New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-18
VEST VIRGINIA VIEW OF THE GREAT
TRIAL.

TIIroN's CASE REDUCED TO coMMoN-sENsE BASIS
HOW A VIRGINIA JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
WOULD HAVE DISPOSED on 1T.
70 the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: want to give the notions OF one living IN
the mountains of West Virginia about what Is called
the great trial now in progress in Brooklyn
have read your reports of the testimony and the
oratons of the attorneys 80 far and must say that
cannot SEQ why 20 much time has been spent unless
il he to display the talents Of the lawyers Oh each
side. 10
Had case sustained by such testimony been
brought before one of our hard headed. honest
hearted common sense Justices of the Peace it would
have been disposed of in few hours.
The Squire would have asked Mr. Tilton to state
his
Mr. Tllton would have replied las is the substance
of his testimony before the Court in Brooklyn)-Sr,
my wife, who is as pure rs an icicle Oh the temple
of Diana. and perfectly white-soued woman, lchle
in a trance, committed adultery with Henry Ward
Reecher an old gentleman of about go, nearly twice
her age. and lived with her four years after she
told me of it.
'Souirc-What is that you sayf "Awhite-sOuled
woman. as pure as an iccle, commit adultery in q
trance" And you want this Court to believe such
Internal nonsense No. Sir 1t amt done in that
way-it is contrary to human natuTe-and this Court
can't be imposed upon by any such baderdash.
Titon-lut Squire, this is not all After she told
me. politely invited Mr.. Beecher to my house, and
in the presence of my wife requested him to go into
a calculation to see whether the boy Ralph was my
son or Mr. Beecher's son. and Mr.. Beccher said he
could not tell, as he did not keep record of the
transaction.
Sauirc-Worse and worse. Who ever heard OF a
man. not downright natural-born fool that would
thus treat the scducer of his wifef 1t amt human
nature, savage or civilized to do so.
Tton-But, Squire, Mr.. Beecher told me that he
had committed adultery with another woman as well
as with my wife, and he told MOulton and his wife
that he had committed adultery with my wife, and
although il was done while my wife was in a trance
that he and she had afterward prayed that thcy
might be forgiven for it,
;S0uire-Well, Sir, should like to ask you one
question. Has Mr. Beecher any brains in his head
Titon-Oh yes. He is man of an immense guam
tity of brains of the great men OF this country
second only to myself. 49,
Sqnirc-And you say that he told you and Mouton
and his wife these things and you expect this Court
to believe that man with any brains in his head
would do so silly thing. say again it amt hu-
man nature and no amount of swearing can change
the opinion of this Court on that point. suppose
YOU were to swear that this white sheet of paper Is
black do you think that this Court would believe it
No. Sir! Not while it has any brains In its head
Now Sir, this Court regards yOur whole story as
silly lie, else the emanation OF crazed brain, ana
must dismiss your case. ,
This is the way the case would have been disposed
of here and the day will come when every honest
man who reflects on the subject VIII say IL ought
thus TO have been decided in Brooklyn long ago.
Berkeiey Springs, W. Va, June ID, 1873. D. d.