River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-02-12

the wife and husband was that il was to
be used in the interview to suppress any
controversy that might arise on the part
ofthe wife. lie had not heard any views
to en,ltle witness to take a part Of that
paper and relate It's contents. lie hell
that the whole narrative was inadmissa.
bic, as being out Of the confidence Of the
wife, and the letter and cepy had been
destroyed.
After further argument Judge Nelson
said he would still rule out the papers.
Eyarts then moved to strike out the
evidence, on the ground that it would
charge the wife as giving proof Of adul.
terry, this not being competent according
to law. Judge Nelson refused this, and
ar exception was taken.
Witness then testified as follows: On
the third of January | went to Moulton's
and shortly after Beecher entered the
ROOM Moulton said should not refuse
to speak to him in his house. / replied,
How could DO so, knowing he had ru.
ncd my wife. Moulton said, How could
you act toward man who humbed him
self before his God! | then said, Good
morning. Mr.. Beecher said, don't put
in any plea for myself; if you want me
to retire from the pulpit, only say the
word and | will leave. There will be no
selling Of pewS, and will go out of public
life. | will either 90 out of life by suicide
or journey to some other part of the
world. My wife," said Beecher, fought
never to know of this, for in addition to
her becoming your enemy she would also
become NINE" He said the relation be-
tween himself and Elizabeth was not al
ways markedly sexual intercourse. and he
should not offer any excuse for himself.
lie asked me to believe he had never
sought her for selfish purposes, and that
the intercourse was from motives of love,
and not lust; that she was the only
woman he had ever loved. He asked me
if could reinstate her in my love and
esteem, and drew picture of man sit
ting on the edge of hell.
| remember Beecher said something
which led him into violent burst of grief.
During the conversation with Moulton,
which witness did not hear. Beecher APP
peared overcome with grief. Moulton
requested witness to leave them together,
and he did so.
A few days after this interview, Moul.
ton sent for me. Beechcr was present.
A letter which had written to Bowen,
dated the first of January, was under dis.
cussiOn. Moulton read it aloud, and told
Beecher had written it thinking | must
give some explanation to the public for
the termination of my services with Bow
en-. | told them it was announced in the
papers that | was to be editor of the
Brooklyn Union and contributor to
the Independent, and that these appoint.
ments had for some reason been Cancelled
by Bowen; that the public must be in
formed of the reason of these changes.
Beccher sad that so far as the charges of
Bowen were concerned, he did not care
about any that he (Bowen) could make.
Beeeher also said there was peculiar ma.
Lightly in tie charges made by Bowen
against him, and that he had never COM
mitted any violence on any woman. The
interview ended by MOulton asking me to
retire, as usually. | had some talk with
Beeeher after these interviews.
| remember shortly after Moulton was
i'll, went to see him. Beecher was there
lie said, Fran is very sick; he is at the
grave edge. | am afraid he will die,and
what will then become of our case! Frank
has saved me " SO saying he kissed me
on the forehead and retired.
had another interview with him, eth.
er at the close Of that month or the be-
ginning of the next. | was sent for to
Moulton's, who had then recovered, and
1 IN, IA,
then present. Moulton held in his hand
a letter which Bccchcr had received from
Mrs. Morse. Beecner had received the
letter, and it was in relation to some state
ment contained in the letter | had been
sent for. Shown copy of the letter
which witness identified The letter
charged me with telling twelve persons
about Beecher's criminal relations /
denied this. The letter also said had
not money to buy my family food.
turned 10 Mouiton and said, You know
this is false. Beechcr asked me if had
told persons of the charges, and replied
| had not. told him that Mrs. Morse
was saying among our relatives that The
odore was making such and such charges
against Elizabeth, and that these charges
were propagated by Mrs. Morse. | told
him that the only persons that informed
on the subject were Oliver johnson, Mrs.
Martha Bradshaw, and f. d. Moulton.
Beecher asked me if stated he preached
to number Of his mistresses.
| told him that in the previous summer
| told stories to his detriment; that !
may have said this, but did not remember
It. This occurred before Mouton came
in 20 keep the peace between us. told
him Mrs. Morse was dangerous woman !;
that | had received a letter from her,
threatening my life and family, and call.
ing me brute and such names. told
him that if Mrs. Morse was offended at
anything she was very violent in her
manners and utterances. A letter was
produced by Beecher in reply
to the one from Mrs. Morse.
could not say if this letter was
written then or at the termination ofthis
interview. During that interview ex.
hibited tho letter which was sent TO Mr..
Bowen by Mrs. Morse, and conveyed TO
me. | read il as an example Of the kind
Of letters Mrs. Morse was in the habit Of
sending. Beechcr asked me what I un.
derstood to be the state Of Elizabeth's