smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

But this is not the only tie, nor even the chief tie
which binds together these two They have had most


significant alliance in the prosecution of new social theories
They have had most significant relations with women whose
very names stains the lips that utter It, They have
both held their voices In humiatng bondage, and
compelled the women whom they vowed to love
and to cherish to become the ministers TO their lust II
not Theodore Ton who sent his wife TO bring home In
carriage the most notorious preacher and patser OF free love
that the world has This degfadaon reserved
for the wife Of Frances d Mouon And her lips and
not the lips OF Elizabeth Ton far we have yet learned
that kissed by Victoria wooihu 1t this woman
whose published uerances foul thar thu learned Judge
presiding unwilling to allow them to be read in your
hearing part OF the evidence in this case who
selected by Francis d. Mouton the honored guest OF his
WIFE and person to be brought home In carriage by his
wife and only child And this alliance maintained for
year 1t maintained II you believe Mr. Moulton for the
sake OF Mr. Beecher whom Mr. Ton hated with all his soul
else it maintained you believe Mr. ton for the sake
Of Mrs Ton whom Moulton despiscd with all his heari
Year: 1875

But no mere words can do justice to this man !;
but artist who should paint the he i bring
his real before mankind and thank heaven


emen that portrait has been painted and by OF the great
artists the world known any OF you visit
the beautiful city OF Milan you will find that to is mag
nacent cathedral which thousands OF saints and angels stand
carved in heavenly white in the attitude Of silent prayer the
pride and glory OF that city in the humble refectOry
OF ancient monastery, upon the wall OF which. four
hundred years so the iusols Leonardo da vnc painted
his almost inspired picture Of the Last SUPPER picture
the coors of which too rapidly fading but tho fame Of
which will die. And gentlemen, in the most striking
portrait that group OF disciples will recognize the start


ling likeness the red matted hair the sharp and


lar face the cold and remorseess eyes OF Judas caro and
the same features In his legitimate successor the muua
friend" daughter aud ap?lause There that consected
wall the portrait OF Francis D. Mouton has stood waiting for
his birth 40 years


The noise still contnun, Judge Nelson said "M Mr. Tracy
please stop" Ito the audience 81 will adjourn this court
If there is any more aemonstration OF that kind"


Mr. Tracy lresumng And will stand for twice four hun
years after this resuectd Judas shall have sunk into
eternal infamy.


such that Tlton requested TO become his friend
in this emergency and this into whose hands he
placed the OF his wife and bsde him and invite Mr.
Beechr interview the night OF the Both Of December
Year: 1875

But we are asked to believe that when he was
informed by Mr. Tton that not Mr. Bowen but Mr. Beecher
been his worst enemyh enemy in business hs enemy
in the church. his enemy in the househod-Mr houon ap
preached Mr. Beecher genuine spirit Of friendship and
with sincere to act the fair and honorable part OF
strictly friend He tells that he learned that Mr.
had been guilty Of OF the basest and foue acts
which any man can commit he tells you, under the
solemn oath OF who believes in neither God devil
that his Mr. Beecher commenced on that stormy
night learned for the first time that this new friend
had debauched his old friends wife, This horrible crime the
deliberate and longpauned seduction OF trusting and reyer
entia by the pastor who had given her hand
to her husband in marriage and invoked the blessing OF
God on their union fact which awoke in the gener
GUS breast OF Mr. Mouton fountain sympathy with the
alleged reacherous seduce He hasened to pledge to this
man. whom describes abandoned hypocrite and
bertne "the strctes and frnest friendship He assured
him that among the thousands Of friends who stood
around this pastor with devoted affection would ever equal him
,n6
Year: 1875

The Court resumed its session at 2:l5 o'clock.


