, 1875-06-06
THE GREAT SCANDAL,
The Story Hrs. Tlton Told to Her Sister
in.Law Richards.
What Mrs. Tiiton's Brother Was Reluc-
family Compelled to Believe.
Her 1mmeasurable Love for the Rev. Henry
Ward Boecher.

Tho bitter attacks Of Air. Beechers lawyers
snd friends upon Mrs. Tilton's brother for ap-
pea1lng "a witness for Mr. Tilton aud testify
ing against bis ovn Sister, haye Influenced a
gentleman acquainted with al the facta to ex-
plain Mr. Richards peculiar position. In cou-
versatlon with reporter yesterday. lie
detailed the connection Of the Rich
ards family with tao scandal. After
little Paurs desth, Mr. Richards, in
visiting his SISTERS house. Us his testimony
when called to the wiehess-stand the fist time
ehows, frequently found 3lr. Beecher there. and
he becauo impressed By the general naaoner Of
Reecher's bearing that his visits wero not purely
pastoral. Finally he determined to speak to
TiEton. and one moro1ng early in 1870 he went to
the Union Office and disclosed his apprehonsions
to him. There was no oocasinn, he thought, for
anything moro than that Mr. Deecher's visits to
Iiltou's house should ceaso and Lis revelations
aud fears did not a&rect luton with alarm. Ths
brother WAS satisfied, and remained passive
until after Hrs. Tilson's alleged confession to
her husband. which T3ltou then repeated to him.
This time Mr. Richards was lncsedu}ous, for it
seeIns that his regard for his sister had not al-
lowed him to attribute to her anything mora
than possible breaches OF prapriety; and. With
out creditlpg Tiltou 3 story fully. ho
INFLUENCED HIS NOTHEn,
HRS. Morse, to question h1b sister, Hot an
nounrement after faw days Intervening, that
Mrs Tilton confessed her intimacy with Nr.
Beecher, lnl1:reesed Richards strongly, without
CONVINCING Kim ue waited for further proof,
or for his 6stsrs denial. He no longer pressed
m investigation but waited until tho fat when
Mrs. TlIon yisited him in bis home in Moniclair.
Then he told his VITO that she must t.lk with
Elizabeth, for he could not and ask her what
tho stories they had heard from Theodore
meant but the days Of the WHIT passed by, and
Mrs. Richards courage failed her whenever she
tried to Groach the subject On the last day
Mrs. Richards and Mre. T'lton drove together to
tho depot the exact date ia not known, but it
could not havo been late in the fall, for tho
leaves still hut s on the traes- AS they rode
along Mrs. Richards told her what abe had heard
from Theodore aud Irs- Mo7ae. and lmplored
her to tell her the truth. Sue spo2a earnestly
and kindly. and Mrs. TIton, bursting into tears.
confessed then to her sister the crime sho had
committed With her pastor. sh> defended her
act T.. she could. She told OF paul's death, Of
Mr.. Heechers sympathy with her IN her alllc-
ton, his great kiadncss, his Interest in her oc-
cupntiuDs, h.3 encouragement OF her literary
thought she WAS doing but little to repay hi1a
when she yielded up her body 1t his request
TT LOVE HIN, SIZE CRIED,
and will dis rather than have harm come to
him."
Her pathetic story greatly moved Mra Rich
vice rs she in Der bowilderment could :; and then
she tenderly baos her good-by at the depot.
day or tNo laler letter passed from one sister
to tho other. but it hns eltae1 been lost OF hns
been slowed away By Mr. Richards to keep tho
written confession from the public; but, as it
has kelt its indolsble Impression on Mrs- R'uh-
ards mind she recalls it as an afecuoDAte,
p!aintlye burden, expressive Of the Writer'S
grief, and assuring her that though she had al
ways loved her as q sister, Sic now worshlpea her
Af- $N. +nt%4x L.
woman who eoud listen to the story Of her sin,
understand her position. and forgive her so
lovingly. The let ct Was couched III beautiful
language, and aboundea il thuso rretty extrava-
gancies that mark mos. Of Mrs Ti!ton'e compo-
sltloIs. After bearing OF this confession made
to bis wife Mr. Richards became conr,nced OF
bls SISTERS sp. and counseliej With her ~ to her
future courso. Their conversation Was up1e-
strained, and the references to her guilt con-
t'nun!; and from the first the brothers
adycs YEA: "lou must never deny it. II it
becomes known to tho world. all you eau do is
to acknowledge the 1ansgsesslon aud Lva it
down.
Even then he fslt that her love for Mr.
Deecher would permit no such course az he
1lRbed her to follow; and as ho became assured
in further communication With her tLAt she had
resolved upon : future based, as he believed.
upon
uETEuTH,
ho avoided her presence and she bis. 10 could
Qot khuCI1UQ UeT pICpOsll. ADu MS DEQt4eIi4
heart bore such love for her that to relieve her
self OF the embarrassment which his society
created, he left her unhampered b. his advice. Ho
seldom SAW ne7, and their occasional meetings
~ero constrained and unpleasant.
The scandal WAS made public tho Committee
OF Plymouth Church was in Session. and he VAS
summoned to appear before it b!t previous to
going ho went to his slster and asked her what
ho should do. She told him that he must 80,
that his refusal would DO her condemnation,
but that he must tell nothing. Ho therefore
vent before the Committee aud shielded his |
sister in the only way hs could. Tho Committee |
asked him whether his sister bud ever confessed |
her adultery to him. and he refused to ananer, |
for he could not sAttsfy bis conscience BY ths |
eGaaion to which Bomo witnesses whose know- |
asked the Dame question by the Committee, they |
replied, no, basi1g tha denial on tho fact that
Mira 1lton had not used the specific word
- adultery" When tho trial came on, Mr. Tlton
kneU. for it had been q matter OF family diacuH-
ZION, that Mr. Richards had knowledga Of the
scandal from tho first from his SISTERS lips
III R1caADDs' TESTIMONY.
lie WAS summoned to appear ~ witness. |
8e could not oisregazd the order, nor could he
ell other things than those ho know to be true.
ire story, and the Little that no was in
position to tell from his own knowledge
eemed very trivial in comparison with |
ho secret and the details which had been
onhded to AKn- Ihtto HAa only the story
# his opening the parlor door, Of Mis-. t
'lfton's abrupt and ptecipltate moving
rom the part Of the room in winch Mr. Beechor
at It Nas because 1t seemed slight, and tat
liug-lko, and hypereritical, that nr. Richards
q detailing the scene used these words II
ont think can With justice to myself describe
his ecene unless put what saw in connection
18th wnat had heard about 1Ir. beacher in my
,ng knowledge OF him; what E.w might NOT
= Of any special moment ASIDE from these other
ainge, and it might not be Of any moment 1t ali
any view"
His dosire waa not as his enemies declare, to
,reas the scandals in court for the purpose OF
lackening his aisters narno but to relate those |
orles be had hoard Of Boeches's life, which 60 I
IMPRESSED his mud with the character Of tho |
an ttas be felt he should be pardoned for be-
lg unable to h2aiBh from his memory tho soe1u-
gly trivial occurrence which ho deaeribed- The
cture uA2 |
DEEPLY c0IpAED
; the time by ll}s feArr and the succeeding cen
ssion OF his sister had ndelibly set it. He had
>t seen hla slster since the day in Last summer
which she told him that he must 80 before !
% Committee, and had held 90 communication
th her. Ho Ruve tho testimony which he ucs I {
'i3ed by tho law 10 give, and the mkt day | {
me naessage from his sister, aent 10 him {