Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-04-21
TILT0N -BEEUHER.
Searching CrOss-Examination.

cross-eXamination, especially the last
two hours of it. 1t was the accusation
scene at the origin Of the Beecher-
ltltOn scandal that was first taken up
this morning on cross-eXaminaiiou by
Fullerton. The scene itself 80 often
depicted, was tolerahly interesting, but
yet ! could not help thinking to day
that it might have been more gran
dose. | had passed last night at the
Lyceum 1heater, where 1 had seen
Rstori play the leading part i'm Victor
Hugo's thrilling tragedy Of
"LUCREzIA BoRGIA,"
And then realized, while Watching
the procession OF incidents in the play
from the great accusation scene" ia
the first act 20 the murder scene which
closes the tragedy, that the Italiaus Of
the Borgia period had more dramatic
ways of accusation and revenge than
the Brooklynites of the present day.
Beecher and Fullerton began opera
tons this morning In very pleasant
way. Fullerton's questions came forth
easily, amiably ana iu melodious ac-
cents, and il seemed as though he
meant TO exercise all his ability to help
Beecher along iu the development Of
the truth and the facts. Beecher's an
swers were delivered with the utmost
promptitude aud precision, iu voice
whose melliilOus tones were varied to
suit the circumstances. The inter-
change between lawyer and witness
was often polemical in its nature, and
was an argument about facts rather
| than the evolution of evidence The
! questions were rapid aud HncisiVe
lfI 4.
| sive and copiOus. The spectators
alternately swung toward the assailant
and defender, each of whom was at
once courteous aud wary.
But the agreeable atmosphere of the
morning was completely changed dur
ing the afternoon, when
THE STORM OF NATION
RACED
With an intensity not heretofore ex-
perienced during the trial. In the
course of the day, Beecher went over
again and recounted once more all the
scenes, incidents, interviews and dia-
logues that occurred on the 3Oth and
3lst of December, and the 1st of Janu-
ary. We had the first interview with
Moulton, the accusation interview with
TiltOn, the retraction interview with
Mrs. Tilton, the pistol and contrition
interviews with Moulton the midnight
letter, and the letter of contrition il.
self.
1t was in regard to the origin. au.
thOrship, intent and application of thi.
letter of contrition that the great strug.
gle of the afternoon took place. The
contest of powers, forces and wits be
tween the two men was of the mos
energetic character, and it was only
the heavy display of police that pre-
vented expressions of triumph or sym
pathy at various moments. Mr.. Full
lertOn, who was in the best working
order, and thoroughly prepared for til,
ordeal of the day, pushed and crowded
the witness for two hours with all sorts
of interrogatories about the letter il
question. Mr.. Beecher at times
BECAME QUITE MAGNIFICENT.
His mind was in excellent order, hi,
resources We're under tolerable com
mand, his language was strong and
orderly, his voice was powerful ant
his emphasizing of various passages
produced a great effect. The scene
reached its highest color about the time
{ that Fullerton, after pressing Beeche
with many close questions in an eX
cited way, cried out: why did you
not tell Moulton to include in that let,
. ter something eXculpatory of your
self?" 1t was with immense powel
that Beecher exclaimed, as he RAISED
himself upon the chair, while his pro
portions swelled up: "How did
, know he didn't?n But before thii
notable passage of the trial had beer
got over, Beecher lowered our impres
sion of his selfpOssession and hirsutt
manhood by lingering away the mois
ture which was always settling in tn,
, corners of his eyes, the water in whicl
was abundant, though it did not coo
the heat on his flushed face.
: THERE WAS ANOTHER YIvACIoUs MO
, MENT
, Soon afterward, between Fullerton
and Beecher, when the former wa
e toying to force a direct answer to
question respecting Beecher's author
{ ship Of the letter Of COntritiOn. Boil
. parties were highly excited, and tn
I lawyer was very menacing while tn
! preacher was defiant and self-assert
t ing.
= When we reached the hour of ad
5 Ijournment, under the circumstances
= we had not yet got through with tn
20 letter of contrition, and Fullerton
q sharply remarked that he would hav
something more to say about it to
e morrow. Beecher descended from tn
a witness stand in a state of excite
ment, such as l have neve
l before seen him display, an,
! when the usual gIoup of friend
{ gathered around him he chatted will
/ unusual gravity, while his muscle
: were quivering and his voice hoarse
1t seemed, by part of this fore
= noon's work, that Fullerton was try
., ing to make apologetic ground for Til
=. toms troubles by showing that Eliza
= beth had really caused the origina
!, scandal by telling stories to her hus
q band about Beecher. He was helpel
d a good deal in this work by Beeche
e himself, who, after listening to the
C ! CHARGES ORIGINALLY MADE AGAINs
HIM
By Elizabeth, denied them fatty, sen
n tence 10y sentence, as they Were rea
y to him. Beecher also admitted freely
n as questions on the subject were ad
e dressed to him, that Tilton doubles
4 l.. - L. z