The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-04-02
THE BEECHER TRIAL.
The Defendant Testifes
Don't Like Swearing on the
Bible.
A Great Crowd Present.

New YORK, April 1.-The approach
to the Brooklyn city court room Wa:
filled this morning by jostling and
joval crowd, every one of whom seemed
10 BE- pushing and rushing with the sin.
gle purpose Of getting within the court
that they might hear the story Of the
scandal from the lips of Henry Ward
Bcecher, who it was announced would
surely take the stand this morning. The
officers had hard work to keep the crowd
from the entrance, that those holding
tickets Of admission might enter.
James Redpath was recalled by Mr..
Fullerton and further cross-eXamned
His testimony was uninpOrtant.
After Mr.. Rcdpath left the stand Mr.
Evarts rose and said,
Mr.. Beecher will You be sworn.
Mr.. Beecher rose and walked to the
stand and Swore with upltted hand, at
the same time stating he had conscien-
tiou~ Scruples against swearing on
the Bible. He testified as follows:
| was licensed to preach in 1886, and got
II chance in Lawrenceburg, small town
near Cincinnati; ! was next settled IN
Indianapolis where | went for eight
wears; since then ] have been in Brook
lyn a> pastor Of Plymouth Church; since
it, foundation | have been its only pas
tor; the church then did not number
twelve; the number of communlcants of
Plymouth Church now is about $500 or
5000; it has been 1000 for the last ten
wears: | have been connected with jour
nalism eyer since was in the pulpit; |
wa> on the New York Hdepe,idemt first,
and after 1870 took charge of the Chris
tin, UtioH; | became editor Of the Mds-
Dsnis,t in the lall of 1862, but was also
i contributor to that journal after my
connection with that paper had ceased;
in 1870 beca me editor Of the Christian
Union; | had also lrctured great deal;
| began in 1913 or 1919, and from that
time have been lecturing.
1 Have Delivered Many Political
Speeches
and been author of about fifteen books; /
was married in 1897; had been engaged
seven wears; ! was % when married; |
have four children BY this marriage; |
sent my wife all moneys, | never drew
my own salary but had checks made out
in her name: she was sound and efficient,
| think, far beyond any other person; |
first became acquainted with Henry c.
Bowen in lS47, he used 10 be- Il leading
man in church and was connected with
the independent; in his early years he
had part interest in the LdcpeHdeHt,
but i'm later wears ne became sole proprl.
ctor; for many years We worked together,
| saw him most every day and was intl-
mately acquainted with him and his fam
ilv; my business relation ceased with Mr..
Bowen in 1866; | formed the acqualnt-
auce of Mr.. Tilton when he was in the
employ of the New York OJSsrrer, where
he was short hand reporter; publisher
in New York procured him to report my
sermons for publication in book form;
| saw him wear or two before 1860,
when hc had left the Observer and gone
on the L,tcDsnd,nLwhere | saw him often
our personal relations on both sides were
very cordial h" was witty and amusing
in convcrsat on. but did not come into
what i called close personal reIatlo Ms
with him. but afterwards we were together
almost every day There was u propo-
sition to send me to Europe at his time;
| had Il contract with Bowen, which he
and arranged. Tilton WAS to continue
in the cditorship for one year in my
name; after that, if he conducted the pa
per suitably, he was to edit under his own
name This was inlS66. In 1860 there was
a question whether We i'll church should
contribute funds to the Board OF For
crgn Missions, and the debate was anima-
ted. The Board was pro-slavery. spoke,
So did Tllton; said that the society was in
harmony with slavery; about this time |
heard o. Tiltons growing rivalry Of me-
TiIton WAS then Il frequent visitor at my
house. but there came time when he
ceased his visits; Tllton was always do
tng me little kindnesses, and he had done
me great kindness in regard to my son
Henry.
At this point recess was taken.