Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-25
THE BEECHER.rILTON FIGHT.
Account Of Ttlton's Gross Examina


The New York Times Of yesterday, in an sc-
count OF the cross examination OF TIlt0n bv the
Plymouth Church committee, says; HE fell
into Gen. Tracy's hands, and questions Of
very ugly nature were put 20 him, 90 some OF
which he replied in manner indicating tor
tured mind. On the previous day, As noted
elsewhere, the General, counsel for Mr..
Beecher, felt il his duty TO examine, or rather
cross examine, Mr.. TiltOn in reference 10 his
previous life, 80 far as his moral character wss
concerned, and the replies showed that counsel
had touched q very sore spot. Mr.. Tilton, BY
wsy OF regulation, threatened that, IL that line
Ct cross examination was continued, he should
nshtiOn matters which would not be pleasant
10 ar. Beecher or his friencs. Gen. Tracy, how
ever, persevered with his questions, but the
witness considered them ''insulting," and de.
clined TO answer. he General next put several
questions relating to alleged scts of immortality
| on the part of Mr. Triton, and asked II he had
not brought certain women TO his house in
Livingston street in the absence Of his wife
| Counsel said he put these questions as IL was
essential TO know what kind Of home he had
made for Mrs. Tllton before Mr.. Beecher had,
according 10 his allegations, corrupted her
| and ruined that home. Mr.. Tilton. however,
refused 70 answer these questions.
Gen. Tracy next asked n MIR. Tilton's intipnscy
with public women had not greatly disturbed
| Mrs. Ttlton, and made her hte unhappy Mr.
Tilton here became quite indignant, aud turn
| ing TO counsel said: what do you mean, sir,
| to talk TO me OF public women"
| A Member of the COmmittee-Mr. TitOn, Mr..
Tracy does not mean pubic women in al odIous
II
Mr.. Tilton-O, yes, Elizabeth Was very mu %
| annoyed that ever should associate with such
| persons. She said they were not sound in tkeol-
ogy; they were heretics, and exercised bad in
| fiuence on me. She talked very much about
4 1t, and always opposed 1t. One great grievance
of my wife was that i was not q minister.
| thank God am not clergyman. 1 despise the
/ Church. 1 despise creeds. Not but that am
| religious man. 4 love God, but 1 despise the
| Church. saw the cowardice OF the Church 10
1 the great antI-slAvery fight, and il has ALWAYS
been false. But Elizabeth has always had a
| reverence for the Church, and she has been
| greatly disturbed because i could not receive
| the doctrine OF the Lord. IL is q sort of key
stone to her whole faith that Christ is divine,
and my refusal to believe IL has been the sub
/ ject of many conversations and many OF her
prayers. She spends whole hours on her knees
1 in prayer. A whittier -ouIed woman doss not
/ live to- day than Elizabeth Tilt0n.
| Mr.. Tracy-Have you any evidence OF Mr..
Beecher's adultery except Whist you say your
| wife told you?
| MIR. Tilton-I have not.
Yesterday the line OF examination indicated
1 was resumed, and certain letters which were
not forthcoming on Wednesday were submitted
/ by MIR. 1ilton. The most important OF the
| documents, however, have not been produced,
but il If said that Mr.. MOulton will submit them
| TO day before the committee. Mr.. TiltOn was
| in close conversation with him yesterday morn
/ ing, and II wss rumored that Moulton would
| "stsnd by his friend" Tilton's cross-examina-
| ton was completed yesterday afternoon.
| TILToS DENIES THE TRUTH OF THE ABOVE AND
sAYs BEKCHER CONFESSED HIS GUILT.
/ lUe yesterday afternoon
publishes supplementary statement from Mr.
