Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-04-01
Tiit0n and the Woodruff.

! 1lth, the principal witness was man
whom Tilton, in his testimony, swore be
never met at Woodruff S or elsewhere
lawyer from Lowell, Mass, named
Charles Cowley, large, portly man,
with very forid complexion, short,
dark beard, and white hair lie was
candidate for Office on the Labor Reform
ticket some years ago. and, while on
visit to New York, made the &C quaint.
ance OF Mrs. Woodruff, whose lawyer
he became, in regard to a difficulty thai
rose about her obtaining a hau for
Iecturlng purposes IN Boston. He
gave a lengthy conversation between
him Tilton ID Woolhull, on two dis
tlnct visits at her house, and described
where they sat, and what they did,
which raises up a serious conf let OF
veracity. lie visited Woodnull. and
related what he saw there, and what
ne heard Tiiton andeW oodilull avow as
their principles on divorce ana iree-love;
how DeccheT was to be coerced into pre-
siding at Woodruff lecture and how
Titon and Vic. sat on lounges, exchan
sel am0rous glances, and conyersed ii
tender tones lie also testified that
y Woudhuil told him all about iton
lnaictment Of Beccher, u long time
oeiore the general public was admited
INTO Tilton' confluence. We take the
following from reports of the test.mo-
ny:
Charles Cowley, practicing lawyer i'll
Boston and Lowell, testified iii answer
to Mr.. Evarts, that in 1871 he was a
candidate for attorney g>n raj Of Mas :
achusetts, ( n the laLor reform ticket
L I'd, In connection with political move
;ncnts, came to New York. Being
there, he was introduced to Tilton by
Mrs. Woodruff. at her residence, where
| he had called to meet L. and CtnerS. !
number OF persons OF both sexes were
present. Among the gentleman were
Albert Brisbane, Stephen Pearl lAndrews
and Air Bacon, Of Worcester, Mass
1t had been proposed to bring Mrs
Woodruff and Mr. Tilton to make pub
| lie addresses In Massachusetts in favor
| the labor reform movement, and he came
| to have a personal interview with them
about it. Mrs. Woodhull said that ii
great revolution was about to take place
III regard to the marriage relation, and
that Beecher would be the leader.
Witness said he did not believe this
and Mrs. Woodruff said Beecher
would have to, or be exposed as one
WHO concealed in public his private
sentiments Mrs. " oOdhull haVlA2
sal something as to Beeyher preat hing
t Il dozen OF his ulstresses, the witness
sal that could not be without 1t being
notorious. Either Iilton or Mrs.
Woodruff spoke of the number OF
| Beecher's mlstresseS as being forty
The name of Miss Proctor was men-
toned In this connection. Mrs. " 00d-
| hull. i'll tone which might have been
heard by Tilton, spoke of Mrs. Tilton
as woman with whom Beecher had
long been enamored. She said there
was some doubt as to whether Beecher
D: Hilton Was the father OF one OF Ars.
Ii tons children. She said that Mrs.
Hilton had these views, also, on the
marriage relation and free love, ana
Mrs. Iilton regretted the deception
which she had practlced upon hes
hus Jand, and had written letter stat
lag what her relations with Mr. Beech
Ell had been, and that Beecher obtained
Il retraction from her, which friend OF
IIton procured from him at the point
ot the pistol. He thought she mention
ed the name Of Moulton The wit
ness expressed his disbelief in this, and
al | that ii Mrs Tilton had written one
confession she could write another
\ Is. " oodhull said she was not likely
To make another, as that confession was
written when Tllton was III some Dusl-
ness d iicuIties. The injustice OF some
OF the marriage laws was discussed,
I'liton and Mrs. Woodruff arguing that
marrlage ougAt to be simple contract
Witness expressed different opinions.
Mrs Woodruff said she favored the
abolition Of the whole present system
OF segregated families, and thought
that the children ought to De brought
up in institutions maintained by the
State. Tilton and Mrs. Woodruff
seemed to be enamored Of each other
He called her Victoria. and she him
Theodore Witness did not leave till
after 10 O clock that evening, and Til
ton remained This occasion was in
September, 1871.
In the following October witness
{, stopped in New York on his way tc
Washington, and called on Mrs " ood
) hull in consequence Of a note which he
I bad received from her. He was recei.
we'd in the house by Col Blood, anc
found Tilton there with Mrs. Wood
hull and Mr.. Clafin. Mrs. Woodhul
e said Beecher was going 70 preside al
, meeting where she was to speak o
= the relations of the sexes. Witness tolt
her that he could not believe Beecho