The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-02
THE GREAT SCANDAL
Opening Of the Fifth
Week in the Case.
TILTON ALLOWED TO TESTIFY.
The Story Of the Plaintiff
Under Oath.
BEECHERS OPINION OF IT.
"a Shiny, Slippery Series of
Lies"
A DRAMATIC SCENE.
The Contestants Face to Face
The Story Of the Plaintiff
Under Oath.
BEECHERS OPINION OF IT.
"a Shiny, Slippery Series of
Lies"
A DRAMATIC SCENE.
The Contestants Face to Face
All Day.

AL lay
Yesterday was another field day In the Brook
Ign Court House. Mr.. Theodore Tllton was ruled
admissible as witness by Judge Nelson, with
some limitations, and he took the chair and kept
1t all day, gazed a. by crowded house. HIS VIE
was present among several lady companions. and
heard every word OF his testimony with silent ana
scarcely modified attention. q little saddened and
retiring but on the whole right srurdily and
bravely. She had an extra feather IN her hat, was
yelled most OF the time, and by the promptness
with which she attended both sessions, morning
and afternoon, showed her determination and In
cent.
The audience was probably greater than on any
prior day, and the corridors and stairways, lob
bies and pavements outside were crowded with
people. The Bar and clergy also attended. Rev.
DR.. Buckley and Rev. DR.. Anderson were present.
Porter and Evarts came to court together In a
cab. Many Brooklyn Aldermen, politicians and
leaders OF the Bar we're present.
Although MT. Tilton was allowed to testify, and
ne told fearful story with descriptive ability and
consecutiveness, and although his opponent and
his wife were before him, placing in dramatic
proximity the whole coterie, with Plymouth
church IN goodly force to hold up the PASTORS
cause. still the day was q sad. monotonous and
hardly progressive one.
The probable reason was that Mr.. Tilton merely
repeated the story as told so instructlveiy and
candidly by Frank Moulton, and because such
story. falling from his llps the husband OF the
woman he still professed to love, carried sensa-
ton OF pain and repulsion to the great bulk Of
humane auditors. Tho jury seemed Disconnected;
the plaintiffs counsel we're little ON the ragged
edge; the defendant and Mrs. Tilton heard Inc re-
atlon with less emotion than the narrator, while
behaving with courtesy, and. on the whole, far
more at ease than Mr.. Tilton. It was . story
which o man could not rell with temperament OF
himself. nor without temperament make It ssduc.
tive.
The manner 9th witness was however, perfectly
natural to sucn q story. II was rs constrained, 90
modest and US low as confession itseL 1t was told
intelhgently, but so much intelligence ON such
personal theme was also hard 10 hear and bitter 70
relate. Language also had to be used painful to the
Bensibihties and the ear. AZ plaintiff forced to
make his case plausible. the witness was also
forced to strike himself through and through with
bis endeavor, and. when all was said, to DO srin ~
unfortunate the alleged injurers he strove
to implicate. Probably nothing has happened
Dn the trial to SO suddenly chsnge the ct.
mosphere and reverse the movement Of
the case. Up to this time the general movement
OF the trial had been fairly adaptable to the de-
signs Of the plaintiff Seeking to ngnt Moulton
nown. his tntrepidity and wit had established o
certain good nature In the auditorium and put
new personality and humanity into the case.
We saw something OF Horatlo In the mutual
riend, who had stayed so fast to the side OF the
melancholy Hamlet, whose revenge must strike
his kin II he crafty 1t at all. But such scene a.
that same Hamlet arraianing his mother was
to be performed by the plaintin-Tilton testify
ing against his wife. He could not do IL with
art ana be excussble. nor without art and be
heard with commiseration. Re, therefore COM
pounded intellgibiity with selfreduction. He
told tale and looked Its object and victim and
disturbed those who followed him unwtllingly.
Hereafter 1t will be better for p,aIntns divorce
Or scandal suits to Keep out Of the witness chair.
AS Iago made Othello CRY out with rage and pain
when he said:-"Would you the supervisor
grossly cape ons Behold her --n and to this
replied:- "I swear It's better to be much abused
than but to know't llttle.r So Mr.. Tlton
struck the tender bone ana quick nerve Of men
when he proceeded against his enemy. to her face,
through the honor Of his wife. To say that this
was the sentiment OF the audience was only to
consult Mr.. Tilton's adherents In the court room,
who generally admitted 1t.
TILroN IN TIE CHAIR
A man OF the appearance OF clergyman, with
head too perfect to be agreeable, its long animal
lace and proficient features, each feature de.
veloped to the full, without STINT making It In
some sort negative upon the fair rounded brain.
The physical nature OF the man seemed TO D,
exactng. as lis emotional nature was cold and dis
ciplined. CHANGING from rhe cold, tmpassive,
judicial face OF Tilton to the rudy skin. active
eyes and beaming nature Of has antagonist one
could see that either inieriority OF temperament
or suffering had robbed the one man OF the spark
that kindled recognition and made his mind at
tractive while the other. for all bis disagreeable
publicity, was stil radiating. warming, agree
able individuality. One desired, insensibly, that
N at bo md ma cbap ,a voioa
forth.
rlton's face was nearly two thirds Of bis mead.
M Beecher's head Is nearly as large above a.
below the eyebrowA Both we're long. haired men,
but Beecner's long hair had the fitness OF age ana
gave leonine, mar1e.like dress to his superb dome
oforain, while Tiltop's long hair had something Of
the anectation OF youth, and mis- head lacked the
carriage and nne cut OF the throat and neck seen
upon his opponent. Mr.. Tilion, without being
pallid has very little color or nush II Ii his ma
ture 10 grow coid slow and labored under feeling.
HIS woe-begone chops, indented cheeks. retiring
eye downcast and wavering moistenine OF the
hps, play OF the iull throat and nervous hands
gave all sense OF pity, much for the task hs
had to do as for the injuries he testified to.
The announcement that Mr.. Tllton could testify
rave relief a. wen as q solsmnity to the whole
aud1snce. The witness turned pale; the defend.
ant slightly nusned In coior. fixed mis- syss upon
one Of the windows and for some time Kept tnem
there, and the lawyers on both sides looked sci.
sntfhc and sxpeclant, as II there would presently
be surgery to 90.
The assent OF the Judge to Mr.. Titon rsstifyne
was rendered In his usual COOL sentcntious way.
a. soon ~ the court opened. His decision, al.
snough excepted to by the defence was 20 far &C.
duissced In that the lawyers on that side merely
requested the Judge 10 instruct witness in the
extent to which he SHOULD sppy It.
A spectacle OF the extreme public misery of
society through domestic contention, incompst.
ibility or error yesterdays scene viii match any.
shing In morals or pnsnonens. A husband, worn
and haGgayd, bus rssoiate ana rstaliatoey. 1as