Terre Haute Weekly Gazette, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 18 April 1878 — Page 1

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VOL9 —NO.83.

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BATTLE OP RICHMOND.

General Manson'* Reply to Cofrenpoinjent of the Cincinnati Commercial.,

A Plain Statement of Facts and a Triumphant Vindication—The Que® ,,,, tion About Nelton a Order ?,m Settled Forever.

General Nelson pak! no attention to this a communication. On the morning of.^Ihe aStli, *Jout sunrise, General Nelson's orderly came

S* 4n

Reuben Munday, and also one from Color.el Leonidas Metcalfe, informing me that the enemy had appeared and was then crossing over Big hill in considerable force, supposed to be 4,000 or 5,000 strong, I at once had two copies of these communications made out. One I sent to Lancaster and the other to Lexington, not knowing at which place General Nelson might be found. At the same time I directed Colonels Munday and Metcalfe to fall back and carefully observe the road, so that the enemv should not tlank Richmond either to the right or to the left, and also sent out Lieutenant Colonel Wolf, of the Sixteenth Indiana, with four additional companies, to strengthen the picket I already had ir. front. About 2 o'clock Colonel Metcalf came to my camp with a portion ol his command, stating that he had been driven from every ^position he had occupied, and that the enemy was advancing in great force. 1 immediately had the lonR-roll beat, troops 'formed and moved out upon the high hills to the front, ancl tormed a .ine of battle near Mr. White's house. In a short time the enemv appeared in considerable force, and after a sharp skirmish, they retired, losing a taw prisoners, some horses and one piece ot their artillery, While this skirmish was going on. I sent the Rev. Mr. Cray, of Bloomington, Indiana, to Lexington, to give General Nelson a personal account of what was taking place in front, if he was there. I moved front a short distance to a place called Rogerville and bivouacked during the night. The enemy also bivouacked a short distance from me in the woods to the south. A little after sunrise on the morning of,the 30th

I formed my line of battle in the woods, near the little brick church. In a few moments the enemy commenced advanc *ing, and.was met in most gallant style by the troops which I had already formed.

I maintained that line for nearly four hours, until 1 was completely outflanked on the east. At the.same time mv right gave way in great. contusion. I rode back a sort distance, met the Eighteenth Kentucky advancing, and deployed them in line to check the enemy's advance, which they

did,

ground

&XU:h*

,f *, ,•* if *V- •,»-( Crawfordsville, kid., March 38, ^8Iion. R. J. White, Senate Chamber, Frankfort, Ky.: Your favor of the

m') *tit sn!fjfujty •Miwii'lsfe! *&tf* I nit iStf »t9* j-4 ,.,.,

was then 12:30 |p.

22d

inst. has been received and xontent*not ed. It affords me great pleasure to have an opportunity for answering your communication in relation to the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, fought August 30, 1862 and, that there may be no injustice done to any one that had anything to do with the engagement, It will be necessary for me to give a short history of what took place a short time previous.

I arrived in Lexington with General Nelson on Sunday evening, the 24th of August, and left with him Monday, in the afternoon far Richmond. Arriving at Clay's Ferry, on Kentucky river, we overtook Cassiun M. Clay's brigade, and, at the request of Generals Nelson and Clav, 1 took charge of General Clay's command to enable htm to proceed to his home, he slating that he had not visited his family since his ic'.urn from Eu rope. On the morning of the 26th I moved from Clay's Ferry toward Richmond, and, arriving there late in the alternoon, I reported to General Nelson, who had preceded me to the place. General Nelson sent a staff officer with me to Colonel Rhodes' larm, 6ome two miles south ol town, where there were some troops already encamped. On the morning of the 27th 1 received General Nelson's order assigning me to the command of the First brigade, as he called it, consisting of the Fifty-fifth, Sixty1 ninth, Seventy-first and bixteenth ladiana regiments, and some artillery under the command of Lieutenant Lamphien, of Michigan. I went to work at once to clean up the camp and gel the men 01 for the purpose ol drill, in thefifst principles of which I tound.most of them ignof! rant. That afternopn I sent a. written communication to General NeUon asking permission to look out for a new place to encamp, stating that water wa» very scarce, ana the,men had not had an opportunity to wash their clothes since they haM left Indiana, and that all the hills on the south commanded my camp.

