Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-24
A GREAT SCANDAL.
SAD rcHoEs FROM THE CELEBRATED
BEEcHER-TILroN TRIAL.
Their House Ia cursed-Mrs. Tilton Growing
Blind, While Her Husband Lives
In Poverty.


For the Observation-Disclosures 1880. By Baehol-
ler 4 Col
Echoes OF the great Beecher-I1lton
trial come back TO us occasionally and
recall all the woe and pain suffered by
the actors in that dreadful quagmire CT
scandal. Brooklyn banished the subject
from her drawing-rooms shortly alter
the end OF the suit, which led to the
eclipse OF at least two of the actors-II-
ton and Moulton--Rnd injured Mr..
Beecher irrctrievably. Henry @. Bowen,
the richest OF oil the scandal coterfe, holds
his own, and though for a few years he
never went out in society OF all, his
house has been the centre Of numerous
social gatherings this winter. He has
clever daughter who is the attraction OF
his home, and he keeps up the habit OF
inviting to his country home at Wood
stock, Conn, all the notables OF the Re
publican party, who like to talk politics
and fowery rhetoric in the country on
the 4th OF July.
Mr.. Beecher died two years ago, and
during the interval that has elapsed
since his death little has been said about
the old issues involved III the scandal
which once shook Brooklyn volcano
like. But recently the interest in the
personages concerned in the trial was re-
vived in the announcement that Mrs.
Tilton, the victim of every one engaged
in the case, is growing blind. She has
been q great sufferer from cataracts,
which have been repeatedly cut from
both her eyes. Now the sight of one
eye is entirely gone, and the other IS so
injured that she lives in dark room,
and Will shortly be wholly blind.
Mrs. Morse, the faithful mother OF
Mrs. Tilton, lives with her, and at
present the eldest daughter, Florence, is
with her. The youngest son OF Mrs
1ilton is the only one OF her children
who resides with her permanently. The
other son and daughter are married and
live in New York. Mrs. Tilton resides
in a modest home in the eastern part of
Brooklyn, and never leaves her room.
For years she only appeared on the
street when some household want
had to be supplied. 1t is said that the
cataracts which have cost her so much
suffering were caused by continuous
weeping. Whatever else the scandal did
for others it broke her heart and she has
been a miserably unhappy woman since
that time. When Mir. Beecher died
Mrs. 1ilton expressed regret that
she could not have been taken in his
stead, for she had nothing to do in the
world, and no was useful. OF all the
Beecher family, the only one who has
shown her the slightest sympathy has
been Mrs Isabella Beecher Hooker,
who urged her brother TO be kind to Mrs.
Tilton, and TO defend her against her
husbands charges. But Mr. Beecher did
nothing, could do nothing under the cir
cumstances, and. it is said, he grieved
that he could not, for he had nature
that led him to feel sympathy and gene
rosty toward his fellow-beings Mrs.
Beecher was too bitter toward the Ill
tons for word to be said concerning
them, and Mr. Beecher's last years were
passed under the close espionage OF his
wife.
Lately the letters, documents, agree
menJs, memoranda, and everything else
pertaining to the scandal were destroyed.
After the trial they were intrusted to the
treasurer of Plymouth church, in whose
house the investigating committee held
its meetings. The papers we're commit
ted to the flames and not a line of con-
LESSONS, recrimiDations, or charges are
in existence unless Mr.. Bowen holds
them. Mr. Augustus Storrs was a
staunch adherent OF Mr.. Beecher, and
gave ten thousand dollars toward the ex-
penses OF the trial. He is an old man
and lately has sold his house and has
broken up his home, now that his wife
is dead and he is alone in the world. He
feared some less friendly eye might read
these documents after his death and so
he confided them to the flames with his
own hands.
Theodore Tilton lenqthens out his
miserable existence in Paris and is main
" pepsioner on the bounty Of one or
two former friends. He has no means
OF livelihood and is very unhappy man.
Both of his daughters are separated from
him now and he is entirely alone, except
in the summer season, when some Ameri
cans are in Paris. OF all the money he
made he has not retained a dollar, and
having no business faculty cannot adjust
himself to circumstances.
Frank Moulton. the mutual friend,
died long ago, and many of the older
members of Plymouth church have fol-
lowed Mr. Beecher to Greenwood. OF
the family OF the latter little is heard in
Brooklyn. The eldest son has removed
20 New jersey, the second son is in bust
ness and not likely to be heard OF pub
lcly in any direction, since he is quiet
retiring man. The other son is not
shining light and has not made Brooklyn
his home Tor many years. He is in the
far West, while the only daughter,
Mrs. Scovel, is the wife Of q minister
at Norwalk, ct. Mrs. Beecher
is the only one OF the family who
remains associated with Plymouth |
church. She was bitterly opposed to the
selection of DR.. Abbott, and wanted her
son-in-law to succeed her husband, but |
Plymouth people objected end she had
to acquiesce. She has become recon-
ciled to the existing state of things and
sits in her old pew every Sunday, though |
it is no longer known as the pastors
Pew" but as Mira Beecher's, and her
name is on the door. She has been
living at Stamford, Conn, but has now
taken house at the corner of Orange
and Hicks streets in Brooklyn, and will
occupy it on May lst with servant. 1t
is but block away from the house in
which Mr.. Beecher died.