The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-16
PRICE TWO CENTS.
MRS. TILT0N'S CONFESSION.
now BEECHER ALMOST DICTATED n
IN ms SERMON ON GILMAN
The yelled Listener In the PIyn,outh ChurcA
Caiiery-IIer Story. ne Told TO n Lady
Bessie Turner Again with Mrs, Ttiten,

The Yelled Listener In the Plymouth ChurcA
GaiIery-uer Story, ne Told TO n Lady
bessie Turner Again with Mrs, Tiiten.
Mrs. Elizabeth Tilton on Sunday last was
visited in her home. at 1iS Hewcs street Brook.
Ign. by lady resident of this city who was for
mcry an intimate friend Of her family. Ths
visit was made Mt Mrs. Tlltons request She
said that she had but few visitors. and no ona
OF her old friends came TO SEQ her except THAI
they were sent for. She lived quietly with
her mother. Mrs. Morse. and her two sons. Car
roll and Ralph. Within fow days she had
taken Bessie Turner into her household. The
girl came to her with n ptlful story OF her at
tempts to earn living The cold shoulder was
turned upon her by Mr.. Bcccher's friends ~
soon as the trial was over; and finding that she
had miscalculacd upon their support In reward
for devotion TO their pustcrs cause. she obtained
n ntful support BY lending her name to a book
and story principally written for her. and
then turned for u livelihood to the stage. She
was engaged to play subordinate parts at .
| small salary. She travelled with a company
playing A Celebrated Cose." and then played
| in Niblo's for n few weeks III fortune seemed
TO intend her best Efforts, and she lost her posi-.
| Mrs; Tilton and asked shelter OF her. II was
| freely given.
| To her visitor Mrs. Tilton talked freely In
| general terms OF her confession. and OF hcy
previous Efforts 70 s9ye Mr.. Bcccher. She said
.h@I shS entcrId POLLY into ne plan cGncossd
charges and TO lilo out of them, She kept q lie
! on the end Of her tongue all the time. and foE
| II she thought it would help Mr.. Beccher. since
her confession she had enjoyed greater peace %
| sackcloth and ashes. and she believed that shs
had obtgined Divine forgiveness and that she
When Mrs Tilton was asked il her husband
| had Influenced her " make the confession she
said: Not Mt all. He did not know that con-
speak to me about H." Mrs Tilton added thai
she was pcrsuaded to go to hear Mr.. Beechcr
preach by Mrs Thomas g; Shcarman and
others who had lamentod with her at heing de-
prved OF bis spiritual consolation. She wont
and took scat In the gallery. No ono recog-
nized her. and but tive or three persons kncv
tG4 IT, she was thers Mr. Beesher was ignorant
mon on the downfall OF William c. Gilman tho
forGor. and the burden of his, argument was
that confession was the only balm for q guilty
soul. Coming from his lips. the advice had
peculiar force. and the words rang IN her ears
Of u determination 10 FREQ her conscience OF thu
| guilt of falschood. which before that sermon was
burden she bore lightiyand reaching at lengh
what she described rs state OF great spiritual
eXaltation." she felt that not 10 confess would
b" the greatest sin Of her life She wrote 70 the
Rev. Henry Ward Bc"cher warning him Of hes
intention. She was afraid. she sail. If the con.
fcssion came upon hin, unawarcs that he would
take his life. To lady member of Plymouth
The only place in this world for n self con.
fesscl adultcrcss il in state prison alongsids
W liam {. Gilman. and how wish wore
Ms. Tilion expressed the greatest surprise q
MIR. Bcechers conduct since her confession.
She had felt all along that her lies were buoy
ing him up. and she dreaded the state OF despaI
into which she thought her rccautatOn would
man She said. AZ TO her future. Mrs TiltoJ
the grave. Her health was impaired and hen
troubles made her physically miserable Hes
son Carroll. TO whom she was devoted. left the
! Polytechnic Institute when her confession was
published and remained homo with her cx.
hioiting the ten1dcreei regard Tor her In MANI
annoying visitors He was induced TO mcs
James Shearnan, brother Of Thomns q. Shear
man. aud that gentleman. who Mrs Ttou
thinks acted rs his brothers cmissary sought
To- induce Carroll To abandon his home on the
ground that his mother had confessed herself
10 hr m lutna.t, mud his father was adishonorcd
man. Tho lad rclrctcd tho proposal.
Again. Mrs. Tilton said, she had been an
noyed by n l"oture agont who had insisted upon
her going into the Held, guaranteeing her q
fortune Of slulOOO If she would consent. She
wholly refused 70 entertain any Proposition 0,
the kind. She claimed that tho subject Of n no.
union with her husband Ind MAYER been
lroa'hc brtweon them. and as "rtri dlstinctlI
that she was more ayrrsc 10 living with him
than he could possibly he. She dii not now fec
that she WIS entitled 10 resume her relations "a
| wife to harhushand and mother 10 her children
II haling been suggested 10 Mrs Iilton thai
others had suffered through her prolonged op.
position to her husband md that she might
tsiNc 'orrohorGtyc evidence which would part
" yindiratr them. she expressed an aversion "a
entering into the details II hcr sin. hut mil
her cxpcri,nce viii Mr. Bee her. and lowe n \
, | to her husbands friends. 70 10 made use OF N
They pleased after her death.
intensely surrowiul. Mrs. Tion was dccplI
in earnest in all that she snii md the lady
mo onc could hear E'izih,th Tilion tell ho,
story Of woe and disgrHr" without believing tina
sho was speaking the truth