The Portland daily press., 1875-02-20
THE SCANDAL.
Mrs. Mention Testifies.

New YORK, Feb 19.-In the Tilton .Beecher
suit to-day, the wife of Francis d; Moulten was
called to the stand She testified, have been
in Plymouth church as COMMUNICATE since
1858. Mr. Beecher visited the. house at all
hours of the day, sometimes as often as two or
three day, to confer with Mr.. MOultOn and
sometimes with me. The first time he spoke
with me was tbi ok in the spring OF 1871.
had the first conversation with Mr.. Beecher
about a difficulty, the great sorrow in his life,
and replied that Frank had told me the story
and he said he was glad that there was one
woman with whom he could talk ON the sub
ject and who might give him sympathy. he
asked me the condition of Mr.. Tvs mind: it he
was angry, or could be kept quiet In June,
1873, Mr. Beecher had a conversation with me,
in which he expressed his fear that the letter
of confession would be published. He said
that Theodore was man not to be trusted
advised him to go to bis church for comfort ana
rely upon his congregation. He threate ned to
take his lfe and said there was no use of his
living any longer. L told him that Frank
would always be a friend to him, and he said
he was always afraid of Tilton's breaking out
with the whole story l saw him on the fol,
hopeful, He always spoke to me of Mrs. L.
and his great love for her. He asked me to
have great respect for her and to speak kindly
to her. ft.T .-FH LSty.f
L had conversation with Mrs. TiltOn, in
which she asked me to believe in him and go
back to the church, as he was not responsible
for the matter, but that she (Mrs Titon) was.
/ said I never would go back to the church, as
1 had lost all faith in him. had another con-
yersation with her, in which she said If the
matter came out she would sacrifice her hus-
band rather than Mr.. Beecher and her child
rem.
1 told Mr.. Beecher that Mrs. T. was saying
that she could not live with Mr. T., and he told
me to tell her to live with Theodore and make
his home happy for him; Mrs. L. told me ne
was continually referring to the sins she had
A letter from Mr.. Beecher to Mrs. Moulton,
enclosing one to Mr.. Moulton, dated June 1st
1873, was read by Mr.. Fullerton and placed in
evidence.
Witness continued: When told Mr.. Beech
er that Mrs Titon said she was to blame, he
replied that the sin was his and not Eliza
beth's. -s r-..-f...---.-t.
L was very much opposed to Mrs Woodhulls
coming to the house, but all the parties said
that it was for the best to keep the story quiet
L cannot tell how often Mrs. Woodruff came
to the house. My object in letting her come
was because she knew all the facts OF the case;
did not know anything about her then at
that time. She was threatening to publish
all she knew about the matter. | went to her
house on several occasions to bring her over
to my house with the same purpose in view.
Mr. Beecher came to our house on the 18th
of July, after the publication of the Bacon let
ter, and I asked him what had made him SO
angry with Frank, and he replied that he was
not angry with him. Frank read the state
ment be proposed to lay before the Investigate
ing committee to him, and he said it was per-
fectly honorable one. l said to him that he
would have been better off to have confessed
the matter when it occurred, but now he had
added to the original sin four years of perjury
and lying He said he was not afraid of Theo-
dore taking the case into the courts, as he had
lived with his wife afterwards and condoned
the offence; that he was not afraid OF any course
that Theodore would take in the courts and
would fight it ont to the end. Mr.. Beecher on
one occasion expressed regret at the sorrow and
suffering he had brought on Tlton's household
and argued that the woman was as much to
blame as the man in such case ~ .
l became acquainted with Mrs. Woodruff
either before or after her threat to publish the
scandel story. 1t was by Mr.. Moulton's or Mr.
Tlton's introduction that became acquainted
with her. 1 knew of her public reputation in
a general way. KNEW she was woman who
held a loose view with regard to marriage and
divorce. The only reason understood for her
coming to the house was TO talk over the mat
ter of keeping the story suppressed. do not
know how often she was at my house, but
think l was at her house three times. L went
because Mr.. Moulton was sick and wanted me
to 90. ! told Mr.. Beecher that had told Mr.
