The Portland daily press., 1875-02-04
NEW YORK.
THE SCANDAL.
Cou,;uoa,;or Of Tilton,s Testimony.

COurL ROOM was CIOWuSu do CNOi' us.
was in her usual place accompanied by Mrs.
Field and Mrs. Tubbs. When the court was
opened Mr.. Tlton took his place on the stand
and resumed his story where he left off yester-
day, and he said Il first heard of the proposed
council of the church L think in the carly part
of November, 1873 from Mr.. Beecher in the
Moultonh ouse. He told me that trouble had
arisen out of my speech in the church, and the
publishing of a card by Mr.. Halliday IN the
newspapers He told me certain papers had
been sent him in relation to the church coun-
Gil. He said that the councils were dangerous
things and no person could tell where they
would end He also said to me, ''Theodore,
this will all end well if you will not give any
information to DR.. Storrs against me. We had
a conversation subsequent to this in the street.
In the night Mr.. Beecher made speech in
Plymouth church relating to DR.. Storls Mr.
Beecher met Mr.. Moulton and me and sad
that his church was going to stand alone ana
not with the other two churches IN the council.
The Bacon letter was published IN June, 1874,
about the Bacon charges in which was called
a knave and dog. l told Mr.. Beecher that he
must reply to these charges. He made no re-
NV to this whatever. Mr.. Sherman was then
present and made an apology for having IN
suited Mrs. Tilton in public. When Mr..
Beecher left Mr. Sherman remained behind.
Mr. Beecher was summoned by telegram to
MT. Moulton's home. This was the last in
terview had with Mr.. Beecher to the best OF
my recollection. Uetter produced This was
May End, 1874. The letter was read and placed
in evidence relating to his refusal to accept
sum of money from Mr. Beecher, to proceed
with his family TO Europe for number of
years A letter dated May 4th, 1873, was also
read by ex-Judge Fullerton addressed to Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher, Mr. Halliday and MIR.
Shearman informing them of the statement
made by DR.. Bacon after the adjournment OF
their church council and asking that he chi
tou) should be summoned before the exanh-
H. fba oh nj
dering the pastor.
Witness continued-In the early part OF 1873
first heard of tie appointment OF commit
tee to wait upon me with regard to the scandal.
Mr.. Fullerton here read the correspondence
calling for the investigation OF the charges by
the church committee. ..
Witness resumed-I first saw that letter call
ing for the committee, on the night before 1T
was published, in the hands of Mr.. Cleveland.
NV wife was then with me but she left after
the publication OF the letter. L THINK on tne
morning of July 18th. She did not leave
against my will. She had will of her own
and acted upon it. At the same time l did not
restrain her. There were four reports PREPARED
for the committee and prepared two OF them
The preparation Of the report was as follows:
Mrs Tilton informed me on the 9th of July
that she had been down before committee of
the chuch in relation to what had passed be-
tween me and DR.. Bacon.
+ A long argument here ensued as to the right
of witness to answer what was told to him by
his wife as to what occurred before the COM
mittee. Mr. Evarts objected to the question
and the objection was sustained by the court.
Mr. Fullerton then suggested that the proceed
lug portion of the testimony OF the witness
should be stricken out.
Witness then continued: do not remem Der
that the Tripartte agreement was ever Che sub
iect of conversation between Mr.. Beecher and
me. Bessie Turner was a girl who came to our
house under the name OF Lizzie McDermotf,
about Is years of age She came to my house
through the means of an old Sunday school
teacher, either of mine or Mrs Tilton's. do
not know whether she resided continuously i'll
the house until after her return from the west
in 1870. Mrs. Tilton and Mrs. Moulton made
the arrangement for sending her to school
sometime in January. 1871.
Mr.. Beecher from first TO last never denied
his criminal intercourse with Mrs. Tilton.
Whenever he spoke of it he always said she
was not the person to blame. Bessie Turner's
age think was Is or 16 when she left us in
1871. There is not word of truth in the state
ment that carried her from her bed to mine.
