Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-10

Mr.. Evarts began at IL 10 by saying that he dit
not propose to treat separately all the random in
| terviews that had been sworn to. The line was
| drawn at the interviews of December, 1870, be-
tween these people, and whatever was added at
terwar6 was of no Importance In regard to the
interview of Jan. 3, how could Mr.. Beecher have
said that if Tilton wished to carry out the demand
of the letter of Dee. 26 he had only to say the
word, when all Tilton's agony Of the previous
week had been to be permitted to withdraw that
letter? How could he have said that the renting
of the pews would be stopped when it had already
taken place? Why should he beg Tilton not to
give the scandal publicity, when Tilton had been
striving his best to prevent Beecher from letting
the slightest hint escape him All the rest Of
Tiltons account of the interview is merely re-
hash of what Tton alleges was Mrs. Tilton's con-
fesson, narrated to Beecher by him at the inter
view of Dec. 30. Mr.. Evarts passed to the inter
view of mid February, 1871, when the paternity
of the boy Ralph was discussed. Tilton's account
of it was, he said, utterly absurd. 1t began on
nothing, proceeded on nothing, and resulted in
nothing. The object of invening it was to make
an important link in the case of the prosecution
to fix determinatey the date of the alleged crime.
Beechers account OF the interview that took place
about that time comported much better with the
relations Of the parties; and when Tilton was re-
called to the stand the only point Of 1t he denied
was that he spoke about his profiigate namesake,
Theodore ii. Titon at that conversation because
he did not know of the latters prohigacy until
later Yet at the next word he gives the informa-
ton that Theodore III. Tilton was divorced June
8. 1871. Was it likely that Tilton had not heard
of his namesake's prohgacy during 1.-THE Spring
preceding the divorce, the latter being just the
kind of man he would seek to hang an excusa-
tory falsehood on Either Beecher's version was
"A confession of most unblusbing effrsntery or it
was true. On all the rules of evidence, even if
the witnesses stood equal, it had been proved, in
the absence of contradiction, that Mr.. Beecher 5
narrative was the correct one.
Mr.. Eyarts then took up the May interview, IN
which Mr.. Beecher says he sat on Tilton's knee,
and they kissed all around. Tilton on sur-rebut-
tai did not dispute that the interview occurred, or
that the kiss of reconciliation was given. All he
said about it was, that the sitting on his knee oc-
Cured some ten years before. Tilton and Moul-
ton had been asked whether Mr.. Beecher hadever
denied the graver crime, and they had answered
"No." lie had never denied il for the best of rea-
sons-he had never been accused Of it. This
shows how easy it is to make apparent proof out
of nothing. How, asked Mr.. Eyarts are all those
respectable people, as they would have themselves
considered-Mrs. Moulton, Mr. Moulton, Mr..
Tilton-to accommodate their conduct toward Mr..
Bcecher, if they believed him guty-or in any
case-to anything but the basest motives Of which
human nature is capable Mr.. Evarts read an
English authority in which it was held that it
was utterly impossible to reconcile friendly con-
duct of husband to his wifes paramour after the
latter, as it was alleged, bad confessed his crime
and he cited numerous instances in evidence to
show the most apparent cordial good feeling be-
tween Iilton and Moulton and Beecher suisse
quent to December, lS70-excursions and meet.
ings and dinners and kisses innumerable. When
Mr.. Halliday asked Mrs Moulton whether there
was any truth in the charge against Mr.. Beecher,
she answered that he had been her Pastor since
childhood, aud nobody could make her believe
that he was q bad man. When she returned to
the stand she admitted the first part and could not
recollect the second. Why should she have used
the first part unless an introduction to the sec
ond, or something like it
The subsequent meeting between Beecher and
Mrs. Tilton, when he marked passage IN the
Bible for her perusal, was merely touched upon
as exceedingly credtabe TO Beecher. Quickly
passing to the consideration Of the Woodruff card,
Mr. Evarts said that it was impossible to believe
that her source of information was not Iliton
himself. Yet, week before everything had been
explained and set at rest. Mrs. Woodhulrs pub
LEGATION Of November, 1872 contained all the mar
rative of the private councils OF December 1870,
and January, 1871, which had for their obje1. alb
solute secrecy Where did she get her knowl-
edge of these things To save himself from pos
sibe implication in the idea that Mrs. WoodhuPs
knowledge had grown during the two years OF
what the defense had proved his complete intima-
cy with her, he had made use of the "judicious
Justification" that in May 1871, she knew all about
them. He laid the blame upon Mrs. Morse, as
was his usual custom when the origin OF any
trouble was to be shifted from his shoulders; yet
he acknowledged that he himself told several per-
sons about the scandal in January, February, and
March, 1871. One of these persons, he says, was
Mrs. Morse whereas, one of his most important
| interviews with Mr.. Beecher was devoted to warn
| ing him against letting Mrs Morse get hint OF
the scandal If Mrs. Woodruff learned the story
from Mrs. Morse, where did her knowledge come
from if not from Tiltoni Subsequently Tilton
shut Mrs Morse's ear if not her mouth, by cor
rection Of his testimony that he had had no con-
| yersation with Mrs. Morse after December, 1870
another instance Of the sort Of memory which
the necessities OF counsel fetch and carry. Stephen
Pearl Andrews gave Tilton three weeks ac-
quaintance with Mrs. Woodruff previous to the
publication of the card-suficient time for rilton
to tell her the whole story Tilton, while appar.
antly healing the wound, had sought some CON
yenient outlet of irresponsible reputation to keep
solicitude on Mr.. Beechers part alive. lie did
not deny Mrs. Palmers testimony on this point
when he resumed the stand. Mrs Woodruff her
self says that the greater part Of her information
was derived from Tilton. Tilton in his true sto-
ry' quotes the letters of Mrs. Paulina Wright Da-
Wis and Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, denying thai
they furnished any information to Mrs. Woodruff
Andrews, on the stand, said that he was present
when the Jingle conversation took place that Mrs
Stanton says she had with Mrs. Woodruff on the
subject, and he was not called upon TO give great
er length and breadth to it than she did. "Havins
previously closed the ear Of Mrs. Morse, and hay
| ing now closed the mouths of Mrs. Davis and
Mrs. Stanton, who remains that could have told