Mr. Tracy-Thus It is clear that upon the statement in I'll
handwriting prepared in December 1872 and shown
by him to friends the truth Of the matter
that Mr. Mouon was consulted separate days after the
ah and before Sh and that was by Mouons advice
that Tton determined send for Beecher this advice being
given before Ton her brief note which Tton has
sworn was written December 10Th What motive did Mr.
Ton fsyng in this respect when he drew up the


Truc Storyf" lie a motive for faying now because he
has been advised by that these facts made out


clear conspiracy against Moulton and himself and 1t
by their shrewd suggestion Out do not intimate that 1t by
their advice both he and the mutual friend now dsclaim
any consultation prior to the signing by Mrs Tlton OF the
sbomnabe charge drawn up 10y her husband But Tton con-
lawyer when he prepared the True Story and only
inserted such aehool seemed to him then TO be useful
This statement was not which could have done him any
good and it may therefore be safely assumed to be true
Year: 1875

While they were on the road an incident occurred,
according to Moultons account Of the affair which will justify


short depression from the main subject He tells you that
having learned that very evenngfor the FIRST time Beehe,
pastor Of his wife had most nfamouy debaueed the
wife Of Mouons intimate friend that circumstance s
PEELED him, for the frst time in his LIFE TO proner to
Beecher lifelong friendship Of his accord Without


hin, from Beecher Of his desire for such services
ton said 10 him, ~ Christian, heathen bu, II
you wish, will show you how well heather can serve
you" And from that moment there sprung up the
strictest and frmest friendship leo he ayO between
himself and the whom he now describes and
whom he must then have known lbertne He assures
that for four after that time he day night
and the whom he denounces with such
intense bitterness and who according his account has
added not one whit 70 bis sins since thai time except that there
Year: 1875

period Of nearly four yearshst the original scheme gaao
ally developed the most gigantic and hdeous conspiracy
Of modem times
need argument to satisfy you that man VINO
has been for years carrying on so dabocd conspiracy ~
this his movements being known at every step to the man
whose cause he was really serving could fall himself to be
involved In such network Of crime would make 1t im oss
bic him his steps to abandon his partner
gu-no what might be the cost to himself OF pursu
ing the original scheme The descent into crime Is easy but
the from such touous paths OF darknesss well nigh
impossible Neither Of these could for moment afford
bsiray the other they had apart from this
case either drive the other to desperation would be an
act OF suicidal madness
Year: 1875




gentlemen he has often declared that the way
curing Mr. Beechers aid him OF having wronged
YOU convince him that he has done injury and


there nothing you ak that he will not do to repair the
wrong.


They determined to approach him in this manner and to
convince him the stories he had heard well those he
had circulated against Tton false and sandeou They
knew that il they could convict him in his conscience
Of having sandered Tilton, he would make haste to
atone for the injustice. To do this they must
destroy his confidence in Mr.. Ttons accuser. That
accuser was Tiltons wife. They knew Mr. Beecher's
confidence ruhfuness and to impair that confidence
was difficult task There only way in which this
could be done beyond possibility Of doubt To obtain from
her etracon Of her charges against her husband would
not suffice for Mr. Beecher would easily suspect that she had
done this either from affection or from fear But IL she could
be by any brought to make accusation against
Beecher himself then he and Tton would stand
ground accused by the and Beecher
ing accusation against himself to be false could longer
place slightest confidence in the charges which she had
made against her husband They knew how reuc
tant he would be TO attack even in his own defence
who had long In relations Of friendship and sympathy
with him. and who lying upon her sick bed They
knew he would rather be sacrificed himself than save his
reputation by making upon her. This suggestion
suggestion Of the Devil and being carried
with skill an audacy and heartlessness worthy Of s
author.


We have seen how Mrs Ton had been controlled and en-
trapped into signing accusation ingeniousy nmed 80 as to
be especially disastrous to the reputation OF her pastor Thus
far the scheme had been successful and It only remained
carry through in such Beeches thai
Mrs ton had voluntarily made this accusaon and the sue
OF the plan would be complete Thus with ideas
seething in his mind ton sat awaiting Beechss arrival con-
scous that unless this desperate plan Of himself and his friend
succeeded he ruined Meanwhile Mouon had gone
down 10 Beechers house and with air Of poeness bu, Of
great had requested Mr. Beecher come to his house
hold interview with Theodore Ton Mr. Beecher natu
rally guessed that this proposed interview had bearing
upon the letter which he had recently received from Ton
and motive of which utter mystery him Send
ing Mr. Bell TO take charge of his meeting he with
Aoaton and the way inquired what object Of h.


interview which Mouon replied thai he had better let Tn
ton tell Il himself.
Year: 1875

