The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-05
TILTON AND BEECIIER.
continuation of Henry w. Becchcr
TestimOnv

Continuation of Henry w. Becchcrs
Testimony.
We take up the testimony where our
telegraphic report leftit on Saturday morn
| ing:
MRS. TirToN REQUESTS THAT HER RETRAo-
TON BE DESTROYED.
Mr.. Evarts-We have that.
Q. Wait moment. This note that Mr.
Moulton took out and read, did you have it
in your hands? A. l did not.
@. Look at that and see if you remem-
Der if that is it (handing note to witness
| A. This is it, think, the letter that was
read to me.
O. You did not, at the time, read IL
yourself or have 1t in your hands? A. No.
sir.
| G. Please read it. Beecher then read as
| follows;
Ny Dear Friend Frank
want you to do me the greatest possible
favor; my letter which you gave and the one
gave MIR. Beecher at HIS dlctatlon, last night,
ought both to be destroyed. Please bring both
| to me and Will burn them. Show this note to
Theodore and MIR. Beecher, They viii see the
| propriety OF this request.
Yours in trust, e. r. TILToN
@. Well, he read that TO you? A. I
was perplexed little at the existence of
that letter. for Mr.. Tilton's had told me
the letter was destroyed and Mrs Tilton's
note told me of the expistence of that note
containing charges considerable was said;
| said / should be left open without de-
Tense if gave up the retraction he said
he would burn both in my presence or keep
them if | saw fit he would stand between
me and harm.
THAT FAMOUS PISTOL SCENE.
After some little further parey, / went
and brought the letter and gave it to him.
he took off his overcoat he had been
sweating and | saw the hilt of pistol
which he pulled out without any words, as
| remember, and laid it on the bureau; he
| then put his Overcoat on the bed: he put
the document into his pocket and there was
some further conversation about Mr.. Tilton
and his affairs.
@. What passed regarding Iitons
affairs ? A. He spoke of Tilton as a
wronged man and he wanted to right him.
@. What was said as to the wrong and
who had wronged him? A. understood
him to refer to Bowen.
q. This further letter, was that also
read? A. Don't recollect either seeing or
hearing it; part of it is very like Mrs. Til
tons letter; he may have quoted some of
it, but don't remember any other letter
from Mrs. Tilton.
@. This letter from Tilton that Moulton
had was a letter to him and not to you? A..
Yes, sir.
Q. And that you did not reads A. No,
Sir.
@. Was 1t after this promise of MIoul-
| tons, that he would either burn the two
papers if you chose or defend you against a
renewal of the accusation that you gave
| him up the retraction? A. 1t was.
Q. When Moulton represented to you
that it was dlshonorabe for you to take
advantage of your visit to get this paper,
what did you say to him? A. don't re-
member any particular word l remember,
| in general, that | said had perfect right
to defend myself
O. Was anything said by you at the in
| terview on the 3lst about Tilton inviting
you TO 10 there to see his wife? A. Mr.
| Moulton introduced the subject of Tilton's
sending me down to see his wife; there
was no difference of opinion then.
| Q. Was anything said about its being
dishonorable to keep the paper whether it
was to get it or not ? A. Yes, there was
in the course of the conversation, which
was somewhat emphatic in part he tried
to show it would be a mean act to keep
such paper, obtained from sick woman
but | don't remember the grounds on which
the promise was made; but there was an
imputation of meanness Moultons man
ner to me was always that of gentleman;
l mean in his language and address.
@. Now, this scene did not impress itself
on you any more than you have now stated
any more than giving up the paper |?
Rltnrn r,.1 L..
Moulton about giving up the paper? A.
Yes, sir he compllmented me because
had behaved very sensibly, and said he had
no interest except that of peace and har-
mony.
THE EFFECT OF BEECIRR CoNDuCT-soMR
OF MoULToNs TESTIMONY CoNTRADICTRD.
Q. Was anything said of the effect of
this action on your part ? A. He repre-
sented that Titon considered me an active
enemy, and that any action on my part in
my own defense would only strengthen
that feeling, and that every Cancellation |
would make would hinder Mr.. Tilton from
having any unkindly feelings about me.
q. Was anything said by Moulton of
your procuring from Mrs. Tilton what you
knew to be lie ? A. No. No sir.
q. Was anything said about procuring
what he, Moulton, knew to be lie A.
No sir.
@. Was there any charge or expression
OF that nature made to you, that night? A.
None, whatever it was the next day that
we had full interview ON these points.
q. Was anything said, that night, by
Moulton, in reference to your having OBJ.
tanned this letter or anything that passed
between you that would not save you? A.
There dictippt nd I
right, a repeated statement on his part
that this was bad policy of obtaining it, if
peace and harmony between us was in
view.
Judge Nelson Was the expression ''savc
yourself" used
Witness-I don't know that that express
sion was used.
q. Was anything said at that interview
about Moulton not seeing much of the
guidance of God in what you did? A. |
don't know but that there was something
said towards the close about that, but |
rather confuse that with expressions OF
that general character which occurred a
great many times in our subsequent inter-
view.
Q. Did Mr. Moulton say to you that
night, Mr.. Beecher. what | now read to
you, or anything like it
Mr.. Beecher, do not think that you
ought to take merely selfish counsel of
yourself the truth is the truth you have
got TO abide by that
A. The first sentence, think, was one
of the arguments he used when he said !
retained that for self-defense; his state
ment was that cought to take generous
view of the matter, and act for the interest
of all the parties, instead of simply for my
own defense; be was for Cancellation and
reconciliation of all dscordant influences.
Q, Did you saythng to him of these
words Of this nature, that your defense
wo uld be the technical one of general de-
NAL A No sir, did not.
z. Did you say anything about your de-
Tense being mere denial? A. / don't
know that / said anything about my de-
Tense at all, except in connection with the