Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-02

After some further argument, Judge
Nelson said be would still rule cut the
paper.
Mr.. Evarts moved to strike out this evil
dence on the ground that it would dispar-
age as giving proof Of adultery Of the wife,
It not being competent according to law.
| Judge Nelson refused this and an ex-
eeption was taken.
The witness then said: On the Sd Of
January went to MoHlton's, and shortly
/ atteTt eeechgr entered the room. MOultOn
said l should not refuse to speak TO him in
/ his house. Ireplied, "HOW could do so,
/ knowing ne had ruined my wife"
| M0ulton said, "HOW could you act so TO
man who had humbled himself before
you as before his GOd?D / then said,
| ''GOOd morning." Beecher said, Il do not
put in any plea for myself. If you wish
me to retire from the pulpit, only say the
word and viii leave. There viii be no
selling Of peWs, and win 60 out Of public
life. 1 viii either 60 out Of life by suicide
or journey 10 some other part Of the world.
My wife" said BeecheT, sought never to
know this, for in addition to becoming
your enemy, She would also become mine"
BE said the relation between himself and
Elizabeth was not always marked
by sexual intercourse, and he could
not Ot5r any excuse for himself
He asked me to believe that be
had never sought her for selfish purposes,
and4hat the intercourse was from motives
of I0ge and not lust, and that she was the
only woman that he had ever loved. He
asked me if l could Teinstate her in my
love and esteem, and drew a picture Of
man sitting on brink, and said be was on
the edge Of hell. 1 remember. Beecher |
said something which led him into a viO- |
lent burst Of grief during the conversation |
with MOUltOn, which witness did not hear. |
Beecher appeared overcome with grief. |
MOultOn requested witness to leave them |
together. A few days after this Moulton |
sent for me. Beecher was present. The |
letter which had written to Bowen the /
1st Of January was under discussion. /
l had been sent for twice in /
reference to some consultation about this /
matter. MOultOn read it aloud, and told /
Beecher l had written it, thinking thai 1 /
must make some explanation to the public /
about the determination with hr. Bowen. /
l told him that it was announced in the /
papers by Bowen that was to be the editor
Of the Brooklyn Union and contributor
to the Independent, and that these appoint
ments had, for some independent reason,
been cancelled by Bowen; that the public
must be informed Of the reason Of these
charges. Beecher said that so far as the |
charges Of Bowen we're concerned, that he
did not care about any that he (Bowen) |
could make. Beecher also said there was
a peculiar nalignity in the charges made
by Bowen against him, and that he
never committed any violence on any
woman. The interview ended by MOul-
ton asking me 10 retire, as he usually had
some talk with Beecher after these inter-
views. l remember shortly afterwards
MOultOn was i'll. l went to see him
(Beecher.) He said that, Frank is very
sick; he is at the graves edge. RI am
afraid he will die, and what win then be-
come Of our case? Frank has saved me-
So saying, lie kissed me on the forehead
and retired. had another interview with
him, either at the close Of that month or
the beginning Of the next. 1 was sent for
to MOultOn's who had then recovered, and
it took place in his house. Beecher was
then present. MOultOn held in bis hand a
letter which Beecher had received from
Mrs. Morse. Beecher had received the letter,
and & was in relation 70 some
statements contained in a letter that had
been sent. [ShOWn COPY Of the letter,
which witness identified The letter
charges me with telling twelve persons
about Beecher's relations. I denied this.
The letter also said that / had not money |
to buy food for my family. l turned to
M0ultOn and said, ,'"Y on know this to be
falsesS Beecher asked me if / had told
twelve persons Of The charges. Ireplied no.
l told him that Mrs. Morse was saving
among our relatives that Theodore was
making such and such charges against
and that these charges were prOp-
agated by Mrs. Morse. [ also told him |
that the only person informed on the sub
jet were Oliver Johnston. Mrs. Martha |
Bradshaw and Francis d. MOulton. Mr.. |
Beecher asked me if stated that he preach
ed to a number Of his mistresses, and told
him that in the previous summer had told |
stories TO his detriment, that L may have |
said this, but did not remember this. Il
occurred before MOultOn came in to keep
peace between us. / told him Mrs. Morse
was dangerous woman; that had received
threatening letters from her, threatening |
my life and family, and calling me a brute ! .
and such like terms. / told him that If | I
Mrs. Morse was offended at anything, she
vas very violent in her manners and utter I
ances. A letter was prepared by Beasher
in reply to this one from Mrs. Morse. 1
could not say if this letter was written
It the termination Of this interview.
During that interview l exhibited a letter
which was sent to Mr.. Bowen by Mrs.
Morse, and conveyed to me. 1 read it as
IN example Of the kind Of letters Mrs. Z
Morse was in the habit Of sending. Beech c
T asked me what understood TO be the {
tate Of Elizabeth's mind.
The letter Of Mrs. Morse was offered in
and 8Ir. Evarts objected 10 it as
rom third party. Finally, after a brief
argument, it was ruled out.
Witness continued: was bearer Of a q
etter to Mrs. TiltOn from Mr.. Beecher, at >
he same time that brought one to Moul- a
on. l showed MOulton's letter to Mrs.
DiltOn with his (MoultOn's) consent.
This letter written to MOultOn was Of
cred in evidence. Objected to by Mr.. n
1varts. The court ruled to let the letter
tand for the present. r
l cannot recOllect the date or bearing Of K
hese letters, but think it was about the | D
tn Of February. The next interview with t
'eecher after this, was before Moulton |
7ent to the South. MOultOn, before this.
sked me if 1 would permit Beecher to
D write to Ms. TiltOn, and l said that II
'eecher could act as he saw fit. l think
hat l received the letter at the hands Of
IoultOn.
Adjourned.
GENAWnPTRT TVFNVTOVC 81