Why have they destroyed it? Why is
this, the most important paper the case, missing
when every paper that sheds particle Of light upon
case been carefully preserved by this panak and labor
ions mutual friendg' There a scrap paper writing
from Beecher which could throw the slightest light upon
this but that they have preserved and garnered up with


care that indicates that they consider worth many times
weight gold precious 10 them than diamonds Every


one o these letters can be construed by their or statement
into an accusation confession OF guilt Why ID
the paper the thing that would
have settled this missing herei Do they pretend
they destroyed II with the knowledge and OF Henry
Ward Beecher' No. Was he consulted about i No Did
he assent m No. They say they destroyed it, They tell
Won they destroyed after the pare agreement Where
is the logic gentlemen Of taking this single paper and
DESTROYING that and preserving all the othes' II the psr
te agreement had been intended be executed by


the good faith which professed have been made
be final settlement Of all this difficulty, then yos
that there would have been logic and popre hs
destruction OF all the papers that bore upon this But
why the destruction OF this single papef Why the picking
ont Of this scrap from Mouon archives and consnng this
the flames when they hu.banded all the Others viii tell yos
why gentlemen We will show you that this paper could not
have been destroyed has been destroyed at a until tho
conspiracy was hatched between Theodore Ton and Victoria
woodruff charge charge Henry Ward BeeheT with adultery
and then the destruction Of this paper became absolutely
with thar paper In existence II would blast every and
woman thai would have himself herself with tho
scheme He only produce 10 convince every ia
the community OF the conspiracy No. destruction therefore,
became imperative absolute necessity and des
royed h has been destroyed this day (Which do not
believe and which you evidence Of but Theodore I


ton =, until they had perfected that conspiracy
Year: 1875

Before he returns, gentlemen, let US inquire into
the motives which mpeed Tlton to seek this interview and
object which he sought TO accomplish by it, This made
clear Ttons statement On his crosseKamnaon
Church Committee he declares that the object Of this
interview peace between himself and Mr. Beeche
says elizabeth that Mr. Bowen and were in coils
ion she was afraid that the collision would extend TO Mr.
Beecher she wished IL possible to make peace with
him. therefore, she wOmany kindly letter TO him.
do Tton remember the phraseoogy remember
only phrase which peculiarly hers She said she loved
her husband with her maiden ame She begged the best
avoiding trouble that reconciliation might be had
between Mr. Beecher and hmsefthat Mr. Beecher and her
husband instantly unite to prevent Mr. Bowen from do
ing the damage which he had threatened in nsgatng Mr.
Beechers retirement from church Mr. Ton further said
that he resolved accede his we request and for her


would prevent the threatened by Bowen and for
this purpose he sought the interview with Beecher."


object peace peace to be secured by his with
dawng the letter he had written Mr. Beecher and inducing


the latter withdraw charges which he had made against
Tton Bowen through eechers silence not only Mrs
Mrs Morse but his wife from circulating the
scandaous stories against himself You will remember gen


emen that this wife had separated from her husband and
under the influence OF her mother where Mrs Beecher visited
her You will remember that her child taken from her and
she thus forced return to Mr. Titons house You will
remember that the night after that return she was suddenly
taken III by miscarriage and was on her sick bed at this time
The question which agitated Ttons mind What will


this woman do when she He had strong hold
upon her. and her future uncertain wheu she
again restored health lie bound to work while op
porunty given him. and you will the position In which
he had wife and how skfuy under the advice OF this
Mutual Friend he used it.
Year: 1875

The basis of this interview was letter obtained
from Mrs. Tilton mark you That the pretext under
which il WAS obtained Mrs Ton but it was never used
for that purpose Never forget that fact gentlemen in your
consideration Of this that wheE such letter needed
TO bring about an interview with Henry Ward Beecher the
pretence made to this sick and almost dying woman that
II was to rescue her husband from difficulty, from business
roubn and business embarraments but that letter
never shown to Henry Ward Becher never to this day has he
seen it. 1t was only pretext by which they imposed upon
this feeble woman But beyond that gentlemen what was in
that letter.
Year: 1875