m.,

11:30

Gazette,

have

aad the Lancaster

road had been in the possession of the enemy for more than two hours,. and this is the only order I received from General Nelson directing me to retire from the position to which he had heretofore assigned me. The following is an extract from my official report, dated Indianapolis, September 10, 1S62, and directed and delivered to General Nelson:^

'•The enemy now began advancing in great force through the open fields, in line of battle, and while they were thus advancing a courier rode upon the field and delivered to me your written order, dated at Lexington, August 30, directing me to retire by the Lancaster road if the enemy should advance in force. It was then

p'clock p.

m.,

and in less than

five minutes from the time I received your order the battle raged with fierceness along my whole line."

great

I held this position for something over an hour, when I was driven by the enemy a second time, my right giving way in great confusion. I commenced reforming my men in the woods, on Colonel Rhodes' farm, for the purpose of a general retreat, to recross the Kentucky river that night if possible. I had only partly succeeded in my attempt to reform the line when General Nelson rode upon the field and assumed command, and by his direction the troops were marched to near Richmond*, line of battle Was formed at the foot ot a hill, the right resting in the woods, and the left extending through the cemetery to the road, where we waited more than an hour and a half for the enemy to come up. When they did appear we we're not able to check their advance at all, owing to the demoralized state of the troops, thev having already been cfefeated'in ftvo engagements. We retreated throueh the town of Richmond in great confusion. I organized a rear guard for the purpose of protecting the scattered and demoralized army from the enemy's cavalry, and, by the direction ot General Nelson, I assumed command ot the rear guard, and did cover the retreat until we got near the toll gate on the Lexington road, when the column in front came to a halt. After remaining Over an hour, I turrted over the command of the rear guard to Major Morrison, of the Sixty-sixth Indiana, now a resident ©f New Albany, Indiana.

I moved to the front to ascertain the cause of the halt. When I arrived there I found a 9inall number of the 'enemy's cavalry formed across the road to check our retreat. This was the first intimation 1 had that General Nelson had left the field. I made an effort to organize an advance guard, but could not succeed until the color sergeant of the Eighteenth Kentucky, an old man who had the flag" of his regiment under his arm, the flagstaff having been shot away, handed me his

mv headquarters-with ,a verbal tries- flag, stating that he had fought all day sage "from the general, directing me to with me,

and

report at once at hi# headquarters at. flag of the Eighteenth he would still Richmond, which did., On arriving fight on. That gallant old there I was informed taat. General Nel- courage and enthusiasm to tfie-'men, ana son had ju-«t lett in company with the in a short time we had an advance guard Hon. Gam Davis for Lexington or organized which dro^ the cav Lanca u-r, he not having informed his adjutant to which place lie was gang I inquired of Captain Kendrick, his adjutant general, what orders General Nelson had left for me. lie informed me that he had left none, only that 1 should not leave aiv present position until he returned. sfii In the forenoon of Friday, the 29th, I received a communication from Colonel

that if I would protect the

aliy from the road. The column moved forward, I making one last and desperate eflbrt to cross the Kentucky river with the remainder of the command. We advanced to near Foxtown, where we found the enemy in great force concfealed in acorn field. They fired upon my advance, killing 17 and wounding 25. Colonel Wolf, of the Sixteenth Indian, wa killed here. I commanded the remainder ot the advance guard to lie down and make no fnrther resistance. In a short time afterwards I was made a prisoner. In some four days I was paroled bv General S. Kirby Smith, com mender ot the enemy's force made my way to Cincinnati, and when I arrived there, to my utter astoaishment, I first learned from the Hon. Richard Smith, editor of the

that General Nelson had

authorized the publication of the statement that I had fought the battle to the contrary to liis positive orders, and at

special request Mr. Smith published in'the Gazette the lollowing on the 5th

6th of September, as their files will show. ,r: ^2 "Tocorrect fal'e statementsVhtch have been made in this city respecting the engagement at Richmond, we are authorized by General Manson to state tha' previous to the engagement he had no order #11 l$ck °L,avSid

had

holding- their

position for more than 20 minutes. '1 his enabled me to form a second line oh the hish

north ol KOjjcr^ house, and*

moved from that point to the came ground had occupied the evening be- .(

iqitc

\ite

Arst skirmish with the enemy,

where 1 awaited their advance. While 1 1 iVas thus waiting a meessengcr irom Gen"feral Neison arrived with a written communication from him dated at Lexinqi* ton August 30, the same day of the bat'tie and 31 miles distant, directing -roe, if TMSthe enemv appeared in force, to retire by the Landcaeter road This was deliver--ed to me in the presence of some of my istaff and also Dr. Irwin, the medical di-

