The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-11

~ ~ q
continued Mr.. Moulton. it happens that
am here in time to testify, If my evidence
shall be requested in writing by both
Beecher and lrilton. He expressed regret
at the present situation, but said that the
affair mad now reached such pass that all
the facts must come out.
MRS. TILToN'S TESTIMONY.
A CURIOUS sTATEMENT-How SHE EXPLAINS
HER LETTERs-A CONFESSION THAT SHE HAS
LIED FIRST OR LAST.
New YORK, Aug. 3.-Mrs. Tilton's testi-
mony before the Plymouth Church inve> I'll
eating committee viii be published to-mor-
row. The following Is synopsis embracing
all that is of interest and not heretofore pub
lished. The examination begins with an
apparent purpose to sho~ that Tilton
neglected his wife from very early period
of their married life. Mrs. Tilton stated
that she was frequently sick, aud her physf-
clan said that there was care and trouble on
her mind which he could not cure with
medicine.
Question. What was the trouble in point
of fact?
A. Well, any one of you gentlemen,
think, would have cared for my family as
much as Theodore did. l was lett entirely
with my servants, and they were very poor
servants. I could not have my rnother with
me, because it was impossible for her to
live with US on account of a disagreement
with Mr.. Tslton. Tilton was dissatisfied
with his home, and with his pfe's manage
ment, anu was harsh in bis criticisms.
@. When did he begin to talk to you, il
at all, in regard to your association and
friendship for Mr.. Beecher?
A. / think / had no visits from Mr..
Beecher before 1866. That is the first that /
remember seeing him very much.
@. What was the criticism in regard TO
Beecher and yourself which Tilton made?
\ le Qar1v 1874 Mr. TiIt0u,a mind wa
tainted with suspicious of Mr.. Beecher, and
he used to talk with me continually about
his wrong doing with ladies, stories of which
we're told him by Mr.. (name not given.)
When Beecher came to see me, Mr.. Tilton
began to be suspicious, and that it might be
perfectly transparent to my husband with
respect 70 my interviews with Beecher alone,
L used to charge my mind with our conversa-
tons and repeat them to Mr.. Tilton.
Mrs. Tilton continued: She SAID
that she was continually questioned
by Tilton concerning these conversations in
most jealous manner. She was often told
with anger that she concealed something
that she did not mean to tell, and that she
lied. For three years she tried to repeat
everything that was said, but found TilSon
more suspicious than ever. He mad no con-
tidence in her and she suffered great deal.
This state of things lasts to the present day,
although she had not felt so badly for the
last two years. Tilton's criticisms upon her
ook the form of accusations. In the winter
of 1859, when he begun to assume that
she had done criminal wrong with
Beecher, she met the charges some
times with anger sometimes with cslSnness
or silence, but Invariably denied a criminal
intimacy. She had denied Il in letters to
Tilton, but these letters were lost. He
seemed to use all his influence TO make her
acknowledge wrong, and talked so much
of it that she thought him morbid. He told
in their parlor, and she replied:
''You did not, This morbid jealousy
had wearing and sickening effect on
her. he never named any definite time or
place of any criminal act with Beecher. He
never pretended that she was guilty of any
improperly at Beecher's house. She went
hero twice or thrice to consult with Beecher
about sick person. She never met him at
any other place by appointment. Tilton
never accused her of crimiuality based
upon any admission by her. 1t was
not true that he confessed in july 1870
any act of improperly with Beecher The
story of Catherine Gaunt she had not read
through when she wrote her Schoharie
letter. Being impressed with the story at a
certain point, she wrote the letter to her
husband. She had no reference to adultery,
or thought of it in that letter. MIS-. Tilton
and replied: 81 will try TO
answer that question. The one absorbing feel
ing of mywhole life has been Theodore Tiltou.
Neither Mr.. Beecher, / ass re you, nor any
numan being has ever taken away from me
| that one fact of my love for him, but must
say that / felt very great helpfulpess in
my own soul from having had the friendship
Vt Mr.. Beecher and also ofother people, a.
many women as men. On the subject of the
alleged confession by comparison with the
character of Catherine Cunt, Mrs. Tilton said
| that this confession was made in the summer
hut, nj r.
| gathered from ali their talks that summer
that she really found in Mr.. Beecher what
she did not find in her husband. She gave
| him that impression, but she told him that
il he would give to her what he gave to
others, she would probably find in him what
she found in Mr.. Beecher. When she spoke
of her sin in the Schoharie letter, she meant
| that she had done Triton a wrong by taking
anyone else in his place in any way, though
she did not know but that she would do the
same thing again, because it had been so
much help to her soul.
| @. Taking any one else in what espect?
A. do not think, ii 1 had known as
| much as do now of TiltoD, that should
/ ever have encouraged Mr.. Beecher's &C
quaintance. / think did wrong in doing
II, inasmuch as it hurt Theodore. do moi
know as can make myself understood, :. but
Go you know what mean when say that
was aroused in myself that | had a
self i. assertion which / never knew
before with Theodore? There was
always dsmper between me and Thee
dore. but there never was between me anC
MIR. Beecher. With Mr.. Beecher L had
sort of consciousness of icing more. He ap
preciated me as Theodore did not. / fel
myself another woman. 1 felt that he re
spected me. think Theodore never saw IL
me what Mr.. Beecher did.
: Mr.. Sage. Do you mean to say tina
Theodore put down self respect in you
while Mr.. Beecher lifted itup?
A. Yes. / never felt Bit of embarrass
ment with Mr.. Beecher, but to this day
never could sit down with Theodore withOu
being self conscious and feeling his sense O
my inequality with him. The witness sai'
the sin she spoke Of was nothing more thai
giving to another what was due to her hus
band, that which he did not bring out, no W
! ever. She did not feel now that Their