The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-09
The TiltOn.B ,echer Trial.

ance with the defendant in this case.
have seen him at Tilton's house two or
three times. The first time Beecher called,
Tilton took him up to the study, and
went up there and was introduced to him /;
he frolicked with the children and then
went away. The next time | saw him was
when Mrs. Tilton and he were going to see
some sick person, | think 1t was Mrs.
Ovington. His first visit think was in
the morning. and my impression Is that
others were there during the morning also.
saw photographs of Beecher in Tilton's
house, and he (Tilton) showed them to me
with those of other eminent men. Titon
gave me one. think they were all in a
small box on the table. | have seen books
in Tilton's library with Beecher's auto
graph in them, and one of these he said he
would give to me If Idetired. Counsel then
returned to the scene at Southport of Til
tons moodiness. Witness said / remem
Der the letter sent by Mrs. Tilton through
me to Tilton. The substance of it was
that she could not bear such conduct from
him. When Tilton was explaining his con-
duct he said these fits were irresistible and
beyond his control, and that they made
every person about him unhappy. He said
this was one of the penalties genus had TO
endure, and as soon rs he would get home
and settle down these moods would depart
from him. He said if he could address an
audience this mood would depart from him.
He did address an audience shortly after
and this mood went off him. Tilton told
me lie would rather be editor of the New
York Independent than hold any other po-
sition. This was when we were in Wash
ing ton; he said this once also in his house
in Livingston street. Mrs. Tilton said that
it would break Theodores heart TO leave
his position on the Independent Theo-
dore asked my advice about sending Bessie
Turner TO school at Nyack, as she was q
girl of rare qualities, and they might
be improved that her perceptions and
grade of musical qualities were very rare
anu iutuulNG, anu tuht Ailib. lhtOu hCpt hCl
toomuch confined looking after the children.
recurring to conversation between Mrs.
Tilton, Mr.. Tilton and herself, at South
port, Connecticut, in July, 1866, and Mrs.
Putnam slid: Tilton accounted for his
moodiness as penalty and a common char
acteristc of men of genius. He needed in
emil 49, TO roiea
So they got him up Fourth Of July au-
dence in the south part of the Congrega-
tional church Mr.. Tilton spoke and
'seencd himself again Mrs. Putnam
then testified to various conversations, in
which Mr.. Tilton said he would rather be
editor of the Independent than fill the pull
pit or hold any office Mrs Tilton Daid
that to lose the Independent would wreck
Theodore's life. The lady further testified
that Mr.. Tilton treated Bessie Turner as
one of his own children in all respects. He
conferred with Mrs. Putnam as to educa-
ting Bessie thoroughly. In the fall of
1867 Mrs. Putnam and Tilton talked about
Mr.. Beecher. He said that Beecher was
great moral teacher, but that he had out
grown him. He was tired of having the
same line Of thought. Beecher's genius
was over-rated his power lay more in his
magnanimity. Mrs. Putnam remarked that
Beecher's power lay in his moral courage /;
Tilton said she and other people were mis-
taken, in that Mr.. Beecher had public
courage He was brave before an audi
ence, but in private Mr.. Beecher was q
flabby coward. Storrs was a better theolo-
gian he was more logical than Beecher but
colder. Storrs said Tilton, on the testimo-
ny of Mrs. Putnam, was the man to go to
to keep you out of trouble. Mr.. Beecher
was the man to go to if you were in
trouble.
The cross examination Of Mrs. Putnam
was begun by Mr.. Fullerton shortly after
10 o'clock, Judge Nelson preceding it with
a request that it should not be unnecessary
ly extended. Under the cross-questioning
of the ex-judge the witness was
III w Pdh WY N''NANSs
face ON many statements made on direct
examination. Mrs. Putnam swore posi-
lively that she had never been angry with
DR.. Storrs. care you quite sure p quer-
ried Fullerton. "Quite," was the response
Look at that letter" said the counsellor,
sit may refresh your recollection = and it
did, for it contained decided expression
of disapprobation with the course taken by
DR.. Storrs in relation to Beecher and had
been written to Mrs. Tilton by the witness.
The actual presence Of Bessie Turner IN
the court room where she was evidently most
interested of spectators added not little
to the animation of the proceedings.
Judge Nelson showed to-day that he is
wcarying of the pettifogging Of counsel.
Evarts, Beach and Sherman were all
sharply reproved, and Judge Nelson took
occasion to state that he was fully compe-
\ tent to take care of the counsel and that he
intended to do it. His rulings were prompt
| all day and In some cases almost abruptly
50.
Anna Augusta Moore, Brooklyn lady,
who has known the Tiltons' sixteen years
and who is member of Plymouth church
testified to her knowledge of the change OF
Tilton's religious views and the pernicioui
effect entailed on Mrs. Titon thereat. Sh,
was cross examined by Mr.. Fullerton, bu
nothing striking was developed.
The court then adjourned.