The Portland daily press., 1874-08-11
Our New York Letter.
The Scandal-ClOsins Acts of the Brook
lyn Drama-A Trio of Conspirasors,
Tiiton, MouIton, RusIer.

New YORK, Aug. 10, 1874.
1t was no small trial to public patience that
the examination of Moulton should have been
postponed for couple of days, but there were
doubtless, good reasons for it. The last night
of the last day of the week is not an opportune
moment to enter upon line of inquiry that
must, in the ma ture of things, consume great
deal of time. On Monday the curtain " i'll rise
upon the last act of this portentous drama, and
a great community is waiting with breathless
concern for the denouement
The sharp letter which Mr.. Beecher wrote to
this enigmatical go-betweeD, demanding the
confidential letters he had addressed to him
shows that he has at last discovered the hollow
ness of the pretensons of friendship, Of which
Moulton has been prodigal, all the while that
he he's been plotting against him. The nso-
lent reply proves quite as clearly that the writ
er of it is aware that his disguise has been pen
etrated. He makes wretchedly lame expla-
nation of the mode in which Tilton became
possessed Of the fragments of private notes,
which are embodied in his accusation. The
idea of his having taken the words down in
short hand while they were being read to him,
is gauzy in the extreme. But the meanest par
agraph in this offensive epistle is the allusion
to Mrs. Hooker, the sister Of Mr.. Beecher. 1t
was utterly uncaled for in the first place, and
conveys wholly false impression, in the Sec
ond. All that Mrs. Hooker ever heard of the
scandal, was derived from Mrs. Woodruff, and
all that Mrs Woodruff knew of it came direct
ly from Tilton. If Mrs. Hooker, sane or in
sane, believed the allegations against her broth
er, it was solely because she was the dupe of
Mrs. Woodruff, and her biographer 1t Is gen.
orally known that Mrs. Hooker was at one
time eXtravagant in her laudations of the high
priestess of the order of free lovers. She re-
garded her as perfect embodiment of purity
and excellence. While she was leboring under
this strange hallucinatioh, any fiction emanat-
ing from that source would have been sure to
impose upon her credulity. Nobody knew
these things better than Mr.. Moulton, and that
is why it is impossible to account for his intro
duction of this eXtraneous topic without attrib-
uting to him the most malicious motives
There is one feature of this scandal, that can
not have failed to engage the attention of those
who have kept track of its details, and that is
that everything that has been said inculpatory
ton No matter what witness turns up, far or
near, male or female, each and all of them
tell merely what Mr.. Tilton has told them, or
told somebody else from whom they have re-
ceived it at second hand.
Gen. Buffers hand is percertible in Moul-
tons performances for tie last fortnight. His
absence, just at the time he was wanted, the
coucealment of his place of sojourn, his subse-
quent assumption that Mr.. Beecher's coiifiden-
tial notes were held by him subject to the joint
demand of the accuser ard the accused, all
these things are papably Butleran. Butler has
natural bent towards precisely the kind of
sensation, to which this scandal has given rise.
There is a game flavor about it that is exactly
to his liking. And then he and Moulton have
lately grown to be fast friends through congen-
ial tastes and mutual interests as counsel and
client. The firm of which Mr.. Moulton is a
partner, fell under the direful clutch of the re-
doubtable Jayne, of moety notoriety, upon ac.
cusations of frauds upon the revenue. Gen,
Butler, as everybody knows, was Jaynes legal
adviser. By one of those mysterious coinci-
dences which rarely happen except among
people who are prodigiously smart the case
was settled by the payment of FIFTY THOU.
SAND DOLLARS, and this exaction so far from
exciting the ire of the victims of it, against
Jayne and all his works. and still more against
Jaynes counsel, whose astuteness had helred
to force the extortion-resulted in establishing
the most cordial relations between the trio.
Probably Mr. Moulton and his partners felt
fully repaid for their loss by the knowledge it
brought them of that marvellous acumen which
could successfully manage both sides of a dis
pute aud dispose of SO as to give entire salts
faction all round. 1t cannot be denied but that
there was profound mystery about the whole
affair." and great deal of curious speculation
as to the basis Of the settlement. The entire
amount Of duties claimed, or alleged to
have been unintentionoNy withheld from tue
government, was $4500. Jayne was asked by
the committee of Congress under what code of
ethlcs he justified the taking of the extra S45. 800
ii'ph par''es wnom lie exoncrated from any de- |
sign to do wrong. His answer was cbaractar
lsIic IL hoG convincing. He said he had no |
scrupieS IN accepting whatever amount thew |
would Offer. So far as Jayne was concerned |
that explanation was conclusive. But os 70. |
lates t. Moulton's firm it must be confessed |
that there was still difficulty in discovering n,
what principle money penalty was voluntari.
ly rendered in expiation of an offense. which on
the co lcurrent admission of complainant and
defendant had never been perpetrated. But
perhaps it is asking too much to be made ac
luainted with the mode in which the inscruta
Die Butler makes crooked paths straight, and
evolves radiant light from pitchy darkness.
lie has arrived in town toIarranse the scenery
Ind set the properties for the closing act of the
brooklyn drama, and it will not be his fault If
lis protege is not thoroughly coached for the
'ccas'on, so as to produce startling effect.
Ahe friends OF Mr. Beecher anticipate that
'ioulton Will say and do his worst. Nothing
'u' a terror OF the execration which further
omphcity with Tilton is sure to bring upon
nm, be the issue what it may can restrain him.
10 is responsible for what has gone before.
10 could have prevented the original publica.