The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-14

was buried under heaps and heaps of rub.
bish, and nobody but my professed friend |
(if even hel could save me- To his as
surance that he could still do so gave at |
least so much faith as to maintain under |
these terrible trials the silence which he en-
joined. Not until Mr.. Tilton, having at
tempted, through Frank Carpenter TO raise |
money from my friends, openly assailcd me
in his letter to DIR. Bacon, did break that |
silence, save my simple denial OF the SLAM |
derous rumors against me a year before.
VISITS TO rrLroS's HOME.
Mr.. Tilton was first known TO me as n |
reporter OF my sermons. He was then a |
youth just from school, and working on the |
New York Observer. From this paper he |
passed to the Independent, and became |
great favorite with Mr. Bowen. When, about |
1861, Drs Bacon, Storrs and Thompson re-
signed their places became editor OF the |
Independent to which had been from its |
start a contributor. One of the induce
ments held out to me was that Mr.. Tilton
should be my assistant and relieve me
wholly from routine Office work. In this
relation became very much attached TO
him.
august was my vacation month, but
my family repaired TO my farm in juno
aud July. and remained their during Sep
tcmber and October. My labors confined
me 10 the city, l took my meals in the
families OF friends, and from year to year |
became so familiar with their children and
homes that went in and out daily almost
as in my own house Mr.. Tilton often al
luded TO this habit, and urged me 10 do the
same by his house. He used to often speak
in extravagant terms OF his wifc's esteem
and affection for me. After | began 20 visit
his house he sought 10 make Il attractive.
He nrged me 20 bring my papers down
there and use his study TO do my writing
in, as it was not pleasant 10 write In the Of
flee OF the Independent.
ANXIOUS ABOUT LIBBY.
Friendly relations continued until 1865
when the violent assaults made upon me
by Mr.. Tilton in the Independcnf, on account
of my Cleveland letter and the temporary
Discrimination Of the publication Of my
sermons In that paper, broke of my connec-
ton with H. Although Mr. Tilton and l re-
mnined personally on good terms. yet there
was GOODNESS between MS In all matters OF
politics. During the whole period l never
received from Mr.. Tilton or any member Of
his family the slightest hint that there was
any dissatisfaction with my familiar rela-
iions 10 his household. As late, think, as
the winter OF 1869, when going upon an cx-
tended lecturing tour he said: 4 wish you
would look In after and see that Libby Is not
lonesome, or does not want anything or
words TO that effect Never by sign or word
did Mr.. Tilton complain Of my visits 10 his
family until he began 10 fear that the Inde-
pendent would be taken from him, nor did he
break out into violence until on the eve OF
dispossesion from both the papers-tho Iade-
peHdeni and the Brooklyn CnioR-owned by
Mr.. Bowen.
AMosr SOLEMN DENIAL.
'In the latter part OF July, 1870 Mrs. Til
ton was sick, and at her request visited her.
She seemed much depressed, but gave me no
hint Of any trouble having reference TO me.
] cheered her as best could, and prayed
with her just before leaving. This was our
last interview before trouble broke out in
the family describe Il because Il was the
last, and is character has a bearing upon q
later part Of my story. Concerning all my
visits Il Is sufficient 10 say that IN no inter
view which ever took place between Mrs.
Tilton and myself did anything occur which
might not have occDred with perfect pro-
priety between n brother aud a sister, be-
tween father and a child. or between n man
OF honor and the wifc OF bis dearest friend;
nor did anything ever fa3pcn which she or
| | sought 70 conceal from her husband.
ADVISING A SEPARATION.
"After Mr. Tilton's rcturn from the west
| In December, 1870. young girl whom MIS-
| Titon had taken into the family, educated
| and treated like an own child. wns sent 90
me with an urgent request that would visit
Mrs. 'filtOn NJ her mothers khc said That
Mrs. Tilton La left her homo and gone 10
| her mothers In consequence Of III treatment
Of her husband She then gave nm account
of what she had seen Of cruelty aud abuse
/ on tile part OF the husband that shocked me.
/ I Immediately visited Mrs. Tilton at her
mothers and received an account of her
home life and OF the dcspotism of her hus-
band aud of the management of n woman
whom he had made housekecper, which
4 - Ia al.
| ton was whether she should go back or sep.
araie forever from her husband. | asked
| permission 30 bring my wife 10 sec them,
/ whose Judgment In all domestic reln-
tions | thought better than my own,
and accordingly n second visit was made,
The result OF the interview was that my wife
| was extremely indignant toward Mr.. Tilton.
and declared that no consideration on earth
would induce her 10 remain nm hour with
man who had treated her with q hundrcdth
| mart Of such insult aud cruelty. l felt ~
strongly a. she did, but hesiiated, AZ ! al
ways do, at giving advice In favor of a sepa.
ration IL was agreed that my wife should
give her final advice ut another visit. The
next day, when ready 70 30. she wished n
final word; but there was company aud the
children were present, and 20 ! wrote on
scrap Of paper 4 incline 10 think that your
view l. right. aud that n separation and n
settlement Of support will be wiscst aud
that IN his present desperate state her pres
oncc near him l. Ear more likely 10 produce
hatred than her absence
DEMANDED nErcnER's WITHDRAWAL.
"Mrs. Tilton did not tell me that my pres
cncc had anything 20 do with this trouble,
nor did she LET me know that on the July
previous he had cxtorted from her confes-
sion Of exccs siye affection for me.
''On the evening Of December "a, 1870,
Mr.. Bowen. on his way home, called at my
house and handed mc letter from Mr.. Til
ton. II was n nearly as | can remember,
In the following terms
"'HEsnY WAnD BEEcHKR-Tor reasons
which you explicitly know, and which for
bear 20 state, | demand that you withdraw
from the pulpit and quit Dfcoklyn as resi-
dcnce. THEoponE ltLroN.'
~ read n over twice and turned 10 Mr.
Bowen and said This man u crazy; this "
sheer insanity aud other like words. Mr..
Bowen rrofessed 10 be Ignorant of the con
tents. and handed him the letter 10 read.
We at once fell into conversation about
Mr. Tillon. lie gave me some account OF
the reasons Why be had reduced bin FROM
the edltorzhip of the IndcpendfAf 20 the SUI
bordinatc position oi contribuior-namely
that Mr.. Tlltons religious aud social views
were running the paper.
TnTox LOSES ms POSITION.
"wc conycrscd foLsome time, Mr. Bowen
wishing my opinion. ID wns frankly given.
, dld not zee how he could maintain his ~.
, lalions with Mr. 1illon The substance ol
/ the conycFsation was, that Tiltons inordi
, nate vanity, his fatal facility for blundcrine
/ flor which he had gcni1sl and oslcntaiiou'