New-York tribune., 1875-02-27
Mr.. BrEcuER.s ALLEGED ORAL CONFESSIONS.


Now gentlemen of the jury, come to another
branch Of and that the branch which is main
" relied upon 10 wit pretended oral confessions which this
defendant alleged made 70 Francis D. hO0n and 10
his wife and to the plaintiff Theodore Tton In he begin
ming gentlemen we shall you that these parties relied
pressy upon writing hat they hG and upon nothing else
late July TO- 1874 after the appointment of the Church
Committee and Tton 1rst appearing before the Com
m,.ee we snail You. apprehend, b. evidence which
you will doubt that Mr. Tlton there said tha- his
against Henry Ward Beecner writing. He said that he
knew that his reputation impaired in this community and
that The guilt OF Henry Ward Beecher did not At
all depend upon his word-he had D in writing think that
the evidence will you that after Mr. Tltoa had repeated
that once or w over interrupted by who though
az least at that tine that he had the written against
Henry Ward Beecner said him M Tion. your case
against Henry Ward Beecher il in writing. then is wholly
question Of wha: these writings proye thar fact that other
people can Judge Of vel. you the construction of
the papers, he told then and taere think by one
who supposed he k.d seen these papers and studied
them carefully. that they did not warrant the IN
situations which Theodore Tlton was then making
and they would not prove the case that he was
then nsnuat.ng think VIII anpire before gentle
men, that up that neither ton Mouton had
talked about oral confessions Henry Ward Becer think
viii transpre thar This par. OF their has arisen since that
date At least doubt ha will appear to yoU shat
on that occasion NJ Tion did pretend that he had any
oral confessions from Beccher tending establish hs
but that be said distinctly that his against Mr. Bcechcr
in writing and was. locked jim. s ,ae or in MoGtons safe
In Mouons staementl Published August ID somc tine after
this and after this controversy had gone Mr Mou
ION alleges then. general language that Nj Becchor
had confessed orally him. his language entirely gem
era ne gave no specific words he made staomen. which
was legal evidence Of that fact His paper CHALLENGED
that account and said: II Mr. Henry Ward Beecher
ever confessed you why haven't you stated the confession
so other people whether his language amounted to
confession Of guilt not" but it until after ne had
challenged made MS second statement that he
descends al undertakes give the words in which Mr..
Becher confessed But The trial here gentlemen he clothes
Mr. Beeche confessions entirely different language from
what he did his second statement; but you VIII not forget
the remarkable language which he 50 continuously puts IN
the mouth Of Henry Ward Beecher; sexual relations
ual intercourse sexual expression" adultery" not
once-not once, gentlemen, beg yoI to observe,
but continuously al every Interview, and he
has Mr. Beecher their relations but always precedes
l. with the word sexual" Do you believe that gentlemen Of
the juryy Upon the and the theory that Henry Ward
Beecher did convey Francis D. Mouton the idea
that be had had criminal relations with the wife OF the plaintiff,
do you believe every that occurred between them
afterwards Nj Beecher expressly referred the confession,
anu the precise language that he did IN the first occasoni
Having used IL once would reference to it after
wards sufficient Was necessary for ham to repeat
always words sexual relations 70 nave Mr. Moulton
dcsand what mean' Why it Is most improbable sub
nit Mr. Beecher had been confessng he never could have
been guilty Of such weakness and displayed such love Of nasty
expressions as 10 be continually rolling these from his lips
Mou.on says he did 1t impossible to believe it, is incred
bic They are words that manufactured and put into the
mouth OF Henry Ward Beccher occasion after occasion. He
never made such expreon he made any such
fesson And you viii remember gentlemen you have read
HIS staicment-
Mr. Beach-Whose statement
Mr. Tracy-Moaltons you recall his expression. upon
he hasa
oogy the remarkable slip he made not but twice when
he undertook 70 say "M Beecher said his est!onshis
sexual relations Not once twice he did that in repeating
it, the precise manner he repeats in bis statement
In his statement be says "M Beecher said his relations with
this woman" without adding the word sexual" relations;
and when repeat from the witness stand he says
M Beecher said bis relationships sexual relations" and