No impropet conduct was ever exhibited by me
(shows a paper) towards her. L think !
showed this report and another one to General
Tracy. / put both of them into the hands OF
qestion of Gen. Tracy. At the time L prepared
this report heard Mrs. Tilton had been be-
fore the committee and Gen. Tracy told me of
her evidence given before them.
Tracey told me had nothing to fear from
Mrs Tiiton's evidence; that when she appeared
before the Committee she denied everything, or
that there was any foundation for it. Gen
Tracey, while making this narration, wept,
and told me if l co-operated III this, 1t would
be success. told him would like him to
explain the mode of procedure before thu Com
mttee They would summon whom they
pleased before them and the witnesses and could
give what information they pleased, and on
this the committee would report. L told him L
would stand by any report that did not lnJure
Elizabeth. He told me I might make report
standing in the pulpit.
In accordance with this 1 prepared two re-
ports, short one and long one. presented
both to Mr.. Moulton and said l would be
pleased with either. Mr.. Tilton was best
pleased with the long one.
Mr.. Fullerton said he would like to put in
evidence at a later period with regard to some
correspondence between Mr.. and Mrs. Tilton in
1870, and if this was agreed to, his direct ex-
animation of the witness was now concluded.
Mr. Evarts for the defence, objected to this
being put in at later stage, and said that 1t
should be introduced now.
Mr.. Beach said they did not wish to introduce
all the correspondence, but desired an oppOr-
tunity to reach through them for the papers
required.
Mr.. Fullerton promised to have the CORE
spondence ready by tomorrow morning.
Mr.. Evarts, in reply, said he did not propose
to examine this witness until the Otnef sue nad
put in all their testimony.
Judge Nelson asked counsel for the prosecu-
ton if they could not put another witness on
the stand and occupy the remainder OF the day,
or else find these letters if the usual recess was
taken Immediately.
Mr. Beach said the latter course was i'm
possible. as they had over two or three hundred
letters to examine to find the dozen that were
required, but suggested if the court would allow
them an hour and halls time, they would be
able to produce the letters and have them ex-
amined and identified one by one.
To this the court agreed, and the court ad'
journed till 2 o'clock.
After recess Mr.. Tilton resumed his place on
the stand and continued: went away some
time in October or November on my lecturing
tours and generally returned in February or
March, During those absences L correspondent
with my wife every day almost and she wrote
me as frequently. (Handed letters) These
are some of the letters which were written to
me by my wife during my absence in 1867.
Mr. Fullerton offered the letters in evidence
and read them. 81.
These letters have already been frequently
referred to and contained expressions indica-
tive of deep affection Letters from Tilton to
his wife were introduced, similar in expressions
of attachment.
Witness then continued Mrs. Tilton had all
the money L had, as sent her all my. salary.
New York letters were usually sent after me
when was detained or delayed on trains, and
they would sometimes reach me in bundles. L
furnished no money to pay Bessie turner's
expenses when she was at school.
Cross examiued by Evarts.
During the time my wife and / lived togeth
er until she left my house on July II, 1874,
Mrs Tilton and had never been separated ex-
cent when absent on business. L left the house
on the night she told me she had united with
Mr. Tracy. l came back on the night she an
nounced 10 me her appearance before the COM
mittee l was at home when Mrs. L. told me
she was before the committee. left the house
but returned the next afternoon, and then re-
NAMED with my wife as had done before
Mrs T. left the house about 6. She woke me
up and told me she was going to Mr.. Owing
toms. went to see her and took my breakfast
with her and the rest of the famils. l under
stood her residence not to be at Mr.. Ovineton's,
bat at my house. 1 think that is her residence
/ think my age is about 80. l was born on Oc-
tober 2, 1885. At the time of my marriage L
was connected with the New York Observer.
My wife resided at 48 Livingstone street, with
her mother, and had no occupation. was
married on the day 1 was 20 years old. be-
came acquainted with Mrs. L. when l was ten
years DID, in New York, and was at school with
her brother. l think my attentions leading to
marriage began when L was about 16 years old.
L think my wife has more than common brain,
and more than ordinary education OF young
woman who has gone through female college.
She has always been fond of books, has read
constantly. She was fond of reading aloud to
me of art, music and poetry. During all our