New-York tribune., 1875-01-15
MR. MOULTON'S MANNER.

Francis ID. MoultOn resumed the wltness-char
with the same briskness and self-conhdenee wmch
he bad displayed on the previous afternoon Inere
was less color in his face and hls demeanor was more
,olIected although he still lacked the art OF con-
sang ins efforts to appear at ease Self-consclons
sess is betrayed by hands, feet, and figure. de is
eopstaDtly changing his position, alternately pend
ing forward and Strengthening himself, his hands
rraying nervously from pocket to coat-iapei, anu
then toying with his hair mustache, hanoker-
chief watch-chain, or the arm OF tne
,hair His mild eyes are not quite 80
restless although a quick sidelong glance Is more
natural than a steady gaze. His dress mas con-
scions air of studied carelessness. His manner is
open and frank and his utterance Is always disnc'
although the tones are soft and measured some
,imes deoenerating into an etfeminate lisp. His
manner varies somewhat; at times be speaks
suickly with businesslike directness; then
again be weighs his words and replies cautiously
and carefully like a man feeling bis way over dan
eerous ground There is a painful lack of earnest
ness In the man. If his bearing does him no injustice
When the gravity of the issue is considered. his re-
plies To the most vital questions often seem hppant
lie asserts that the greatest preacher IN America
confessed adultery TO him, and his manner Is that OF
a hstIess gentleman giving ms verdict upon novel
brand of champagne. He talks and acts like man
who is slightly bored with the whole subject. his
moustache conceaing a sneer as If this scandal
tragedy after ALL to man of the world, is sort of
low comedy OF broad farce.
Inasmueh as Mr.. MOnltOns main office yesterday
was to identity the correspondence which had been
placed in his keeping his testimony was not, on the
whole so important as it was on the preceding day
The ordeal through which he passed was not so try
ing save at the close when foretaste of the man
II ~ hao
Quoted was afforded. He identified the various let
tiers which were handed to him with great
caution, reading them through and inspecting
the Endorsements with a business-hke air Wnen
the letter in which MT Beecher referred to him as
possible priest in a new sanctuary" was read. a
flushed face and downcast eyes betrayed bis annoy
ance. After recess there was a change IN his man.
ner-the words coming faster, and less hesitation
being manifested. Once he forgot himself He was
asked TO describe Mr. BeecheTs manner. and replied
with coarse sneer, "Oh, he wept as usual v
When be repeated his words to Mr. Beecher
IN reference to Mrs. Woodruff, that he thought
that she was amenable 10 moral influences
there was a nipple of amusement in the courtroom.
HIS advice 20 Mr.. BeeeheT not to notice the Wood
hull publication. as silence would kill that story"
repeated III harsh, grating tone and IN admit
ting that he had made false replies to several persons
denying that Mr.. Beecher was impure man, his
voice lost of strength and fullness In quoting
Mi. BeecheIs alleged remarks TO him involving the
disgrace of soliciting favOrs from a woman and be-
Ing rejected, as a man of the world he expressed
hIs approval OF the sentiment candidly and unre-
servedy that the spectators laughed heartily until
the Judge rebuked their indiscretiOn.
When copy of Mr.. Beecher's resignation, en-
bodied in a memorandum which Mr.. Moulton die
tated from memory 10 Mr.. TiltOn, introduced
the prosecution called upon the defense for the orig
mai. and Mr.. Evarts, irrtated by cx-Judge Fuller
tons remarks. drawled out q" We-have-nO-such-
paper Mr.. Evarts then permitted to ask Mr..
AoultOn a few questions As foretaste Of the rigor
with which the cTOss-examinatIOn will be
conducted. this perhaps the most
citing incident of the day. Mr.. MOulton
braced himself IN his seat and answered in high
key aud rapid manner. Mr.. Eyarts was not long
III ferreting out the fact that Mr. Beecher in
upper at the time, and that there
why Mr. MoultOn could not have gone up stairs and
procured the original instead of trusting to his
memory in the dictation Mr. MOuton was intensely
excited, but made a violent effort 10 control himself
aud TO meet Mr.. Eyartss searching eye without
fmchlug The questions came quick and fast, and
Mi Evarts showed that ne was master OF the art Of
eIOss-eXamnatIOn.