Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-26
BESSIE TURNER AND Mr.. FULLER
TON.

IOA.
The character and appearance of Miss Bessie
Turner under cross examination in the Tilton-
Beecher case, by Mr.. Fullerton, is sketched as
follows in the New York Tribune Of Wednesday
| The tactics of Mr. Fullerton we've not deeply
laid nor brilliantly executed, but it is no exagger-
alton to say that his failure in this important fea-
turc of the campaign was due in largest measure
to the extraordinary self possession, cearness, and
delberation of the witness whom he was attempt
ing to confound. The printed reports Of Miss
Turner'S evidence really give false impression OF
the young womans manner She appears by the
mere perusal of question and answer to be quick,
impuisive, and voluble to offensive degree. On
the contrary, she is deliberate, and precise, and
she is voluble only when some point affecting
Mrs. Tilton is brought up. The most singular and
noticeable personal characteristic betrayed by her
evidence is her strong loyalty to Mrs. Tilton. She
does not appear to be a witness for Mr. Beecher;
she seems to feel that this is case between Mr.
and Mrs. Tilton and while never hesitating to fly
at him or to defend her. she seems utterly indiffer-
ent to any construction of her testimony which
may injurc or aid Mr. Beecher. When she is sat-
isfied after reflection that her will do Mrs
Tilton no harm-she seems indifferent as to whom
else it may affect. This feeling is betrayed by
frequent references to what "Mrs. Tilton told
her." as if all that lady said was to be unques-
toned, and by the positive manner in which she
speaks Of Mrs. Tilton as Every good authority"
With less deliberate witness testifying to so
many different circumstances and dates, Mr.. Full
lertons line of examination might have been
more successful, even though it was not elaborate
The efforts of Mr.. Fullerton were directed almost
wholly to attempts to disconcert the witness by
comparisons of her former testimony (before the
Committed and the evidence ON the present trial,
and by confounding dates, and even to confuse
her as TO the number of beds which Mr.. Tilton ex-
amned to discover which was the softest. But
Miss Turner answered the first efforts by declar-
ing that she did not know that her testimony be-
fore the Committee had been fully printed and by
saying that she had gone before the Committee at
10 minutes notice, unPePared, whereas in this
suit she had turned all the details over in her
mind, knowing that she was to testify. Her rec
objection of dates was something marvellous, as
tested several times and yet she had the good
sense or honesty (as one may choose to consider
it not to insist on too much precision to exact
days. This gave Mr. Fullerton great annoyance
and increased his difficulties. Miss Turner would
also insist when Mr.. Fullerton put before her
documents which were evidently designed to
trap her. on deliberately reading the whole of
letter piece of testimony before answering.
Several times she snapped him up, with the slight
est tinge of asperity in her voice and manner, on
the misconstructon of sentences. An instance of
this occurred after Judge Nelson had required
H. Eull 70 n,rvyas to Mr.
toms advice to her on a proposal Of marriage,
when the cross examiner asked if he (Mr. Tton)
had advised her relative to her marriage. Quick
as thought she answered, "But never was mar
ried." At another stage he asked her what it
was she had testified to, as Mr.. Tilton's osserva-
tons to his wife at the Woman's Rights meeting.
81 spoke of what observed" she replied, "and
what he remarked" During the suppressed
laughter which followed this retort some one near
the reporters desk remarked 1.-The Titons are a
family of critics." doubtless abiding to Mr.. Til
tons criticism on Mr. Evars uR Of the syno-
nyms "sure and Certain
Previous to the recess the examination of Miss
Turner, conducted in the manner indicated, en-
which she had lived at Mr.. Sas Tltons house at
Keyport, and under which she had left there. 1t
appeared not to have been a pleasant experience,
as she admitted; but when she was asked if she
had not, while angry with Mr.. Tilton, threatened
to make herself i'll by refusing food, she answered
laughter which could have been heard outside the
courtroom, and which was pleasantly re-echoed
from various parts OF the audience. The stories of
the nocturnal hanging of pictures and testing of
beds were gone over again, and told with some va
riatons which seemed to add to the zest with
which the audience received Them to such de-
gree that Judge Nelson had TO reprove the specta-
tors. After recess attention was largely devoted
to the int srrogaton Of the witness as to the times
when Mr.. Tilton is alleged to have locked up his
wife in a room to give her seedlings Mr. Fuller
ton asked the witness whether 1t was not Mr. Til
tons habit to read to his wife articles and lectures
that he had written and to get her criticism. Miss
Turner replied in the affirmative, But" she
added apprehending his purpose with her usual
quickness whenever Mrs. Tilton is involved, "if
he was reading her lectures at those times they
were scolding lectures, | know" The witness
preserved her composure perfectly through the af-
ternoon and continued to use very expressive Ian
puage in her descriptions. When she was asked
how Mr. Tilton looked on occasions when he had
been scolding Mrs. Tilton the witness said, "IIis
face was as red as fire." "As red as fire I" an
swered her questioner, with an emphasis on the
last word. "Well, it was pretty red,' returned
the witness. "But was it as red as fire 2 persist
ed Mr.. Fullerton. "Well it is q common express
SION to say as red as fire, or as fury. Eyes, but
which was it, fire or fury I" continued the lawyer.
"Well, in this case" answered the witness, with
air of great candor, III think his face was as
red as fury" Here Mr.. Tracy offered some OBJ
jections, and both he and Mr.. Fullerton continued
arguing at the same time for several minutes I'M
til the latter fairly drowned the voice OF his oppo-
AL af.gna