Tector

of Gtneral Nelson'6 staff, and now brevet lieutenant colonel and surgeon in charge

the.West Point academy. It

nient. 1' •The order of Generdt NclfcOfT* advising a retreat by the Lancaster road reached General Manson on Saturday after the light had been going on for five honrs, and wh» he had tormed his second line of batvlq, and the enemy were advancing in line of track.' A retreat could nor

been made then without a fight. After he had been driven from that position he rallied the men in line between his

camp

and Richmond. At this time

General Nelson came on the ground and took command. General Manson was subject to the duties of his position as representative of the government and commander of the troops, and was nnder no orders, general or speciai, as to seeking or avoiding engagements or falling back. Only a prompt retreat before the invading column reached him could have salelv taken his troops across the Kentucky 1 iver. Had he retrcatfed tnus, and if it

turned out subsequently that the

rebel force was inconsiderable, he would have been dismissed in disgrace, as was the officer who retreated from Paris. General MansonV report will »how *rhy he

marched

to the position took to meet

the enemy." The same thing substantially was-puO-liihed in the Commercial and Enquirer, General Nelson being in the city at that tiiuQ at ttie residence oi Mr. L*tz Andersou.,. When General Nefson learned I was in the city he sent Mr.' Grose, Of his start", requesting me to call and see him at Mr. Anderson1?, which I did and in that interview, in the presence of Mr. Anderson, asked him how it wa» possible that he authorized the' publication of a statement that I had fought the battle contrary to his Orders. He stated, in explanation, that he thought I had received his order, dated at Lfexington, on the mornin? of the battle. I stated to him that he ought toJhave known it was impossible tor me to have received that order, it having to be carried to me on horseback 31 miles. General Nelson admitted to me that he was mistaken

TEBRE HAUTE, IND:..-TnURSDAY, APRIL 18, 18T8.

about my having received the order in time to retreat. From that time, until the Commercial's correspondent revived it on the 18th of March, nearly 16 yean, I have never heard it stated, publicly Or privatelv, that I fought that battle contrary to General Nelson'i orderg. I made erery exertion possible to inform General Nelson of tne situation at Richmond, by sending to him all 'the information received, and on the day of the tight send-, in/ a gallant young soldier, Colonel William C. Goodloe, as a special messenger, to go towards Lexington, expecting that he would meet General Nelson on his way from Lexington with reinforcements, and to inform him ot the situation, and to request him to make all possible hastejto the field.

General Nelson, in hiscommanfcation to the

Gazette,

says that he rode 52 miles

to get to the field. I never knew why he took this circuitous route. I was informed by Major Mulkey, of Bloomington, Indiana, that General Nelson came with one attendant to Hickman's bridge, 24 miles from Lexington, a little after sunrise, on the morning of the 30th. 'and that he (Mulkey) told General NeUon that he was ftarful the troops at Richmond would have a hard fight that day that a citizen had informed him (Mulkey) that he had lain concealed in the bushes and had counted iS stands of colors pas* ing over Big Hill the day before. Nelson. informed Mulkey that it was only a cavalry raid that there would bs no figh^ within 20 days, and that he was on

tbewi

raging for five* hour* or that thili controversy has been reopened,' for I have none but the kindtstfeeliugs for the memory of General Nelson, and for all the gallant!«oldiers who praticipited on both sides in that engagement, atw no one regrets the untimely death of ^general Nelson mor than 1 do. My oWbial report will substantially establish the facts that I have set forth in this communication.

I an, sir, very respecttully yours, f» M. D. Manson. i*»•* Vj

it Oft RESUMPTION.

ftfsv •'".

Chicago, April 15.—The practicability of resumption has been instanced here in various ways. To-dav, at the subtreasury, a twenty-dollar gold piece came up to be exchanged for currency, and three coin checks issued by the collector of customs were deposited by a bank as currency, fcold is beginning to be paid out by merchants quite freely. Subscriptions at the Chicago sub-treasury for four-per-cent. bonds tor this week aggregated $99,300, and wouid have been $100,000 more, only that gold wa9 not obtainable here. The following correspondence passed to-day:.?"*^ hr "Chicago, April 13. "John J. Knox, Comptroller of the currency, Washington, D. C.: 1 "Can we, by making ouf Vedemption fund gold, have our circulation redeemed in gold? It so, we will advertise our gold resumplion to-morrow and send you a gold check for the redemption fund. Answer. "JAS. D.

