The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-23
Continuation Of Her Story
About Tilton's Actions.
A VIGOROUS CR0SS-EXAMINATION
The Witness q Little Con-
fused in Dates.
AMUSING TILT BETWEEN COUNSEL.

atively restricted attendance upon the Brooklyn
Court there was crush yesterday. The sunny
morning and miider air hlled the streets with
people, and before the Court House a e. eat crowd
was asse m bled, while the steep iron stalrways
and dark corridors OF the Court ed fee were black
with disguised people VINO could not gain access
60 the chamber OF scandal. The police were Sc
we're and peremptory, and the anteroom between
the Court and the Judges retiring room WAS SO
packed with people that the reporters and jury
could barely crowd Through. inside the Court
none were allowed to stand, 50 that the excess OF
people had 10 crouch down and avoid the Judges
eye and the police. Only one woman was in
the court room not Identified with this
triai by long attendance. Mrs. Field.
Mrs. Shearnan and Mrs. T1ton occupied
1heir usual places, ard Mrs. Beecher came
n between Mr. Beecaer and one OF the Beecher
family. Floor Master caldwell was exceedingly
pressed for seat room, ana resisted with all his
might the oversures vi strangers 10 occupy the
chars devoted 10 tbs faitniul AL the lawyers
were in court unusually early except Fullerton,
who came In last, and was soon followed by Bessie
Turner, who was followed by Snearman, and met
half way by Caldwell VINO took ner on his arm
Up TO ne platform
Mr.. Beecher looked very well and with un-
usually good color. lie is N very saaguine state
Of mind, as are ais iriends ana his lawyers.
MIS-. beec0eF came lubo CO uTL AZ the oeSluulub VI
the trial with pale ace, but with spirit,
expressive countenance ana all the evidences Of
her original mental force aud temperament. Day
by day she has drawn u on her resources until the
strong sarcastic smile mas almost ceased to re-
spond TO the solicitation OF her Will. The face Is
piucned; sleep comes easily TO the tired BODY and
osnattention.
The great su 5ject of the crowd and the gossips
yesterday was Bessie Turner's crosse minatiou.
Great results were looked Tor from Fullerton's
tilt with this one OF the two inhabitants OF the TIL
ton household who csuld testify, the other being
Mrs. Morse. General opinion ran that Bessie
would weaken, con trsdict herself and make a
helpless cripple OF her original testimony under
the we-infsr and caustio cross-q uesJiening or
the most unsparipg and n.moe rapersman who
ever laced d witsess.
The result was Rot very complete success. The
lawyer appeared 10 knov much asout Miss
Bessie Turner ss sac knew about herself; but he
could not, for all that, make her change her
story. II he ripped ner she Tell back to bit
OF TACT. and reiterated that and stuck 10 IL,
ike boy 10 his p tssner's haze. From
shs main TACT she would skIrMish q little way cut,
but, If chased, returned t. the line OF security
again. There seemed no way to everturn her
testimony but to do 1t BY rcbuttng evidence
Nevertheless Miss Turner ola tell rerent story
which she gave before the church Committee OF
Investigation. She admitted, without evasion,
that wGat she said on he Risht she was questioned
at tae house OF Augustus > 0rrs, after prelni
AIRY EXAMINATION by Ge8eral Tracy, was wide OF
she marx aud that by refreshing her memory at
snosequent leisure, and comparing dates and
consulting diaries she had arrived with
precision at the facts or her present nara
tion. These differences are very grave, however,
and would appear 10 Belcste that the young
iadg had very poor memory seven months ago
UPON the details and order Of two such important
events as repeated Attacks upon her chastity.
Before tie church committee she reversed the
oyder OF what occurred, gave the whereabouts OF
Mrs. Tilton ana said eReugh TO enable the plain
IN IN this action 10 pursue her out and prove
possibly other Whereabouts for himself or her at
a fixed time. For instance, Miss Turner,
before the church COMMITTEES, sala that Mrs.
IttOn was absent at the period when
ghe became enoject 10 III tens assault, and
descriDed where she was. Yesterday sac simply
swore that the assaults were in warm weather,
IN the years 1883 and 1869, and rot in the year
1857, as she at arst said. Nor was she able to re-
call any other circumstances. consequently Bessie
Turner's charges are now reduced to The charges
themselves, sworn 10, but sunstantiated by no
testimony but her own. she testified yesterday
herself OF telling lies against her patron ana
patroness, under the malignant influence OF
Mrs. Morse, and that sac (Ressie) then signed
n. She undertook no explanation OF her feelings
or motives In thus lalsifying herself Tne other
letter she wrote TO Mrs. TllIon, saying 1t was
wicked lie that she was earned screaming from
her bed 10 Tllton's, she accounted for BY saying
that Mrs. Tilton demanded 1t OF her. Her present
testimony omls The screaming.
Consequently, yesteraay's cross-examinatlon
leaves MISS Turner'S testimony In stdtu Q,so.
Those who espouse the Plaintiffs cause say that
Bessie has snnihilated what she solemnly related
IN the first place, and prepared different story
containing the same charges against Tllton
while under the tuition OF Mrs. Morse
and others who have resided with
her at a Brooklyn boarding bou'e. These partl-
sans OF Tlton point TO tse recrlessness OF young
girl relating two wholly different stories under
different kinds OF necessity about matter 30 i'm
portant TO eyery maden's good name and mod
esty.
on the other hand, Mr.. Beecher's fricpcs are
delighted with Bessie Turner's testimony. They
say when she appeared before the church commit
tee she had little or no notification OF what she
was to appear for and tod her tale a. 1t occurred
10 her at the moment, ana tina; II she subsequently
refreshed her memory. and has carefully
omitted her original mistakes. IL all goes
20 prove her mgenuousness. They also say
that the TACT OF ner Willingness to appear
for Mrs. Tton, ner beneiactress at the risk to her
woman's future which sucn an unwh olesome mar
rative may have, Is proof OF her sincere lnten-
lions to be grateful and just.
Bessie Turner's intelligence, promptness and
smartness had TO be dnitted by both Sides or
course there was nothing more remarkable ABOUT
her style and grade OF mind than has appeared In
witnesses OF the second class generally. for ever
since IL became apparent that there would be q
suit in court Bessie Turner has had nothing to do
but to get ready Tor the stand. Yet almost every
man inclined TO DOUBT her narrative must hesi-
tate wbcn be CONSIDERS that, as a poor girl with
nothing to lose but her modesty and reputation,
she has put herself On record to sucn testimony at
the threshold OF her wOman's career.
Nothing was shown yesterday as 10 who sent
Jessie Turner to school. Letters were read from
Tltsn " herself. giving her encouragement. ad-