The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-05
THE GREAT TRIAL.
Probable Line Of the Defendants TeSti-
mOny To-Day.
THE RAGGED EDGE" LETTERS.
How Will the Witness Ex-
plain Thenp

To-day will begin the fourteenth week or the
! trial so widely known as "1ton VS.. Beecher.n
Slxty-one days have already been occupied IN
choosing judge and jury, in hearing addresses
OF opposing counsel and in the examination or
witnesses. Yet this Is only the third day or the
DEFENDANTS examination as a witness, and he Will
not probably pass into the hands or the plaintiffs
counsel Tor cross-examnauon until Thursday; so
that by the time ne leaves the stand the trial will
lave lasted July seventy days. Then We shall
possibly have the re5uttal testimony on
the part or the plaintiff, and that will
no DOUBT occupy several days. for the coun-
sci Tor Mr.. Beecner dgnt for every incn OF ground
they can get. Then comes the sur-rebuStal evidence
for the defence, aud after that three weeks OF
continual talk. The counsel for the plaIntitr and
the defendant will sum up the evidence IN their
own way ana in their own favor; they Will point
out the bits most favorable to their respective
clients. and urge the jury, In impassloned
language, TO give a verdict Tor themselves. The
special pleading over, the charge OF Judge Nelson
will close the scene, and then We shall have
clear idea of how all the mass or evidence, con-
tradlctiug, corroboratng or confusing, has lett It's
impress upon his cautious legal mind. Calculating
for all his, 1t Is quite evident that like all success
Iul plays nowadays the trial VIII reach Its hun
dredth day, though the audience on that occasion
may miss their usual bouquets and satin pro-
grammes.
1t is to be hoped, at all events, that the trial
will be over before June, in mercy to the jury, as
we'll as to Mr.. Beecner; Tor his pathetic descrip-
ton OF the hay fever was SO earnest that 1t il
easy to see that he would suffer even more than
the jury were ne compelled 10 remain IN town
during tnat-to hlm-most wreIched season or
the year.
One hundred days at four hours each day makes
400 hours that will doubtless be consumed by this
aII uaf fIa
Kings County Supervisors consider the claims OF
the jurors for extra compensation not worthy
or consideration. lt would be well next time we
want Jury on long and tedious trial like this TO
take the panel from the Board OF Supervisors OF
Kings county aud then how about extra pay9
MR.. BEECHER ON DATES.
Interesting ana dramatic as was the evidence
given by the defendant on Thursday and Friday
1t will be far more important to-day and to-mor-
row in the eyes OF the public for then he Will
touch upon the dates OF the wondrous and per-
picking letters that have SO long puzzled and be-
wiIdered people wherever they have appeared.
The ragged edgeu letters and dates will undoubt-
edly put the witness on his mettle, and that por.
ton Of his testimony viii be watched with an IN
. tensty seldom SHOWN in SUIT at law.
There can De no question that these extraordi-
nary letters and the dates upon winch they were
written viii give Mr.. Beecner both verge and
scope for explanation and narration OF facts or
circumstances IN relation TO them. The public
Will pass the ordeal OF the letters and whether he
Will be aOle TO explain the angularltleS OF those
letters and tue utter despair betokeneo oy the
remarkable language found therein. III he passes
that dangerous point successfully, ana Is able TO
throw satisfactory hQnt upon the letters them
selves. the rest OF MS ROAD Will be comparatively
easy TO travel. though, OF course. the cross-exam-
inaton Will be iull OF pitfalls and dangerous places
This question OF dates will be the turning point
In the DEFENDANTS testimony. Tor they are 50 close
together ana the tenor OF the letters are so
peculiar and colncident, that the explanations or
Statements or Mt. beecher concerning them Will.
without a0y DOUBT, do much 10 confirm or over
turn previous opinions as TO the merits OF the
controversy between Theodore Tllton and
Henry Ward Beecner Mr.. Evarts has evI-
GENTLY covered every line OF the plaintiffs case
against his client, and so thoroughly ''cOachedn
his witness for the present examination that It
Is very easy 10 perceive mat at the proper time
In Mr. Beechers narrative-ior that Is really what
his direct testimony amounts to-1e wal boldly
approach the letters exnIolted against him.
Wnen that moment arrives Mr.. Eyarts Will give
the necessary leading questions, and the deien
dant Will use his power over the audience In the
court room aud car y II with him Tor the moment.
But tne evidence VIII De read by hundreds Of
portion OF his audience Will stand outside OF his
personal magnetic influence, and they will weigh
the woros mvre tnan the manner or the speaker.
THE cRoSs-ExAMINATIoN.
The counsel Tor the plaintin undoubtedly de-
pend upon this portion or Mr. Beecher's direct
testimony for much OF the material on whicn
TO question and confuse MIN, and woe be 10
him IL he sup or stumble. Those VINO ought TO
Know the pastor OF Plymouth best say that Mr..
Beecher Will pass through his cross-examina-
ton trumpnantly, and that the counsel for Mr..
Tilton viii IND IN MIN not stubborn witness
but q se-relIant one, and tnat he Will meet them
with a irankness that Is CHARACTERISTIC OF the
man. They also claim that before ne leaves
the witness chair he Will clearly establish his In
nocence OF the charges laid against him and make
verdi5t Tor the oeience not only possible but
proDaole. Friday was undoubtedly the most i'm
portant daV OF the case Tor the defence. Tor it
opened up long lne OF inquiry and set many
matters apparently straight which we're before
especially crooked aud confusing The evidence
OF Mr. Beecner on that Gay doubtless FURNISHED
indy.
ing BY their voIumlDous notes and frequent con-
lerences, the cross-examination promises TO be
As was to be expected, the audience in the
court room grows more ana more Beecnerire
every DAY. Wnlle M0ulton and 11ton were tesu-
lying their audience was apparently all then own,
so that IL is not surprising tnat with the change
or personnel the audience nowaoays should also
change In sentiment
One remarkable fact ought to be here noted,
and that il the Increased numoer OF clergymen
who daIly attend tue trial. Every shade oil theo-
B SSsen uO Sseass. and It would oe IN
teresting 70 know now these ministers
sny OF them are questioned, however they sud.
denly become dumb, and keep their thoughts DIS
creetlJ to themselves. being evidently unwilling
10 90 ON the record either one way or the otner.
Ju1gng from the faces OF these ministers as they
cit listening 70 the evidence one. gains tue impress
sion Lnat tue majority believe MIR. Beecner lnno-
cent OF the charge of adultery, and those who un.
CONSCIOUSLY oetray anT douot eydcnty hope That
he will be so considered Dy the JurF. THIS latter
feeling Is no douUt engeudered W an intutiye
love OF the ChUrca and Of reigion, for IL Is not to
be concealed tnat u Mr.. Illton wins verdict very
serious nlOw Will be dealt the Chufcn militant.
Tue TACT taat so many preachers attend the trial
shows how earnestly that class OF the community
watcn tue trial, and taeir presence ia tue court
room is PROBABLY due TO senumep. mat they
/ ougut BY their presence TO snow some support 10
tue defendant. Onc preacher, WOO has frequently
attended the trial WINE The Hilton phase pre-.
vailed, las already judged his fellow aoorer IN tue
netd, ana nerceiy 0enOunces the case and every.
BODY connected wlfh " a. worthy Of utter
\ d4mnaton. Even tue newspapers come IN for
TIER snare OF the wrath 70 come. Bus TINS ~ q
solitary instance. ana tue main cody oil the PrOtes.
/ tant clergy pursue wiser aud more conservative
4 onuVao I'm ina very nrODabie evaut al II verdict