Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-12
TILTON-BEECHER TRIAL.
Sam. WiIkesOu ON the stand.

NEW YORK, March 12.-Mrs. Tilton, with
Mrs. Sherman, Mrs. Field and Bessie Tur-
ner, were in their seats in the Brooklyn city
courtroom this moIling when the trial
opened. Beecher and his wife and son were
seated in the Plymouth gathering. Fuller
pIace eS was TAKEN bv Recon Wbo st ahe ms rs
Judge Nelson that Fullerton would be pre-
pared to continue on Monday next.
SAMUEL wILKESON
was the first witness. He testified Il am
secretary of the Northern pacific railroad
Have been a journalist for thirty years.
was in Washington for the Tribune at one
time. have known Tilton for fifteen or six
teen years, and Beecher for fourteen or fifteen
years. In the fall of 1861 Tilton came to me
at Washington to my hotel, and showed me
letter from Beecher.
EXCLUDED EVIDENCE.
Mr.. Beach objected to this line of evidence
as immaterial, and an argument ensued
over the point between him and Evarts The
court finally ruled that 1T was not material
evidence and must be excluded. Mr. Evarts
still con tended that this evidence was first
brought out BY the other side on direct ex-
animation of Tilton, and ii was certainly
grave matter not to give evidence that was
imperfectly given by the other side. Judge
Nelson said that they could not examine all
these remote grounds, as evidence might
then be extended to an indefinite length, and
he therefore held to his former decision that
IL was too remote and immaterial. Witness
then continued: On the morning of the 10Th
Of March 1872, Tilton came into my ONCE in
new 1Ofk. he was eXciteQ, ana showed me
press proof of an article which
HE THREATENED TO PUBLISH
in the Golden Age unless Beecher did him
Justice. / demonstrated with him against il,
and said it would do infinite wrong and in
justice. He then said Bowen had violated
his contracts with him on the Independent
and Brooklyn Union, and that his dismissal
from those papers had ruined and destroyed
him; that Beecher had not come to his help
when he could have saved him with his little
finger, and Beecher had left him lying where
he was with indifference, That be would
Pursue HEEcHER fNF8 Hrs 6RAvE.
/ told him this was the wrong way to be
going about anything of that kind told
him that Beecher was sincerely attached TO
him and was his friend, and that Bowen
would be induced to do him justice and pay
the money and terminate the suits he TIL
toni was about to bring against him. Tilton
then appeared to grow happy. He told me
he was very glad he had come 20 my ONCE.
AS he was going down Broadway, he said,
sudden inspiration drove him to 60 up and
zee his old friend Wilkeson. He thought the
spirits drove him there, and he was glad that
he had come to see me. Nothing was said Of
Mrs. Tilton, nor did he accuse Beecher Of any
thing else but refusing TO help him when he
was Frustrated. returned the press proof TO
Tilton that night after an interview with
Beecher.
NouLToN CALLED
at my ONCE the next day with q letter Of in
PRODUCTION from Beecher. After had read
the letter submitted my plans TO him;
told him my plan to avoid the publishing Of
the scandal and warfare was to get Bowen