Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-05-31
THEODORE TlLToN DEAD.
He Was Plaintiff In the Famous suit
Against Henry Ward 5eeoher In 1875
Lived as Recluse In Paris.

Against Henry Ward 5eeoher In 1875
Lived as Recluse In Paris.
Theodore Tilton, II, author. editor and
lecturer, and known throughout the coun-
try from his connection with the Tilton-
Beecher suit died Saturday from pneu-
mona i'm Paris, where he had been living
in seclusion nearly 20 years. Tilton was
born in New York city and educated in
the Free academy which is now the col
lege of the city of New York, and after
working on the Churchman and the OBJ
server he was for 15 years on the stan Of
the Independent a part of the time as
editor in chief He was an ardent aboll-
ZIONIST and may fairly be included in the
original phalanx of that cause, which in
cluded Garrison, Phillips, Sumner, Wade
and others. 1t was at Tilton's house
in Brooklyn that Mrs. John Brown
awaited the arrival of her husbands body
after his execution in December. 1859
In 1865 Mr.. Tilton began his career as a
public speaker and lecturer. and he was
for nineteen years one Of the most pop
ular lyceum attractions in the United
States. He was n handsome man, of
noble figure and commanding presence
poetic in temperament and eloquent. A
strong advocate of the political rights of
women, he frequently addressed conven-
tions of the supporters of the movement
1t was In 1874 that Mr. Tilton preferred
his sensational charges against Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher. who had been his
pastor and intimate friend. as well as his
predecessor as editor of the Independent.
Mr.. Tilton accused Mr.. Beecher of GRIM
inal misconduct with Mrs. Tilton who
before her marriage was Miss Elizabeth
Richards. The social scandal aroused
was one Of the most notable in the whole
history of the country.
a committee from Plymouth church
after investigating the charges declared
them baseless. But this verdict of a
body of Mr.. Beecher's close friends and
associates did not satisfy Mr.. Tilton who
brought a civil suit against his former
pastor, demanding 100000 damages. The
trial was held in Brooklyn in 1875 and
lasted 112 days.
At the close of the trial the jury, after
celebrating for nine days, failed to agree
and was discharged. Nine OF the twelve
only three sided with the complainant.
The case was not tried again.
Mr.. Beecher comported himself with
calm and dignity during the long drawn
out church and civil trials. and in the
end he suffered little loss OF popularity
or influence from the unpleasant noto-
riety to which he had been subjected.
Mr.. Tilton devoted himself to literary
work for the next seven or eight years.
In 1888 he went to Europe, and after
living for short periods in oxford, Cam
bridge, Stuttgart. Munich and Dresden,
In 1855 he settled permanently in Paris
Mrs Tilton died in 1897 Mr. Tilton
was the father of four children. One
daughter is the wife OF a banker in Ger
many and the other is principal Of a
musical school in Brooklyn One son.
who was at one time editor of the Delin-
Gator. died recently under mysterious
circumstances in New York city, and a
Mrd no IL
cause OF his death while the funeral was
being held.