The Portland daily press., 1875-04-06
THE SCANDAL.
Mr.. Beecher's Third Day.
MORE INTERVIEWS AND CONVERSA-
TIONS DETAILED.
Of a letter TO Mrs.
Triton.
Judge Fullerton POintedly Objects to
Applause.

Beecher trial began. Long lines of ticket hold
ers stretched away along the corridors from
both doors of the court house for more than
an hour before Judge Nelson arrived, and
there they remained with wonderful patience,
many of them until IL o'clock, in the rain, in
the hope of gaining admission. AT 10 o'clock
word was passed to the officers outside that
all the chairs allotted to the public were
taken. Then the officers drew a barrier
across side door leading from the chambers
to the court room and though hundreds of re-
spectacle gentlemen had to be admitted
through the outer door, they were respectfully
but firmly refused passage beyond the barrier
and went away disappointed.
After the opening of the court Mr.. Beecher
again took the stand, and in reply to MI.
Evarts, said:
When Moulton called at my house and
made statements as to Tilton's innocence of
the charges made against him, 1 earnestly
and over gladly believed his statement was
true. l believed in Tiltons innocence. The
paper in my hand the memorandum made
by Moulton, usually called the "letter of aapol-
ogy" is in no sense whatever a composition,
OF copy or dictation from me. In no sense
of the word did dictate
it. [Question and answer objected to, on the
ground that this was matter for the jury to
decide; objection overruledl. II ask, through
you, Theodore Tilton's forgiveness, and
humble myself before him as l do before my
God," was not dictated by me, but l said
had humbled myself for it before God land
was willing to humble myself before T-ton.
I did express the words in the
clause, "He would have been
better in my place." in the
sense that 1 at first flush took sides against
him when in trouble, whereas when 1 was in
trouble he with generous spontaneity took
sides with me, and this was in my mind, and
1 shall not soon forget it. The clause II can
ask nothing but that he will remember all the
other hearts would ache,' was not expressed
by me- butd repel the idea that was acting
selfshly, and l called up the idea several
times The clause II will not plead for my
self; I even wish that was dead, but others
live and must suffer-" is not my phraseology.
1t is a weak and poor Interpretation of the
sorrow l felt. I was not in logical mood.
Sometimes it was what had done in Tlton's
household; sometimes it was indignation at
Elizabeth sometimes it was an exculpatory
mood The clause II shall die before any
one but myself shall be inculpated," is not
mine. did not say that cannot recall the
expression definitely. l said would rather
die than cause such trouble-a strong ex-
preston of regret and remorse at the
the mischief committed by me; but it was
not practical expression, though l can see
the source from whence it came. GAIL my
thoughts are running to the poor child there,
with folded hands" was very likely mine,
though poor and meagre representation OF
what said. felt like a father standing
over the dead body of his child, and I shook
from the intensity of my distress. 1t
was the night before this, when l refused to
give up the retraction, that Moulton reasoned
with me that selfish considerations would be
mean. "She is guiltless, sinned against, bear
ing the transgressons of another" was very
likely uttered bv me. I had been in their
household for years, and if had alienated
her affections and paralyzed her moral reason,
if had wrought that mischief took blame
TO myself. Here the witness voice trembled].
How could man see such mischief and not
take blame to himself.
Mr.. Backbone moment, sir.
Witness,-I took it myself till 1874. The
expression "Her forgiveness have; l hum
bly, pray God to put it into the heart of her
husband to forgive me, is not mine. Moulton
spoke of reconciliation all around on that
occasion, and it was in connection with Eliz-
abeth Tilton said had no doubt of her
forgiveness, but of Tilton's I very much
doubted because Moulton sad Tilton looked
upon me as natural enemy.
In my letter of June l, 1878, is the phrase,
agreement was made after my letter through
YOU was written. In that expression
Through yon' suppose had reference to
this same memorandum. never had it my
hand, and never saw it until saw it here.
The first time heard of it was in December,
1872, when Tracey, Clafin and my brother
Edward spoke to me of the letter l had
written, but the document had passed out of
my mind. In my interview with Tilton, De-
cember 9TH, Tilton did not in any form
accuse me of adultery with his wife. Most
certainly he did not say his wife had ever
accused me to him of adultery. During that
conversation there was not raised on his part
or mine any allusion to adultery,-no such
topic whatever, nothing of any imputations
but the memorandum that his wife had
accused me of improper solicitations. There
was no reference to or recital of arguments by
which had overcome her virtue.
January I'd was observed as customary.
My house was open from 10 to to receive
calls. cannot recall that specific day, but I
recall the custom. l have looked for men,
orandum of the day, and according to my
knowledge and belief saw about 800 callers
that day. nominally from 10 to I, but really
from IL to 7. have only the most shallow
impression that Meulton called that day, but
there could have been no conference with
him, and there was none. 1 did not go from
the parlor to the study with Moulton that
day; no, sir, l did not. There was no such
conversation with him as asking him whether
it would be safe for sale of pews to take
place; that would be absurd. 1t belongs to
the trustees, and was to take place the next
day. and presume it did after the usual two
weeks notice in advance. There was no dis
cussion between us about any letter Tilton
was to write to Bowen.
On the following day, on January Sd or
thereabouts, within few days, but I think
on the Sd, l had an interview with Moulton
at Moulton's house, cannot tell whether by
appointment or not. He was in bed i'll, but
not so i'll as to preclude him from seeing
visitors. While was there Tilton came in.
1 am sure l had not seen him since December
Sd. AS he came he saiuted me and Moulton
began by referring to the conversation be-
tween him and me, when I struck in myself.
1 had been speaking to Moulton before Tilton
came in of what Tilton must have suffered.
l thought his self-restraint remarkable under
the circumstances, as then revealed to me.
When Tilton came in Moulton said and had
been saying kind things of him (Tilton).
Tilton was distant and gloomy. I turned to
him and spoke of my profound regret at be- |
ing the party to strike blow at him by |
Bowen, and that had the most profound |
sorrow for the steps L had taken, and the |
mischief wrought to his family; that felt I |
had been in the wrong, and asked his forgive |
ness for it and anything that lay in my power
consistent with truth and honor, I would be |
more than glad to do. Moulton said, Chico |
dore, that is an apology which any gentleman
ought to accept" Tilton was reluctant. but
Moulton, almost with severity, said "What |
more can you expects That is as much
as any gentleman could express
regret for the past" Finally Til
ton did accept the apology. I do not |
recollect any charges by Mr.. Tilton. I think
we did not go into particulars, but the con-
versation was general and much that was
said in the previous interview was repeated. |
1 remember no such expression during that |
by Mr.. Moulton, "He has done |
everything short of making a public state |
ment of facts" Nothing was said on max |
ing public statement; on the contrary the |
talk was that the difficulties in that family |
ought to be concealed. Tilton did not |
say to Moulton, "How can you expect me
to speak to man who ruined |
my wife, and took advantage of my permis-
sion to see her to get her to write down a
lie" not word of it. Moulton did not say,
"But remember, Theodore, Beecher has sent
you a letter humbling himself before you as
before God, such thing. 1 did not say,