Tilton, in the fOrpI of an Interview with one OF
its reporters, in which Tilton says:
| All accounts Of his cross-examination by the
/ committee have been incorrect, one-sided and
| half malicious representations of him, fur
| nished TO the reporters by the counsel OF the
| committee, for which the committee them
| selves are not responsible. The latter have
/ grave case on their hands and are wise enough
| 10 acknowledge its gravity; but their counsel
are full OF tricks ana strategems to belIttle and
Il 'hGU mil in "a and - r,saFs -
worst beaten attorneys who ever conducted a
case. They have made a hideous blunder in
| diyerting their examination from the facts at
1 issue into an inquiry into names and chsrac-
| tiers OF his (,fIltons) female acquaintances
Thu gives him the right to institute the cOunte
inquiry into the standing of ladies OF Mr.
| BeecheT's acquaintance. He informed the com
| mttee yesterday that he deprecated such
/ plan Of battle. but il forced upon him by the
1 committees counsel he could draw a sword with
1 two edges TO their one. IL this new aspect il 10
| characterize the remainder of the controversy
| Ii would be better for Beecher that he had never
| been born. Replying 20 the statement printed
committee he had no other evidence OF Beech
| er's adultery except what Mrs. Tilton told him,
i Tllton said TO the reporter, - wish you wou0
do me the favor TO say, though have hitherto
declined being interviewed concerning my Rp-
pearsDce before the committee and have stead
tasty remained silent concerning the proceed
ings in the committee, yet the above report
coming, as IL Goes, from the committees cOun-
sci, is an absolute fabrication. l told the COM
| mittee distinctly that Mr.. Beeeher had confessed
| his adultery TO me; that he had confessed ii to
| MI Moulton; tb at he had confessed IL TO Otn Ell
persons whom L named; and, furthermore,
gave the names of several persons who, for the
| last four years, have been perfectly well
| aware that Mr.. Moulton's entire conaec-
ton with this case from beginning TO
| end has been based on the one ana
only corner stone OF Mr.. Beecher's criminslity.
4 i asked that all those persons be produced be-
| fore the committee; 4 asked, furthermore, Tor
| the privilege OF being present TO cross examine
Mr.. Beecher and the other witnesses. 1 still
| further suggested that the case had come TO be
| OF such magnitude that it would be better for
| the committee 10 dismiss this informal invest
| cation, in which no one but myself has thus far
| spoken under oath, and adjourn 70 meet IN
1 court. expressed a willingness to be sued FOR
| libel, or to be put In any other way before q
| tribunal which could compel witnesses TO tes
/ tify under oath, and which could punish per-
/ jury with the Sate prison. "If this case will
| all the facts which lie behind it, revealed aud
| unrevesled, were now before q criminal court
| Beechers printed statement had been made
| under oath, subject to cross-questioning and
overthrow, he would indeed be compelled TO
4 step down and out. L feel at liberty 70 sneak
freely because Mr. Beecher's counsel have falsi-
l fed me 10 the weird, and have no recourse but
1 to smite them In the face"
THE EXAMINATION CONTINUED.
The Beecher examining committee resumed
their session yesterday, al the residence OF Mr..
A. Storrs, in Brooklyn. Mrs OEington WAS ex-
amined at some length with reference 70 the
| statements made by Mrs. Tiltou to her husband.
| The committee refused all information relative
to the investigation,
NO DIVORCE SOUGHT By MRS. TILroN.
/ The New York Times SAWS: Ii was stated yes-
| terday that Mrs. TIlton had, through her law
yer, Instituted legal proceedings with . view OF
obtaining a divorce from her husband. Gen.
/ Tracy informed Times reporter that there
/ was no truth whatever IN the statement Mrs
Tilton has announced her determD stion OF
living apart from her husband in the future.
but the legal formalties necessary TO the act of
Il separation have not vet been completed.
WRECK OF AN OCEAN STEAMER The
steamship City of Guatemala struck on the
northeast point OF Walliuge island on Thurs
day, the 10th instant, at midnight, being sir
days out from New York. immediately after
striking the crew commenced throwing over
board the cargo, which was continued until
O'Clock, when the engineer reported the steam
ship broken, and the vessel bilged In about two
hours after striking, with nine feet OF water in
ii The hnld 1har ara a hal fzrnh aa nr.s