The Portland daily press., 1875-04-14

ana DeileA'
Question-And when did yon ever hear he
rot through
Answer never did hear it. He did not
know of Tilton's settling down in infdelity.
There was no doctrine, in a technical sense of
the word, taught in Tilton's article in the
Independent 1t was not question of doc
trine, but of policy. If not wise it was not
sound, that is, sound in the sense of policy.
Questionable you ever see an article by
Tilton in the Independent which you consid-
cred unsound?
Answer don't recollect any which con-
tanned doctrinal statements. There was grow
ing distate of his teaching. My impressions
which were more vigorously Orthodox were
against him. did not consider him safe
teacher on doctrinal matters, but from 1874
did not regard him as doctrinal teacher. He
was editor of a religious paper, but not theo-
logically religious, considered him one who
applied ethics, to common life. Before 1t
came into his hands l taught theology; he
made it teacher of vital ethics.
Regarded him as in transition state and as
holding improper views, bat had hope OF him;
undoubtedly, thought he was expressing his
real views. 1t was between 1860 and 1869 that
| / learned from him and his wife more or less
of the unsettlement of his views and belief in
| the divinity of Christ, and that he had loose
doctrine on the inspiration OF the scriptures. l.
thought his doctrine on the divinity OF Cnrlst
worse than loose-hereitical. L thought ii he
was at the head of theological magazine ne
would be an unfit man, but on the application
of Christian ethics he was tolerable;
The witness was here handed the "scanoai
pamphlet to refresh his recollection, and the
counsel read from Beecher's testimony to the
effect that Tiltons articles in the independent
aroused strong Indignation, and Indignantly
disayowed all responsibility. witness recol-
leted that it was SUBSTANTIALLY true' nele
,tor ,of ind amAnp the (tOnQrG-
gationalists of the northwest at TIltons arti-
Gle Witness received a letter from his brother
Edward and he Indignantly repudiated all
responsibility for Tilton's views. His indigna'
ton was directed to this. He was indignant
because knowing of that uprising in the north
west his brother Edward held him Responsible
TOR them (the artices) in private letter. IL
his views were correct he might or might not
defend himself according, to circumstances.
The paper, "The Advance" was started partly
to supersede the Independent. With regard TO
the teachings of the Independent under Iilton
as to marriage and divorce, he did not lnvesti-
gate himself but took up what he heard
He supposed in 1870 that Tilton had enlarg-
ed causes of divorce and made it practically
mschieyous; thought his views much too loose;
could not say he judged so from readlng LII
toms articles but from conversation. lie Knew
the impression in the community was t1at Ii
ton made divorce too facile and made it depend
almost on yolitiog He was not much of a
reader of Tilton's articles.
O-From what you heard and read did you
believe him to be fit moral teacher at the
head of that paper?
At didn't affect his general fitness for the
position at the head OF a great paper. he
Swallowed at that time in his editorials his
loose notions on marriage and divorce. he
was young man and young man may with
immunity teach crude morals. understand
his shadowiDg forth was an expression OF crude
doctrines which might not be definitely dan
eerous I don't remember the article read by
nv counsel. I suppose it was to show that
Tllton's teachings were pernicioaS.
Witness was asked to give the dates OF the
two occasions on which he took Mrs. I'll ton
out to ride He thinks 1t was in 1870. These
rides were in buggy. He does not remember
whether they alighted from the buggy during
these rides; thinks they went to the Park on
both occasions; cannot recollect that they went
to Greenwood; has no recollection at all OF the
details of the rides, or how much time was
consumed thinks some rides were taken before
that, but has no definite recollection What-
ever; does not recollect where he got the car
rage from, or who were the drivers, or whether
the children accompanied them; does not re-
member taking her out in close carriage IN
1868; does not remember taking her IN car
riaee from any place other than her own house.