STURG^S.

"Cashier Northwestern National Bank, Chicago," 'Washington, April 13.

jr f! UOIUU^kVU) O lfllD* A IIWU Mb

MRS. TILTON

til MM I

She Writes a Letter Confessing That she Was an Adulteress. 'll

Bteecher'

"Jas. D. Sturges, Cashier Northwestern quested him to see that it was published. Mmmnoi Rnnk ChiMPO- Hp orirfod thnt hp did not feel at libertv He added thnt he did not feel at liberty to state any of the circumstances which had led to the confession.

Natjonal Bank, Chicago: "The treasurer says the proposed arrangement is impracticable for the present lima. You can redeem at your own bank.

John Jay Knox."

The Northwestern has accordingly advertised that it will in gold all its circulating notes that mav be presented at its counter. It is the"first o£ the National banks to take this step.

.nis step. uiciiiucia ijiiwutu vhuiwu, Cincinnati, April 13.—The Third Na- the same persons. This letter he could tional Bank will commence on Monday not furnish and he said it was of such a next to redeem its notes on presentation confidential character that it was not likein gold. It is expected other national ly to be published. At the same time banks in the city will adopt the same he had receiyed a private letter frorr course.

New York, April 15.—Gold sold down to$i.oju and subsequntly was quoted at to -X •,

S-.-nr-*-)

HERE WE ARE*^

The Commercial says sinews noon the talk on the street increases about immediate lesumption at the city banks. The only thing remaining to the summation' of the act of is the taking out of 60 millions of bank circulation upon which the greenback isstie of the treasury will be redeemed by the first of January, to a fixed minimum of 300 millions.

coniS75 new

Promptly

"j »ert« by Telegraphs

V.'fsdi

".»H .TO

k.„,.

That She Now Lies and is Guiltless of the Great Trafls-A .igression.^r:'

Rumor* of Varions Kinds— Not Much Credence' I Attached to Mrsf

Tilton's Letter.

Yain Attempts to Interview

Beecher on the l2ri£ Road. .**•»-,» n«wr

is Interviewed at tii

PinaUy he i"' 9^1 1!$. at

I*,

Elmira%

New York, April 15.—The following letter from Mr Tilton, will appear in 11 [the morning papers to-mo trow1': •,....

sW1iMr.

road then to Lancaster to look out lor ft camp. While they were talking they heard the sound Of the cannon at Rich*, mood, and in a short time General .Net% son lef' that place with his compaft-, ion for the battle field. I think, under the circumstances, that I may be pardohf ed for saying that General Nelson made a great mistake, first, in removing General Lewis Wallace, who had sent these

Ira B. Wheeler. MyJ?RAR

Sir A

few weeks since,

.after long months of mental angu:sh, I told, as yqu know,.a few friends whom I had bitterly deceived, that the charge brought py my husband of adultery between myself ancf Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was true, and that the lie I had lived *q weli the last four years had become intolerable to trie. That statement I now solemn)y reaffirm, and leave

utmo »ii«vv, 1 nun awituiiifjr ivaimiu, ftiiu the troops across the Kentucky river for truth with GoS, to whom also I com a aft AAaA 1 fl £. a ft temporary purpose only, of hifc command Second—In not promptly ordering the troops back from Richmond ifhe did not wish to risk raw troops in an engage ment. Third—In not promptly responding to the information 1 gave him Friday in relation to the advance of the en^my^ Fourth—In not ordering a retreat when he camped upon the ground, instead of making the stand near Richmond. And lastly—In publishing in the papers that 1 had ionght the battle contrary to his orders for I here reiterate, in rhe mostpqf* itive manner, that I riteeived no order«f either verbal1 or written, from Generals Wright or Nelson to tall back or avoid an engpgement, and that the order I received was the verbal order through his adjutant to ^sremajp ai my camp until he returned, except tlje one I received-after the battle had

mir myself, mv children, and all who must suffer. I know full well the expla nations that will be soilgbt by many for this ackno wledgement—a desire to return to my husband, insanity, malice, everything, save the true and only one, my quickened conscience, and a sense of what is due to the Cause of truth and justice. During all the complications of tuese years you have been my confidential friend, and therefore, I address this letter to you, authorizing and requesting you to secure its publication. ^Elizabeth R. Tilton.