Lucrus p Robinson the story, and he had ex-
pressed his doubts to me as to something being
wrong with Mr.. Beecher in Plymouth Church;
that he had either misappropriated the funds
or had done something else which was not
right. When told Mr.. Beecher of Mr. Rob-
insons suspicious and that had told him the
whole story he said that was right. lt4s
Cross Examined by Evaris.
remember Mrs. Woodruff taking supper at
my house ON one occasion, and Mr.. Beecher was
there. do not know whether he was brought
by my husband or came by invitation. l don't
remember that on that Mrs Woodruff on that
occasion saluted each of us with kiss. L
think she kissed me. 1 first learned was to
be witness in the case after the first state
ment had appeared. learned it from my hus-
band, but it was not repeated by the subject OF
conversation between US. do not know that
was even requested that 1 should write out
what was to do or pay if called on as wit
ness. l never wrote out anything. nave
given the conversations here as they occurred
on all occasions with Mr.. Beecher. Remember
Mr. Beecher coming to the house one occasion
before his Friday night meeting, and SAID he
wanted to see the boy, meaning Mr.: Moulton,
for five or ten minutes before he could face ms
congregation, and waited until he saw Mr.
Moulton, | always saluted Mr.. Beecher in a
friendly manner, but on one occasion, when ne
spoke of his great sorrow and talked OF COM
uniting suicide with tears streaming down ms
cheeks, placed my hand on his shoulder and
kissed him on the forehead.
l did not put my arms around him, but SAID
if ever there was a good man believed he was
one have no faith in Mr.. Beecher now for
the course he has persued during the last year
towards my husband. l think that l said to
Mr.. Beecher that believed there was great
any other occasion kissing him. l remember
one Friday when Mr.. Beecher was on his way
to the prayer meeting, when Mr.. Moulton was
present, threw my arms around MIR. Beechers
neck and asked Mr.. Moulton to save this good
man. t#f
l remember on one occasion seeing Mr. Hal
liday at my house and talked with him about
the Woodruff publication, and remember he
referred to the Woodruff story, and may have
made the remark that did not know what
with the story. 1 do mt remember saying to him
did not believe these stories or that there was
not any truth in them. l think that said to
him, Mr. Beecher had been my pastor and had
been so from my childhood. l do not remem-
Der saying friend. for he was not a personal
friend of mine. think that L remember on
this occasion 1 declined to discuss the matter
with him.
L remember having said to BIN, "Mr. Beech
err, why don't you come to see me?" l may
have said it several times. 1t may have been a
suggestion to him to call and see me. L re-
member only one instance in which he came to
see me. Mr.. Mouton was there and he said he
came to see me. This was OH the morning of !
the I'd of June, 1873 My husband and / |
were in the front room together. Mr.. Beecher
Il l.
to see you. [ came to your wife, Mr.. |
Moulton left Mr.. Beecher and we had the inter-
view in that room. Mr.. Beecher first spoke |
and said he was utterly depressed and without |
hope, and had spent sleepless night. He said |
1 was the only person who could give him SYM
patty. 1 said there was only one course for |
him to pursue and that was to tell the truth |
He said he could not confess because his work |
would be at an end. He would disgrace his |
children and have no home. l said his people |
would forgive him. He sand they would not !
treat him as kindly as had done. We talked |
for three or four hours. 1t was on his side I
long complaint of what he had suffered He |
was afraid the truth would come out. / said it /
was a cowardlv thing to think of taking his
life. He said he had powder on his library
table WHICH would take his life away without |
trouble and give him ease. He did not state
what kind of powder it was nor where he
had gotten it, The interview was brought to
an end by his stating that his dinner was ready.
He left in the same gloomy mood in which he
came to see me, and promised to come back
and see me again. (Shown letter. 1t was
On the previous Sunday that he sent me this
note. He called on me in the gloomy mood on
Monday. L think he next called on me during
Int week ia which the Monday occurred.
4 int fha Oh