New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-01
YESTERDAYS TESTIMONY ANALYzED.

one Of the most remarkable statements ever made
in a court of justice.
YESTERDAYS TESTIMONY ANALYZED.
The testimony of Charles Storrs was unfinished
on Tuesday and nearly the whole of yesterdays
morning session devoted to the further eluci-
dalton of the facts within his knowledge. Mr.
Sons is one of the most important witnesses for the
defense. and, next to Mr.. Beecher, probably the
most important called. He was for many
wears the consistent friend of Mr. Tilton,
and coming on the stand rs sucb
his testimony given additional force
and meaning by this relation. Mr.. Storrs's whole
evidence was in keeping with the theory of the de-
tense that the original olense of Mr.. Beecher
against Mr. Tilton the formers advice to the
wife of the latter TO separate from her husband;
that il was subsequently advanced to a charge OF
improper proposals." and after that to the graver
one of actual adultery. The examination OF Mr.
Storrs was throughout directed to the development
of facts and conversations bearing out this theory
He swore that in January, 1871 Mr. 1lton had told
him that Mr. Beecher, Mrs. Beecher and Mrs Morse
had influenced Mr.. Bowen to discharge him by re-
failing ISLANDERS by MONOCHROME OF whom was Miss
BESSIE Turner-against him, and had further in
hnenced his own wife against him. Mr.. hilton
further stated that he had then charged Mr. Beecher
with making improper proposals to his wife, winch
MI BeeChcr ndd deulCu MI DctCucI udu SupSo0
uuently gone to Mrs Titon. who had written de-
NAL of the story but Mr.. Motion had compelled Mr.
Beecher at the mouth of the pistol to deliver 1t up
and write an apology This is the first time the de-
tense have succeeded in bringing out these facts in
such an emphatic form and, Of course, the counsel
attach great importance to them
Mr. Storrs's attention being called to his action
Jointly with Mr. Clafn and Mr.. Freeman, as arbi-
traitor in the Bowen ton-Beecher matters, which
were closed by the signing OF the trlpartite agree
mcnt. he coroborated Mr.. Clatlin in all
the essential particulars of the affair lie
swore that the conditions precedent to the
SIGNING of that covenant were the destruction
of all the papers connected with the scandal, the
,etrrn of the Woodstock letter to MIR. Bowen, and
the payment of the $1,000 award to 1llton But
Mr. Storrs on this point went further, ana swore
that while Mr.. M0utOn was party to the agree
ment to burn all the papers, he had subsequently
told the witness that he had not burned any oil
them so that in the end only the Woodstock letter
was suppressed by its being returned to MI Bowen.
The substance of this was subsequently, made public
NV Mr.. Tilton through Mr.. McKelway's agency
A third important point in Mr. Storrss evidence
WAS the DEVELOPMENT of the fact that Mr. Iton, as
late AS Dec r. 1872, a month after the publication
of the Woodruff scandal had declared that while
he would not deny that Mr. Beecher had made I'M
proper proposals TO his wife, there never was any
thing criminally wrong between them.
A still more striking fact brought out was the
threat of Mr. MoultOn TO shoot Mr.. Beecher, If only
Mr. Storrs so advised and the further threat that II
Augustus StOrrs signed the Plymouth Church Com
mittee's report "a statement would be made drag
cling in the name of a member of Mr.. Storrss fam
ilv This threat was subsequently fulfilled; Miss
Edna Dean Proctor, an inmate of Mr. StOrrs's fam
ily was connected with an infamous SANDER, for
which Mr.. Moulton has since had to apologize
Mr. Storrs also swore that Mr.. MOulton threatened
n drive Mr. Beecher out of Plymouth Church and
Brooklyn.
The cross-examnation of Mr.. Storrs, which was
conducted by Mr.. Beach in the absence OF 3lr Full
lertop was a labored effort to break the great force
of this important testimony. Mr. Beach really
drew from the witness little of any value TO his
client
Mrs Mary +. Perkins a sister of Mr.. Beecher, was
called inst before recess to testify TO two points
The first was the infrequency, indeed the entire
absence of all visits of Mrs TtOn tO,Mr. Beechers
house during the long Winter absences of Mrs
Beecber at the South. In one of the statements
published last Summer appeared what purported to
he a letter from Mr. Beecher TO Mrs. 1llton,
saving that his wife would soon leave for
the South and il was doubtless to cOunteract the
force Of this document that Mrs. Perkins testified
that never during the absence of Mrs Beecher in the
Winter OF 1917, ana IolS Ddu MIS- llltOu caIlCu
at Mr.. Beechers house. Mrs. Perkins also testified
20 her constant attendance with her brother in Mas
sachusetts from June TO June ~ 1873 period COW
sring week subsequent to the time Mrs. Moulton
swore he had confessed TO her, and the week during
which she said she had again seen him.
Mr. James Freeland the next witness, called
10 confirm the testimony Of Mr.. Storrs and Mr.
Clanin as to The circumstances of the arbitration.
His testimony did not differ from theirs materially
be was firm in his recollection that all the letters
connected with the scandal to be destroyed.
The crosse Examination bad a very comical VEIN run
ming through it, but unimpOrtant.
The impeachment of the witness Kate Carey. or
Rate Smith. was begun by the calling of Mr.. and
Mrs Robert 4. Moore. They swOre that they
would not believe her under oath and further,
that Kate Carey had told them that while living in
Mrs HtoD's family she had never seen anything
improper in the relations of Mr.. Beecher and Mrs
Tilton.
james Redpath Of Boston gave al account Of tho
manner IN which be obtained possession of thu
ilsihal OF the True Story" already published in
ne Tribune. He Lad been "A freauept yisitor At =
M IltOns honse during the latter part of te year
ne and tue beginning of 1873 and Mr. Tiltou had