iuSiuc,.rr X
ing. and hvpOCritiCa. 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 to
bully me; but with the last charge he produced
a paper, purportiug to be certified statement Of
previous confession made 10 him by his wife OF
her love for me and that had made proposals 10
her Of an improper nature. lie said that This CON
tesson 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 existence; that lie had burned the original
and should now DESTROY the only copy. ard he
then tore the paper into small pieces. If had
been shocked ut such n statement, was abso-
lutely thunderstruCk when he closed the IN
tervew by requesting me to repair at once to MS
house, where he said Elizabeth was waiting Tor
me, and learn from her lips the truth OF his
stories in so far as they concerned her This fell
| like thunderbOlt on me. Could 1t be possible
! that his wife, whom | regarded as the type OF
moral goodness. should have made such false and
atrOCiOus statements2 And yet If she had not
| how would he dare to send me to her Tor con-
! frmation of his charges? | went forth like .
sleep-walker, while The clouds were flying IN the
| sky. There had been a snow-storm, when was
/ breaking away. The winds were ont and whistling
! through leafcss trees but all this was peace
! compared to the mood within believe that
! Mouton went with me TO the door of Iilton :
! house. The housckeeper, the same woman OF
| whom Mrs. Tilton had complained. seemed to
! have been instructed by him. for she evidently
! expected me and showed me at once TO Mrs i IL
| tons room Mrs Tilton lay upon her bed, white
! as marble, with closed eyes as III d trance ana
| with her hands upon her bosom. pam TO PAIN
| 1
4 picture IS like some form carved IN marble that
! 1 had seen upon monuments IN Europe Shc
| made no motion, and gave no sign Oh
/ recognition OF my presence: l Sat Gown near
| her and said: Elizabeth, Theodore mas been
! making very serious charges against me and
! sends me to you for confirmation She made no
reply or sign yet i was PLAN th1t she was con
! sclous and listening. | repeated some ol ms
J statements: that | had brought dlscofG 10 me
| family; had alicnatcd her from him; mad sought
10 break up the family, aud usurped ms ihiluehce
| q, I
| said thar l made improper suggestions TO her ana
that she had admitted this fact to MN last July.
| l said, Elizabeth, have you maze stch Hla e
| ment to him." She made no answer. L repeat
ed the question Tears ran down her checks
| and she very slightly bowed her head IN acquleS-
| cence. said, : You cannot mean thdt you nave
! stated all he has Charged she Opeheu hef e.
| and began in SLOW and feeble way 10 explain
how sick she had been; hew wearled Out Win iEt
! portunity; that he had confessed ms Own anc!
loves. and said that he could not Dear 10 jAll!>
! that she was better than he; that she might WIZ
| him to reformation il she would confess That shG
| had loved me more than him, ana that they "uud
| repent and 20 on with iuture cohcoFu' cannon
! uiye her LANGUAGE bui only the tenor OF her rep
| RESERVATIONS. / received them lmpatlehtE ]
! spoke to her. in the strongest language. OF hcl
! course. said 10 her: e have l ever made any
! imrroprr advances 10 vou.' She said M
/ Then asked: " Why did you say 20 10 Your nus
! band >" She seemed deeply distressed. Ny
trIenC thy that designation she almost always
/ called mel, ain sorry. but could NOT heip II
/ Nhat can CoE' | told her she cou!u stare III
| writing what she Lad now told ne Sne bcc%onet
Tor her writing materials. Which / hauucu heI
| from her secretary standing near by, ana she "a
up in bed ana wrote a bIic1 counter-Siatemcnt.
In sort of postscript She denied explicitly
that had ever offered any improper HohCltailoi
| to her, that being the only charge maui. aS1IA>
| ne by Mr. Titpl. or sustained by the Sta;eIy EN-
! about the confession which ne had read to me-
dreamed ot no worse charge at jhat tlme-lha
| MAS horrible enough The mere thoUgnI thal NJ
| could make ii. ana could have extortcQ any cEl
/ dcuCc on which 10 base II. WAS enough 10 taEI