Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1875-04-04
TILTON-BEECHER.
Mr. Reecher Finally Called 10 the Wit
ness-Stand.

ness-Stand.
His Testimony Not SENSATIONAL.
| Especial Telegram to the Cincinnati Commercial
BROOKLYN, April AT last Beech
er, after three months of testimon
against him and for him, listening
the opening invectiye of Morris, il
January, and the defensive opening b.
Tracy in February, and the number
less arguments that have intervened
after seeing some forty or fifty wit
nesses, of both sexes and two colors
and every variety of personal charaC
ter. take the stand; after hav
ing, been tormented in mum
berless ways, Beecher himself
the famous defendant in this
EXTRAORDINARY SUIT FOR ADULTEriN
| took the witness stand this morning {,
| give evidence in his own behalf-sucl
! evidence as only he can give-evidenc'
| by which he will either stand or fall
in this Court, and in the judgment o
mankind, and before the tribunal o
history.
The crime with which he is charged
is of the most infamous kind, and his
defen~e must be complete. The alleged
circumstances of it were peculiarly
wicked, and the basis upon which
those circumstances are set up must be
utterly destroyed. Other witnesses
have testified to Tilton's unveracity,
immortality, marital cruelty and pecu-
mary Vaccinations; but Beecher must
furnish a demonstration of his own
innocence in the matter concerning
which he is accused. Such is the work
set for him, which he has to-day un-
dertaken. Before sketching the pro-
ceedings will stop at the threshold
long enough to say that the part of
Beecher's evidence given to-day was
not sensational or overwhelming, be-
ing merely preliminary to promised
developments. But, nevertheless, just
before closing Court the
KEY NOTE OF THE DEFENSE
was struck in the introduction of
Beecher's letter of December, 1870, ad-
vising Mrs. Tilton's separation from
her husband, the letter through which
his counsel expect to begin the build
ing up of an explanation of those re-
mOrseful documents, written or die
tated by Beecher, which are now ad-
mitted by the prosecution to be the
TUE EXCITEMENT IN BRoOKLYN
over Beecher's appearance is very great
and the main industry here seems to
be the discussion of the trial. The
crowd around the Courthouse was but
a few hundreds stronger, though in the
course of the day thousands made
brief visits to its vicinity to learn the
latest items of news which float out in
one way or another. 1t was quite evil
dent, long before the hour of opening
Court, that this was to be the great day
of the trial. At 10 o'clock all the seats
were occupied by people as illustrious
as ourselves. The newspaper tables
were lined with the leading writers OF
the different journals, and all around
we saw the familiar faces of men fore
most in various lines.
ARRIVAL OF THE BEECHER PARTY IN
COURT.
Just at IL Beecher, accompanied by
his wife, his daughter and small
group of friends, entered Court, closely
followed by Tilton and his counsel.
AS he walked forward to his usual
place in Court, smiling and saluting OF
chattingswith people, he looked in the
highest state of health, strength and
placidity, but his corpse-looking wife
tottered as though it rec uired all bel
powers to do SO. Beecher, who was
the cynosure of all eyes, occupied fol
some five minutes his ordinary seat il
the midst of about twenty members o.
his family-brothers and sisters, son:
and daughters, besides relatives by
marriage. His lawyers gathered
around him, and were talking with
him amid the noisy gable of the place
when the clerk hammered for silence
vociferated the names of jurors, anC
| Evarts rose to call Beecher; but befor,
this could be done Fullerton was VI
and declared that it would first b.
necessary to recall Redpath, who hat
testified yesterday. We felt disap
pointed, fearing that another da,
would be spent with second class pee
pie. Redpath. who had been called a
a witness by the defense, was to- da,
adroitly turned into witness for th
prosecution, and told some
REMARKABLE STORIES
About an interview with Beecher las
year when the adulterous charge wa
talked about. The prosecution ev
IDENTIFY felt that they had made tel
ing point in their cross-eXaminatio
of Redpath by getting from him sue
testimony, while Beecher's couns,
were very much disgusted at th
course of affairs, as they showed b
the way in which they interrupted h
testimony.
Redpath managed, however, to di
gust the Tilton side also, as he W:
about to leave the stand, when aske
whether Beecher had denied the con
mission of adultery. AS soon as tt
question waa put, Messrs. Evarts an
Porter protested and argued against
but when the Court admitted it, Ret
path replied that he never aske
Beecher about it, because he did n
, believe it. This answer riled Mr.. Flu
lerton, and Redpath left the stand
bad odor with both sides.
MR.. BEECHER ON THE STAND.
AS soon as he had left the chair, NJ
Evarts turned to the plaintiff: IN
Beecher, will you take the stand
Mr.. Beecher rose from his place besiC
his wife and family and began to NAL
his way round the usual passage take
J by witnesses, but Tilton's COuns
rose and allowed him to advance direc
ly to the stand which was in front
J him. The color left his face whiC
, turned to pallor as he advanced wit
downcast eyes, wearing an overco
above his black suit, and carrying b
= slouch hat in his hand. He mounte