Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1875-04-15


the husband to find it out when
he got the confession she told
me that she had been wearied
with opportunities, but / did not know
what to think of these charges; had
no desire then to vindicate myself
against these charges to Triton did
not have any interview with him next
day, nor did l seek one; / am not posi-
tive / said to her that the retraction
should be in writing, as the charges
were in writing before writing this
letter, she admitted the charges were
not true up to the time of charges in
Moulton's house was never aware of
| any undue affection from Mrs. Tilton
| towards me; Tilton was the only per-
| son that / recall who made this charge,
| and Mrs. Tilton denied it orally and in
writing to me. Witness was here asked
if he believed, then, that Mrs. Tilton
had an undue affection for him, and he
| replied was in state of perplexity
and not of belief. Fullerton pressed
this question two or three times, but re-
ceived only this answer, with the addi-
ton: l fluctuated between belief and
unbelief. Witness then said At times
l thought she had told her husband
these charges, and again | was under
the conviction that she had not l
| thought she was a pure and exalted
woman, and truthful in every way !;
when | got the retraction letter went
to MoultOn's, and then went home |
had come to no final decision as to what
my opinion of these charges were, and
why they were made by Tilton; / can
only answer yes or no when / am asked
if her statement that she had been i'm
pOrtuned to make these charges, did not
convince me that the charges were false;
l did not know that Mouiton was made
aware Of these charges; so far as Moul-
toms knowledge about it was con-
cerned, it was as if he never had been
created; l did not promise Mrs. Tilton
when ! got the letter that | would not
show it to her husband, but promised
not to use it against her husband sne
did not explain in what way the paper
could be used against her husband she
said something about it, but l did not
enter into any prolonged discussion on
the subject; | do not remember what it
was; | told her it was for nay own self
defence, to be used in case any contiu-
gency should arise In the church that
would require 1t.
After the recess, General Pryor, of
the. counsel for plaintiff, and General
Tracy, of the defense, were present. A
few minutes after o'clock Mr.. Beecher
resumed his place In the witness chair,
and testified. After [ got this retrac-
ton from Mrs. Tilton l showed it to no
person before l gave it to Mr.. Moulton,
nor did | show ii to any person. Fuller
ton read q portion of the direct testi-
mony in regard to this Interview, In
WHICH MOnlton took off his overcoat and
exposed a pistol, which he took out and
laid on the bureau. Witness said this is
/ the interview as now remember 1t /
| saw the pistol when he took II out aud
laid il ON the bureau, but before that l
| saw the hilt of: 1t when he laid his over
coat on the bed and talked with me /
| did not think Il extraordinary that he
| should take off his oyercoat or pull out
| his pistol he. did not make amy threat /;
I tnougrt he toOk II ont for Intimidation
and think so now; | did not regard
the presentation of the pistol in any hos
tile light by his manner When made
( nay Published statement did not mean
| to infer that he made any threats against
me / do not remember that I intended
any such Inference should be drawn
from it | Intended in mentioning the
pistol scene, ia ray statement.to present
the spectacle as / saw ii this was on
Saturday night, and there was some ar
rangement that | should see Moulton the
next day | do not recall what object
was to be accomplished by meeting the
| next day; think he was to call in the
afternoon this was on Sunday; it was
not ia connection with any religious ex-
eTcise he came but for friendly confer
enee; Ii msy have been that Moulton
was 10 report 20 lie how TiIton received
the letter Of retraction but do not recoi-
lect the interview it took place at 3
o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday, the
1st of January, in the third story back
room; after the usual courtesies, Moul-
ton said the wisdom of his suggestion of
the night before had been shown by the
the manner in which TiltOn received the
letter of retraction; the conversation
turned on Tiiton's position and the way
be was suffering all around-on his re-
lstions 10 Bowen, and also on my rela-
tons 10 Bowen told him of nv con-
yersaiion with Bowen on the 96th inst;
he then said Bowen had been traitor
to both sides, and that neither IN regard
to intemperance or unehastity was TIL
ton guilty, and that he (Moulton) had
known him from boyhood he said Til
ton was now without occupation or sub
sistence, and then went into the troubles
of his family he then referred to per-
sonal stories about Tilt1nis chastity, and
said they were false; regretted having
believed these stories told me by Bowen
and Bessie Turner, and told him / had
been prepared for these statements by.
what Bessie Turner had told me told
him of Bessie Turner's stories to me,
and let nay feelings out to him / had
lent my ears to the Bowen stories, and
said to him that Tilton was tainted
man, and it would not be wise
to keep him on the Independent.
My advice to Bowen in regard
to the employment OF Tilton on the
Brooklyn Union was partly predicated
on what Mr. Bowen told nae. Mr..
Moulton convinced me, in SO far as the
reasons were moral, that Tilton was q
fit and proper man to be on the indie
pendent and Brooklyn Union. thought
Bessie Turner had told an untrue story,
and was satisfied that she had been mis-
+,lvo,, +bot tI,aya waa come foundation