The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-26
Speculations About Further
Testimony.
FLORENCE TILTON FOR HER FATHER
One Witness When Neither
Side CcVets.
AN INCIDENT ABOUT TILTON


In a month from this date # is probable the
Bcecher trial will reach its end after duration Of
about one hundred days The defence have
score OF witnesses in reserve ana for rehutta the
prosecution win produce nearly as many more. To
Impeach Tilton on his statement that he walked
arm in arm with John Swinton and did not ride IN
a carriage with Victoria Woodruff on the occasion
of the Communist procession the defence has
already brought forward witness named Or
Little. To sustain Tilton's testimony the prosecu-
ton has perfect cloud OF witnesses. 1t is easy
matter 10 settle thousands witnessed the process
sion and many were familiar with the tall form Of
Tilton and his peculiarlties OF hair and headgear
There happened however, TO be III the
same procession a named Colonel
Ryan, who was shot at Santiago de Cuba, and IL
was his habit 10 wear wide brimmed soft elt
gray hat, shave his face Clean Tlton does
and wear his haIr long and thrown back behind
his ears IN a similar fashion. lie was tall and
slender, Int not so tail as Sir Marmaduke, yet
Easily mistaken FOR that distinguished individual
when sitting In a carriage and driving in crowd.
Speculation IS now busy with the names OF five
persons who may may not be called for ono side
or the other. These Henry &. Bowen, Flor
ence Tllton, who lives at present with her father,
Mrs Morse Mrs. Mcdonald who has been SER
want in the luton family for years and Mrs. Tilton
herself The first or these has been already sub
penaed by the prosecution, ind there is a current
rumor that
MISS FLORENCE TILToN
will be put the stand 10 give evidence in oenalf
OF her father The necessities OF the prosecution
do not appear 10 be 50 desperate as TO cali FOR
TINS extreme measure. As derter resort IL would
be a painful proceeding, but, considering the
strength OF the plaintiffs position, the weak i'm
preston created By the main witness the side
OF the defence Il is questionable 10 say the least.
Ii was bad enough that the husband should have
10 testify against his wife, but TO cali on the
daughter u proclaim her mother an adulteress
wouid be the cruelcst feature OF all IN THIS most
unhappy trial. Miss ltton Il young laGy
Of thought and intelligence. Western paper
Tciaies that "Mrs. Morse attempted 70 rule the
Tilion household, where she mad taken up her
abode. In one Of her violent moods she visited
her wrath on her daughter, who had refused 70
submit TO her dlctation, by informing her grand
daughter, IN tragic manner, that her mother
mai committed adu terry with her pastor. From
That day tie grl, now a young woman, has never
IN the last sentence ana indeed The wnule para
graph Is q the kind that daily appears IN az the
Tar Western papers, aud, wearing an AIR Of pausl-
bliltY, obtain reaGy creuence.
TlLrUA's Bette NoIRE
has been this woman Morse. VINO y singular
compound OF opposite elements she is repre-
sented by those who know ner one In " nom
"tne rage q the vulture and lore OF the rur-
tie" exhibit themselves IN rapid succession she
iawned and irowned on her sOn-in-law, Iilton,
Dy the moments. Il was my dearest enid
lheod re" one instant anu You internal Scoun-
aTei" tie next. she gave Brccher the impress
son that MS confidence IN ner might proceed
s. lar a. 70 ask her 70 call MIN son and present
Nv writes nm letter, ana DOUBT told
everybody he circumstances, that she was az
loss 20 know why he should make the request
lnis letter - given by the foolish Beecner
% Moglton. and i finally fnas ITS
turns out an instrument plaque Beecner 70 the
very SOUL VITA the exception Of the letter 81
a. anst him. lie finds 1t - hard answer that
he says, = don't tank ever read It, TINS Il
most uulikey Tor the reason that il was no nght,
frivolous communication, nut one efnlheutY ana
seriously suggestive. 1nat this woman mrs.
Morse should be called a. a witness Is not alto
Hether probable. II Mr. Beccher could not inter-
pref her letter perhaps she might, and lnterpre-
&c IN such a manner a. the defence would not ret
isH. the prosecution have no more reason 70 leel
anxious Tor her testimony tnan have tine defence.