This was the situation of the two friends at the
beginning Of December 1870 We well believe that when
Mr. MOuon found his friend suddenly dethroncd and no
longer power the land he felt that his own fortunes were
seriously imperlled Whether Mr. Mouton was generous
enough be sincerely grateful for past favOs from his friend
or whether he among those who define gratitude as
lively come could make but little difference
In the eaestness with which he naturally seeks to reinsate
so powerful ally Is to see that he made the case OF
Mr. Tlton his He attacked Mr. Bowen as bitterly and
even ferocousy as he could attacked his worst
sona enemy This himself and describes the scene
with dramatic force
Year: 1875

The internal sagacty which devised a scheme
meeting all requirements did enae from the excited
brain Of Ton from the cool and calculating vsny OF his
friend Mrs. Tilton sick, having had escape
rom death and greatly weakened bya and prraced
hemorrhsge The Nephsophele al her husbands elbow
ested to him the time get her signature any
PAPER which would the purpose He disclosed his
wife 50 much Of difficulties sufed convince
o his imminent He turned the and coEpanion
locked the door and kept himself for hours sone with the
poor PROSTATE and by mixture Of threats and coaxng
procured her eonsen. to sign letter which he proposed
o write soliciting Nj Beecher interview with her hus
band and pleading for peace and reconciliation For him
,bstute such letter few words and charging pastor
sth having made improper solicitations to her without
,crbing precise puroS enough and his poor
wifi. having raised herself from the bed sign letter
which be originally proposed had power to refuse 10 put her
name below such charge the pupo Of which she but dhnly
.omprehended IL indeed abe understood al all All that she
really knew that che doing something which her
band whom she bad always rendered saysh obedience
commanded her Probably she had indistnc idea
the natural effect Of her signature to do M Beecher
wrong but abe assured by her husband he tells you
himself that its effect would be 10 do M Beecher good
and put end the eouc which had begun between her
husband and her pastor. Such letter obtained


18th OF December and carried by Tton to MouitOn
certainly Of the moet important
happy controversy.
Year: 1875

THE CHARACTER OF THE MUTUAL FRIEND.


1t Is hardly necessary, gentlemen, that l should
occupy much time In describing the character Of Francis
houon explaining the motives which have him
throughout this controversy He has been IN your presence
for ten days; you have and heard him. No In this
Courtroom could fail TO be satisfied THAI MonSn person
well chosen by the plaintiff play the desperate part required
the mutual friend Cool fearless plausible, OF cultured
tastes not destitute Of literary ability gifted with quick per
eepon OF human character Of tremendous energy totally
destitute OF any beie In conscience in immortality God
this man w well qualified like his great archeype deceive
tho elect He has told you under the solemny Of &c oath


mat be was heaheh and BY that you what he means
Not he.hen Ike sosSes PAto no, heather like those
men Of old who walked in dAkness seeking after the Light
and whom the great oet the Catholic Church has assignee


place in the other world, free from pain though far from
HesYenbat such beahen o. only found in the mid,
Of Christian civilization; q man who despises the
dea Of personal responsibility who SCOTS at the
da Of future accountability. who laughs in his sleeve at the


eduy Of those who read the solemn words Of Scripture or
~ho listen to instructions Of the Church. whose only
Ides God is as convenient name fof rounding oath
Year: 1875

THE TRUE STORY A GOD-SEND TO MR.. BEECHER


| refer now again to the "True Story" and here
let me say again the resurrection Of this part OF that
story is almost provdena occurrence in favor OF this de-
fendan Last August when he compelled by this attack
to make public statement before his Committee when every
paper connected with this transaction he had deposited In the
hands OF this mutual friend who had refused to allow him ac
cess to one Of tem and he compelled to draw simply
upon his own memory for this without being able
10 corroborate by single written paper ne gave he inter
view that occurred between himself and Theodore Tton on
that OCCASION and he stated substantially as Theodore Ion
had written down in this True Story in 1872 Mr. Beecle
saws In that interview Ton went with his accsa-
ton grew INDECENT and about to interrupt him. and he
seeing that was interrupt him. stopped me and said
Wait until [ get through :; and when be finished
he said to me If you have any doubt that
Elizabeth has said this go and see for yourself y
the precise story he told these individuals Now Mr I'll
ton tells you that Beecher humby asked his permission TO
90 and see Mrs Ton the conclusion OF this accuation


and that he granted him permission under certain inunctons
We shall show you Mr. Beeher rejected his allegation that
Mrs Ton ever made such accusation and he had not the
paper with him. and gentemen he burst not show II he
had lie showed this Henry Ward Beecher and
he was obliged therefore send him to Mrs T0n-ahother
fact that will strike you remarkable, gentlemen
Year: 1875

