The Portland daily press., 1875-04-08
More Contradictions of Triton and
NaOultOm.

BROOKLYN, April 1.-THE usual crowd at
tended the Brooklyn City Court this morning.
The proceedings opened with remarks by
MIR. Evarts in reference to the examination OF
sick witness, H. NJ. cleveland. The coun-
sci proposed that the witness be allowed to
go to the country for few days to recover
his health, after which he will either come to
court or complete his examination at his own
house. The judge approved this course and
the plaintiff counsel consented.
The examination of Mr.. Beecher was re-
sumed by Mr.. Evarts. He said:
Mrs. Woodruff came to Moulton's house
the morning of the day she delivered her
Steinway Hall lecture. 1 was there in the
front room when she came. No one else was
present at the interview. 1t had reference en-
tirely to presiding at the Steinway Hall meet
ing, and lasted about twenty minutes, after
which I went down stairs and gave an ac-
count of it to Tilton and Moulton. l think
Mrs. Woodruff meantime had gone to New
York. I told Tilton and Moulton that she
was engaged in an unpopular cause, and felt
she had right to the sympathy of pro-
gressive men, and wished 1 should preside. l
replied seldom allowed myself to preside at
meetings, even in matters dear to my heart
and | saw no reason for an exception
in her case. She said she was engaged In
forlorn hope for the benefit of the community
and that sympathized with her. said so
far as woman suffrage was concerned, but not
as to her social views, as understood them.
She handed me roll containing her views.
I refused under any circumstances to preside.
Then she charged me with cowardice, that
was afraid to proclaim my sentiments. re-
piled must be content to lie under the i'm
putation of cowardice from her. 1 walked
towards the door and she followed and
shook hands and left. Tilton said he was
sorry l had lost such a chance for an
ally. I said it was impossible; could
not preside at such a meeting. Tilton said it
ought to be done, for the approval of freedom
of discussion and to have the discussion OF
social freedom go forth with the name OF
Henry Ward Beecher. Woodruff understood
from me that my refusal was positive and
final. l did not say to Tilton late in the day
that had come to the conclusion to preside.
During my first visit to Moulton's, when
Woodruff was there, Mrs. Moulton went up
to her and kissed her. Moulton came in and
he kissed her. / did not see Tilton do it.
received letter from Woodruff in refer
ence to going to Washington to speak in
favor of woman's suffrage. This was the let
ter referred to in my letter to Moulton, Janu-
ary. 1871 l also received letter from her
in regard to the Steinway Hall meeting. This
was in November, day or two before the
meeting, and was entirely about the meeting.
1 received another letter from her in June,
1872, think not great while before the
publication of what is called the Woodruff
scandal. did not receive any others from
her. replied to her letter about Washing
ton and her letter of June 1872, but not to
her Steinway Hall letter. An interview fol-
lowed it.
remember the publication of Tilton's
+hn
fall of 1872. l saw it in a newspaper about
the time of its issue. 1 suppose had con-
versation with Moulton about it. l said that
1 thought it was dastardly publication; that
it was an i'll bird that fouls its own nest. He
said he thought SO too, and did not make any
apology for it. did not say this almost
broke my heart, and that it was virtually
telling the story of me and Elizabeth. What
l did say was that it almost broke my heart
to bring her name in that way before the
public. I do not recollect having that con-
versation with Tilton about that poem.
remember that in December, 1871, had
conversation with Tilton about his retiring
from the Plymouth church, but do not re-
member when Tilton said unfriendly feeling
was manifested toward him by the church,
and that he thought I was in measure re-
sponsible. Previous to this l had told him
could not be responsible for dislikes or preju-
dices, but that all these might be removed if
he saw his way to come back to the church
and show cordial feeling to the members.
In one of our conversations l thought l per-
ceved a leaning that way, and l said
saw way of setting him high and dry above
all these prejudices. After this he said he
did not consider himself member. spoke
of his getting better, and he said in the pres
ent state of feeling towards him that would
look like evading inquiry. l suggested he
might announce his withdrawal, and he de-
clined These conversations ran on two or
three months. No conversation took place
between US in which said, as his name was
being banded up and down the COM
munity there was growing feeling
in the church to investigate
how matters stood. There was no suggestion
by Tilton to me to treat "Sir Marmaduke's
Musing" as farmer treats nettles crush it;
boldly treat it as if dangerous to me. No
sir, no. Tilton did not suggest that if his
name was dangerous to me on the roll OF the
church, to rid of it or to remember that two
years ago he distinctly told me he would
never cross the threshold of my church. He
didn't give as reason for a letter of dismiss
sal that he not more radical than Deacon
Freeland and other members in good stand
ing. He did not say it was well known that
my church was a refuge for all looseness and
liberality in religion, and that if retired on &C
count of radicalism or looseness in rel igion,
people would say "where will he gos" No
sir; purely imaginary all of it. He didn't
follow up by saying that if he retired from
the church, leaving his wife and daughters
members, an impression would be made that
family difficulties were created; no such dis
cussion sir.
In January 1872, met Tilton on the cars,
going from Springfield to Boston, 1 felt
some one lay hand on my shoulder and
looking round was surprised to see Tilton.
He explained that he had lecturing
engagements in New England. He
sat down and conversed pleasantly, for he was
in one of his gracious moods, and said if it
was any pleasure to me he would be glad to
see me visit his house as before; make it
kind of home; that was his idea. Then he
left and went back to his seat. I returned
the visit to his part of the car, and found him
writing an editorial, and after some literary
chat noticed book beside him. 1 asked
what it was, and he said it was most charm
ing book by the most charming of men,
John Woolman's; that it was fountain OF
peace to his mind when he read it. l said if
that was the kind of book it was l should
have it. I did not say hoped he was not
writing another "Sir Marmadukes Musings"
NlueStlOH-I1t says yOu uISW q lung UiOdIh
and said "Give me that fountain of peace. l
thought there was no more peace for me in
this world"
Answer do not know that drew long
breath Qaughter), but I certainly spoke of
the necessity of peace to my mind, owing to
mental occupations and said that was the
kind of book should have. He did not say,
$50 on with your work in protecting and
shielding Elizabeth l am shielding you"
Not word of it.
Ny letter to Moulton in 1872 came about in
this way: went to his office. He kept me
waiting considerable length of time and
gave me cold recognition. Passing out l
followed, and must say forced myself upon
him, and he was more nearly in a mood of
anger with me than ever l saw before, and
his manner was abrupt. 1 spoke of Tilton's
accusation to me that was not fulfilling my
part of the argument between US. He
answered in cutting tone that it was all
well for me; that it was all l wanted, while
Tilton was in poverty and injured by those
who were fattering him. This conversation
was most trying to me. On the following
Monday felt a reaction, and determined to
clear myself in a court of honor, and to make
him feel to his inmost man that had done
all that became man to do for afriend, and
lol E,,1e IF I