The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-23
THE PLYMOUTH SCANDAL
Curiosity Relative to Mrs
Moulton's Testimony.
A SLIGHT SKETCH OF THE WOMAN.
Tilton and Moulton-Their Init.
macy and Attraction.

To-day will DO the thirty.nfth day OF the
Tilton. Beecher trial. and renewed and most
painful interest has suddenly been manifested in
the proceedings there Will no doubt be q repetL
ton Of the crowd and crush which attended the
carrier days. Public curiosity Is now turned %
Mrs. Emma d. Moulton, the wife Of Francis D.
Moultou, TO know the value OF her testimony a.
related TO her responsibility.
Mr.. Beecher referred to her, writing to her nus.
band, as 'Your pure and noble wife," and then,
alter saying what comfort she had been to hia
despair, added :-"Her candor did knock me nat
sometimes
Mrs. Moulton was married young, in the year
1860. She is probably thirty-four years old. Her
unces the Messrs. Robinson, are men in business
OF the highest mercantile character. Her uncle,
Jeremiah Robinson, partner OF Mr. Woodruff
has conducted the largest warehousing business
in this country. Frank Mouton entered that
house as page or clerk boy, and was In very un-
promising health. He was put at out-of-door
business, along the wharves. and In that breezy
occupation acquired color, air and endurance,
and ultimately turned out to be very robust
haellow weli-met, diplomatic sort OF man.
Frank Moulton always believed III the literary
star OF his friend Titon. After he got into the
firm this schoollelow OF Moulton's, moving abreast
of him, occupied sucn prominent editorial and
lyceum position that these two always friendly,
insensbly reierred their respective success to
each other. Moulton paid much attention in his
leisure hours to reading and literary society. and.
with good memory, was always crowded down
with bits OF verse he had committed and quaint
prose extracts he had conned from Carlyle,
Beecner or Herbert Spencer. Tilton was first mar
ried, precoclous in family as In general career.
Frank Moulton,
WHILE COURTING HIS WIFE,
mad no lnducement to bring her, the niece Of his
employer into relations with the recluse and
ecstatic Elizabeth Tilton. Mrs. Tiron did not
altogether like the influence. or rather the inti-
macy, exercised by Til:on and Mouton mutually
over each other Moulton was Indifferent 70 re.
gious ooservances. His open air lie unified
him Tor strict attention TO church and church
people. de drank his claret, loved his club,
played MS ante and watched the drama and the
new sensations.
Frank Moulton was taken into the firm by right
OF usefulness and grew well OF, relatively. Hts
literary quahncations stood in good stead with
him In the interests OF his hrm. He could talk
volubly and intelNently to the Collector OF the
Port ana the Secretary OF the Treasury, and there
were times when Theodore Tilton, the widely
known orator and editor OF the Independent came
OF use to the relatively obscure merchant Moul
ton. Titons fine confidence was exerted in any
direction fer friend. The house oil Woodruff =
Robinson grew TO consider Titon as person
ready to return an obligation ana they liked him
anyway. Both o0druff and Robinson were elderly
men, conservative and strong. 1t mas taken much
study and resolution to MAKE them take sides in
this controversy.
No shadow crossed the household OF young
MOulton and his wle until Tlton discovered the
reality or deIusion OF dual marriage on his
heartastcne. Then he sought out the only friend
he had who by priority oi fondness and executive
nerve could deal with his business. He was
stronger man Than NoultOn III snch an encoun.
ter as the
SERIOUS AND SUBJECTIVE
stamp OF his mind and his pride OF personal RI.
valry with one Ike Beecher stimulated HIM to an
unnatural endeavor. He tOd his story TO another
young husband ana klndied Indignation in Mou'
Setting forth to do TiIton's erran, Mr.. Beecher
put his eye on Moulton. elt his temperament, saw
himself ADMIRED, and captured the ambassador II
we dad these things as they DO IN the SCutn, Mr..
Mouton would never have tried to be a second for
two men at once.
Mrs. MoultOn heard OF these thugs. but had no
advice TO tender. She OWNED cause OF domestic
sorrow. but her husband mad been more than
ord nary succe sIui III patching and bridging over
such anars. Besides they had an,ce new house.
thelr own property in Remsen street., furnisaed
and decorated from top to bottom alter their
mutual or alternate oesire. All tue chambers
were furnlsncd with itch native woods and the
be IS were protected by CLOUDS OF lace AT the top
Of the house was FRANKS study, the ceiling painted
with lotOs leaves III the borders, ana ali the
mace rich and DARK, the furniture ounglng and
luxurious and the books select with artists proofs
and small paintlugs, quite original, surrounding
the wall among the p pes, souls ana fishing RODS
Frank mad set up for IA swei amateur.
Mrs. MouItOn UenelQ htf pastor. whose wOr.
ship she had attended for thirteen years and whom
she considered The selected OF heaven, become
suddenly, on a secular Opportuniss aud for the
INST tune, visitor To ner new n me. lie had not
come there at ali on any previous OCCASION. Now
he came all the time. large part OF the business
OF the
HOT 81 DE MoULToN
was intrigue, interviews, learned condolences and
genuine, true lnwardness between Henry and
Frank.
There was q novelty about it for WHILE but
then Ieeling OF Impending danger tue young
wife felt, with all her womau's ms met The
husband was now prosperous Yong mer.
communicate OF the churcn nor intimate
with clerical or spiritual people, sne
had often wished tGat he might be
more fond OF sucn hallowed company, but now
1t was source OF regret that he mad known the
clergy at all. A man OF MIR. Beecner's universal
seen IN DAILY intimacy with her Young AM boyish
husband and not provoke comment. He had de-
secluded IRON the gate where ne sat among the
rule s OF the land 10 go ABOUT amliIarly with q
man not OF MS klnd or age. Here, also, WAS that
dreadful I1lton gOaded on by MS secret, real OK
imaginary out o. work, morOse, desperate. Be-
tween his ascendancy and Beecher the wife felt
that the way OF mutual friends was nard.
SHE FACED MR.. TILToN
and warned hun on the premises II he should
seek TO usurp the VIII OF her husband and use him
Tor "a private revenge. she laced Mr.. beecher,
MIN, ana OF the simplest and only possible Quilted
PUBLICLY came with time. The remorseless secret
burst the confines OF mere private custody, aud
III the inundatiUn 1t made. lar ana near, the name
OF ''Mouton" noated on every casX and spar.
The scnoOmate lrleDd had his will. The pastor
antagonzed his host and iegate. The vile had to
appear on the witness STAND, hostage OF mys.
a