The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-17
THE TlLTON- BEECHER TRIAL
What the jury Have to Ac-
cOlnplish.

done except for Beechers counsel, on one side, 10
whistle downm the calumny ana the SANDER,
which they will be sure TO argue have been most
cruelty ana unjus liz raised against their client;
while on the other side Tlltons coun-
sci will maintain that the DEFENDANTS
character is black night, and that
the evidence clearly ana undoubtedly points 10
his guilt. This is what counsel VIII do. Undoubt-
edly they will their best efforts for their
spective clients; aud when the last sentence OF
the summing upn has died away in the court
room the venerable aud respected Judge, who mas
shown so much good temper and discretion
throughout the whole OF this long and PAIN
full case, will address the Jury in those solemn
and welghty words which so well become mag
lstrate intrusted with one OF the most
important and gravest duties known 10
the law. Whatever may be the result or TINS pro-
tracted litigation, some OF the parties TO it can
claim that they have not been fully and completely
heard. It would De hard TO point out lawsuit in
which plaintin and defendant have had sucn
ample latitude TO prove every fact they deemed
10 be in their favor in this suit or Tilton
Beecher; and no doubt, It Will be universally con-
ceded that the rulings OF the learned Judge,
whether FOR the plaintiff or Tor the defendant, have
been dictated by
HIGHEST SENSE OF JUSTICE
and the strctest adherence to what he believed to
be the law. 1t is a grand sight to law fairy
and strictly administered. There was time, ana
that not long ago. in the city OF New YORK, when
certain members OF the Judiciary by their corrupt
and dlsgTaceiul practices, brought dishonor on
the Bench and shame on the country. But that
time IS gone. tempest OF popular indig-
nation has swept those dishonest magis-
trates out OF judicial existence, and now men
ike Judge Nelson preside over the courts Of law
10 save the state from wrong and the citizen from
u
tnis is something that people should rejoice
in. In the arm ana honest administration OF Law
is 10 be found the snrest guarantee for puolc nb-
erty and for private rights, and Messrs. hilton and
Y Beecher must each rejoice mat the cause is now
\ before tribunal IN wnlch they are certain 10 be
Y ialrly dealt with.
4 In every aspect this Tfton- Beecher case is most
4 remarkable. The gravity OF the charge winch SO
\ seriously affects the moral reputation OF a
who mas been regarded by has ioowers-and by
4 extraordinary preacher OF his peculiar school
that has ever appeared on the Continent
opnon merea me he pooal r6 ana ap SSc
\ TO nave done himself great injury by taxing up
Y strange doctrines ana 'lsmsn ana questions,
y wnen there was no good 10 be achieved by tao
4 marEyrdom which was sure 10 follow; ms peculiar
\ style OF writing, his sellesteem, his excessive
vanity. his assumed superiority over other men the
number anc variety OF tue witnesses, The contra
dictorr swearing, the absolute and downright
I perjury that has certainly been committed some
where, the long and spirited arguments Oh counsel
on large ana small points, the closeness with
both sides; above all, the length OF time
which the Allegation has extended-all these things
Beecher has parallel either IN this country
or Ia England IL stands alone ana un.
nom the law books. In all us elements
" remains unapproached by the records Ol any
court OF justice IN modern times aAd IN future
ages the historian ana the jurisconsult VIII won
DER now lt was possible that on charge oil such a
day. c. ABOUT nalf a Year ssoud have been Jsfsii
I mp ~ deciding Were the alleged quit lay It's
\ does not know when he San get out q ~ Tue
i laws delays are pr0verbaL, and the rltnn-
Beecher suit does not form an exception to tie
\ rue CONTRADICTORY SWEARING
in this case mas been frequently adyerted To- and
II forms notable feature Of this rial. question
mere arises as 10 what, under these circuiu-
stances, tie Jury wal do. Iney may be sorey
rests. In dincuty OF this nature tue tendency -
70 raise the questi oil credibly Of the witnesses
4 BeecEer has contradicted 1.ton ana TIlton has
\ cOntr2dicted Beecner. Mout0n has tod one story
and Beechcr has told another. Tracy has testl-
4 fled that he had SAID Ger ain thing aud 1llton
mas tested tEat Tracy haa said the very opposite.
\ Mrs. Moultun nas deposed that on the ~ Of Juae
\ Mr.. Beecner was az her house ana confessed 70
II her tue offenee or crime With which Mr.. Tlton
Il charges Nun. MT Deecner swcars positively tnat
he was n OF at Mrs. MoultOn's house on the day IN
question, that he wa. Lhat very cay up at MS
farm 81 Peekskill, aud that ne never On any occ2-
Y BY Mr. MOuton. Not only This. but Mr.. Bcechrr
u produces evidence TO show That Al tie time when
he was alleged 20 have been con lessIng HE alleged
I crime 60 Mrs. Mouton nc was seen on tue railway
train, WHILE on tue Other hand, witnesses are called
Il Tor tne paiuiin 10 reuut that statement AMI
prove that Mr. BeecAer was seen coming out 81
Mrs. MOuton's house ABOUT eleven O'Clock 90 the
morning OF June .. These are out lew specimens
N OF tue remarkable Contradictions that nave been
developed. What will tae jury say MGaf can they
say VIII they ask who i me liar-wno - tue
periurerg For. beyond a doubt, there has been de-
hberaie ana wiui perjury somewhere IN this case.
II Will be the solenn aud bouEden duty q the
rms il a matter they cannot snirk 1aey must
LOOK tue question straight aud fuil IN the face AMI
on their cOnsclencos ana oatns As men ana jurors,
decide the palnlui question:
VINO IS TIKI LIAR &"
Z "Wno has given aise testimony before usN The
good Of society aud preservation o. morals de-
mand that the POINT Snall be settled forever. anu
some determination arrived at which Will forever
sanelcn TINS nlueoss and disgusting scandal ol our
Law courts. Tne Judge wall assuredy do his duiy
b. fair and Impartial charge, and taen the re-
aud wish Or every honest man in the community
taat the jury, amid the mazes and mysteries Of
4 the case, amid the clouds ol false swearing snd
i contradictions, viii be enaDIed TO reach definite
conclusion. IL would be improper ~ anticipate
T the result That result can only De arrived AT BY
serious thought aud deliberate consideration, and,
II Judging irotn the attention the jury has paid -
4 tue case. one woald be inclined TO think that
result Will be reached But human appearances
are frequently deceptive, and the keenest cacula-
tons OF men are of.en At Iauit one caa ony nope
rHE TRIAL IN THE FUrUsE
! In years TO come, wncn all the actors IN the
Il great aud remarkable case " Triton vs.. .eecher
Y nave passed away-in times when tue walls 81 the
u court room IN winch me suit has been tired are
crumnlng into dust-lawyers will be hunting up
dusty volumes containing the report Of the trial.
citing some point 10 ~ - Illustrating case IN
I hand and telling the Judge wlat Judge Nelson
\ mad decided on this wonderful crtnt con. trial,
/ just a. lawyers today may be heard citing the
4 acts OF Edward III :, Elizabeth, William AID Mary
and OF the four &c rges
As we have said, tue Triton Beecher case - near
ing its end, anu when the end AZ reached IL 10 10
oe hoped that IL will be OF sach character as 10
render II Impossible Tor TINS great scandal ever
again TO bore tue public with lts disgusting and
painful details. Tue thing must be Killed aud
sluclened forever, and no" Is tue time to 40 u.