The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-03-20
THE BEECHER TRIAL.
The Usual Attendance.
Parson Halliday and Others
Examined.
Bessie Turner's Story.

New YORK, March l9.-Mrs. Tilton,
Mrs. Sherman, Mrs. Field and Bessie
Turner were in court this morning; Mr..
Beecher and wife were in their places be-
fore the proceedings began.
Mr.. Halliday resumed the stand and
the cross-exsmination continued: L did
not speak to Mrs. Bradshaw, about her
appearing as witness before the court;
Mrs. Bradshaw spoke to me on the sub
jecL
The witness was then asked what Mrs
Bradshaw said. Mr.. Evarts objected rs
it was conversation ut which Beechcr
was not present and the court ruled it
out.
| think | stated To the committee that
Mrs. Bradshaw had seen Mrs. Tilton,
and that she had said to me that she
could not appear before the committee,
and Mrs. Bradshaw faid that she would
write to the committee and tell them she
would not appear rs witness; | don't
know Rev. David f. Robertson; do not
think ever met him or conversed with
him. This finished the crosScXarnina-
tion of the witness.
Bessie Turner TestIHcs.
f. \. Turner was the next witness
and testified: | became an inmate of
Mr.. Titon's house in April, 1864, and
remained ten years; was always treated
as one of the family; | used to comb his
hair and he would take me on his lap as
he did the children; in the carly days of
my living there Tilton was very kind to
hi, wife, but aS time progressed there
came change which visibly increased
h. would be very restless; in one of
these moods and with his hands in his
pockets, he walked about the house making
every person uncomfortable; he was very
exucting when at the table, his manner
to his wife being very unkind, but her
tone was always gentle; he objected to
certain articles being on the table and at
other times reprovcd Mrs. Tilton for not
having them there. The witness was
asked if many such instances occurred.
Mr.. Beach objected, and the Court
ruled out the question.
Witness resumed-Tilton was in the
habit of wandering around the house in
| his night clothes.
Mr.. Beach objected to this last answer
but the Court allowed it to remain in.
! The usual recess was taken.
After Recess
Bessie Turner'S direct examination was
continued by Ex-Judgc Porter.
She testiied-Tilton was in the habit
of going around in his night clothes;
these sullcn moods of his would last two
or three days, and would occur frequently;
on one occasion when little Paul was
very sick Tilton went out and stayed
the whole night; Mr.. Tilton was very
fnuch troubled, and she said so; she ill.,
dicatcd her trouble by walking up and
down the room, and listening when
she heard carriage wheels approaching;
when Mr.. TiltOn came in
Mrs. Trlton vert up to him and said,
"Oh, Theodore darling, | ain Sc glad
YOU came in, l have been so troubled, /
feared'something had happened toyou and
the child is so i'll" Mr.. Tilton threw
himself on the sofa and said 1t did not
matter and he began strOking his hair |
know of one or two instances in which
he offered objections to her friends COM
inr To- the house. but she always treated
his friends well when they came into the
house; on one occasion Tilton was away
on literary tour, and Mrs. Tilton had u
trouble with her wet nurse, Kate Smith,
when he returned she went to HIM and
asked for his advice and he
said not to trouble him with her
household affairs, but to manage them
without his interference; that if she
desired to keep Kate Smith she might do
| 50, but that if she desired To discharge
her, then let her go, but in no case to
come TO HIM about the matter. Witness
WA, asked if Tilton was IN the habit of
/ scolding his wife, to which Mr.. Beach
/ objected. but the question was allowed
and the witness said, | heard Tllton
scold his wife frequently before the
children and myself; he has had her in
room several times and the doors locked,
/ talking harshlv to her and using proiane
expressions; | never heard her voice
raised on these occasions; this habit of
I locking himself up with her oc-
Cured nj various times, and the
bell would ring frequently for
meals 70 which she would not come down !;
| remember one sunday afternoon, two
gentlemen were in the room, and he
talked TO her in nn angry manner; can
not recall the conversation which took
place; on one occasion | heard him up
braidInG her. and she said she would do
all she could, and was trying to make ev-
cry dol lar 90 aS tar rs she could.
Tilton FastIiiOus.
Tilton was very fustidious about his
TODD, and on some occasions when he
came down to breakfast, he was angry
because the beef steak got dry while
waiting his coming down stairs; some
times dishes of whey were prepared for
him; parties were in the habit of saving
To the children. that their mother was Il
most uuselhSh woman. and Tilton would
miSconStru5 this aud say she was selfish
woman; Bcechcr frequently called at
Mrs. Tiltons; his manner was gentle
manly, but | never saw any impropriety
in their conduct toward each other; |
never observed any different treatment
to him rs compared with other friends
who called: remember him going up to
the sitting room and talking and playing
with the children; Mr.. Greeley, Mr..
Oyington. Mr. Bates. Rev. DR.. Hoven
and Others were in the habit of calling,
but they received the same treatment as
Mr.. Baecher; Shown some photographs, J
These | saw in the house; there were
three or four portraits oi BeeCher in
different parts Of the house; there were
books in the house which had been
presented by Bccchcr: ON one par.
ticuar occasion Tilton visited
my room in 1857. and we had a conver-
sation; had gone to bed in the second
story bed room, in front of the setting
room, connected 10y folding doors, and l
had not been in bed very long before
Tiltcn come in, and said he had come to