The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-25
The Beecher Trial.
The Prosecution Rest"
The Defence Begun.
Opening Statement Of Mr.
Beecher's Counsel.
A Terrible Arraignment of
Tilt0n's Disso1utea and
= Hypocritical Life.
The Wicked Perversions of
Letters and Acts.


New York, Feb. 24,--The Brooklyn
city court was more than usually crowd
ed this morning, the greater number of
those present being lawyers gathered to
hear the opening address for the defense
in the great scandal case. The principals
to the suit were early in their seats. Gen,
Tracy, OF counsel for the defendant, arrived
quarter OF AN hour after the formal open
ing of the court .se>3
When few preliminaries had been |
arranged he arose and said: The tune
had now arrived for the defense to open
their case There were great interests |
involved in this trial They could not be |
over estimated. as they involved the re |
iglous and moral interests OF society. |
This defendant was to go forth vindicated
from this court room or with stain upon |
his life and character. My client takes
his stand here alone, but supported by
his God and the justice OF his cause. The
defendant early devoted himself to the
ministry of God. 1t was no bed OF roses.
He struck cut for the wild west and rung
bells in the forest glades, assisted by his
dear wife, whu accompanied him. He is
now the same true. simple, unaffected
man he was then. In his home there was
no pain or human sorrow but had found in
him d reicver among his great congrega-
ton. He had ministered tor over twenty
years .unsiringly. ae has been the inde
lfatigable teacher of the people for all
these years When danger threatened
from abroad he was the first to lead the
, masses In the defense of the Union. His
courage in that struggle won the admira
ton of the whole world and the warmest
gratitude of his own people. One of the
most striking characteristics of the man
was profound and earnest interest 10 young
men. This prosecution was the reward
received for the love and devotion ne had
lavished upon young man. The speaker
then went on to relate the history OF Theo-
J dore Tilton, who he said began as re-
d porter. He embraced the widest views
= and believed the world would follow in the
way which he led He became a Deist
, denounced marriage as fraud and as
hindering the advancement OF the world
The leader of men must know how to pro
tect and preserve, but Theodore, IlitoI Ito,
knew how only to destroy. Theodore LII
ton fell. from his high eminence to which
few men attain, to the bottom OF an abyss
In the blind impotence of his rage he de
ltermined to visit his anger on Henr.
1 w
been the cause OF his destruction. MI
Beecher was the friend of both Theodor
Tilton and his wife. The friend. wife an
children must be trampled down to secur
that vindication for which he had bartere
8. his own soul
O When Tiiton enrolled himself as a men
ber of Plymouth church, Beecher ha
. nothing to gain from him and he had e.
erything to gain from Beecher. and tt
friendship grew. which was made strong
er by the marriage of one of Beecher
% flock TO Tilton. The latter became WI
~ ter for the Independent and suon begs
to eliealous of Beecher, though Beec
er did nos suspect it. Early in 1861
- 1862 Tilton began urging Beecher to di
at his house while his family were aw
q. from the city, because of his clifton
wife's regard fer her pastor. Beech
partially COMPLIED, Mrs. Tilton, who W
s the real defendant 10 this case, was sm
n | in statue, of childlike nature, and m'
bid religious enthusiasm. She was enti
VI ly devoted to her husband, consulting
eyery wish. She watched his course vi
EE pride, but was doomed to the sorrow
seeing him lose his hold on what she
., lieved was the foundation of religi'
She tried in vain to save him, and look
falls to her trusted pastor to aid her. Yet
saTs MT were asked to believe that while she '
FORK irving to save her husbad's virtue {
lcumnlitted the very sin against which .
was warning him. In 1868 Beecl
use sailed for Europe, leaving Iilton Ia
and charge of the Independent, This jealo
'eeth still increased, though outwardly trlent
In November, 1865. Titon wrote Beec
begging him to forgive him for any W
orm, or deed of his which hal given Offer
ms of and also spoke of his religious depressi
IN the same year Tilt"n became man
s. ing editor of the Independent. and t
Hair, every means of showing himself indepe
p: ent of Beecher, which fuaily Obliged
Z = Dr. latter to dissolve his connection with
= paper. The pretenceot these attacks
!. %, Beecher's Cleveland letter, which
Imier been read inevidence, advocating n
bes, crate policy toward the South. b
0rn9 a,nr surrounded by extremists OF all classt
n the marked change occurred in Iilton's n
have ious views. According to his own t
ts, re mony this caused great sorrow to his
e and Tracy here read from letters in
MAKE dence.
|: bust Mrs Tllton appealed to her pastor,
is and talked kindly to Tilton and wrote MIN
h rignh, beautiful letter put in evidence. I'LL
rs and views also cIduRcO kISdliy III iOEdiu v
rnish, sexes, believing great social revoll
!, can can was Impending This was the subje
! what conversation with his associates, who
dSress d{t ouently visited at his house. Tilton
nj III. the ground that every relation bet
tha sexes was proper which was atte
m by mutual love. These views were
~ tremely offensive to his wife. In ls7
. induced Mrs. Tilton to invite to her h
ID greatly against her wish, young
whose acquaintance he had made ii
west and with whom there was no dou
was desperately in love, as appeared
Cd his letters. 1t was his own intamacy
this woman which nearly drove his l
oo erin law to insanity. The young la
question seeing the danger to her fro'
q toms admiration finally left and brok
" relations with him. In his letters t.
wife Tiltun spoke OF his friendships,
X ! called them, for various women v
:, freedom that was astonishing, 10
n. to his wife in February. 1867. he re-
ae Web. to his intimacy In u certain western
thus re- he VISITED and said bis whole life
connect s i. have been different if he could have
: ! OFFS Of sns. s. sheltered under such roof inst
- breathing the atmosphere of Livini
ostcu. oS;; street. This family. Tracy said, vi