The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-09
DEGENERATION.

New YORK, March 3.-There was no
falling off in attendance on this, the third
day of the ninth week of the great scan
dial trial. Mrs. Tilton was not present,
but Messrs. Beecher and Tilton were early
on hand, the former accompanied by his
wife.
MR.. OV1NGTON
was recalled to testify with regard to the
monies placed in his hands by Mr.. Storrs.
lie said his mind had been occupied the
past two Or three months in making prep.
arations for his trip to Europe, and the
amounts of money given him by Stcrrs
had entirely escaped his memory, but on
looking over his books this morning he
found he had made q misstatement yes
terday with regard to the amounts he
had received.
Witness here handed written account
Of monies to Judge Fullerton, Iilton's
counsel, who read aloud that witness had
received Sept. 4. 1874, $500, and on Jan.
4, 1875, $745, making total of $l,245.
This paper was placed in evidence. Wit
ness also submitted another paper con.
tanning an account of various monies dis.
bursed out of this sum for the benefit of
Mrs. Tilton ard her children.
To Mr.. Hill: The total amount paid
out of this sum was 81, 249.93. The item
of $3.50 was paid for Miss Florence TIL
toms board when she was in the country.
Witness was then allowed to leave the
stand, which was taken by
MRS. ov1NGToN
and her direct examination was continued
by Mr.. Hill. She replied as follows:
Florence Tilton was in Fairfield with her
mother. Mrs. Tilton made few of the
purchases mentioned in this bill. made
some Of them at Mrs. Tilton's request,
and was accompanied by her children. l
considered these purchases necessary.
Mr.. Hill here returned to the Sunday
interview witness had with MIR. 1ilton,
and witness replied: l suggested the
taking of Mrs. Tilton for drive and M.
Tilton acquiesced. Next day called for
her and took her out to drive and left
her at home, after calling on Mrs. Brad
shaw. On the sixth Of July I took Mrs.
Tilton again for drive. We went first
to the park and at Mrs. Tilton's request
returned to the city where l left her at
my house, as she asked me. / drove to
my husbands store and after wards
went to Mr.. Beecher's house
but he was not there. Gen. Tracy called
in the afternoon, but Mrs. Tilton was
away from the house. She didn't see
Gen. Tracy, who stayed about five min
utes and left. Mrs. Tilton came about
six o'clock with Judge Morse. Mr.. Tracy
was present, having called again. There
was something said about Mrs. Tilton ap-
pearing before the investigating commit
tee. This conversation was held in the
parlor before Judge Morse, Gen. Tracy,
Mr.. Ovington and myself. Mrs. Tilton
had private conversation with Judge
Morse up stairs, at this time.
Mrs. Tilton appeared before the COM
mittee that night, and her appearance be-
fore them was entirely voluntary.
Gen. Tracy lef: the house and returned
with the committee. We were at tea
down stairs when Gen. Tracy came down
to see Mrs. Tilton. He took seat and
had a conversation with her, lasting
about three minutes. He then went up
stairs, and Mrs. Tilton and myself fol.
lowed. Mrs. 1iltsn was then introduced
to the committee, and made her state
ment. The committee took their leave
about ten o'clock. Gen. Tracy did not
instruct Mrs. Tilton as to her answers,
but suggested to her as to the form of
questions to be put to her. He made
this suggestion in the dining room, in
presence Of Mrs. Tilton aud myself. 1
was present at the whole interview be-
tween Mrs. Tilten and the committee.
On Thursday morning, the 9th of July,
I saw Tiltou when he called at our house.
Ovington was the only person with me.
He said Mrs. Tilton was trump. She
made an impression on the committee,
but it was all fiction. I asked about Mrs.
Tilton's state of health. He said she was
as happy as bird that morning.
The conversation then turned on two
letters had received from Mrs. Triton.
The first one, think, was written on
the day before she appeared before the
committee. The first letter expressed
sorrow and wretcnedness, and the other
showed the writer to be in a cheerful
mood. stated to Mr.. Tilten the con-
tents Of the letters.
Mr.. Tilton then referred to the scan
dial and said Beecher had forced this
thing upon him against his will and call
ed him knave and fool; and he, Tilton,
could NOT rest under that implication.
He said Beecher' was q coward; after
Elizabeth had given him all she could. or
something like that. he had treated
her very badly. He, Tilton, would
not treat woman that way who had
served him. expressed my disbelief in
the stories told Tilton he must be mis-
taken. Tilton also said Mrs. Beechcr had
made her husbands home q hell, and that
Beecher never loved o woman as he loved