Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-04-09
NUMBER Al.

and not merely stand on his own technical
defence. lie did not say to Moulton that
his defence would be the technical one OF
general denial. He did not say TO MoultOn
that be would throw himself upon his
friendship. The overtures of friendship
came from Moulton. There was nothing
said in this conversation in regard to the
sentiments of witness and Mrs. Tilton to-
ward each other, or as to their intercourse
with each other. He said nothing about
standing on the brink of moral Niagara.
1t was a purely business meeting turning on
the question of restoring the retraction.
Mr.. Beecher continued
| did not say tha. my sexual intercourse
with Elizabeth was as natural form of nv
love for her as any other expression. | did
not say anything about my life being ended.
did not say bad loved Mrs. T!lton verg
much, and had fallen through that love. or
had fallen from love, and not lust MOulton
did not say had had criminal connection
with Mrs. Tilton, and had obtained this let
ter, and he did not see how could do both
things Moulton is not a fool
The witness was asked if MOultOn, that
night, had made any imputation about his
having criminal intercourse with Mrs I'll
ton. Mr.. Beach objected to this but it
was allowed with the addition. Ill 50 what
was said ?"
There was nothing said by either him or
me on that subject that night. Before VT
separated there was an understanding that
we should meet again next day about three
o'clock. ln the afternoon OF the first OF
January he came into my room aud We went
into the study. lie said it had been wise
in me to comply with his request last night.
and that TiltOn thought | had acted very
kindly. He made some allusion about Ill
ton and his exacerbated feelings. and spoke
of the great trouble that had cnrr on him
by treachery of Mr.. Bowen or his (Bowcn y
misconduct that 1t was trying Tor a uIan
to lose his position and livelihood and that
it was natural he should treat me 20 hen
he thought | had hand in it told
MOulton that thought was accessory to
it and said was prepared To apologies ard
retract anything | had done He said
Bowen had dismissed Tilton on fal~s ctar-
ges and that he (MoultOn) could prove them
to be 50. lie asked me about my interview
with Bowen OF the 2Glh and | told him all.
| told him Bowen had brought the letter.
MOulton used strong language and said
Bowen wa| treachtrOus and had offered to
back up Tiltun's charge to me lie asked
me what vas BOwen's reas IN for treating
IiltDn 50. told him the reason that TiltOn
had been depo>ed by Bowen irum
the editor>hiP OF the Independent u
the position OF contributor | told him OF
BOwen's having letters reil .cting on Tiiton's
character. After hi, deposition | related
TO him Bessie turner's story u me Moul
ton said these stories were false and rilton
was chaste man Tne c1ngeIS.,iin lasted
about an hour. | replied t.iat # th, r. ,,u>
anything | abhOrred in the ssriI It wa-
SANDER and that the worst ul o. Wa W.
caught in a moral sun. MJuit.n siii there
was no doubt that Mrs Elton loved me bet
ter than her husband lie SAID she wAs q
chIldand lOught to nave knowuthat the ten
drills OF her affection were creeping around
me. The conversation went un and MOul- /
ton told me that TltOn thought | Wa his
enemy and that | IN my great position had
overshadOwed him denied that mad done
him any intended wrong IN his family |
On the whole MoultDn was far more severe
with me than ! wa- with myself lie said /
ii Elton OnlY saw and heard what hal /
said he would be inclined 20 iprsige me lie |
said write. and said | could not a. my
head was in IL whlrl and he said let me
write lie aII will tell filton - and -.
and he would take note Oi 1t. and he would |
ask me about - and -. and wOuli tell /
it. The tea bell rang aud he got up and |
collected hl- papers. An afIer-thOught |
seemed to strike him. and lie said ign this |
| said II was not my writing lie said III /
ton will see 1t and It will cou'irl him about /
you. | signed my name on the end Of Ii /
and wrote, " this l. committed tu Frank /
MOuitOn> care IN cJufience. and he then 4
left. During the interview ~ part Of this /
memorandum was read 10 Inc or by huu. !
(llanded L paper } rhi- l. the writing /
| put to the sheet. | next saw the incno- |
randum at this rrili | -aw what pur- |
ported 10 be 4 copy, CT partial copy of it |
IN the Bacon letter IN the sumner of ISL /
did not sec It until the publication ct last |
summer. During this cUnvers ttijn Moul- |
ton depleted the condition of Ilt0u : affair." !
lie spoke OF hlm a. ! great m.n IN the /
world who had been pIecipitaird by Bowen /
from one OF the prUude>t positions a literary /
man could hold, and that hi> reputation /
had been damaged and h.> means were cut |
of. lie then SAID he had no home On which /
he could tall back. Is there Wa dlscord |
there. Ga several occasions he said was /
blaming myself too strongly that the family /
relationship might be repaired. lie did not |
say it was anything different from what /
have stated. Ii was not a cun1emuatJry in /
tervlew, but rather sympathetic one. He /
was labOring - bring ABOUT q better under
standing between Tltpn aud me, and rhs 4
restoration OF peace III the family. MjultOu /
SAID about Bessie Turner that >he had mis-
construed TiltOn's meaning. and that she
was but child. | told Moulton that |
would call back the statements had made
to Bowen. and would do it Immediately, |
and early the next morning | wrote the let
ter.
L., ii. |. .
copy OF the Letter IN testimony and the orig
inal copy was also handed him which he
identified
Before MlultOn wentaSaY with the mem
oranda he SAID alter he had used il he would
either burn 1t or return il to me. 1t wa, to
remove from Tilton's mind the impression
that was indifferent to his Affairs or in-
imical to him. lie said he wished To make
a memUranda Oi these paIt> whicn he would
txpOun1 to Alr. liltuu. the sas was not
lit in the study when he le.t. aud knew it
was clock, because the tea bell rung. |
do not know OF any use TO which this paper
was 10 have been pG, except that which
have stated. Daring this interview the
word crime was not used by either of
u with reference t. any eoaduet of
mine, and nothing else Was said about
reparatIJn Tor wrongs, except ~ what |
nave stated il. stated % MJaltJn in re-
ference To the allegation made by Hilton
that during my visit to ncr in her sickness
there was no talk uf prayer 10 discontinue
our sexual intercourse; may have stated
that prayed wisa her when | went t. see
her at her mothers There was nothing in
any manner or shape said about Us both
praying 10 discontinue our sexual inter-
course, by MOultOn or any other human
being. | did not say To Moulton that Eliza
beth iiltju sent tor me this Sunday alter
noon and ~aId our relation, were wrong,
nor that | said 1t they were wrong they
would be terminated.
Adjourned until MOniaY