The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-02-23
A SCANDAL SENSATION.
THE LAST WITNESS.

THE LAST WITNESS.
MRS. FRANK ID. MouLroN TELLS WHAT SHE
KNEW ABOUT THE BRECHER BUSINEss-AS-
FOUNDING vELATIoNs-BEECHER's CON-
FEssIoSs TO HER-A VERY DAMAGING WIZ
NESS.
The Chicago Tribune of the 10th inst. con-
tains len. .rthy report by telegraph Of the
testimony 81 Mrs. f. ID. Moulton, from which
the following extract is taken:
@. When did you have your first conver-
sation with Mr.. Beecher i'm regard to any
difficulty that he spoke of? A. l don't re-
member whether il was before or after my
return from the South, bat IL was in the
spring of 1871 think.
q. What was it he said TO you when his
troubles were the subject of conversation?
A. He was waiting in the parlor for Mr..
Moulton, and, as / went into the room, he
took my hand and said: do you know
anything about this great sorrow of my
life?" i said "Yes," and he said: Frank
has told you the fact, has he?" said "Yes."
He said: "I am very glad he has. / am
very glad there is one woman in this world
TO whom L can go
To TALK OF MY TROUBLES
without reserve" AS near ] can remember
that was all of the conversation al that
time.
Q. Do you recollect having any further
conversation with him? A. Yes, sir; he
would often speak to me about it.
| @. What would he say? A. He would ask
me il Mr.. Moulton was still hopeful that
this story might be kept quiet; also the con-
dition of Mr.. Moulton's mind toward him.
II he was friendly, or annoyed, or irritated
I-generally some questions of that kind.
The next conversation that / can recall with
| Mr. Reecher-
| @. State. If you please, when it was, and
what was said between you. A. The next
conversation which l remember Of any
| length was in '73
| q. What did you say tn Mr.. Beecher, or
what did he say to you? A. Mr.. Beecher
| said to me that, if Mr.. Tilton published the
letter of apology" he felt that it would be
useless trying any longer to liye"this down."
He came in on Monday morning. Mr..
| Moulton was still in the house, and, after
said, 81 would see your wife,
| q. Whom did he address? a. Mr.. Moul
ton; and, after a short conversation,
Mr.. Moulton went to his busi-
ness, and Mr.. Beecher laid down
on the lounge, and he said: "This is
probably my last conversation with you. L
feel that, if Mr.. Tilton publishes my letter
of apo Ggy, IL is useless for me to try any
longer 20 live this down. l have never felt
that had much to hope for from Theodore.
fact that, if this letter is published, he
strikes his wife even more than me-" /
said: Mr.. Beecher do not think that is
the way TO look at it. 1 think you should
90 down TO your church and confess your
crime. They will forgive you''; and he said:
"No. can not do that-I can not do that.
For the sake OF the woman
WHO GAVE NE HER LOVE,
for the sake of my children, for the sake of
my church, for the sake of my influence, 1
shall not confess. / will die before / will
confess it," L said: "You should go down
and confess it, and am sure they will for
give it," He said: mo. that 1 can not do
they would despise me; could not go back
to my home, and my church would not for
give me. They would not feel with ne as
J you do. Ny work would be done; it would
be better that should go out of life"
said: "You could write for yotr paper, and
you could GO up TO your iarm" He
said: mo, they would not read anything
III should write, and there would
be nothing left for me. have resolved TO
take my lie. have prepared powder which
/ have at home on my library table, which
/ shall take, and sink quietly out OF life"
? I said: "Why should you do thatY" and be
, said: 'I feel as if had no hope. and if
published any card in the Eagle it would
, only be temporary relief. MIR. I1lton is
likely to drag up the case, and shall pro-
baby never see him or see you again."
: said: "Mr. MoultOn will still stand by you,
) and, no matter what comes, ] will always
be your friend, but L am convinced that
? the only way out OF this trouble is to
tell the truth" He said he would
G come TO see me the day following, as he
, had some giIts to distribute and mementoes
T to leave. and there was something he wanted
to convey to Elizabeth. lLaughter.] II
was a long interview. Mr.. Beecher was
) very much excited, and told me, with tears
3 running down his face, that he was very
3 much excited, and said that he had suffered
3 the torments of the damned, and that L was
D the only person he could con fide in.
!, q. What took place when you next saw
, him? A. He told me he was very much
3 depressed on that day, but he felt more
r hopeful.
O. Did he ever speak to you in regard to
5 Mrs. Tilton? A. Yes, sir.
q. State what he said to you in regard tC
3 her at any time? A. He always spoke tC
me of
HIS LOVE FOR HER,
and he wanted me TO respect and have re
gard for her. He wanted me to go and see
3 her, and to try and comfort her and console
, her In her sorrow. He said that /, being 6
I woman, knew what to say to woman
: under such circumstances.
I @ Did you ever carry any messages from
him to her? A. Yes, sir.
@. And from her to HIM? A. Yes, sir.
, | @. State what those messages were. A.
repezted to Mr.. Beecher conversations hao
) had with Mrs. Tilton. She said she fell
very sorry for him-even more sympathy
: for him than for herself. i said 4 had LOST
t faith in Mr.. Beecher because / was unable
t any longer to attend church. She asked me
/ to go back to church. / said: elizabeth
how can you ask me to so back to church
l to take communion from his hands-know
I ing what do about his scts?" and she said
3 "I want you to believe IN him; he Is good
- man; it was not his fault; he Is not re-
sponsible for the crime; / am the one TO
blame;" and / said Thought could hear
Dir. Beecher preach and perhaps derive some
the same faith in him which bad had in
EARLIER years.