The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-06-02
THE SCANDAL.


the false accusation he had endesvored 10 lay
before the jury the situation of the parties as
disclosed by their conduct and character, 81
that they could better be able to form a Iuog,,
ment, and he did not know that he had omltteu
nything essential. 1t appeared that In tne
that took place after ms WIG
fight from Tilton, Beecher referred Bowen 10
his (Beecher's) wife as either correspondent
Of Mrs. Tilton regarding these troubles, or as
depository of letters received from Mrs. Tllton.
1t had been ATTEMPTED to be insinuated that tne
relations between Beecher and Mrs. Illton were
such as to exclude knowledge OF them from
Mrs. Beecher. Yet on the cross examination
of Beecher it appeared that there were some OF
Mrs. TIlton's letters to him antecedent to LIE.
cember 1870, which were in the possession OF
his wife, and the prosecution songht Tor no
such letters. But it was for Bowen to bring out
the fact that in December Beecher referred MIN
to Mrs Beecher as having received from MIS-
Tilton knowledge of the situation OF her lam
ily. Then there was at this time 90 reason TO
suspect any concealment or change of Beech-
er's household, SO that letters should nrst
pass through his hands.
He challenged any answer to these PROPOSE
lions: That in regard to these preliminary en-
uuiries the theory of the plaintiff is not only
pose on the jury through the forms OF law.
One was the flight of the wife from the home
of the plaintiff, and an attempt to receive alu
and protection. The second is as to the real
situation of Titon's business fortunes as they
stood at and before December Both: Mr.; Nor
ris in his opening laid down the rule in behalf
of the plaintiff for the jury and court that at
this tims Tllton's family had not been broken
up. Tilton's evidence was that his wltes hISnt
in December to her mother was not separa-
ration. The evidence is plain on Beechers
part and he is supported by Bessie Turner and
Bowen. 1t appears that in the middle of De-
cember 1870, an intimation came to Beecher
like thunderbolt out of a clear sky, of con-
tumely and cruelty on the part OF plalntiH 10
his wife, and that she had deserted him and
sought protection from her mother, and the
knowledge was conveyed by Bessie Turner as
well as a message to see the unhappy wife
Beecher went to see her and referred her to his
wife. Then Beecher and his wife went togeth
err and the latter had a private interview with
Mrs Tiltou. Then Deacon Bell was called IN
to CONSULT, and finally came Beecher's advice In
the shape of a slip handed to his. wife when
there was company in the house. Now Bowen
coming for witness for quite another purpose
shed flood of light on this subject. When
Beecher was relating to him the scapdaiS
about Tilton, he introduced confederation OF
imputations he had heard, declared to him what
was secret in the memory of Beecher. The
flight of the wife, appeal to him, examination
of their views and reference OF Bowen to Mrs.
Beecher as having large participation In the
matter, and views and opinions OF this clear
sighted and watchful woman, wero no doubt
correctly given to Bowen:
1t seems that Bowen, like Tilton, was one of
the men Mrs. Beecher had seen through and
discountenanced as a visitor at her house for
mapy wears, and he was reluctant to call on the
lady who had seen through him and made him
feel that she had; but Beecher urged him to go
and he had an opportunity to go and learn ev-
erything. Then Beecher fesorted to Bell, one
of the deacons, and laid before him the whole
situation, telling him what his wife advised,
but evidence as to what that was, was properly
excluded under the rules of evidence. But
finally they recalled Bell and went into the
complete proof of this entire evidence. that
they had at first excluded from the defence.
Bell then gave the whole statement in regard
to the state of affairs in Tilton's house as dis
closed by Beecher to him, and how Mrs. Tilton
had been at last obliged to fly from her house,
had consulted Mrs. Beecher, and that it was
considered advisable to call in members of the
church, and how Beecher proposed to hand
over the matter to Mrs. Beecher, and how the
question of separation came up as between Mr.
and Mrs Titon. (Here counsel read Bells
testimony on this point.) Counsel went on to
say the jury had touching narrative Of Mrs
Tilton's flight, leaving the house in her stock
ing feet aud putting on her boots outside, and
Bessie following with the children next morn
ing, then an interview with Beecher and con-
sullalion with Mrs. Beecher. They had Beech
er's memorandum to his wife, II incline to
think your view is right and that separation
aud settlement of support is best Now did
that impress itself on Titon as a grave inter-
ference in his affairs? Did he resent it as a
blow at the integrity of his household and fair
fame of his family that was to be punished?