Brooklyn, April 13th, 1^78. New York, April T5.^Mr. Beechfer was out bf the city to-night, rthen Mrs. Tilton's letter wa* made public and-, his whereabouts was-' not known-save to a few friend?. The New York Tribune telegraphed him copv Of the letter, at a lat*» hour to-tfight. and received me following reply, from Mr. Beecher:

Waverly, N. V* ,' April 15.

Tc the Editor of XlieTribune: I confront Mrs. Tifton confession with explicit and absolute denial The testimony

IX*

CHiCAGOrAND CINCINNATI NATldNAI. BANKS REDEEMING THEIR. IN GOLD.

her own.ignocence

and to

mine which for" tour years, she had made to hundreds in private and in public, before the count, in writing and orally, I decline to be true, and the allegations now made in contradiction of her uniform, solemn and unvarying statements hitherto made, I utterly deny. I declare her to be innocent of the great transgression^

Henry Ward Beech*!?.' WHAT CARPENTER SAYS.

Frank

Carpenter, the artist, in an

interview this evening, stated that there was no doubt about the genuineness of the letter. Mr. Ira

Wheeler had

been the private legal adviser and confidential friend of Mrs. Tilton all through the trouble. Laweas Sherman, Morris and Pryor refused to be interviewe^VlHW

THE TRIBUNE SAYS: i.,

"Mr. Wheeler called at the Tribune office yesterday afternoon with the original of Mrs. Tilton's confession and submitted it for publication, There was r.o question of the genuine character of the document, no matter under what circumstances it hud been obtained and promul gated, and at Mr.. Wheeler's suggestion and wish it was put in type. A Tribune reporter subsequently had an interview with Mr. Wheeler, but he was very reticent. He stated that he was a distant relative of Mrs. Tilton he said he was very reluctant to be known in any connection with the matter, and. that, in fact, his only connection was in the submission ot the document for publication. Mr6. Tilton at once authorized and re-

About four weeks ago Mrs. Tilton had verbally made a confession in detail to v....8V Mrs. Anna W. Field, and four other laredeem dies of Plymouth church, stating all the circumstances of the various adulteries, and about the same time she had written a letter to the same Import to certain members of Plymouth church, probably

he had receiyed a private letter irom Mrs. Tilton or he could not think of pub-

New York, April 13.—It is reported lishing the document given now to the the Broadway bank is paying gold in sums of $500 and under. The feature of the day in Wall street is a decline in the price of gold to 1001£. This is the smallest difference between gold and United States legal-tender notes that has existed since the issue of these notes at the beginning of the war.

public^ which was all jie was authorized to publish^! ..

Mr. Wbeeler, does not /Mr. Triton1' know of this confession? Emphatically not. Mr. Tilton speaks truly when he. states that he has not made overtures for a reconcilation with his wife*/ I wish you would state this positively..

A gentleman wlio was prominently connected with the defence iu the Beecher suit, on being shown a proof slip of the letter, after reading it carefully without evincing any surprise, looked up and aid, "Well." Upon being asked hij opinion of it, he at first declined to express any, but subsequently remarked that Mr. Beecher's friends had expected something of the kind for seme time. As for the statement of Mr. Wheeler, to whom the letter was addressed? that Theodore Tilton did not know oi its existence, the gentleman remarket, with a smile, "That would be the way be wouid gp to work. Frequently during the winter*" said lie, "Mr. Beecher has been ap»

plitd to lor money to aid Mr*. Tilton, the request or demand not technically coming from her, nor purporting to be made with her consent but as for her benefit. This demand was accompanied by threats and intimations that if it was not met something would turn up. Mr. Tilton's influence over his wife is very great, and she cannot resist it

A gentleman living near Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Tilton, and intimately acquainted with both, Raid: "The events of the past few months have led me to believe that arrangements for reconciliation between Theodore Tilton and his wife have been completed. He frequently sent a carriage to Mrs: Morse's house for her sons, meeting them on Yates avenue, two or three blocks away, and after a drive of several hours the boy* would return alone. On one occasion Tilton drove back to the house, but he did not alight. He haft lent Mrs. Tilton money on several occasions. Mrs. Tilton went to Warwick, notwithstanding Mrs. Morse's denial, and the sons are my authority for the statement, and she engaged rooms there for the summer, and that on Mr. Tilton's return from Europe, in August, with his daughters, the fatrily will be reunited."

