The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-02-03


could stand ALL and Beecher said, This will
kill me-"
Beecher said in one OF the last days of De-
cember, at an interview in Moulton's house,
with Elizabeth in publishing card denying
the charges. (The card i'll question was pro
duced, read and offered in evidence.) 1t is as
follows:
Brooklyn, Dec 20, 1871 soemnly deny the
scandalous charge made against me and Mrs.
Tilton, and l deny that there has been any
criminal intercourse between us, or any color
or reason for the charge. My acquaintance
with Mrs. TIlton has ever been that of the
greatest respect [ here desire to state in addi-
ton that Mr.. Tlton, during the whole of this
shameful scandal has invariably spoken in the
highest terms of his wife, and has shown to
me the highest proofs of friendship.
(Sgned,) FL. w. BEECHER.
Witness continued-When this card was
written by Beecher Moulton was present. At
ter he had written this paper he asked me if [
thought il would be satisfactory. l told him L
wanted Mrs. Titon to see it, and l went for
Mrs Tilton. 1t was to her read and was en-
tirely satisfactory to her. Beecher said he
would take the card and consider it during the
day. This card was never published.
Mrs Tilton prepared card the day before to
be published with Beechers but none of them
were ever published. Nothing was said to me
about publishing card | said was willing
they should publish the cards and told Beecher
L WOulu never lllG llduu dSdIuSI Hill eACcpb
in self deft nee.
The letter of the complaining friend was pub
lisbed on either the 26th, 9th or 2Sth of Dec.
Beecher said to me that he thought the pub
fishing of it was very injurious, that it would
excite the comment we desired TO suppress.
The Woodruff publication caused great stir
throughout the country in the newspapers.
During Dec. L prepared another statement to
be published, as my long statement was not
agreeable to Beecher prepared a statement
II Enl ,,Nkl, do xtrtfIr
the publication of the Bowen letter IN the Sun
day Press of April, 1873. 1t was copied in the
Brooklyn Eagle next day. The Tripartite
agreement was published May 3Oth, 1873, with
a prefix and comments attached. | went to
Moulton's next morning and told him had
consulted some friends IN New YORK. Beecher
was sept for Moulton had some conversation
with him about this publication, Moulton de-
nouncing it as an act of bad faith. told Mr.
Beecher that there should be disclaimer
either by him or me, that l would not be put IN
a position OF being pardoned by him for some
atrocty. 1 told him had resolved to publish
his letter of contrition in card with some
comments, to let the public see who had COM
mtted the wrong. 1 told him did not wish
to do so, if he would publish card explaining
the matter. proposed to Mo9lton the form OF OF
Eagle on the following Monday. Left it with
MoultOn for Beecher to see and left.
Tie next interview occurred on the same
evening at Moulton's house. Moulton told me
Beecher was despondentand proposed to resign
said that if he did so in this crisis if / met
him would shoot him in the street.. After
Beecher had prepared his letter of resignation
went early to MoutOn'S next morning to see
what was the result of his later consultation
with Beecher, and Moulton showed me letter
prepared by Beecher in relation to the publica-
ton of the Tripartie agreement, stating that
it was published without the authority OF some
of the parties named. On the LIST of June,
1873. we had an interview at Moulton's house.
Moulton would not permit us to see ore anoth-
er. He kept Beecher up stairs and me down.
do not remember the date of my meeting
Beecher after this. The publication OF the
card of the I'd of Junes aroused the friends OF
Beecher He told me they wanted to know
why it was published. Mr.. West, member OF
his congregation, he said, was threatening to
raise trouble there. / remember letter sent
by West to Beecher, saying he was going to in
stitute charges against me, and he wanted to
know what was going to be done. Either of US
suggested to treat the charges with some kind
ness, throw them over to August, as the sum
mer vacation had come upon us and give them
half welcome and half rebuttal. The West
charges occupied Moulton and me during the
summer and Mr. West, who was then a StraDg-
er. came to seq me at my residence. Mr.. Tai
mage, clerk of the church committee, waited
upon me shortly after with a copy of the charges
preferred against me by West. t RI -
After this Beecher and went to MCulton's
house and he wanted to know what was to be
done in the case of the West charges. He said
everything depended on me, and said if this
was so would soon dispose of the charges. l
told him West had visited me and told me on
examining the matter he thought Beecher a
guilty man. He advised me to appear before
the committee in the autumn and put the
blame where it belonged. West said l was
still a member of the church, my name bein-
still ON the rolls, and threatened to compel me
70 hof ba ,p,ittao I told Vast
no power on earth could force me before the
committee, and was not a member Of the
church. / assured Beecher that would insist
on my membership, and Beecher said,
Theodore, if you take that ground l am
saved" l also told him he must assist me in
my efforts and urged on him the passage of
resolution that l was not member of the
church, and that the roll should be so amend
ed To this he agreed. l wrote to Tamage.
Letter produced and identified.)
The letter was read announcing Tlton'S be-
lief that he was not member of the church.
Witness continued-After tine letter was
sent to Talrnage L was in MOulton's house.
Beecher came in and taking my hand in his
said, Theodore God inspired you to write that
letter." Next day L sent for Beecher to Moul-
toms house in consequence of something saw
in morning paper about my being expelled
from church. 1 asked him about the action of
the committee; what it was to be that night,
and he said he could not say. Beecher told me
W WIlJt W Oduuci DOiSCl, VI eHO
examining committee, and he would tell me
the contemplated action of the committee.
Beecher then left and L wrote the letter. L
went to the church that night. After the
prayer meeting the church resolved itself into
business meeting and a resolution was read
about my making charges against Beecher and
stating that my name should be dropped from
the rolls. rose and said that if had made
any charges against Beecher l was here to
answer them. Beecher said that he had no
charges to make against me. The matter was
published at the time and do not care to re-
peat it. The witness letter to Belger was ruled
in and put in the evidence. The court then
adjourned for the day. .....r
What Beecher Says.
The Herald says that Beecher at recess yes
terday said of Tilton's testimony that it was "a
Shiny, slippery series of lies"
q The Steel and Iron Interest.
At a meeting of the steel and iron committee
of the Board of Trade, they favored the APP
pointment of permanent commissioner of
customs, who should regulate and superintend
the collection of customs duties, and by uniform
action avoid the vexatious and uncertain inter-
probation of the acts of Congress relating to
imports from which merchants are now suffer-
ing. 1t was resolved that protest be made
against the reimposition of the ten per cent.
duty on imported metal. s.Faa