1t was said the defence used grave words when
charging Tilton with conspiracy, but how did
Tilton use that interference with his family in
a letter of Mrs. Titon's which he brought to
DR.. Storrs in 1872? In that letter it will be
seen whether that separation was a phantom
or casual occurrence. In that letter he makes
his wife say 81 informed my husband that
Beecher had asked me to be his wife with all
that it implied. Six months after. impelled
by the circumstances surrounding him, my
husband felt impelled through a conspiracy
against him in which Mr.. and Mrs, Beecher
took part, to seek an interview with Beecher."
Now did Mrs. Tilton, when she fled from her
husband, do so in consequence of conspiracy
in which Mrs. Beecher had taken part? TltOn
gave Moulton letter in his wfe's handwriting
in which she is made to say ''He (Tilton) sac
rificed SO much since the conspiracy against
him begun two years ago." Tlton also states
that Mrs. Morse consulted lawyer about
separation of his wife from him, and sought
confederate in Mrs Beecher, in whom for eiev-
en- years he had relentless enemy. AS Mrs.
Beecher never received any courtesies from
him she never was deceived in him. Charles
Storrs, who ranked next to Moulton as friend
and confident, Jan. 2, 1871, was told by Tilton
that Beecher, Mrs. Beecher and Mrs. Morse
had been influencing his wife against him.
The proof was plenary, as the jury must see
that the flight of the wife and interference and
advice of Beecher were moving causes of Til
toms hatred and that the evidence of Storrs
was not contradcted by Tlton at all.
Tilton was removed from the editorship and
received contracts from Bowen IN lieu for tye
years. johnson, who was employed on the In
advised Bowen to see Tilten on the
subject of the stories about him, which he,
Bowen, bad heard Bowen had consulted with
his managing editor, johnson, about the
advisablity of severing Titon's connection
with the Independent, and johnson as a friend
advised Triton to see Bowen; and Tilten with
Johnson, on Christmas day went to see Bown
1t appeared that Bowen had heard no stories
about Tilton until he had deprived him of the
Tlton wanted the jury to believe
that when he had the interview of Dec. goth
with Beeoher he had no disaster and Beecher
had not stricken him in the livelihood of his
family and everything. There was need of
long observation on evidence. Tilton was
asked if after the interview with Bowen on the
9th he did not return to his house in distress
and exhibit it, and speak of being ruined. He
says no, and they wanted to prove he was worth
$35, 900 in the beginning of 1871, house lots,
share in the Tribune, farm in Ohio, ground
near Prospect Park. etc. /; but in the end it came
to this that he had about $4,000 deposited with
Woodruff, the town lots, farm house mort
gagged and the piece of land turned over 10
w OOQruu as duulIlODdl security TOT Inc mort
gage Of $500 on his house. There was no in
come from any of property, and from Jan. LIST,
1871, down to the present, except what he
might have picked up on his lecture tours, all
the money he has had and spent was the $4,000
that was in Woodruff & Robinson's hands,
$1,000 he got out of Bowen, in a way the jury
the money paid for Bessie Turner
1y Beecher and 5000 given him by Beecher
,or the Golden Age, except that Schultz, Rob
nson and others had made HIM contribution
If 81, 200 subscribed to the Golden Age by
hem and consumed. In Dec. 1870 Tilton was
out of the food that had come upon
lin, careless if he drowned his wife, if he saw
chance to save himself On the cross. exam
nation of Tilton it appeared that the war of
Elton and Bowen against Beecher did not
ome to his anticipations, and that all that hap
,ened between the joint actors was that when
Elton and Bowen met on the 9th, the day
.fter Christmas, Bowen, with face lvid with
age, shook his fist in Titon's face and said
If you ever disclose that l knew of that letter
which you wrote to Beecher and carried him, I
will cashier you." On his owe showing when
le went home that day did not Tilton feel
uined. The petard had been fixed by his en-
ineer and he had been fosted by it. He
uined. Counsel was not dealing with plain
itf on captions criticism of who best remem
ers dates and circumstances, bnt with the
roof that at every step he invents false, shall
ow and foolish pretences. From the evidence
{ his own witnesses as to what went on in that
ousehold during the three days subsequent,
here could be no doubt that he knew he was
uined and that it was necessary to cone
round the generous heart of Beecher, land that
which Tilton testified con-
tltuted Beecbers greatness.
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