Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-15
Beecher Cross-Examined.

The following are abstracts from Beechers
cross examination by Mr.. Sage:-
Q. When..was this interview with the pis-
A. The first was at Moulton's house, Dec.
Both, and the next at my own the next day.
threatening interview.
Q. Did you consider the interview at
Moulton's threatening interview? | have
heard that the door was locked.
A. That is stated in my statement.
q. What was your impression from that
act of locking the door?
A. l did not think anything al it nor
care snap. only remembers after
ward. His family were away visi and the
family was alone for several days II iwhen
he came in he not only locked t door but
took the key out and put it in his pocket. l
must have noticed it or it would not have
come to my memory. He said something
about not being interrupted in any way. l
think the servant girl was in the house.
q. Then MIR. Tilton locked the door when
you went into the room with him?
A. Not that l remember.
Q. Did Mr.. Tilton at that time make any
charge of adultery?
A. No sir.
Q. What was Moultons manner at that
time when he demanded retractions of Mrs.
Tilton's threatening?
A. l should describe it as one of intense
excitement.
G. Did he impress you with any sense of
personal danger?
A. No sir.
q. Was it the result Of that evenings con-
versaton and full and free expression from
you, that he came to be your confdant and
that he seemed to sympathize with you?
A. No sir; that was the result probably
of some months intercourse.
q. Ii you used the words "IIe would have
been better man in my circumstances than
| have been,' what did you mean by them?
A. do not know, am sure.
z. An anonymous letter to the committee
from Free Lover says you have a reserva
ton in your philosophy which would enable
you to say 81 had no wrong conduct er rela-
ton with Mrs. Tilton," having in your own
mind belief that what you are charged with
doing was right. What are your ideas on
this subject!
Answer-I am not versed in the philosophy
OF Free Love. | stand on the New England
doctrine in which was brought up, that it
is best for a man to have one wife and that he
stay by her, and that he do not NEEDLE with
his neighbors' wives. l abhor every manifes-
tation of the Free Love doctrine that l have
seen in the theory and every advocate of it
that have known.
Did you ever know any body who took hold
of it seriously who was not ruined by it.
A. No sir, provided they were susceptible
of ruin.
Q. You speak of having sent Mrs. Tilton
a copy of books. Was that an act of courte-
sey especially to her?
A. No; l gave them out to friends. When
one book would come out would give a copy
to friend, and so on. l have not been a
large distributor of my own books, only in
cases where it would be real pleasure, and
from an intimator that it would be so.
q. Are you clear in your recollection that
you never met the Woodhulls more than three
times?
A. am perfectly clnar-that is, to speak
to them.
Q. State the times and places.
A. On one occasion l was walking with
Mr.. Moulton in the general direction of Mr..
Titon's house, when he said that Mrs. Wood
hull was going to be there. at first hesitat
ed and he said, "Come in and just see her."
| said Every well" went in, and after some
conversation down in the parlors, l went up
stairs into this famous boudoir room where
she srt waiting, and like spider to fly she
rushed to meet me on my entrance and reach
ed out both her hands with the utmost ear
nestness, and said how glad she was to see ME.
talked with her about five niinutes, and
then went down stairs. My second interview
with her was on one occasion when had
been with some twenty or thirty gentlemen to
look at the warehouse establishment of
Woodruff { Robinson. We were on board
the steamer that had been chartered for the
occasion, and when l came up Meulton said
''come with me to town." He never told me
there was to be any company. When came
there learned there was to be something in
New York in the evening, and that there were
number of literary ladies, among whom was
Mrs. Woodruff. was placed at the h, ad of
the table near Mrs. Moulton, think on her
left. Mrs. Woodruff was next to me, or else
she was first and l was next, do not remem