New-York tribune., 1875-03-10
THE WINSTED SCANDAL AND MR. TlLTON'S
UTTERANCES EXAMINED.


The trial was resumed promptly at II o'clock yes
lerday morning. All the persons directly interested
in the case were present with the exception Of Mr..
and Mrs Beecher and Mr.. Porter. and they came
into the courtroom a few minutes after the be-
ginning OF the days work. Two witnesses were ex-
amined and cross-examined during the first half
hour They both testified in regard to tho VIM
sted scandal. The first was George W. Lincoln,
who was the proprietor of the Beardsey House In
Winsted where Mr.. Tilton, accompanied by lady,
was guest in 1859 Mr.. Lincoln's testimony sub
stantially agreed with that already given on thls
subject The next witness, Albert +. Norton, APP
peared to find some difficulty in taking the usual
OATH and it required several minutes 10 induce MN
TO kiss the book. In reply TO Judge Nelson's
question: the witness said that he considered
the oath biudng agd the questioning proceeded.
Mr. Norton testified that he had boarded at the
Beardsley House at Winsted in 1869, and had seen
lady partly dressed in Mr.. Ttons room at an early
hour one morning. The cross-examlnation OF thls
witness elected nothing new.
Samuel L. Belcher former deacon and member
of the Examining Committee of Plymouth Church,
was next called by the defense. He appeared to be
grave. dignifed gentleman, with an intelligent
wrongly marked face. He gave his evidence in re-
ply to Mr. Hills questions in positive and almost
business. like manner Mr.. Belcher testified to
meeting aud conversng with Mr.. T1tOn-wlth
whom he was well acquainted-a short time after
the publication of the Woodruff scandal. MI III
ton. the witness said at first told him that there
was nothing in it," but Immediately afterward SAID
that there might be "a mOdlcum Of truth IN
the scandal, as a grain Of wheat in a bushel Of
chaff." The witness then asked Mr. TiltOn for that
grain of truth and Mr.. TiltOn took Mr.. Belcher to
his house and read TO him extracts from large roll
rtn1v
pers These papers, Mr.. Tilton said. would be for
warded to Mr. Bowen, and would compel the latter
to settle the contract with Mr.. Tilton Mr.. Til
ton read to the witness what purported to
be copy of a letter from Mrs. Tilton, in
which she said that Mr. Beecher had asked her to
be "A wife to him IN all that the name implied. Mr.
Tlton told Mr.. Becher that Mr. MoultOn had the
original of the letter. Mr. Becher also testified
that Mr.. TiltOn had told him that Mr.. Beecher
had denied the charge mentioned. and
had SAID that the must be crazy,
but had afterwards confessed and apolo-
gized. Mr. Tilton asserted that the apology was in
the keeping of Mr.. MOulton. The witness stated
that at the close of this conversation he had asked
Mr.. TiltOn whether Mr.. Beecher had committed
adultery with Mrs Tilton and that Mr.. Tilton had
replied, raising his hand above his head mo my
wife is pure an angel in Heaven"
The cross examination of Mr.. Belcher by Mr.. Full
lertOn was long as compared with the duration of
the direct examination. and the questions were very
searching In the main Mr.. FulertOn's inquiries
were about the testimony of Mr.. Belcher before the
Church Investigating Committee, about his knowl-
cage of the West charges, and other matters OF
Plymouth Church history, with which, as deacon
and prominent member Of the church, the
witness might be acquainted. Mr. Belcher admitted
that in bis testimony before the Investigating Com
mittee he had omitted to state that he had heard
read Mrs. Tlton's letter TO her husband, IN which
she said that Mr.. Beecher had asked her to become
a wife to him. The witness said that he had not
volunteered testimony, be did not think
his pastor needed any vindicatiOn from
him. To many of Mr. Fullertons questions
Mr. Belcher answered that he did not remember
This reply was made to 4 great variety of iDterTOga
tories as to statements MADE before the Investigating
Committee as to- the conversations Mr.. Belcher had
had in reference to Mr.. Tiltons statement to him.
ard as TO the events of the evening
when the report of the Investigating Com
nittee was adOpted by Plymouth Church
At the opening Of the afternoon session Mr. Belcher
stated in regard to several questions which he had
answered just previous to the at noon, that
he did not remember what he had then said He
also modified much of hIs testimony his
examination.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Belchers testimony, at
3. O'clock. Mr.. Tracy called upon the next witness
St. Clair McKeway who testified that he had called
upon Mr.. 1ilton after the publication of the
Woodruff scandal. Mr.. Tilton had told the witness
that he could not talk to him a journalist, but
that he would tell him in the form of an aegory
a story, which would place matters in different
light from that of the Woodruff publication. The
witness then gave his own language the story
that Mr.. TiltOn had told him. In substance it was
like other statements alleged to have been made by
Mr TiitCn concerning improper advancesmade by Mr..
Beecher TO Mrs. TiltOn, except that names were
mentioned. The witness told the story i'll full,
deliberate tones and was listened to with unusual
attention by all in the courtroom Mr. Mckelway
had not concluded his testimony at the adjournment
OF the Court.