Rev. Samuel B. Holliday, last paster of Plymouth church, said he was not the 'east surprised at this development of the scandal, he said some months ago, when he heard that Tilton had gone to see his wife with her consent, that now we might look tor the beginning of the end. It is susceptible of one explanation, one which naturally will be given t? any actot such a poor, crazy person* who is putty in h» hands of her husband, whenever he is with her. Her course at the beginning is at least such as distroys her weight ai a witness for either tide. It proves that she is a weak, insane woman, and her statement on any subject is worthless, and that's all there is about it.

BEECHER ON HIS TRAVB13.

Elmira, N. Y„ April 16.—Henry Ward Beecher was a passenger on- the Erie road west this morning from Waverly. All effort#* to get an interview with him were, unsuccessful. Htf went" direct to his hotel after the lecture last night and refused to see any one connected with the press. He went from the hotel direct to the depot, this morning. When the train stopped a reporter sought an interview, but Beecher refused 19 talk. A large crowd gathered about the car to catch a glimpse of him. He lectures at Bath to-night.* a ..,&!<js'^.5

BEECHER INTERVIEWED.

ElmH*Jl, N. April 16.—Henry Ward Beecher is at the Rathbon house with his igeQt,

J, B. Pond of Boston. A

reportrr*bogbt an Interview and Beecher ^^id, ''It will do you no good." The reporter thgn showed the morning papers, and Berber said, "I don't think you have? any more news than I have already received.' •. wf f/t, •.««.'

Pond, his agent, stated that the editorial statement that the absence of Tilton showed he had nothing to do with preparing Mrs. Tilton's'confession is absurd. The rumor of this arrangement to my personal knowledge has been known widely in the west lor a long time and Beecher has been often reminded of it. The charges of the Chicago Tribune of April {2d, in an editorial, foreshdaows^the coming confession and warned Tilton that,(- any such attempt would not' be welcomed

s,,

by the

public. It may be true that Tilton has not acted directly, but that he acts through his son Carroll, no one acquainted wi'.h the affair will deny. At St. Louis and in Fort Wayne I was told. Tilton had threatened that he would crush Beecher yet. I believe Beecher *is convinced that Mrs.. Tilton is now under the absolute control of her husband thnt she foyes him and that this letter of confession is the pricfe she pays for reconciliation, and you will see they will be living together before three months rolls around.

MR, BEECHER THEN 61ATEII

that for more than 4 four years Mrs. Tilton had been denying the truthgof what was called her original confession* In court, before the church, and before the committees she had asserted her inno cencc. This would more than offset anything 6hc might say now. Her latest statement was instigated by a desire for a reunion with her husband and was the price she paid for asserting the same. He said he would continue his course l*just the same notwithstanding the renewal of the scandal.

Whole

Kb.

charge

*.'A

THE EVENING POST ON THE SCANDAL.

New York, April 16,—The Evening Post, noting the card Of Mrs. Tiltbxr and the threatened revivival qf. the. gr^at an a a

If this hideous story shall prompt a return to more wholesome and more oldfashioned notions pn the subject of womans placein society 7.. if it shaft che^E'thi influence of the mischievous sophistry whichhascorrupted our laws and our morals on the subject of marriage arid divorce, some return will be made for the harm done by the publication of so much infected news and infected literature. The only value there is in an attack of small pox c^mes from the immunif it give? against future contagion. further litioatxoK. -New York, April r6.—That some further litigation will ioUow Mrs. Tilton's confession is generally conceded, but it is not definitely known in what shape it will be brought Hp. The first ste», it-is baUeved, *ill be taken by Plymouth

testimony,

lOO.

Church. Some member of the 'churh will make a charge against Mrs. Tilton, accusing her of having' slandered her pastor. The charge will have to be investigated by the examining commitee, who will report to the congregation. »_

APPALLING PROSPECT^

It is not believed by members of Plymouth church that Mrs. Tflton will make any defense. The trial of Mr. Beecher upon the action hrought against him by Theodore Tilton to recover $50,000 is held to be still in abeyance, as a jury failed to agree, and anew jury can be empaneled and the whole evidence brought out againt with the addition of Mrs. Tilton's confession. INTERVIEWS wmr VARIOUS PEOPLE.

Williarti A. Beach one of Tilton's lawyers ir, the »fandal trial, said the case coutfl tfe opened at Any time by any one on either side serving notice on the opposite party of intention to reopen.

