Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-10
The Evidence Of the Defense OYerhau'ed
and Admirably Sifted-Jhe Story
Of Adultery Over Again.
TlltOn's PeCCadlllOs and Sins have Moth.
ing 10 Do with the Present
Cause.-The Griffith
GaUnt Letter.
Popular Sentiment DiVided-The Ms,
fortunes Of the Case to Defend.
ant and PIantiT-The Bacon
LetteF-Mrs. aOQitOn.

with spectators az II bad never Deen be-
fore during the trial of TiltOn as. Beech
er. The entrance Of Mr.. Beach, who
was to deliver the closing address FOR the
plaintiff, was the signal for storm OF
applause, which was with difficulty
checked by the court officers. EX-Judge
Fullerton arrived shortly after, and re-
ceived similar ovation. The friends Of
the plaintiff were mustered in strong
force, and scarcely vacant space was to
be found in the room. The ante-rOOm
and corridors were thrOnged with dissat-
isfied persons unable to gain admission
to the courtroom. The plaintiff was
early in his place, and occupied his usual
seat behind his counsel, and was closely
surrounded by the surging multitude.
The thrOng was so great that Judge
Nelson gave instructions to the officers
in charge Of the court to make some ar
rangements and prevent similar occur
renee in future. Jurymen Case and
Jeffreys delayed the opening little by
their late arrival. Mr.. Beecher and his
wife were absent. When the proceedings
began the Judge cautioned the crowd to
preserve the utmost silence.
Mr.. Beach rose to address the jury at
ten minutes past eleven o'clock. The
Evening Post furnishes the following
SYNOPSIS Of his address: He said that at
last Theodore IiltOn had an opportunity
to be heard in a court Of justice, after
having been overwhelmed with calum-
MES, persecuted by ell the power Of 3
man whom the genius OF Samuel VIII
keson discovered to be the greatest man
on earth, and bounded by all the agen-
Giles inspired by an influential church.
He referred to the church investigation
l. trio IN
which the tribunal was composed OF
friends Of the accused, in which the lat
fer was represented by counsel, and in
which the accuser was deprived OF every
advantage which the nature OF his case
REQUIRED. It was hoped in this way to
satisfy the public, but the public clamor
had convinced BeecheT's friends OF their
mistake. AT this point Mr.. Beecher, Mrs.
Beecher and Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe
entered the court and took their usual
seats Mr.. Beach said that in making
insulting predictions and repeating in
sulting epithets until the eST was PANIED
by them, he should not attempt TO vie
with the counsel for the defense. The
iuTy had q duty TO perform of
the most mOmentOus character
they were to pronounce upon the
guiIt or innocence Of the greateit
preacher in christendom. They had
been asked to declare by their verdict
that Mr., Triton, Mr.. MOulton and Mrs.
Moulton were peuurers, and had no
place in a court OF justice. He said that
Mr. Evarts had personally appealed to
the foreman OF thejuTy, ana had assumed
to know the verdict which they would
render. 1t was a strange thing for dis
tinguished advocate to say before the
plaintiff in the case had been heard.
Mr.. Beach said he knew the influences
which had surrounded the jury during
the trial, and was aware OF the dark and
nOisome shapes which had hOVeTed
around them; he knew that immense
influence existed in powerful organi-
cation behind the defense, and he knew
how il had been eZerted. Mr.. Evarts
had wished for the hundred eyes OF an
Argus, Of the hundred arms of q
Briareus, but he had had them, and
more too, He had also had the gold Of
a Midas, and it had been placed where
il would do the most good. Laughter
Mr.. Beach said that if the
counsel on the other side spoke
with authority, the jury had been
controlled by the influence Of Ply
mouth church. II they allowed their !
opinions to be governed by inveetive |
and assertion, then he had nothing to |
hope from averdict; he was 10 such ora |
ator as Brutus, and had but a plain, |
simple, logical argument to present. If |
the iury would be governed by the logic |
of the facts, if they would hear the case !
of the plaintiff before they consigned |
him and Moulton and Mrs. MoultOn to |
infamy, then he demanded verdict at |
their hands: he asked for no verdict |
against Henry Ward Beecher which |
was not based upon the plain truth. |
After asking the jury if they had ever
before heard such O storm OF invective |
as had been poured out IN this court |
room by the counsel for the defense, |
Mr.. Beach said that the extraordinary |
assertion of the other side that theplain- |
tiff never had any case was contradicted |
by the time and labor they had spent in |
trying to overthrow 1t. The witness for !
the defendants upon whom ali the argu- |
ments Of the counsel rested was Beech
or himself, Mr.. Porter had made the |
declaration that Hilton had
been coutTsdicted by thiTty-four wit
nesses, an assertion when could be only |
met by very plain denial.
On no material point had Mr..
TIton been cOHtTadicted, except |
by Beecher. Mr.. Beach here referred to
his association with Porter in the courts
for more than thirty years, and to the
high character which Porter had always |
as a lawyer and as a man.
He had been greatly panied, however, |
that q gentleman so distinguished should |
have conducted himself as he had in
this case. Porter had always before ap-
pesred as the leader Of his side, but in .
This csse he had acted in a subordinate |
capacity. There was no disgrace in that, |
for no one could be Inundated by fol- |
lowing the lead Of counsel so eminent as
Eyarts. The humiliation was IN the |
character OF the service he performed, |
IN his virulent attacks on the plaintiff .
and his principal witnesses. On one oc-
caslop, when Porter, shaking mis- fist .
wildly in the plaintiffs face, exclaimed, |
90 Down, down to hell! and say l sent .
you there" he Beach looked around in
some alarm for the personal safety OF his /
client. Laughter. He was anxious to |
See what had become of him, bat he .
found him still there, looking calmly at .
Porter, and somewhat amused st the eX-
Porter had spoken Of Til |
ton as 3 nan Of hollow and .
theatrical nature. How came such an .
accusation OF being theSfTiC2! to proceed |
from the gentleman who had exhibited .
such histrionic ability? How came such |
a gentleman, capable Of the Hottest legal
effort, to devote himself to pTOnOuncing /
a TRADE Of abuse? What kind OF a case /
was It which required such a defense?
MIR. Beach said the counsel for the de-
Tense had occupied thirteen days, not in .
trying to establish the innocence OF /
but to destroy TiltOn and all .
his supporters. He then referred to the .
in this effort. Tracey .
accused TiltOn Of having a penchRnt for
while Porter represented
him as q cunning and subtle schemer.
He said the plaintiff wss represented as
a man of the basest and most devilish
who had sought to securesuc-
cess by foul conspiracy, and by mar
shsling a host Of peUurers into
court. Mr., Beach asked the jury to |