Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-13
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NEW YORK.
Beecher-Ti,tOn.

cross-t xa animation continued.
/ Witness resumed -
On my direct examination | gave Mr.. Tilton's
exact language at.thc interview so far as | recol-
lect. i NAV have varied this language in the
cIoss-examination this believe TO be due to the
inherent inirmity of human memory, have
given the language to the best of my belief; i'm
material words | may have changed. l made q
memorandum Of the conversation on the morning
OF April Sd. 1t is now at my office, No. % Fifth
Ave. The memorandum is written in ink an |
will produce it. | remember some of the phrases
of the conversation, but not the concluding one.
The vital part of it | can give you. 1t is written
on half sheet Of ordinary toolscap paper. felt
that this thing was going to drift into great ju-
deal contest, and made memorandum Of This
conversation.
The statement of Mr.. 1ilton, that he would
publish the article in the Golden Age on March
", made me believe that this thing would come
INTO the courts. On April knew that arhitra-
tors were appointed TO make the award to Tilton
1 mad not heard that Oh the night OF April the
award had been made and the checks given for
the amount did BOT fear this matter drifting
into Judicial contest, but rather desredn. What
made me think it would drift ioto a judicial con-
test was the movement OF Tllton organizing
against Beecher aud the charges made by Bowen
and Mr.. T. against Bcecher. Thought the time
would come when B1eCher and his friends would
get tired OF paying money to the Golden Age to
suppress these Scandals against the greatest man
and preacher of the age. Knew that this peril
proposals would grow. Mr.. +. came to me on
the morning Of April for money. lie got the
money Out of Bowen from me, because initiated
the movement to obtain it. Do not know of b.
or his friend. contributing any money to the Age,
nor do know that they solicited for any
money.
l caEno, recall the allegations made in the per-
sonal statement of Tilton with regard to the rela-
tons between Mrs Tilton and Beecher; / think it
only contained the relation of stories told by
RI I
had any conversation with Tilton about the pub
fishing of any article nor conversation about these
charges
A letter dated Jan. IL. 1871, was handed to the
witness and ldcn iiod written by him 10 Tton
asking him not to publish that he (Wilkcson) knew
he was in trouble and he would speak to Jay
Cooke about him and have HIM lecture the
Northern Pacific X. Il.
Witness continued: -
What requested him not to publish in this let
ter the charges he threatenln. to make
public about Beecher. think Iilton mentioned
them about this time to me. | am a member of
the publishing house Of j. b Ford 4 Co. l
ried a sister of Mrs. Stanton. Mrs. Stanton lisa
lady of high c2lture and refinement | never said
to her that these charges if published would knock
the Life Of Christ higher than kite, will tell
you what said if YOU will allow me.
Mr. Beech objected
Witness continued: In an interview on April
with Titon after the trplttite agreement, |
told him Mrs. Station had told me that Beecher
had committed adulte y with Mrs. Tton and that
Miss Anthony had to her Mrs Tllton had con
fe.sed the adultery to her. Tton said An )ny
was "a morbid old maid and her mind was ALWAYS
dwelling on morbid subj .cts.
The letter OF April 2, 1872, from witness to
Moulton, was dentiied by him and read by Mr..
Beech. 1t called for the destruction of Beechers
letter of APP 1logy in his possession.
Witness resumed. | published the trpartite
agre ment in connection with my partner, Ed
ward l.. Ford. Did not confer vita any other
persons about it and quite sure not with Mr..
Cleayeland about it. When re solved to do it
put the thing 10 motion and had no conforcnc, with
any one about it. The only porti )ns of the cove
nant that think published were those of Bowen
and Tilton. did n publish Bcecher's portion
or the personal statement that ,llowed
am firm believer IN MIR. Beccher's innocence
from the first, and an ardent defender of him. |
had frequent discussions in which indicated
him whenever had the opportunity.
When | proposed the trparlite agreement in
the form in which presented it, gave it to Hor-
ace B. Clahn | ~ .ie NJ copy OF it at the tune
OF the preparation of the draft.
| was present at the examination of Beecher
before the church committee. | was not present
more than once when Mr.. Beechcr appeared be-
fore the committee with statement
Redirect examination by Mr. Evarts-
have looked at this memoran lam made of
Mr.. Tntons conversation wi hin O month past
Mr.. Evarts asked the witness as to the CONVEX
sation which led to the remark that the publica
tiun of these charges would knock the Life of
Christ higher than kite.
Mr.. Beech objected to this, and long Argument
en- ,ued between the counsel.
Judge Nelson directed Mr.. Evarts to ask the
witness what he did say about it,
Wit0e.s said -
Mrs. Stanton and others were in the room, and
in reply TO inquiry from one of the younger
sisters replied, "lf these charges true All are
made public of course the Life of Christ will go
higher than kite"
Witness here raised his arm, and at the word
"klte" snapped his finger and thumb in the air..
lie then continued -
think made this gesture when uttering the
remark | understood TIiton when he SAID 10 me
that improper advances had been made to his wife
to mean improper proposals. Between tine tine
OF my plai uing the Publication OF the a1ieemen
and It's actual public III ou, | think Mr.. Cleveland
saw me twice about 1t; he objected to il publicA-
ton My obj ct IN the publication Of this agree
ment was 10 stop the persecution of this gre It and
good man, and wanted to the thing in the
court where 1t ought to be.
Edward Eggleston next called and testi
fed as follows: -
am an author, clergyman and editor, ami re-
side in Brooklyn. wa. associated with Ti.ton as
editor of the lndepen lent, bat retired from the
paper entirely III July, think, OF the year 1871
Ia 81 | became acq AIMED with Tiiton by sight
Met Beecher about the same Ii ne, but only bc
came Intimately connected with him during the
past OF years. In the fall Of 6S spring of
b9 was guest al liItOn mouse. 1 was talhlng
with them about Beecher and Mrs, Tilton ashci
me II | knew HIN. l SAID ST. atty and she asked
me to got Pages studio and make his acquaint-
ance on the next day. Tilton objected he
thought Beecher would MOI like to be distui bed.
He told Mrs. Titon she had better 90 alone and
therefore | did not go. On one occasion at Til
tons house, when was there, a certain lady was
present and Tiltons attic ntons to her the
subject of remark. remember making subse-
quent call at the house. Mrs. Tilton was not
there. l saw the housckeeper who told Mr..
Tilton was about. This at o'clock in the
evening. returned at and he came in shortly
after with the same ady. There young
lady there, who said she was relative of the
other lady Both of the ladies went away after
wards. The lady with Mr. Tilton apologized to
the other lady for keeping her out until such late
hour, but botn their watches had stopped
On the ferry boat at one time we had CONVEX
sa,ion about the marriage relations. This was in
the summer of 1870. lie asked me what though
of it, or if there might be more than one hum An
love. told him | did not know. He asked in
relation to uncongenal love what my opinion was.
| told him thought if such people were uncon-
genial they would in time come together, and he
replied that they would go further apart.
The court adjourned until Monday IN orning at
10 o'clock.