New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-21
SCOPE OF THE CRosSExAMINATIoN.

ana a. usual hundreds VINO came LOT HuHisSiou were
turned away. Among those present were Cyrus W.
Field of New-York. Lord William n. Shay of Scot
land, Capt. Frederick Ward. A. d. c. to the Gov
ernor-General of Canada; Stephen A. Walton of
Eew-York. DR.. s. Fleet Spier of Brooklyn, the Hon.
William KOrf of Brooklyn, Mr.. Sterling, the
law partner of Mr.. Shearman; the Hon. Ham
it0n w. Robinson of the New-York Court
of Common Pleas, William Maulsley, ex-Judge OF
Che Maryland Court Of Appeals, and Judge Olney
of Greene County, New-York. The audience main
tanned good order, and were only once rebuked for
applauding. The Judge on that occasion ordered
an officer to remove any disorderly person. MIR.
Fullerton humorously suggested that the counsel
ought to be excepted. and Mr.. Beecher added, and
She witness, too, your Honor"
Mr. Fullerton resumed the cross-examination with
questions concerning Mr.. Beecher's belief as to
whether Mr. Tilton. apart from Mrs Tiltons letter
of confession, had personally charged him with
making improper proposals to her. Mr.. Beecher en-
phaticay repeated his previous declaration that
Mr. Tilton had not personally made that charge.
When questioned rs 10 what he meant by his former
sastimony that Mr. Tilton had ended long talk by
charging him with wicked proposals to his wife"
Dir Beeoher explained that he had used the word
charge in q general sense, as synonymous with
state or declare 1t was not used in "spe-
cifc," but generic" sense.
Mr. Beecher's letter of Feb. S. 1872, TO Mr. Moul-
ton was brought up again by MIR. Fullerton, who
made the witness go over the principal parts OF 1t
almost word by word. Mr.. Beecher had much the
air Of schoolboy parsins sentences as he read some
pf the passages in this letter. and explained in what
sense certain words were used. and how they were
connected with the general purpose Of the letter.
air Fullertsns questions were keen and exhaustive.
But he did not confuse the witness Mr. Bcecher ex-
planned that his proposed sgnaton Of his pastorate
Was only conditional. The point was that he feared
II might appear that he wss using his church as a
I" smuggling place." and to disprove that he was
willing Z" to step down and OUT
When Mr. Fullerton came to the interviews be-
tween Mr. Beechsr and Mira Moulten his questions
were tnged with SARCASM Mr.. Beecher said that it
was his custom when waiting foraMr. Moulton to lie
down on the sofa and account of his hay ne
always spread q newspaper or other covering over
his feet TO keep them warm. PerceiVing tins Mrs
SIoulton had frequently spread shawl or something
of that kind over his feet when he was lying down
Mir. Peecher distinctly remembered tho In
ridenv. Of the interview Of May 81. 1873
Ale firmly denied that he had told Mira
Mcmillan as she affirmed in her testimony, that she
WAS to him section of the day OF Judgment mat
he had not used those words he swore positively,
and to the best of his recollection he had not used
INV expression akin to that In further contradic-
sion of Mrs. Moultons testimony Mr Beecher re-
Sserated his declaration, the direct examination
khat he had made no statement or Confession OF
adultery to Mrs Moulton.
The circumstances Of Mr.. Beecher's departure for
Peskskill on June 2. 1873 the day on which Mrs
oulton testified that he called at her house and had
long interview with her, in the course of which he
raid he had a poison powder at home which he would
take. were rehearsed Mr. Beecher swore positively
Chat be was not at Mr. MoutOns house at all on that
day and that he saw no lady entering the house as
he was leaving it.
Mr. Beecher also denied that he had requested
George A. Bell to prevent meeting Of the deacons
b consider the West charges" Mr.. Bells testi-
mony on this point was that Mr.. Beecher had sent
Nor him and told him that he had heard that such
meeting was 10 be held and thathe very anxious
Ehst it should not take place. and requested him to
nee Mr. Halliday and arrange that the meeting should
not be held Mr. Beecher testified yesterday that be
hid not remember any such conversation with MIR.
Bell and that he had not heard at that time Of the
fbird specification of the West charges" which
was 10 the effect that Mr. Tilton had accused MI.
Beecber Of criminal intimacy with Mrs. TIton.
IIR MOCLTON CALLED A "BLACKMAILER'
One of the most interesting passages of the cross
examination was in reference to the appointment OF
tbe Investigating Committee. and Mr.. Beechers
statements maze Dc1Ofc tIidt SoulintoSo nuVus sno
payment of lmoney for Mr.. Tilton's benefit The
"details of tue appointment of the Commit
Zee were described very minutely and
Mr.. Beeehers relations and conversations with the
xsrions members of it, but especially with Mr..
CLEVELAND were made the subjects of close inquiry.
ahe fact was developed that Mr. Beecher had told
Nj, Cleveland, before the Committee was
upinted some of the circumstances OF his relations
nth Mr. Moulton, and that Mr.. Cleveland had
expressed opinions favorable 20 MIR. Beecher. The
fact was also brought out that before Mr..
a3eecber made his statement to the Committee
A., Cleveland had emphstically expressed
h, opin;on that blackmail had been levied
upon him. Taking advantage of these admissions
AIR. Fullerton succeeded In somewhat confusing the
-itness by pressing him with questions hintng al
n dishonorable motive on his part in seeking to have
Abe COMMITTEES of Investigation made up OF mes
.vbo had already expressed opinions favorable u
A;mself Mr. Beecher said that he had never resG
&be Committec's report, and had only heard gener
Ally that il was . triumphant acquittal Of himself
He had never heard what 1t contained abou,
sbe charge of blsokmsi and the pistol scene"
In reference to the payment of money to Mr. Moui
con for Mr. Tiltcn Mr. Beecher declared tnat nc nae
made the payments Voluntarily a. an act Oh klnd
,ess. and without thinking that he was being black
mailed m any sense. He declared with great earnest
mesa sf voice and manner that he had thought the
vayment of the money was going to be used az
means Of bringing about q settlement OF hl'
troubles with Mr. Tilton, he would not have
paid q cent, if he had been killed for it,
The witness was Piled with questions as to the time
when he first began TO think that blaskmail wa
being levied upon him. He insisted that at the time
be made the payments, amounting in all to $7'ooo
he did not think he was paying blackmaiL although
che idea had fitted through his mind at various
~,m.. which were not very well fixed, that snch