Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-24
THE EEECHER TRIAL-ANDRESS OF
MR. EEI(U

Mr. Beach commenced Monday by apologizng
for having miscalled the characters of the jose
pins Story Jews. He then assailed the character
of Mr.. Tracy, and passed to defence and eulogy
of Mrs. Moulton. Mr.. Beach then proceeded to
the alleged d{t5i, which was the issue upon which
Mrs. Moulton's testimony rested. Mr.. Beach
made point Of the non-productiOn Of Mr.. Kin
sella as witness, although resident of Brook
Ign and strong partisan Of Mr. Beecher.
Mr.. Beach was interrupted in the middle Of his
reading Of DIR. Jayne's testimony by the hour Of
recess.
AT 0j Mr.. Beach resumed his consideration of
Mr. Jayne's testimony in support Of MIS-. Moul-
tons, and strongly maintained its creGlbility.
Furthermore, having been uncoptradicted by Mr..
Beecher it remained undisputed proof upon the
record. Here was another opportunity to call MI.
kinsela. Mrs. Moulton said that on the day it
occurred she communicated the story of the sui
eide interview to Jeremiah p. and George C..
Robinson. The latter was then and is still mem
Der Of Plymouth Church. Why, asked Mr.
Beach, was he not called to disprove this vital
portion OF her tcstimonyf If her story was fabri-
Gated, would she thus furnish to Mr.. Beecher the
surest means Of showing that she was perjurer 7
Mrs. Moulton had right to appeal to the jury
for protection. The speaker knew the influences
that surrounded some Of the jury, but they were
such as should have no place in the hearts of hon
est men.
Mr.. Beach then passed to a consideration Of Mr..
Tilton's testimony lie said that he had made CO
would not use them. The aspersions upon Tilton'
character were Undeseryed. lie a Unitarian
| in faith was not free lover, and had given no
grounds for being called an egoist. If he be-
lieyed that his wife was not intrinsically impure,
it was much his duty to forgive her as though
her ruin had been accomplished by violence.
| When Mr.. Beecher pleaded Tllton's condonaton
of ms wifc's fault, he confessed his crime. In an
swer to the argument that Tilton all along charged
Beecher with nothing more than improper solicit
tatons, Mr.. Beach argued that whenever brought
to the point, Tilton always refused to deny that
| there was more than this.
| Here Mr.. Beach parted with the direct evil
dence In rapid order he took up Tilton's open
defiance in Plymouth Church Of investigation,
and Beecher's refusal to meet the issue the Mrs.
| Hooker episode as related by TIton and uncon-
| tradicted by Beechcr, and Mrs Bradshaw's appeal
| to Beecher 10 clear himself of Ttons charge, and
| his eyasive answer All three he said, were con-
sstent with undue solicitations but if the jury be-
lieyed Beocber guilty Of that, they must disbe-
| leve his entire story. Beecher's offer to step
down and out at Iiltons request, and the letter Of
resignation he had prepared, were the clearcst
| kind Of confession Of guilt. There was no talk
| then Of stripping for contest II being now 4
| O'Clock, Mr.. Beach sat down, Juryman Hull, here
arose and made a speech denunciatory of Mr..
Beach's course in insulating that the jury had
| been approached.