Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-05-05
The Reecher Scandal.

ANSWER.
After recess i'm the Tilton and Beecher trial
yesterday, Mrs. Anna NJ MiddlebrOOk was
called and testified that she became ac-
quainted with Tilton in 1871. and met him at
Mrs. WoOdhull's house. She denied that any
conversation relation to the Beecher scandal
took place there on the 25th of October, ISL
as had been testified 10 by defendants wit
neSSeS.
Joseph II. Richards, Mrs. T:lton's brother.
was recalled. and testified that Mr.. Tracy
told him he was acting as counsel for Beecher
before the church committee. The witness
denied that Bessie Turner never told him
she had received ill-treatment from Tiltou
Stephen Pearl Andrews was placed on the
stand and gave some details of his life, but
befOre any testimony was reached bearing on
the case on trial the court adjourned.
The Brooklyn Eagle furnishes the follow
ing as
MRS. TILToN's LETTER
BROOKLYN, May 3, 1ST5-J,sttae Nelson:
Sir: i ask the privilege from you for few
words ID my own behalf feel very deeply
thc injustice Of my position in the law anu
before the court now sitting. and while I
have understood and expected from the be-
ginning to be called by Mr.. Evarts, the prin-
cipal in the matter, yet since your last dec-
sion have been so sensible of the power of
my enemies that my soul cries out before Won
and the gentlemen of the jury that they be-
ware, how, by a divided verdict thew CON
sign TO my children a false and irrevocable
stain uron their mother. For wears past I
nave been the victim of circumstances most
cruel and unfortunate, struggling from time
10 tllne only fora place to live hOnorably and
truthfuly. Released for some months from
the will by whose power unconsciously L
eliminated myself again and again, | declare
Solemnly before you, without fear of man
and by faith in God, that am innocent of
the crimes charged against me. / would like
10 tell my whole sad story, truthfully to
acknowledge the frequent falsehoods wrung
from me by cOmpulSion, though at the same
Tune unwilling TO reveal the secret of my
married life, which Only the vital import
ance of my position makes necessary. as
sumo the entire responsibility Oft this request,
unknown to friend or counsel of either side,
and await your honor's honorable decision.
with great respect,
ELIZABETH r. TILToN.
THE JUDGES REPLY.
CHAMBERS OF THE CITY COURT OF
BROOKLYN, y. Y, BROOKLYN, MAY I, 1S75.-
Mrs. luton: L am directed by Chief Judge
Nelson TO return your letter, as il cannot be
read in court Also, To state that in civil
cases counsel have the right TO refrain from
calling particular witnesses, however COM
petent, and that neither the court nor the
client can interfere with the exercise of that
right. The judge also instructS me TO say
that the question whether you could be q
witness stands on quite another ground from
that considered when your husband was
called and sworn. He was competent wit
ness 10 testify i'm his own behalf against a
third person, (the defendant;) and while the
iolicy OF the law was to some extent involved
there was no express statute in the way, but
the statute Of May 10, 1867, expressly declares
the wife to be incompetent as witness for or
against the husband. Yours, respectfully,
GEO. w. KNAEBEL,
Clerk of the City Court, &c.