Bio OYSTER TRADE.-The Delaware
Railroad, and the junction and Break.
water are both reaching out after the
Chincoteague oyster trade, These are
considered the greatest oysters in the
world, and Philadelphia has hereto
fore chiefly consumed them. But
now the New York epicures have had
some of them put upon their plates by
the Old Dominion Steamship Com
pany, and they want them all. To
secure them they have built the Wor-
cester railroad down to the Sound, and
design to carry off the prize this win
ter and leave Philadelphia to eat the
common bivalve. In the interests of
trade the Delaware Road propose to
see them when they get at it.
Year: 1875

The first annual fair of the Bridge
Vile Agricultural and Mechanical
Society opened at that town on Tues
day last. The arrangements had not
been entirely completed when the fair
opened, but nevertheless it made a
good beginning. The Judges stand
was only completed during the first
day, and the grand stand for visitors
to view the races was not completed
until yesterday. The display of cat
tie and stock generally is very credit.
able to the new enterprise; while the
ladies' department is really excellent
and nicely arranged. There are some
handsome specimens in all the depart
ments which we expect to notice more
elaborately next week. The number
OF visitors on the first day was not
large, but on Thursday there was a
large attendance. all institutions
of this kind, the horse racing was the
chief attraction to most visitors. In
the afternoon the first race came off for
a purse of 500, open to all horses with
no better record than three minutes,
best 3 in 8. Only two entries were
made, the horse Joe Baxter, Talbot
comfy, Md, and the mare Cady Jane
of New Jersey. The race resulted as
follows:
Year: 1875

is wonderful even IN remote and spa SLY
populated districts how much good
has been accomplished and how readily
the people have taken hold of the puhlc
schools and interested themselves IN
overcoming the obstacles in the way, and
adapted the system to their condition. The
compulsory feature has been tabled and
for q while at least this will not be a
question to discuss, but there is another
question that will probably arise IN the
discussion of the the bill now before the
House, of even more public interest than
the former, and that is the Introduction
into or exclusion of the Bible from the
schools. THIS is aquestion in fact that
has two sides to it, and one with so much
argument on each that it is difficult to tell
which is right. Those who advocate Inc
use of the Bible in the public schools
use the sound and plausible argument
that the Bible is universally acknowI-
edged to be good book; and if good, It's
use can be of no possible harm


Again, they say that the Protestant
and Roman translatIons are so near alike
that no ground of offence on that score
can be given to either of the two great
religious sects of this country. On the
other hand, there are those who believe
that the spirit and letter Of our Constitu-
ton which secures the freedom OF con
science and religious liberty to all, would
b1 violated by compelling those who do
not accept the teachings Of holy writ rs IN
spiratOn to receive It's doctrines, and
again there are those who believe that
the religious training of the child should
be confined exclusively 10 the hearthstonc
or the church, and who dissent from
blending secular and religious education
those who profess to find warrant for
this belief in the word of God itself
by rendering unto Caesar the things
that are Caesars, and unto God the things
that are Gods"


Without desiring to obtrudo our
views upon the Legislature, We
have no hesitation in saying that
under all tho circumstances the best
policy at present would be to let ii alone.
Neither force the Bible rs text book
/ into our common schools, nor exclude it
by law. Wherever a teacher sees pro
per 10 read or have read
portion of Scripture in
the school each day let him do it, but do
not compel it to be done nor prohibit it
from being done Each community will
regulate this matter according to its own
notions. We are satisfied that there are
those of the minority party who would
like to drag this question into politics
they would like to see a Democratic Leg
islature take Il decided stand on one side
or the other of this question, so that they
could go INTO the next canvass with ap-
peals to thereligious prciudices of indiyid,
ualS against the opposing political party.
All that We have to say in this connection
is TO let our Democratic friends act eau
tiously in this matter, and not be betray-
ed into false or impolitic position.