The Washington times., 1907-05-26
THEO. T|LTON,
REECHER ENEMY,
DEAD IN PARIS
Brought Suit for Dam
ages and Dragged Wife's
Name Through Mire.

PARIS, May 25.-Theodore Tilton. the
former American editor and poet. whose
suit against Henry Ward Beecher was
the topic of conversation on two CONT
nents. died here today The cause OF
his de It'll was pneumonia.
He passed last night sleeping inter-
mittently, but growing weaker. His
spirit were good though he knew the
end ~ds not far distant and he at times
displayed all of his old time humor.
Early this morning. he read Lord
Lytton's Pausanias. dwelling particular
" on one sentence OF 1.-THE god
pardon in the man the fault he shared
with his community. and ask from him
but the good and the beautiful. such as
the nature OF his community Will per
NIT him TO conceive and be accom-
plished."
In an interview with an intimate friend
Tilton stated recently that although
greatly incensed- at the time he did not
want 20 make public the scandal IN
which Henry Beecher and Mrs. Tilton
figured in Brooklyn years ago. but that
the publicity was really forced upon
him.
Said He Made Beeeher.
He declared that he had really made
Beecher. having pushed the latter steadi-
~ forward in his career. Mr. Tliton
was very fond Of his wife. and held
her in great reverence even after he
learned Of the scandal. declaring always
that she had been but a tool in Beech
er's hands, and that she had been hypDo-
tized by Beecher.
Tilton married Elizabeth NJ Richards
in 1855. He and Beecher became init
mate friends after Mr.. Beecher became
connected with the independent in 1850.
Through all OF this period the Beecher
family and the Tilton family were very
Intimate. Mr.. Beecher was a friendly
caller at the Tilton home. He and Mrs
Tilton were openly very friendly toward
each other. but there was never any
gossip connecting the two until about
three years before the Tflton suit In
fact. their friendship ceased in 1869. a
year after il was alleged TO have begun.
There was a period OF almost two
years In which the alleged scandal was
kept fairly well hidden In the first
flush Of his anger Tilton wanted 10 Eek
pose" Beecher, but was persuaded to
let the matter drop.
Despite the efforts Of the peacemakers. !
the scandal became public property in
1872.
Sued for 100000 Damages.
Naturally such a story concerning
such famous minister in all the land |
caused great sensation. After the 1
Woodruff publication an investigation /
was inevitable, and il was not surpris- 7
ing when Tilton brought suit for $4,000 /
damages against Beecher.
In the trial Of the action the test (
Inony Of Theodore Tilton,' which occu- |
pied many days, was Of Intense inter !
est. He was permitted TO tell Of alleged 4
OF guilt made 10 him by ,
both his wife and Beecher. T'ilton told !
Of several meetings with 3eecher, in ]
which the relations between Beecher /
and Mrs. Tilton were discussed, and he /
said that Beecher had talked Of suicide. /
Beecher. he said. was willing 70 accede
10 his demand that he resign from Ply (
mouth Church. but was delighted when /
Tilton withdrew the demand
At one stage of the proceedings. when 4
Beecher threatened to resign from Ply
mouth, Tnton became very angry and /
'ent word that he would shoot Beecher
4 he resigned. Tilton took the stand
hat Beecher's resignation would reflect
upon the parentage Of the TiIton chill
lren
Tilton was greatly interested In his
title son Ralph. who was born three
months after the date which TiltOn
claimed his wife named as the time \