The Portland daily press., 1875-04-29
THE SCANDAL.
GEN. wRAcI's EvIDENcE,

by Evarts was resumed.
Witness was asked about Woodruff's request
to him to give advice about Moulton's replying
to the Woodruff publication. Witness sad
Woo ruff sugges Ted that it was to he a friendly
not a professional consn taton; no fee 10 he
given, but the facts to be communicated to be
kept secret, the same as Ii 1t was professional
consultation. Witness replied he would on
condition that nothing was contemplated hostile
to Beecher and Woodruff said it was nothing
of the kind, but would serve Beecher. He also
said Moulton had papers it was necessary for
him to see. Soon after that interview WOOD,
ruff brought Moulton to witnesses office and
introduced him. After conversation they
arranged an interview between Moulton and
witness on the subject of the publication. NO
papers were present. and the conversation was
general. They said the question they wanted
to submit was whether it was wise to publish a
card denying the scandal; and ii so, the form
of that document and who should JOIN in 1t
Witness said no opinion could be given until
the papers belonging to Beecher and Mrs. I'll
ton in MoultOn's possession were examined.
An appointment was then made. Up to this
time witness had no instruction or authority
from Beecher about these interviews, and he
was not consulted about It,.
On Sunday witness called at MOultOn's house
about 3 o'clock, and remained till about III
o'clock. He went up to the study with Tilton,
who showed him the apology, now called
Beecher's letter of cOntrition The first thing
that attracted witnesses attention was the
handwriting, and he asked who wrote 1t
Mouton said he did, Witness asked was it
signed by Beecher, and Moulton said yes, tnat
it was in the form of a memorandum, and was
signed at the foot by Beecher Witness said
that would not be written by a man who had
lived for years with Mrs. TitOn in adultery, for
it speaks of her as innocent. bearing the trans
gressions of another, and there was nothing
in that paper to prevent denial of the scandal.
Moulton made no reply, but showed him the
retraction. Witness said that the paper would
seem to show that Beecher had attempted the
virtue of Mrs Titon without success, and he
a.ked Moulton the history of the paper. Moul-
too replied that after Tilton had accused
Beecher, the latter went to Tilton's house aud
GOT the retraction, and that when Tilton re-
turned home his wife explained the circum-
stances to her husband. oulton also said
lion came to him the next day after the
retraction was given, very angry about it, and
that he (Moulton) went to Btecher and got it
back TheL witness asked him about the
pistol scene Moulton said that was false;
that he did not get the paper back under
threat, but that he called on Beecher and told
him Tilton was very angry at the retractlon
being obtained, and that it was unwise to re
turn it, and that if Beecher gave it up, he
(Moulton) would keep it and the letter to which
it refers Beecher at first objected, as he
wanted to protect himself, but finally gave it
up, Moulton having laid hand on the hllt OF
his pistol. saying, 81 will protect it with my
life, if you give it up" Mouiton told the wit
ness he did not threaten Beecher, either by
manner or words; thinks Moulton told him
Mrs. Tlton's letter had been destroyed. Wit
ness remarked he couldn't see how Moulton
could blame Beecher for getting the retraction,
and then Moulton called his attention to the
fact that the ret raction implied the fact that
the letter of accusation had been coerced from
her by her husband, and this was what made
Tilton angry He also said the scandal was
false where it related to an invitation to
60 of the StanWaV Hall
meeting.
Mr. Beach here objected to the mode of ex.
aiming the witness. The better way would
be to ask witness what occurred and leave him
to his present unaided memory. This course
was eminently proper with the witness, one OF
the active and leading counsel for the defence,
who was very able to express himself and tell
what occurred
Mr.. Evarts said he was merely getting the
facts IN the order which they occurred:
Witness Standardization told him that
Mrs. Woodruff had got no information from
him. Witness asked him whether Tlton had
told her and Moulton said he believed not.
Witness asked "Does Tilton charge Beecher
with adulteryg" Moulton said no: Witness Vi s
Moulton said he preferred witness should hear
Tilton tell it in his own way. Then for the
first time he learned that Tilton was to be at
the interview.
