The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-20

The Judge suggested that such remarks as
"evasion" be avoided.
Fullerton (humerously)-E the court IN
tends it as rebuke for the witness 1t IS all
very well.
Beecher-1 wish to ask the court if l am
under its rebukes
Judge Neilson-No sir.
Fullerton-I asked him for an answer
three times, and if he don't answer L propose
to ask him if he isn't evading it.
Witness-The proposal was that the matter
should be dropped if Tlton cleared me before
the committee. / was willing TO drop it II ne !s
satisfied the committee. l was willing, II
Tilton made statement that would exoneTate
me in the judgment of the committee. to drop
further proceedings, but it was Mouitoh
plan, not mine, at the interview OF January
3d. When Tilton was unwilling TO SPEAK
to me Moulton did not say his letter VI
apology is enough, but he has made as ample
apology as one gentleman could expect from
another. When the letters of February tn'
1871, were written the restoration OF Ilitoh
position and the restoration of the famliy peace
were uppermost in our minds, and L learned
that Mrs Tilton was not doing her part al
home, but receiving him with sullen looks, ana
my influence was asked to induce her 10 take
her part in rebuilding the family Ii was
agreed was to write letter to Moulton, 10 10
shown to Tilton. Tilton was to write one TO
sumo, and L was to write one to go TO MIS-.
Tllton (Tilton's letter read, saying notwlth
standing the suffering caused to Ellzaoetn anu
himself, he bore no malice and would cohceai
Beecher's secretly 1 can't recollect thae tnaI
letter was shown to me at or about the time L
wrote that day. (Beecher's letter written 70
Moultou speaking of him as friend raised up
by God in whom he had eXollcIt trust, ana
speaking of himself, Tilton and Elizabeth, says
does God look down on three more unhappy
hos fhn
acted nobly. &c.
Witness-I don't know that Tilton had taken
back at that time the charge OF improper
solicitation. He made charge on the SUN, as
a charge which he repeated from his wife to
me. i have no doubt he supposed the charge
to be true when he made it. ,
Q.-When you wrote, February 9TH, 1871, to
Moulton that Titon would have the hardest
task, did you believe that Titon supposed you
had made improper advances?
Al don't think he did. He had not told
me that it was removed. L supposed SO, be-
canse be and Moulton were willing to go INTO
cooperation with me IN manner that Implied
infamy. If that impression had not been re-
moved, could say yes OF no to the question
whether l then supposed the charge OF I'M
proper advances was made by Tilton in good
faith. 1 cannot say [ thought OF 1t. line
question was not preached to me.
O.-At that period did you believe the charge
of improper advances had been made in good
faith?
AIT that time that charge had sunk out
of sight.
Mi. Beach-Strike that out.
Mr.. Fulerton-Yes and L say again that he
is evadng my question.
Judge-At th 1t time what did you think?
Witness-The charge had then sunk out OF
sight.
Mr.. Fulerton-No, no, sir! What did you
believe at that time?
T ho1;o Uh "a made
the charge he made in good faith. certainly
thought Tilton would have the hardest task.
This was written on the basis that we are TO DE
friends again. which was incompatible with his
continuing to believe the charge can't de-
termine now what understood when l wrote
to Moulton February 7th. 1871. L supposed
could not see Mrs. Tilton again, but it was con-
veyed 10 me and l had the impression that
Triton did not wish me to see her. When
wrote in the same letter, 81 wonder If Eliza,
beth knows how generously he has acted
towards me,'' l referred to the alienation OF
his wifes affections, and the part Bowen and
had in injuring him, but l do not recall that
| was referring to improper solicitations.
(Beecher's letter to Mrs. Tilton the same day
was read: 81 did not expect to SEE you again,
but God was kinder to ne than my own
thoughts.
Witness-T referred to the likelihood that
both of US would die. l several times feared
death. 1 meant God was kinder to me than |
thought if man feared apoplexy and escaped
The words "God was kinder than my own
thoughts toIme might pass without criticism. I
had no intention of suicide, nothing of the
kind" By "storm ready to burst on our
heads" mean disclosure of family difficulty
that would be painful, dangerous and heart
rending. Tilton had torn up the accusation IN
my presence, but didn't say that is the lend
of it, When wrote ''Moultou will be true
friend to your honor" L feared an exposure OF
the difficulty and the charge against me OF i'm
proper advances would invo We her honor, by
the way the tongue OF scandal reports things.
then thought after much suspense and vacllla-
ton that Mrs. Tilton had come to state OF
affection for me, the breaking out OF which and
the anger of her husband had shattered her
mind. If you judged her as an ordinary person
1 would bold her very guilty. L did not IN
this letter rebuke her because we were making
up the difficulty. She had taken it back; she
had also renewed it. I made no reference to
her conduct towards me in my letter of Eebru-
ary 9TH, because my object was to win her con-
fdence for Frank Moulton, and not by an y
means to vindicate myself, and people do not
fire pistols at each other faces when they want
to make up.
don't recollect how my interview with I'll
ton at Moulton's house in the first part OF Feb
ruary came about The conversation turned on
the injury Bowen had done him, and especially
the aspersion made on his reputation and Til
ton went over the stories and declared they
were all false, and that some of them were
true of a r kish fellow of his name going about
the country, and that he got the cre1it of what
another man did. He spoke generally of the
difficulties in his family. but made no alluson
| to the charge of improper advances, and
made no denial of their truth. The conversa-
ton was amicable and thought the difficulties
all in the way of settlement, so tar as be was
concerned. L thought all the difficulty was
settled, but not that l might go see her. Ii
was not then l sat on Tilton's knee. That was
in the Nav interview. In that MAY interview
Tilton seemed to have been disturbed, He
talked sometime and cordial feeling came up
and walked up to him and sat on his knee
and was talking to him and Mrs. Titon burst
out laughing and came up and kissed me-
made no objection. L then believed she had
undue affection for me and loved me. l made
no remark to either husband or wife OF the
charge of winning his wife's affection or i'm
proper advances. In the interview OF the
early part of February of which have spoken,
Tilton, Mrs. Tilton, and l went into the room
together and we kissed all around. 1t was IL
confirmation of the covenant made.
GA kiss of inspiration?
Ayes | cannot tel what covenant.
am afraid of you when you go into words. /
spoke in literary not legal sense. 1t was 9
cordial interview in which [ was exonerated.
| kissed him and then kissed her and then
believe they kissed each other. daughter
Tilton said to her that I had honorably takeI
| all the blame on myself and she had taken al
the blame on herself l do not think improper
| advances were referred to, but the alienation Of
his wife's affections which [ as spiritual pas
tor ought to have guarded against. She die
not make any explanation to me that the
charge of improper advances was false md
would think it strange if she did under the cir
cumstances. l have here in my memorandum
Moulton goes to Florida March 2hd and returns
the 18th. Recess.
Among the prominent gentlemen in court up
IN rnopSs wara ThOs Fl Nelson of Indiana