Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-04-03
TILTON-BEECHER TRIAL

Il
He stated II am q practicing law
yer, and have been for twenty-five
years. | was formerly district at
torney for Kings county. | was a
member of the
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES
of Plymouth church meeting at
Mr.. Storrs house. Mrs. Tilton was
before the committee on the 9th Of
July at Mrs. Ovington's. The COM
mittee were there about five or six
! minutes before tho examination
began. Mr.. Tracy accompanied
us up there and was only absent
two or three minutes. Mr.. Tilton
was before the committee on the
10th of July. He said that there
should not be any investigation,
and asked if Mr.. Beccher wanted
| one, and he was assured that Mr..
Beecher did. Mr.. Cleveland show
ed him Mr. Beeeher's letter calling
for it.
MR.. TiLToN SAID
his case was in writing. He never
stated as to whether Mr.. Beecher
had made any confession, verbal
or otherwise, to him. He saw Bee
| cher's letter and read livery care
fully. On the 18th of July, the
day that Mr.. T'llton published his
card, we had an interview. / met
him on the street and said / had
read his letter. He said that he
would like to talk to me; this in
vestigation was wrong and should
not be. He wanted the committee
to adopt the report he had drawn;
indeed, he had drawn two or three
reports. | told him did not want
TO hear anything except the tesii-
mony before the committee. He
wanted me not to oppose, and ask
ed me to do bis statement justice. /
was present when his sworn state
ment was read, and at his cross
examination. | was also present
when
MIR. Triton ATTACKED MIR TRACY
and heard what he said. There had
been no regular session that after
noon. When Mr.. Tilton said TO
Mr. Tracy ''you have no right TO
be here in collision with me after
the promise you made" MIR. Tracy
Eyes, but when | saw you change
your ground | did not consider the
promise binding.' Mr. Tracy went
into the front parlor and Tilton
followed. He said, Mr.. Tracy,
/ forgive you / like you
better than any man i'm Brooklyn.
He put his arm around Mr.. Ira
cy's neck, who said something
abouts forgiveness, Tilton said
there is one difference between
us, Mr.. Tracy +; | always forgive,
but yon never Go.
CROSS EXAMINED.
The first meeting OF the commit
rec when testimony was taken on
the 9th of July. Mr.. Fleetwood
was present at all the meeting af-
terWard and took the testimony.
Mrs. Tilton made two statements
before the committee. They were
both verbal statements. The first
was made on the 9Th OF July. /
never saw it in print. Mr.. Beecher
made two written statements, the
first on the 10th Of July before the
committee; they were all present.
The statement on that occasion was
not left with the committee. The
substance of ii only was published
Mr.. Tilton came before the COM
mittee on the 10th of July. lie
said he did not think it was best
TO have an investigation, as it
would be an unhappy affair, and
would lead to endless trouble and
distress, but he did not say to
whom. He thought there would
be a number of unhappy revela-
tons which Mr.. Beecher and him
self did not desire. He expressed
unwillingness 10 testify on this
occasion. i do not rememper him
saying anything about shielding
his family. Tilton spoke about
documents and papers. He said
he was we'll aware he was a dis
credited person in the community,
but his case rested in writing. He
said he would like To see the l,t-
pers. This conversation / think,
was not taken down, but the stem
ogrepher may have done so. /
next saw Mr.. Tiiton on the 18th,
and ] think he referred to Mrs.
Tilton's testimony on the 9th, and
gave that as one of the reasons why
the investigation should be ended.
He had report which he wished
the committee to adopt, exonerat-
ing himself and Mr.. Beecher, on
on the 23dof July. TiIton brought
a bundle of papers to the commit
tee, and began to read something
which some member of the COM
mittee thought was not pertinent.
They expressed desire to exam