Whatever irregularities NAV have marked the
course d Mr.. lIlIon's ne q all women was
bound 70 know them. she had
VICIOUS ASD PRCRIENT CURIOSITY,
pryine into a hundred matters with which she had
no concern, ana with such a restless inqufing
beyond her knowledge Or conjecture. Neither
side will nc ant ~ take her. she knows too much
81 both sides and she i not reliable for either.
Mrs Titon cannot be deemed rs likely 70 come for
ward a. a witness. Under the law she cannot tes-
tiiy but ifboth sides agreed She night he able.
would her fate ne ON the crosse Examination surely
she cannot hope 70 give any more satisfactory
explanation OF her letters than BeeCher aid Of his
And then those concessions ana retractions. " i
certainly clear that the defence would suffer most
by her testimony, and the prosecution have no in
teniion ~ summoning her. Beecher SAYS sue
wrote hun the letter o rctraction from q rev gen
NTIl words Bl UigtatlON. Sfe mas dgnipu TINS ana
saiu that she copied y ron what ne Dictated ana
furthermore that she gave II 70 him 70
protect nim in council 81 ministers rom
all except her own husband. n -
pain ii the woman admit having
written the letter al Beecner's ul and press
dlctauon ana given Il 70 MN under the conditions
she subsequently specihed, that beecner would ne
placed n an ugly position. u NAV re pnt down
a. certain that Ms. Ilitun viii not appear ~
witness Tor either. A. 10 mrs. Kate Mcdonald the
case Is dincrent. she lived IN Iilton's own and IA
hi- fathers iamily Tor over thirty years. a year
OF TWO ago leit ana went out West. She Will
testify Tor Iiou. ana ner evidence Is said 10 be OF
4 STARTLING CHARACTER
Richards came nearest TO proving the adultery
by Unexpectedly opening the door of room and
CATCHING tie partles--Mrs. Tlton ana Beecher-
In what might lie deemed suspicious proximity.
Mrs. Mcdonald " l. Said, Will swear 70 something
stll more suspicious, ana reason i gwen
keepiLE Ncr BACK IS long mat as tie scanda. itself
Is sensational tie dcnouemcnt shOulG he equally
. 49, THUS witness. then. may ne expected u GLOW
us Tie Iabric 81 tie deence rs i charge of miro
Rlycennc scattcrs the fragments u q riven rock
snoula bowen appear the duned interest In the
irial viii be once more aroused. The great ieat
or Mr. Fullerton on the cToss.examinatiOn Is stu
tue talk ol the Town, and DAY by DAY y = forming
what now Oniy quiet stream Dul VIII very
soou be a foamIng torrent tnat Will rock Plymouth
CHURCH TO its foundations.
As INCIDENT.
The writer heard Yesterday an incident related
In regard to sir. and mrs. IIlt0n tina. may not be
unworthy Ol reproduction. Passing ~ MI. Til
TOMS home two gentlemen. one ~ whom
was stranger. Tile friend or acquaintance en-
tered and said ne had out = few minutes "a spare,
~ companion Or his was WAITING On me
SIDEWALK '.BrIng him In said Tllton. lie
entered and was cordially greeted. ior he was a
foreigner aud q Of feeling and education.
lie observed the snple refinement OF liltOn's
nome ana made remark conveying fact OF tue
klna following il up. amer pause, with the IN
QuirF. suggested ~ i0uk AZ the portrait 81 Mrs.
fltou, "And viii the mite woman never rcturu 70
TINS fond home again Y' luton Strengthened
himself up aud responded :-"Ehzabetn never It'd
love Mr. Beccher aud snali look after her a. long
~ sue liye..N
Inc interest among the public as regards the
ira Is now chery centred In the forthcoming adj
dresses 0t counsel 70 the jury When Mr.. Beach
speaks tue court room Will very Likely De thrOnged
10 saGOCat0n. Applications Tor uCkets are now
b. ug made lo attend thtS great scene, though "
De taree weeks ~ advance at the least. Bcacn's
speech VIII ~ the browning CLIMAX this very