Mrs. Anna Field, to whom it was reported the letter had been sent by Mrs. Tilton, gi/ing STull details of her proposed confession* denied the truth of the report to-nigbt,

One of the Wading members of Plymouth church, who dfclined to permit the use of his name, said to day His wife received a letter from Mrs. Tilton three weeks ago. It was on personal matters, said he, but toward the close, she most unexpectedly dropped into a discussion of her guilt. Mrs. Tilton then set forth the printed falsehood that she had never denied her guilt before sh6 left hfer home in Tilton's house, that was false and when we called "her attention to various occasions upon which she had done so, shs hung hei^head and did not know what tasay.j

iT'he

uThe

letter ran on in a sort

of confession of her guilt, about which she had written' her daughter, so she wrote, but which she aid not think she should disclose to Carroll until he was a man.

times," it said, "when you have seen me burst into those paroxysms of tears— they were times when the burden on my conscience was unbearable," or something to that eflect. Now, my Wife never in her lUe saw her burst ir.td any paroxysms.

All

she ever saw was thetrera-

bli'nrg of her lips when she spoke of her child. The first impulse of my wife was to throw the letter in the lire, her second to improve the caution we had learned during the days of the great trial, and so it was sent to Mr. Beecher's lawyers, who have it now.

ATTEMPT TO INTERVIEW TILTON.

Decorah, Iowa, April

N4 Tork Special to Chisago Timaa.

/The Herald has the following Beecher interview Mr, Beecher lectured in Waverly this evening, and on coming down from the platform

i6.-r-Theodore

Tilton lectured here thts evening upon the "Problem of Lite." He was. interviewed by a reporter, but positively declined tor say anything for publication regarding the late developments in New York. AN WTMVIIW WITH Mi. BEECHER

placed in his

hands a telegraphic copy of Mrs. Tilton's confession, which wai to appear in the press of Tuesday morninfg. He read it quietly, and seemed in nO wise excited. Id reply to my question what he intended to do, he said "Nothing at present, except to give an explicit denial." He seemed to be more sorry for Mrs. Tilton than troubled about himself.

asked

him: "Do you believe Mrs. Tilton wrote this of her own mind, or was she influenced?''

Mr. Beecher—I have not spoken with Mrs. Tilton for over two years. I was informed several months ago that influences were being exerted through their children aud others to effect a reconciliation with her husband, and that she energetically refused to consider it until he had publicly exonerated her fom the charges brought against her. It was only a few weeks ago that the rumor came to me that shfe was in a morbid and self-eondemnatoi*y state of mind.

Correspondent—Has Mrs. Tilton ever intimated a consciousness of guilt before? Mr. Beecher—So far from it that it is impossible to conceive, if her present confession is true, of such an elaborate, prolonged, and extraordinary career of falsehood as shemust have practiced. Upon her husband's statement of his accusations before the committee of the church she broke away from her husband's house and refused to liye with him. She took refuge in a house of a dear

of domestic infidelity, and un

derwent the closest questionings. She broke friendship with former friends for doubting her statement in the matter. When the case was in the court once, after her husband's testimony, to the surprise of my counsel and of all her friends she rose in the corirt and demanded of the judge that 6he be permitted to testify to her innocencc. She was examined repeatedly by my counsel, and plied with the most searching questions, and by her consistent and explicit testimony satisfied them all of her innocence and won their esteem.. When the council of 1876 was called, several interviews were arranged between her and eminent gentlemen, both of clergy and of the, law, in every case she satisfied them of .her absolute innocence. Subsequently, at an interview arranged for the purpose of giving prominence to her declarations and form to her

which was

by a short-hand waiter, and which I believe to be still in existence, although I have never seen it, she elaborately and in detail reaffirmed hsc innocence and mine. These are the most

prominent

instance of

her

•f

friend,

whom she gave one unvarying testimony of her own innocence and the baseness of her husband. She went before the investigating .committee of Plymouth Church, and, with wonderful pathos, cleared herself of every

.*:)

taken

down

uniform

testimony. It should be bore in mind that she first charged me with the offense to

herlnisband,

and upon my visiting

her she withdrew it-in writing that she subsiquently renewed the charge that she then again and indignantly denied it, and left her husband's bouse, and for four years has continued in every conceivable form, and under the moit solemn circumstances, to deny it, until now. Against this long and tortuous career I oppose my uniform and unimpeachable timhfalness.