Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-08-04
THE HEECnER-TILTON SCANDAL.
rHE EXAMINATION OF MRS. TILToN

The long examination OF Mrs Tilton on Fri
day evening brought out full testimony on
several pciurs oi the first Importance The
following >uurl.ry The Trlnun" says, is as near
~ fu is it is possibIn to give TIL? story at pies
cDt,, and was obtained directly IRON the best
sources of infrmation The main Issues COW
cred IN the cross examieation of MIR Hilton were
gone over. and the unhappy history OF the
married life of Mr.. and Mrs. 1llton was LAID
hare in detail. The results Of this examination
are regarded by the Committee anu Dy Mr..
! Repchers counsel as extremely valuable, and
ms atfording satisfactory explanation OF the es-
| seutiaI features in the charges ot Mr. lllton.
So mncb was there 10 it to throw light on mat
ters hitherto doubtful Or in dispute that part
of the committee do not object to having the
testimony published immediately, but the SEES
sion on Friday evening was so protractcd that
the question Of giving the testimony TO the
press was not brought up
Mrs. Tllton made no written presentation OF
evidence, but for nearly three hours she was
engaged in answering questions put to, her,
Which went over all the reading incidents aud
assertions which have been brought out IN the
nropress of the case Throughout the exami-
natiou-wh;ch entered very fully luto the de-
rails Of her treatment from her husband, anu
into he part he had played during their mar
ried life-sbe preserved Il tone OF gentle con
sdcratiou for him, and the frequent ansWers,ln
Which she was obliged to represent uniavordbly
his character and actions, were evidently CIV
Gu with regret aud reluctance. The questioning
went back TO the beginning OF their marrleu
life in 1853. when Mr.. Tllton was only twenty
aud Mrs. Tliton seventeen years Of age.
Mis-. TiIton stated that it was evident years
nburu ATM
conduct ag .inst her that she had ceased to oc-
cupy the large place ia his heart which was due
10 her as his wife, and which she enjoyed III
the early part of her married life. About the
time Of the birth of her third child Mrs. Illtop
had long aud severe sickness, lasting from
April to September During that trying time
her husbaDd paid little attention to her, and
appeared cold and Indifferent. At this time
was first plainly apparent the lesseuiug Of
his affection for her. which was atterward
shown repeatedly in the most offensive
way. MIR. Triton seemed to feel that his wife
brought tiscredit upon him by her want OF
dignity aud nobility in appearance (she is very
small III fgure), aud to think that he missed
in her the breadth and depth of MUD which
be required for cungeulal sympathy. lie re-
marked to her repeatedly that their disparity In
size made them ridiculous when walking to-
. |
walking together they met very beautiful
woman, with whom Mr. TiIton was acquainted
lie bowed to her, and then turning to his wife
he said, in most cutting way, Il give $500
tins moment if you were not on my arm" Ou
another occasion, when the husband aud wife
were present at social gathering, TO which
Ca NE several persons whose company Mr.. Til
ton desired aud with whom he wished TO stand
well, he SAID iercey to Mrs. T,on, Il don t
want you 10 come near ME at all this evening.
But sorer trial to Mrs. Tllton than even such
rcmarke like these were Mr. Tilton'S avowuls of
his changed feelings concerning the obligation
of the marriage VOW She said that Mr.. Til
ton told her repeatedly that at any time dur
lug his absence from home upon leeturDg
tours, he would have 20 hesitation in violating
his marriage vows, if so disposed, although he
had not then charged her with any offence.
He said only that his views of the marriage
relation bad changed, and he 20 longer felt
their obligations 1t was remarked by the
persons giving this information Of Mrs: Tilton's
testimony, that on this point 1T is in harmony
with the declarations OF Mr. Titon himself be-
fore the committee.
She said that Mr. Tlton also outraged her
feelings by forcing upon her the company of
persons for whose principles and the manner of
of her remonstrances he brought the Woodruff
sisters to his home. Mrs Titon showed them
that their presence was unwelcomc, and when
they disrcgarded this she gave them a hint
that she wished them to 60. Even this did not
dislodge them, and Mrs TiIton declared that,
having found all other meauS unavalllng, she
was compelled 10 announce her determination
to send for the police and have them removed.
Hearing that the officers were coming, the
Woodhulls finally departed.
In recent years Mr.. Tilton's treatment of his
wife, according to her testimony Of Friday
evening, has been marked by frequent violence
of word and occasional violence of action Sew
craI tunes after the date of his alleged discov
cry OF improper relations between herself and
Mr. Bccchcr, Mr.. Tilton locked his wife in her
room aud berated her 10 the strongest language,
accusing her of violation of her marriage vow,
not only with Mr. Beccher, but with four or
five other men, whose names were unheslta-
tingly given to the committee by Mrs. Hilton.
| 1t has been learned that another witness, whose
testimony is considered Of great value, had tes-
| tilted before the com mittee to the same fact,
that Mr.. Tilton had included other men besides
Mr.. Beecher in his charges Of adultery with
his wife. ,.
Mrs. Tilton also testified that Mr. Tilton's
violence was not always bouaded by words on
lly. On one occasion, wheo5he vas in wild
I tit of rage, he braDdisied his fist before her
face so closely that she felt sure be was about
to Strike her. So also thought another person,
young woman who was III the room. She
rushed 10 between them to prevent Mr.. Tion's
striking his wife as she f. AIRED and received
such blow from his ceuched hand that she
| fell to the floor, striking her head upon the
sidepost Of the parlor door as she fell, and re-
ceivlug severe bruisc. The testimony of Mrs
TiIton concerning this scene agrees with that
given by the lady witness who appeared before
the committee on Tuesday eYeuug and whose
identity has SO puzzled the reporters who sty
ed her the ''veiled lady, This witness had
for years the best opportunity for Observing the
PROGRESS Of events 10 the 1ilton family, and
her testimony was considered to be of great
weight
Mrs. Tiltons testimony in regard to the
| Eno ul adu 10 Miss Authony uane2 If rho hlo