The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-02-19

theory. The first story of the structure
WAS the hideous description of the inter-
view between Tilton and Beecher to
settle the paternity of little Ralph Tilton.
The profoundest impression to which the
ordinary mind is subject was effected
upon the audience by the recital OF that
nuimaginable scene. Vast horror made
all who heard it hold their breath. Ger
tainly never before did a putative father
hold consultation with his wife's seducer
to decide for or against the bastardy of
his own child, and afterwards repeat the
terrible details OF that consultation to an
astounded world. From this revolving
narrative Mr.. Fullerton led the witness
to another less stupendous incident. At
his suggestion, Tilton explained how
Woodruff convinced him she was i'll
partial possession of his and Beecher's
secret ; how he consulted Moulton az to
the most iudicious way to silence her :;
how Moulton advised constant association
with her how, with that design, he
drew up her famous appeal to Congress
how she was received into his own and
! Moulton's houses: how their two wives
/ first recoiled from the adventures,
and then ~patronized her TO protect
their common secret !; how he pre-
sided at the Steinway Hall
meeting at which Woodruff spoke, be-
cause no other man would undertake the
responsibility which he rashly assumed
to keep ler complaisant how he came
to write her life how she violated the
pledge of silence by the publication of
the article entitled Tit for Tat ;" how
he Immediately broke with her; and,
last of all, how Beecher chided him for
separating from her fortunes and with
drawing his controlling influence from
over her. The next link in the catena
of evidence was the description of the
interview with Beecher in which the all
visibility of Tilton's retirement from
Plymouth Church was strongly urged by
the former and still more stoutly resisted
by the latter. From this he proceeded
to explain his relations to Bowen, incl
dentally surprising the defense, as well
as the gaping crowd of spectators, by tell
ing how Oliver Johnson assisted him in
drawing up that famous Bowen letter.
The morning session concluded with
the story of Tilton's indignant refusal to
write a card of personal vindication touch
ing the Woodhull's scandal of 1872, the
refusal being based on the ground that
it was unnecessary TO ylndlcate himself,
since the scandal impeached only his
wife and Beecher. He insisted that the
responsibility of denial should rest upon
the latter.
! After recess, still in historic succession,
he told how Mrs. Isabella Hooker wrote
to her brother and enjOined him to con-
fess the crime from Plymouth pulpit,
offering to conduct the evening services
on the Sunday upon which he would full
fill her mandate.
Next in order, he cOrrobOrated one of
my reports to You by quoting Beecher
to the effect that Bowen only signed the
tripartite agreement at III. B. Claflin's
personal request. In relating the cOnse-
quences of the surreptitious publication
of that agreement, he told how he an
nounced to Beecher his intention to re-
lieye himself of the odium of having
slandered Beecher, by publishing in his
defense the letter of contritiOn-a step
he afterward took in response to DIR.
Bacon's letter. Beecher Threatened to
resign at once from Plymouth Church,
upon which TiltOn instructed Moulton to
tell Beecher that if he resigned his min
istry at that crisis, finging that shadow
on his CTilton's) family, he would shoot
him down in the street. Beecher's face
was as livid as the face of a corpse when
the menace was repeated to the jury,
while the whole audience rustled with
amazement bordering upon unbelief.
TItOn Ind CrOss-Fir@.
Mr.. Evarts arose slowly from his seat,
and, without formality, put his first
question, while Mr.. Tlton changed his
position and answered it with composure.
The questioning was unbroken by any
misunderstanding, until Mr.. Tilton was
asked whether Mrs. TiltOn's residence
had been at Mr.. Ovington's since she
separated from him. He declined to say