The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-16


Rarland,s Plea, SO.
The New York papers continue to discuss
WITH unabated warmth the curious complications
and results OF the Mcfarland Richardson homi-
~cide. Public interest in the matter has shifted
stse,fi In great degree from the principals to the
fsslstants or "abettors,n as they are generally
seruaed, at the deathbed marriage. "De-
velopmentsD and explanations concerning
M. Beecher and Mr.. Greeley are now
ms order Of the day. Mcfarland, it seems,
is wholly without means, and Postmaster
Jones is receiving numerous subscriptions from
nercAants and others to defray the expenses Of
M trial. 1t is charged that one Of Richardson's
legal advisers offered $500 to New York lawyer
eznployed In procuring secret and Illegal divorces
soreyidenceproving adultery against Mcfarland.
Richardson's friends admit that this oder was
1nade and that $50 OF the money was paid down.
me persured witnesses were not forthcoming,
ana Richardsen's representatives refused to ad-
vance any more meney. The AFFAIR was then
.irspped, and the divorce was afterwards obtain
&dih Indiana,
sss5'ss "a NEW VERSION.
me friends Of Mrs. Mcfarland now aver that
asg reIss!sns WITH RIsAAayascep we're at al times
-.silSssht. shst at no time did she entertain the
3cast taeaof marrying, and That when tne hicn-
ardssa letter was published last spring Oh an ia'
1ention OF marrying her, she felt shocked anu
xhvrougnly annoyed; that she was determined 70
ne rid or Mcfarland, but would not consent to
rrayry richardson until the very last moment,
/. wAea her name having been go thoroughly mixed
nm Win the affair she determined to prevlde Tor
nfr children by becoming his wife, and thus OBJ
SIN her share of Richardson's property. bn this
- to be brought oct on the trial.
BKs0HEs AARAIGNKD.
IT has been already stated that Recorder HACK
ett, In hischsrge to the grand jury OF New YORK.
reminded them that the Richardson on-McFariand
csse would come before them, and he suggested
nat II biganiy Wss committed by the desth'oed
MARRIAGE the parties aiding and abetting 1t should
netndIcted. The following is the text OF the Re'
1eraer
4 Avery Important case OF homicide Tli a,, come e
Aefore Jor It has, through varioas incidents
md odd accessories, aud extraordinary surround-
inHs or men, women and manners, eeselveoiy
/, nt{rnctcd great public attention AL Lnrougnou.
- 1county Your duty regarding the alleged
Fiiiinr OF the late Mr.. Richardson by Mr.. MoFas,
lenti 4 very simple one. II he was OF "sound
1einofT and discretion - ito use the old saxon
phrase on the subject OF nomlcidel Wnen IdiE ne
R1t whether or 10 he was OF sound memory ana
l3jscretion wiz become question Tor tne petit
j1ry and 1t Is not IN your province; your auty u
q Sseertairi N the Allegations be true that McFar
7snsi fireI the shot that caused Richardson's
death l think should De aerenct ~ tae als-
charge OF my functions as an elected conservator
o. tie peace and morals in this COURT did now
omit reference 70 some OF the incidents following
Tho act which eliminated In the homicide refer.
rea to- In vain shall conductors OF lnnuental
neHspapera, and claiming to be morai ieaders,
beAenciaily anect the community sney Tonseh ve;n
sail ministers Of the Gospel be heard when CRU.
r;sinr public men, as well as warning prlvate
parishi9ners, II they are allowed, unreoused, to
ssSery py pssyers at the bed Of dessn. II there
rs been higamy committed, or aided or abetted
M any persons, No matter how elevated In me
they may be, fesrlessly investigate tne ma..et' .,
Hccmpty indict
WHIT r7ar srRoTG-NrSpED woNEN THINK OF IT.
me subject was debated before the Woman
Suffrsre Association wednesday afternoon, Gre
4 atfng quite . stir.
Nr. Poole said that II Beecher had refused to
perform the ceremony, ne "woud have been M
worthy the name or American Citizen" sltnougn
he Sdrnitted there was Q statute against per-
Forming such marriage. Mrs. blake was nSt IN
favor OF lax divorces, but Mrs. Norton look an
opnosife ground. The latter argued that wo-
nan was better or with six husbands Whom sne
leyed than with one whom sae detessea. ..d pr, DE-
Eoeber thought the present system OF marriage
was nothing but prostitution.
~ BEBcHsR's DEFENCE.
- An extended report Is given OF Mr.. Beechers
remarks at the weekly meeting Of his nock, or
.qecsureroom talk % at Plymouth Church, Brook
I'm, on Friday, from which the following Is
taken:
The subiectof the Richardson tragedy was in
,troduccd Mr. Beecher said that he never saw
richardson until the night OF the marriage. On
that evening he had been spending TWO or tnree
1eurs with Father hyacntne, az mr. frT,nhs ,aa x
fhe Astor House. There he found corrldor luil
81 friends and weeping group around the PED.
: me surgeons teld him thai Mr.. Rcharuson was
znder the influence OF opates ana tnat aier teir '1
,ealecs was over he would gradually SINK ana dle'
Er rockingham, at whose church Mr. Rcharo-
son ives an occasional attendant, and went tiiere
whenever he was In the city, was present. ar.
Frothingham offered the prayer, and lie lar.
-T3oeeherl performed the ceremony. ana In
Going 80 simply acted as magistrate-not In
s ne rserai-orthodox fashion OF q. magistrate
minister merged into one ece G cnn MTen not ,%o spm
men witnesses, he could not act as Judge, out
simply connne himself TO that which was purely
npagister.al AT the time OF the marriage az she
Astor House he did not understand that tne laws
I q New York declared null and void divorce oD-
fained In Indiapa.s Had he known that Richard
sapn hsd acted as serpent-had stolen away she
xfections and partner In life OF Mt. McFarian1,
he would sooner have cut OF his rlght nand
Aurdred times than have performed the cere-
nony. Mrs. Mcfarland, IL was stated, mad gone
10 Indiana rather than seek divorce IN New YORK,
90 save her children from the stain ana annoy
aace IL would bring upon them II obtained here.
Knowing what he had done, the question ne now
naked himself was, would he do 1t again2 In
nasWer 20 that, as the Dutchman once said, III my
foresight was Us good as my hlndsight, should
Go great many things better than Co." Mr..
Beecher then said he did not wish his church to
,rl,oloaize for their pastor as having done wrong
fhine. II they did not agree with him IN this
matter, let them rise and say so.
q WHAT Mr.. GREELEY SAYS.
Nr. Greeley, also In the pillory OF public opinion
an this business, has been subjected 10 cross-ex'
animation by an interviewer from the New York
Sz,n ONCE, WAC reports the Tribune philosopher
ns unbosoming himself in the following emphatic
Z uftcrances IN answer to que, tons, Mr. Greeley
says he never asked Mr.. Beccher to marry Rich
srsison and Mrs. Mcfarland. He said:
was not well acquainted or personally infl-
nate with Mr.. Richardson, nor did know Mrs.
mcfarland; bat Mrs. cllheun said she knew alI
abont them go | wrote letter OF introduction
for her to Nr. Beeoher, telling him that she "ouit
explain her business, and l presume she dld:
4 but knew very little, next to nothing. aoont
she matter, and l certainly never asked nj.
Beecher O. ANYBODY else TO marry them, or any
body else in the whole course OF my LIE. nave