The Portland daily press., 1875-05-25

for the purpose of gaining an apparent advan-
tage over counsel, he thrust in the lie Il always
loved him as father" He would have the
jury believe that be gained victory over
Beecher in the discussion at Plymouth church,
but left out the little Circumstance that the
church went unanimously with Beecher. lie
says the newspapers went with him, but forgot
to say they were newspapers which he edited
Plaintiff stated that there cane from Washing
ton, he knew not from what source, that
Beecher preached every Sunday to twenty OF
his mistresses, but counsel could tell him the
origin of that story, for Moulton had sworn
that in 1870 Tilton told him that story and ne
(MoultoD) refused to believe it. They would
recolect that when Tilton was threatening to
publish card defamatory of Beecher and
Moulton, told him about it, Beecher said II
that was published he would publish card
Iesgning the pastorate and fight i ont with
Titon. Tilton told Moulton if that resignation
was published he would shoot Beecher in the
street. 8eecher had perfect right TO sign
that resignation, and Tilton admitted that ne
would assassnate him if he did. That was the
man whose oath they were asked to take In
preference to Beecher's.
On Tilton's own showing while yet in the re-
ceipt of $4,000 year, and as he says petore
he got notice of his dismissal, his malice
against Beecher led him, for the qualification
of Bown, to send one of the foremost men
of the age notice to quit his pulpit. He
talks of sparing Beecher's life. There could
be no doubt he wasmeditating the assassination
of an unarmed clergyman. Referring TO III,
toms letter ''to complaining FRIEND counsel
said he attached very little importance to any
thing Tlton said. He admitted he lied in
them all and no doubt he was right. The
letter is dated December 1872 and commences,
"My dear friend That letter was never given
to the public, but was laid aside like all papers
got from Beecher from time to time to be used
hereafter. Who was the friend? Had he
name? The fact was that Tilton was SO ac-
customed to lying that he lies even to himself;
In that Tilton denounces the woodruff
libel as he calls it and pleads an alibi, saying
he was was in the country when it was pub
lished, and was ignorant of it when lie re.
turned. But in Concord Mr.. A. II. Stewards
cashier heard him say he had seen it and feared
its effect upon his wife. Tilton accomplished
his task got the scandal published, and very
con venently when he could establish his alibi
in Concord. He would have the jury believe
that in Concord, few miles by rail from this
city and a few minutes by telegraph, he, the
subject of the scandal, was ignorant OF 1T a
whole week. When Mrs. Woodruff hbeled his
wife the consolation he found was in making
love to Mrs. Woodruff. Naughter.) But the
course of true love never did run smooth. HIS
wife innocent and libelled by Mrs. Woodruff,
he could have sat at hiss desk next morning
facts. But what did he do? He consulted his
| counsel. Moulton was his attorney and got
| money. He consulted Tracy but that gentle
man never touched his money, and this they
dared not deny. His wife was pure and his
children legitimate. Yet he allowed her to be
lbeled lest he should blast Henry G. Bowen,
and that he has made private compact with
himself not to break silence. "If the truth
we've KNOWN" he writes, sit would kill my old
| friend Bowen" but he keeps silence, not that
| he loves her but Bowen more. This, said
counsel turning around to Tilton, was the
course pursued by this pretended cuckold who
| comes into court flourishing pair of antlers
which don't belong to him, and which he wishes
you to tip with gold" (Laughter.)
In July, 1874, Tilton drew up report for the
church committee to adopt and in that he GER
| titled that Beecher had committed an offence
| against Mr.. and Mrs. Tton for which suitable
| apology had been given, and that he had re-
| ceived forgiveness from both and that the mat
| all parties. Now he would have committee
of leading citizens to certify that adultery was
| honorable and that an adulterer apologlzed to
| a woman with whom he had been SHINING for
| years, and reverend debaucher also apollo.
gized to a cuckod husband, and his apology
was accepted, They wanted Beecher to admit
an offence which afterwards they could define
| to De adultery, and get Mrs. Moulton to assist
them. But they were foiled in this purpose to
get Beecher to commit himself to an underlined
offence, though he was willing to go before the
committee and take all the blame on himself
whatever it was and exonerate Tilton, and
while Tilton was writing that report he never
thought he was making record against him
self OF what IN his Judgment beecner nau zone
in the sense which Tilton used the word ''of-
fence namely, improper solicitatons,-but
that report proves that Tilton went no farther
with his accusation at that time and had not
yet raised it to adultery. In drawing up that
report for other people to sign, Tilton makes
his wife pay glowing tribute to her husbands
character. 'One would think thus giving
himself certificate of character was in rather
bad taste, but believe said counsel, that
Gen. Butler over the signature of Francis d.
Moulton gave himself his certificate of charac.
ter that he had been a peace maker all
through" The jury should remember that
when Tlton proposed the report for adoption
Mrs Tilton had already testified and she was
to be followed by Tllton and Beecher, who
would corroborate her. and that report was
written three days after Tllton had sent
through Redpath message that he should
charge adultery. He now says the apology let
ter meant adultery. He says in that report
that it covered complicated transaction, and
that Beecher had suffered Misrepresentation
No doubt he had and that it was in attributing
improper proposals to Beecher. On the 14th of
July, 1874, Tilton drew up that report that
Beecher and his wife, lTton's) were innocent.
On the 10th of the same month he drew up his
sworn statement that they were guilty and
shameless, and had confessed their adultery.
Court here adjourned for the day.