The Portland daily press., 1878-04-17
TIE SCANDAL.
A Great Many Inter-
views
For Very Little Information.

NEW YORK, April 16.-The following is the
report OF an interview with Beecher last even
ing at Waverly;
On coming down from the lecture platform
copy of Mrs. Tilton's confession was placed in
his hand. He read it quietly and seemed in no
wise excited. In reply to the question what
he intend to do he says: ''Nothing at pres
emit, except to give an explicit denial" He
seemed to be more sorry for Mrs. Tilton than
troubled about himself. .st.
Correspondent-Do you believe Mrs. Tilton
wrote this of her own mind, or was she infu-
enced?
Mr.. Beecher-I have not spoken with Mrs.
Til4on for over two years. l was informed sew
eral months ago that influences were being ex-
erted through their children and others to eff
feet reconciliation with her husband, and
that she energetically refused to consider it un
til he had publicly exonerated her from the
charges brought against her. 1t was only a
few weeks ago that rumor came to me that
she was in morbid and self.condem natory
state of mind.
Correspondent-HasM Mrs. T. ever iItimated
consciousness of guilt before?
Mr.. Beecher-So far from it that it is impos-
sible to conceive if her present confession ia
true, of such an elaborate, prolonged and sx-
tfaordinary case of falsehood as she mist have
practiced.
Mr.. Beecher recoub ted to the correspondent
in detail Mrs. Tilton's former statements and
testimony, and concluded by saying: against
form and unimpeachable truthfnlness."
Frank Moulton, on being shown the confess
sion, said: 81 was convinced that the admis-
sion would be made, but 1 was hardly prepared
to expect it at this time.
"YOu were convinced Mrs TiltOn would con-
fess to adultery?
why, knew it must come. l knew it from
knowledge of the woman. Elizabeth Tilton
was SO upright, SO sincere-minded, that it was
only question of time when she would tell
tt,nf II l..
asked me, Frank, do you believe Elizabeth
will ever tell me before she dies?' I answered
him that she surely would"
WAS Tilton convinced she would?'
" think he came to expect it would occur
some day. He always believed in her abiding
sense Of truth and right You may look
through the record of the trial, and you will not
fad an instance of his speaking of her hastily
or unkindly. He spoke of her as white-souled
woman. He always conceded she was domin-
ated and overcome by Beecher's influence in
the guise Of religion"
"Will this confession be a severe blow to
Beecher?"
"a death blow" answered. Mr.. Moulton
rather sadly.
Secretary Evarts, who was Beecher's coun-
sci, said last evening that he had not heard a
werd in relation to the Beecher-Tilton matter
for some time. Nothing in fact but what he
has read in newspapers. He had not heard of
this latest development except as communica-
ted by the statements that such q letter has
been written, hence he has nothing to say. He
could not believe it was true. 1t was not a
good subject for discussion. That which
pleased him more was the prospect of legal
tenders being worth premium in gold.
VIM. M. Beach, senior counsel for Tilton,
thought it highly improbable Mrs. Tilton
wrote any such acknowledgment to blazon
such thing to the world. MI. Tiiton is the
only person with sufficient motive to give the
confession to the pubic. Beach also said he
never would have any more to do with the
matter if it came to trial.
Judge Fullerton said before the trial Mrs.
Tilton went to various friends and told the
story of her shame.
That is why l wanted to have her as wit.
ness Since the trial she confessed her guilt
again in private 1t would be just like her
to make public confession now though can
hardly believe she has done so. It is possible.
Tilton has had an interview with her, and
promised if she confessed her crime he would
take her back.
Oliver johnson places no credence in the con-
feSsi0n.
A correspondent saw Mr. Tllton at Rich
land Centre, Iowa, where he was to lecture last
night, and communicated to him the contents
OF Mrs. Tilton's card.
Mr.. Tilton said he had nothing to say in re-
gard to it, nor as to whether he had or had not
had any. reconciliation with his wife, either in
person, by letter OF through friends; neither
would he say whether a reconciliation was
probable or whether he contemplated a reunion
with her.
The Sun has brief interview with a son of
Joseph M. Richards as follows:
Q.-Have you seen the letter Mrs. Tilton sent
sent your father short time 20, in which she
specifies in detail her adultery with Henry
Ward Beecber?
A.-Yes, have seen the letter, but I think
my father has decided not to allow it to be pub
lished.
IT. confirms bor 10 81 oop fass;on h. x;n;~. Al
details?
Ayes, that is it.
Francis d, Moulton. in an interview today.
on being asked what he thought was an explain
alton Of Mrs. Tilton's letter, replied:
1t is her conscience, her keen sense of relig.
impelled her to write. l suppose Mrs. Tilton
published the letter because she wanted to.
Tilton had nothing to do with it, nor did Rich.
ards, nor did anybody or any thing, except her
quickened sense Of duty and right.
Mr.. w A Beach, one of Tllton.s lawyers in
the scandal trial, said the trial could be opened
at any time by any one on either side serving
notice on the opponents of their intention to re-
open.
Mrs. Anna M. Field,to whom it was reported
q letter had been sent by Mrs. Tilton giving
full details of the protested confession, denied
the truth of the report tonight.
One OF the leading members of Plymouth
church, who declined to permit the use of his
name, said to day that some three weeks ago
ms wife received letter from Mrs. Tllton,
1t was on personal matters" said he, "but to-
wards the close most unexpectedly dropped
into discussion of her guilt. Mrs. Tilton set
forth the falsehood that she had never denied
her guilt before she left her home in Tilton's
house That was false, and when we called her
attention to various occasions upon which she
had done SO she hung her head and did not
know what to say"
The letter runs on in sort of confession of
her guilt, about which she had written her
daughters, but which she did not think she
should disclose to Carroll until be was q man.
ELMrRA, April 16.-Beecher was shown what
vas said In the New York papers today and
old the Gazette reporter that there was no
more to be said.
Mr.. Pond, agent for Beecher, said the affair
had been foreshadowed some time ago, and it
vas well known in the West that Tilton and
wife were to reunite. Mr.. Pond said: I be-
ieve Beecher is convinced that Mrs. Tilton is
low under absolute control of her husband,
nat she loves him, and that this letter of con-
esslon is the price she pays for reconciliation.
nERTFA