Connecticut western news., 1874-11-27
Tho BloOkIYm Scandal.


 As the work of. litigation, which, much to the disgust of the better part of the com- munity, promises 10 furnish the chief topic of telegraphlc news during the coming win ter, has begun, a statement of the present condition of the various suits will be con- ducive to a correct understanding of the daily reports. There are pending at pres ent five suits, all growing out of the cen tral scandal, and each having some bear ing upon the other. These are CD the suit of MT. Hilton against Mir. Beecher, in which the former claims $lOO, 900 for the destruction of his domestic felicity; CD a civil suit brought by Edna Dean Proctor, against Mir. Moulton for llbel (3) crim- Beecher; (4a criminal suit against Moul- ton brought by Miss Proctor; apd f6) Il similar suit against Moultou brought by Mir. Beecher. It is evident that verdict 1 in any one of these suits will exert de- cisive influence upon the others. If, for instance, MT. Hilton losses his suit against Mir. Beecher, tho conviction of hlmself and Moulton for libel is sure to follow. If Miss Proctor's suit comes on first aud she obtains verdict against Moullon 1t will tend to destroy the force of Moulton's tee. iimony against Mir. Beecher The three last mentioned suits will evidently depend upon the result of the first.
 Although the lawyers of both sides deny ,i, S,>h, d. fest struggle from the first for advantage of position. There is nothing in this to offer any presumption for or against either side. It is "A lawyers duty to secure every lawful advantage for his client, and such advantages may be needed ss much If the clent is innocent as if he is guilty. The first point to be gained was to force the other side to trial, without appearing to delay proceedings. If Moulton could be compelled to meet Miss Proctor's suit in court, and failed 10 establish the truth of his allegations against her, 1t would invul- idate the testimony of the most important witness for the prosecution in the suit of Hilton against Beecher. To avoid this Moulton obtained delay after delay in fl ing an answer, and has shown conclusively that he will not allow the suit to come to trial if his lawyers can prevent It. although the day Is now fixed for December 9th.
 Upon the other hand, MT. Beechers council, of whom Mir. Ever,s is the leader, have obtained several postponements of the case, while awaiting final decision Of the appeal asking Tllton's council to file bill of particulars of the charges made by him against Mir. Eeecher. This has been twice denied and is now before the Court of Appeals, where it Is quite probable that the decisions in the lower courts will be re- | verstd. Tilton's friends assert that this action is caused by desire to delay the l trial, but Mir. BeecheI's counsel deny this and say that they expect to be ready tor the trial on the day fixed for its bearing. December sth. Butif longer postpone ment is necessary in older to have the Moulton suit brough! on first, 1t is difficult to believe that some pretext to this end will not be found, and quite properly too.
 One suit growing out of this abominable scandal has already been decided, as was announced in thepapers of Saturday. The horrible libel upon the dead Mrs. Bowen published in the Brooklyn Argus, at the instigation of Hilton and one of his friends, resulted in the acquiital of Demas Barnes, the owner of the paper, upon tLo ground that there was no actual malic In the publication, although the jury pronounced the article cruel and atrOcious. A feature of the trial was the appearance upon the witness stand of the husband and sons of the dead W oman 10 testify 10 the purity of her character. In the course of his test- mony Mr. Bowen denied positively mum. Der of the assertions made by Hilton in bis famous statement, among others that he ever took Mir. Beecher note requiring him to leave the pulpit on account of his immoralities. The result of this :rial will 6e to strengthen the position Of Beecher. -HarJord Courant.