River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-12-18
The Counsel in the Beecher-Esitou
Nuft.
From the N. Y. Tribune.l

From the N. Y. Tribune.l
The large and dgnfied array Of
counsel engaged by both parties will
make the court proceedings all the
more remarkable. The one event Of
the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher stand.
ing in court charged with adultery, and
undergoing an examination conducted
by distinguished criminal lawyers, will
be a subject for picture at which the
Christian world would have shuddered
not many months back, but which will
have to be described now
to the stannchest Puritan
with the most technical observance OF
details. The counsel Of both sides are
men of thorough legal training and large
experience. For the prosecution the
lawyers are William A. Beaeh--com
monty spoken of as ex.Judge,
but who laughingly says he
has never been nearer the
! judgeship than to decline it,
ex.Judge ;. d. Morris, who was Dis.
trict-Attorney OF Kings county nine
years; ex-Judge William Fullerton, and
the Hon. Roger A. Pryor, formerly a
member Of Congress from Virginia and
General in the Southern army.
Ex-Judge Morris will open the case
for Mr.. Titon in a speech which it is
understood will occupy the whole of
one day, and which will narrate in de-
tail what the plaintiff proposes to
prove lie has been engaged upon the
case since the day Mr.. Tllton was ar
rested and brought before Justice
Riley's Police Court on the complaint
Of the indiscreet youth called Taynor
or Gaynos.
Judge Morris then made himself ia.
miliar with the whole case, since which
he has devoted himself with great zeal
and enthusiasm to its preparation and
management. 1t was at his suggestion
that the private correspondence of Mr..
and Mrs. Tilton was published; and be
carefully reviewed the last statement of
Mr.. Tilton previous to its publication,
recommending the elaboration of
some of the most effective points
against the committee of
investigation. His devotion to this case
was illustrated a few days since by the
remark that he had seen no other case
/ for weeks. 1t is a singular fact that
/ when Mr.. Tlton was editor of the
| Brooklyn Union he criticised Judge
I Morris with much severity. He after
wards became convinced that he was
wrong, admitted it, and there sprung
up friendship between thcmnot unlike
that between Mr.. Beec!.er and Mr..
Sherman, which was recently 50 strik-
ingly exhibited by the latter in the
court room.
Mr.. Beach will sum up for the pros
ecutiOn, and il is popularity expected
that ne will conduct the examination of
Mr. Beecher, although thel questioning
Of witnesses will of course be shared
by all.
FOR fHE DEFENDANT.
Mr.. Bcecher's counsel are the Hon.
William NJ. Warts, ex-Attorney Gen.
cral Of the Uuitcd States ex-Judge
Porter, Thomas G.. Sherman, Gen. b.
+. Tracy, John l.. Hill, and Austin Alb
bott. William o. Bartlett was retained
By Mr.. Bcecher during the progress of
the investigation by the Church Com.
mlttce, but has since withdrawn from
the case. Mr.. Shearman, who has
gained his reputation as an Erie lawyer,
although not admitted to the sessions Of
the committee, was in daily consulta.
ton with them and was generally re
/ garded the wheel within the
wheel, the power behind the
throne which directed the Committee s
action. He has been confident from
the first that there was no evidence of
any kind bearing upon this case of
which he was not cognizant, and his as.
seyerations Of Mr. Bcccher's innocence
have been Of the most unqualified and
positive kind. MIR. Tracy and Mr..
Hill were associated with the Commit
tee, conducting the examination of wit
ncSscS. The remainder have been adj
ded 10 the list Of counsel since the case
was taken TO the courts. ES.Judge
Porter will open the case for Mr..
Beccher, and Mr.. Evarts will sum up
the evidence. The examination Of wit
ncSses will fall upon all the counsel to
some extent.