She never visited him at Peekskill. He has an
Impression she went with him to photograph
gallery and remained there while his portrait
was taken. Does not recall Sarony's or any
other gallery; could not recollect howl he came
July, 1870. He received note from Mrs. I'll
ton at Peekskill; presumes that note is de-
| stroyed she said in that note she was ill and
would be glad to see him if he was coming
down. He was coming down to the CITY anV.
way and that was an added reason Ii any OF
his friends were sick and sent him word, he
would come and see them. $3.50
He found her sitting up in the front room.
His visit lasted half an hour. He called about
the same time next day and did not see her.
LIo hoe Iotta nf Mrs TIltOn'S. though he
secured the house with his eyes to hnd
one He has returned no letter to Mrs Tilton
aud she has returned none to him. On his
return from Peekskill, she sent him little
scrap of paper which he has not preserved and
he does not know what became OF 1t. The
court took recess.
The cross-examination is proceeding very
quietly, Mr.. Fullerton speaking very calmly
| and the witness apparently quite at ease. Mrs.
| Beecher was smiling most OF the time. Very
few ladies came back after recess, owing no
doubt to the snow fall. Mr.. Bee rher sat for
some minutes near his wife in a thoughtful
attitude till the announcement OF Jury pres
ent" notified him he was wanted in the witness
chair His crossexaminatiOn by Fullerton
was resumed, commencing with his first visit
to Mrs T., December, 1870. He said he was
requested to come by Mrs. Morse through Bessie
Turner, who came to his house with a message
Mrs. L. was at Mrs. Morse's, had left her hus-
band, and Mrs. Morse wished him to call there.
He expressed his astonishment, and Bessie
said Mrs Z. was so treated at home she ought
to take such step; that Tilton had abused his
wife and struck Bessie. She described the
passions he fell into, declared that in passion
be had struck her and had made solicitations OF
i'm proper character to her (B3ssie) on two
occasions He said she might be mistaken and
she said he had come to her bed and told her
the matter he solicited was Just as much the
expression of love as kiss or caress. He
could only recall the substance of the interview.
This was modestly said by Besse-yes, modest
H. rpfA fhn NDrf an or n
Mrs T's i'll treatment. He could not give any
particulars She told him she h ID seen Tilton
treating his wife with great cruelty. He was
shocked at it. He believed what Bessie told
him. He supposed he believed it as man be-
lieves thing be has not verified; could not
say whether Bessie visited him more than once,
but he had an impression there were two visits.
She may have told him in that interview some
thing ABOUT what Titon said to his wife, but ne
could not recall it. He said he would go, and
he went that day or the next, and found Mrs.
T. at her mothers. Up to that time there was
external frieudliness between him and Illton
Tilton had his best wishes. He felt friendly
towards him. Had not seen him six months
before that There was no open rupture. He
found Mrs. Morse and Mrs. L. at the house.
Could not recollect seeing Bessie. That was
memorable interview. He could remember
only the substance He expressed regret at
the misunderstanding between Tllton and his
wife, and Mrs. Morse in her practical way gave
statement that her daughter had led life OF
great unhappiness subject to cruelty and
derivation, that her lite was intolerab.e, and
she had come to the conclusion to leave him.
She gave the particulars of the cruelty. Vic.
lence of temper was one element, failure to
provide for her another. He could not recall
the particulars. He does not recollect that one
element was charging her with conduct unbe-
coming wife. She suffered from his defect of
temper and failure to provide properly for her.
There was more but he cannot recall it. Could
not tell whether he heard then or after about
his having housekeeper Mrs. Tilton sat by
and said very little. Could not recollect even
that very little. She said very little. He
would be glad to give that little if he could.
He was interested in Tilton's family He
ought not to forget, but he is ashamed to say he
has forgotten it, Does not recolect it so accur-
ately in its points and sections as to say that
Mrs. Morse Immediately took up the converse
ton. Here counsel read from witnesses testi-
mony to the church committee that she told on
that visit about the housekeeper of Tilton.
Witness said that did not refresh his recollec-
tion They wanted advice about the separation
of Mrs. Tiiton from her husband. He supposes
he believed what they told him. His impress
sion was that these things were so, but it did
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