The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-09
BEECHEIs-TILTON TRIAL
Conclusion of Henry Ward Becchcr's
Testimony on wednesday.

from first to last advised that he should
treat the publication with contemptuous
silence; and that at an interview with Til
ton after his return from New Hampshire,
the latter SAID he would stgmatize it every
where as a malicious falsehood ! said |
was prepared to make a written denial,
but it ought to go out from Tilton, Moul-
ton and myself. Titon said if there was
to be any card, 1t must be after further de-
liberation. After November or December
there was an effort to reopen the matter as
to whether some publication should be
made, but there was nothing done, and we
adhered to our original purpose to let the
thing die. | think this matter came up
every time we met. They told me what
they heard in their perambulations, and
always deferred to Moulton's judgment in
the affair. l never remember advising
silence; but said if we once denied itin the
newspapers, we must follow it up,-not
this alone, but any other stories. | always
said that if ANYTHING was to be done, it was
not for me to do it alone, but that TIlton
should also publish against this scandal.
Evarts read portion of Tiltons testi-
HlOUy III TcpdTu u WHdl tllC WllueSS udu
oussootod, but no replied, mover used one
syllable or part of these suggestions. / re-
member their being made but am not the
man who made them. Witness said, in an
interview with Moulton, when Tilton was
not present, SAID that T!lton would not
gain the esteem of the people until he cut
loose from these women and their doc
trines.
Moulton suggested that should draw up
a card setting forth my ideas on the matter;
did draw up two or three such cards.
One of the cards drawn up by the witness
was read by Mr.. Evarts. 1t stated that in
moment of ungarded enthusiasm Mrs.
Woodhull's connection was formed. This
was to be signed by Tilton and published.
The witness testified Tilton never denied
to ME that his connection with Mrs. Wood
hull was formed in moment of unguard-
ed enthusiasm. / did not say that | knew
not what / would do if this story were
published.
Evarts here had consultation with
Sherman, and then asked ex-Judge Nor
ris for certain letter marked exhibit AZ.
When the letter was found and handed to
the witness he said "Ths refers to an in
tervicw between Mouton and Halliday,
which the former reported to me. During
tiio lutCINiCW dih iiOt Do w 4'lOuitoh
that Halliday was not to be told the facts
(Shown another letter. This was written
to me by Mrs. Tilton within three or four
| weeks of the time of the publication of
the Woodruff scandal Moulton suggested
that / should send Mrs. Tlton a letter of
| sympathy. i handed Moulton letter and
he sent it to Mrs. Tilton.
During November, 1879, there was no
conference between us three but in the
last part of December there was at Moul-
| tons house. Mr. and Mrs. Tilton were
| there at first, but Moulton came in after
wards and said that TiltOn had some plan
| by which matters could be fixed all around
l had been requested to prepare letter OF
| denial to accompany statement, if any
| was to be made. Mr.. and Mrs. Tilton
were also to write letters of denial. 1t was
not prior to this, but at later period, when
the true story was read. Moulton, Tilton,
and myself were present there, in Moulton's
bedroom, when it was read by Tilton, who
was sitting on the sofa, and he said there
was one part of it ! could stand if the
whole story were made public and he
then read until he reached that part charg-
ing me with asking Mrs Tilton to become
wife to me, with all that the name impi-
ed. He said this was the passage he re-
| 1tTItu u. ilc lutu Ntul WI ItulluS until
he got to the end.
| l said if he published this that must
come out with denial then TiltOn got
angry, and Moulton took him in hand, and
they had lively discussion. Nothing fur
ther was spoken at that interview about
publishing this true story. understood il
was drawn up for publication, but nothing
was then said about it being published.
When | left the parties on that occasion
they were still talking. The first and last
thing / said was that, if that statement
was published ] would not stand it, but
show fight heard it to the end, and left
before their discussion was concluded.
never heard this paper read again, nor did
again see it.
The interview at which Mrs. Tilton was
present was in the early part OF December,
1872. | went there to adjust letters fol-
publication. | think 1t was desired to have
Mrs. Tilton present, and Frank Carpenter
who came in, was sent for her 1iltor
spoke of some statement he was drawing
up, but it was not shown me when Mrs
Tllton came | drew letter from my
pocket, which Ihad prepared in consonanct
with the arrangements with Moulton. Til
in his own handwriting, and sht
, said to me, my friend, am / to writ,
this and said, yes, if it expressed he
views. She then copied the letter tina
was in Tilton's writing, and signed il,
did not see the letter in Tiltons handwrit
! ing, nor did read it. AT the interview o
the Goth, at which Tilton was present, thu
witness denied that he used the words at
tributed by Tilton in his testimony.
The sentence in my card about my &C
qusintance with Mrs. Tilton, inspiring m,
, with the utmost esteem for her was no
, Tilton's suggestion or making. lie haC
| nothing more to do with II than Lie hat
: with the formation of the angels. Their
, was a conference between Moulton and M
as to the ground my letter ought to cover