Moulton left the room and returned with Til
ION VINO Sd1u, du dSheu " HdhO d otdVO-
ment. If Beecher and 1 should come into col
lison would tho etiquette of your profession al
low YOU to act as counsel for him?' Witness
replied without discussion the etiquette of my
profession is such if two parties are in contro-
yersy and one of them lays a statement of his
case before me and they should come into col.
lision I certainly should not be counsel for the
other party on that case. Then Tilton unfolded
his MS, much erased and interl,ned, and read
it to him.
Q.-From your recollection OF that paper and
knowledge OF the paper now in evidence, are
you enabled to say those papers are substan-
TALLY identical.
Beach objected to the question. He had no
objection to the witness refreshing his memory
by the pretended ''true story" but then the
witness should testify from his recollection.
Witness looked over the true story" and
said he recognized parts of it as those read to
him by Tilton. He remembers some OF the
documents embraced in that paper as having
the paper. His recollection is that the paper
began as the "true story" does, with the state
ment that the scandal was published during his
absence from the state. Tilton's relations with
Bowen were also touched on in that letter and
the letter of Tilton to Bowen in January, 1871,
was in that paper, 1t also contained state
ment from Mrs Tlton that Henry Ward
Beecher had solicited her to be wife with all
that it implied. In that paper was quoted the
whole or part of the contrltion letter, and the
letter spoke 10 connection with that or MS ad-
miration for his wife who had resisted the
amorous plans of her pastor. When Titon had
got throu b reading the paper witness asked
him what he intended, and Moulton said he
was trying whether he could frame success
full answer to the Woodruff scandal, and would
publish it if Beecher was satisfied. Witness
said Beecher would not be satisfied with it.
Tilton replied, Beecher would have to hear
what was true Witness said there was no
doubt but his wife had declared the charge was
not true. Tilton became excited and lnvelgh he'd
against Beecher for his meanness in getting
that paper from his wife Mrs. Tilton) in her
weakened state when she was unable to resist
his demand.
Witness inquired whether Beecher ever adj
mitted the charges. Tilton said yes, in the
letter of apology Witness argued with him
that the terms of tie apology were SO general
thsy might apply to many things Tilton then
declared that Beechpl was an adulterer and he
could prove it, Witness asked whether it was
with Mrs. Tilton and he said no. Witness then
pu the question, You do not charge Beecher
with adultery with your wife?' and Tilton said
"No; my wife is pure woman - He also de-
MED that he had told any such story to- Wood
hull, and said the scandal was totally false i'll
that respect. He also said his feelings towards
Beecher were not unfriendly, and what he had
Just read was the best that could be done.
Witness suggested simple denial of the scan
dial and Tilton replied that is precisely what
this woman wants me to do that would be
charging them with publishing a lie and then
they would bring a libel suit and all the facts
would come out Witness ridiculed the idea OF
libel suit. but Tilton insisded they would
bring an action and subp9Ha witnesses. He
also said the scandal was so circumstantial that
a single denial would not satisfy the people
and they should have some statement. He
also assigned another reason that ne couldn't
call the whole Woodruff publication a lie, for
while it was essentially false there were some
things in it which we're true, just as if you
couldn't take up the Police Gazette and say
this is lie, for there are some things in it true
He also said he couldn't deny that Beecher
went to his wife and got the retraction, nor
could he deny of his own knowledge several
statements and extracts of that publication,
nor that he presided at the Stelnway Hall
meeting.
Witness recollects that they discussed the
charge against Beecher of improper advances
and witness suggested that it was possible Mrs.
Tilton had misoonstrued him (Beecher,) and
Tilton said mo-, there could be no mistake
about it. Then witness asked him whether he
believed Beecher used the words to Mrs. Tilton
81 request that you be my wife with all that it
implies" Tilton said no, but those words
were the inference from what was said. Wit
ness suggested that if that was an inference
perhaps the other was misunderstood, and as
Beecher denied the charge and Mrs. Tilton de-
MED improper advances, the public would ac-
cept the denial with an explanation that the
matter arose from mistake Moulton asked
him what he proposed, and he answered that
depended on what they wanted LII they want