Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-17
THE BEECHER TRIAL-A DDRESS or
MR. BEICK.

THE BEECHER IRIAL-ADDRES Or
Mr.. BEECH.
AT II :05 Monday, Mr.. Beach arose. lie said it
was harsh necessity Of this case that witnesses
we're attacked who had not been impcached by
evidence Mr.. Richards was instanced. Mr.
Beach paid high tribute to that gentlcmans per
sonal character and merit.
Mr.. Beach next applied himself to the vindica-
ton of Mr.. A. b. Martin, who, he said, was an
other devoted christian man. lie had been de:
nounced a spy the simple basis that he had
offered Mrs. Ton the services brother might
have performed.
Tllton's relations with Mrs. Woodruff were then
taken up. Tilton, counsel said, was charged with
being responsible for the publication of the Wood
hull scandal. Not single important element OF
proof in this case WAS limited at IN that pup
ication Mrs Woodruff, Mr.. Beach said, states
that she got the information in Mrs. lockers
company, in 1871, in Washington, that Beeeher
preached every Sunday to twenty of his mis-
tresses, and that this was the tlrst hlnt she re-
ceived of the scandal. Messrs. Eyarts and Shear
man interrupted the speaker to say that that was
not so, but Mr. Beach guaranteed its truth.
Mr. Beach then passed to his argument proper
In refuting the arguments OF the defense he had
anticipated much that he had intended to incor-
porate in it. The case had been managed by
the defense that it had been somewhat difficult to
determine who was the defendant in it The
management of it seems to have been taken IN
hand from the start BY the Plymouth Church. 1t
had been usnPreu III DN u pTCCtssiOD VI tuC atuCI-
cnts of the dcfendant-an organized array under
the lead of the gallant usher who had assumed
the control Of the courtroom. And so 1t had con-
tinucd throughout. Every avenue Of influence
upon the jury had been freely and unscrupulonsiy
EMPLOYED The speaker had great respect for
Plymouth Church. 1t was a great and wealthy
church. 1t was the jury of the vclnage to which
Judge Porter would like to appeal. 1t came to
this court as to gala scene-the jury would rec
oect the floral displays of the first days 1t
thought that all Beecher and 1t had to 90 was 10
come into court and demand verdict. Mr.. Beach
then paid generous tribute to Mrs. Beecher's at
tendance on court preliminary to suggestion
that it was little singular that she should be
forced for effect, to listen to all the revolving de-
tails of this charge against her husband, alter
which he applied to her Scott's apostrophe to
woman.
Everything shows, Mr.. Beach said, that there
had been an organized plan Of the defense to IN
huence the decisions of the court. Another lady
had been found in the arena where her virtue was
being made the football of contention. She came
not as the friend ally of her husband, but as the
adherent of the defendant, who had enticed her
from her home, who had produced her before his
packed committee who had arrayed her into hos
tili,y to her children and her home. Did the jury
doubt wha, was the influence that forced her into
court Mr.. Moulton had sworn that he had &C
cused Beecher of enticing Mrs. Tllton from her
husband to his face, and Beecher had never ut.
tered word Of denial. These devices were all
ID
what needed he of all these trappings and strata
gems? Mr. Beach had no objection to make to
the friends of any rallying TO his support, but
this should be done with proper show OF respect
to the common decencies of justice and OF life
They should contrast the treatment of Mrs. 1lton
by her husband in its reverence and tendernt IS
with that of the man who had exhibited her to
the SCOTS of the multitude. Tilon had used none
of these audacious influences. la plain manli-
ness he had met the duties of this hour lie was
- do in N a
ate and fair hearing from the jury.
Mr.. Beach resumed his argument at % lie
began by reading some extracts from Macaulay
essay on Mrs. Montague's Life of Lord Bacon, IN
relation to human delusions in estimating charac-
ter, the object being to show that the vices Of
great man are apt to be forgotten in the light OF
the pleasure or good we derive from HIM. lie ap-
piled these views to the case of Mr.. Beecher. the
most remarkable feature about the trial. the foun-
daton of one of the strongest appeals of the de-
fence Mr.. Beach said was that the injured hus'
band and the paramount both unite in giving all
exalted character to Mrs. Titon. The motives OF
both must be considered in Judging OF this cireum-
stance. Mr. Beach then entered into an exhaust
Triton being seduced by Mr.. Beecher under the
pre.enses alleged. Her endeavor to allay any
fears of her husband in February, 1858, showed a
dawning consciousness that too much was grow
ing up between herself and Mr. Beecher. 1t was
a very dangerous condition for woman to be in,
when she could identify another man in her love
for her husband and could hope for deepening
of that affection. Mrs. Tiltons "daily agony
letter showed that she had then some misgivngs
of the character of her relations with Beecher
In February. 1863 after Mr.. Beecher's years of
visits to her and the consolation he sought and
got from her. what was it that led her to say that
though "longing" for her husband, she "did not
wish him to return" that he was better away
that "she anticipated, and it caused her an agony
Of prayer, that disaster was pending which would
bow her hu sband's head and break his heart" Is
it, Mr.. Beach asked, wonderful, under these cir
cumstances that what is charged against Henry
Ward Beecher happenedi With abundance of
opportunities and irresistible temptation, was it
surprising that these people fell Was it wonder
full that Mrs. Tlton attributed to her part Of this
intercourse only self-sacrfce and pety!
Mr. Beach then took up the charge OF conspr-
acy to black mail. Mr.. Tiltons acquaintance
with Mrs. Woodruff did not begin until after the
publication of the Woodhull card. Mr., Evarts in
terrupted to say that that was not the view OF the
defcuse. Mr.. Beach retorted that there was no
evidence to support any other view. 1t had turned
out continued Mr.. Beach, that Tilton had had
nothing to do with the publication of the tripartite
agreement, which came next in order. He then
illustrated the uneasiness in Mr.. Beechers own
church in 1871 and afterward by extracts from
the testimony of Deacon West In the midst OF 1t
the hour of adjournment arrived.
/OLI7ICdL.
Gov. Davis of Minnesota has withdrawn as a