Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-02-22
Reading Matter on Every Page.
Largest Circulation in the District
The Late Features of the Beecher
TriRI-The Result Thus Ear

The reserve which IS held by the greater
portion OF the daily press IN New York in re-
gard to the extraordinary trial OF the Rev
Mr.. BeecheT Is proper enough. or otherwise
the case would be pretty fully tried out OF
court; but, as the y. Y. HeTdEF of SATURDAY
remarks, there are phases OF the trial which
must provoke comment; for 10 is not merely
tTial-it is a revelation. As Mr.. TiltOa
sues Cor indemnity, which he will not accept
in money, and Mr.. BeecheT defends his Tepu
tation, there Is less danger from outside
comment interfering with a court of law.
The case for the prosecution has virtually
closed, and il appears 20 be admitted on every
hand that 10 Is a very strong one. The evil
dence Of Mrs. MOultOn is not only corrobora-
tive of her husbands testimony. but is cumu-
lative in the strongest possible degree. in
time, circumstance and place. in showing
the repeated confessions male To her by Mr..
Beecher of his guilt, and of her repeated al
vice to him TO free his mind and conscience
from il by an open confession to his church
This iady'S testimony reads like that of q
pure, careful, judiciouS woman, who prac-
tieed the prcceptS she taught. and left Mr..
Beecher'S church four years ago, as she testl-
fieS, when '.she lost her faith in human ma
ture' and cher faith in man" on his adlniS-
sion TO her Of his guilt. This witness, though
testifying under circumstances painful to
any modest woman, is about the only one
who comes OF the stand without being
Smirchcd. The witness who precesicd her
was Mrs. Tilton's brother, who testified
against his own sister. His testimony makes
one shudter, and the fact that ne was forced
TO testify shows the desperation with which
Mr.. TiltOn is fighting his case.
Mr.. BeCCheTs defence will ic awaited with
great interest. 1t is not probable that when
bsa faE he 10,
much 20 his general defence ma Re last sum
mer; but whether this is so or moi il is not
fair TO PREJUDICE the case even with the seem
iDgly overwhelming evidence rolled ND
against him. To those who have not read
the detailed testimony OF the prosecution the
following brief resume will give fair state
ment of it, Mr.. Tilton received from his
wife confession of crime. He kept this con-
fession several months, and then wrote a let
ter demanding the withdrawal of Mr. Beech
er from Brooklyn, and OF course the abandon
meDt of his Journal and church. Shortly
after he summoned Mr.. Beecher to his pres
ence and accused him Of crime. He aI-
dressed letter also to Mr.. Bowen. remind
ing him that he had accused Mr.. Bcecher of
other crimes. Under the pressure of this let
ter, and from other reasons which were, no
doubt, quite subordinate To il, Mr. Bowen
paid Mr.. Tilton a claim of seven thousand
dollars, and signed covenant with Mr.
Beccher and Mr.. TiltOn prOclaiming peace
This peace continued and Mr. TiltOn founded
newspaper. Mr.. Beecher, through Mr.
MoultOD, contributed five thousand dollars
To this project. The paper did not succeed.
and Mr.. TiltOn, driven TO the wall by his own
embarraSSments, by an unfortunate sympa-
thy with Mrs. WoOdhull's strange NAL fan
eies. and by the somewhat reckless rhetoric
of DIR. Bacon, turned on Mr.. Beechpr and
dragged him before the world as the destroy
er of his home, his influence and his fame
The reasons for this opinion are now at last
before the world. Mr.. Beecher stands charged
with adultery, perjury and falsehOoI, upon
the evidence of Mr.. Tilton, Mr.. MouIton and
the latter gentleman's wife. II is now for
Mr. BeeCher to disprove all Of these crimes.