The Republican journal., 1875-03-04
The Beecher Trial.

as Il Christian minister, MS laDOrS his great
effectiveness as a preacher Nc He then
gave a sketch of his acquaintance with
Tilton. He said
! want you 10 consider gentleman, that Mrs,
1lton is the true defendant in this case, she
whose lips are sealed in the matter. Theodore
lltons every wish was met by Mrs. Tiiton,
who dbl everything i'll her power to make him
happy. Religion in life was one of her greatest
cares and She was sOcitous that the husband
Of her was walking in the right path, but she
WAS blinded by tlattery Iilton refused to break
away from his associates and the companion
ship of those who Scotted at religion; and now
he would try 10 make us believe that she fell
into that pit which she was endeaN0rlng to draw
him away from.
He said that the charge in this case was adul-
terry and the burden Of giving the proof of it
lay with the prosecution. 1t was not for the
defendant to prove his innocence but for the
other side to prove his guilt. They knew how
difficult it was for any one charged with the
commission of this offence to prove his inno-
cence bv deny ing it on the witness stand. When
he is accused of this offence all he could do is
to give a denial of it and bring his previous
good character to bear upon it. These parties
had been acquainted for twenty wears, and dur
ing that time this lady was the wife of Eheo-
dore Hilton: she WAS a member of the church
and her husband and pastor up to four years
ago were the Warmestt friends. He visited their
house at MI. Iiton's request during that time,
and there was not the slightest evidence to show
that the defendant was guilty Of the offence i'm
puted to HIM. There was not the slightest evil
dence either to connect the offence with this
white soued woman" Of having criminal III
tercOurse with her pastor
The alleged confessions of Beecher he
said We're totally unreliable. coming from
those who were not entitled to be believed
and who had the strongest motive Tor fast
ening guilt upon Beecher
This plaintiff" resumed Gen'l Tracy, was
eonspirat0r With Henry {. Bowen against the
character OF Henry Ward Beecher If Henry
G. Bowen should declare his ignorance of the
letter demanding That Mr. Beecher should leave
his pulpit then | could not ask you to believe
The plaintif even against himself; but Mr..
Bowen had backed out early. lie did not want
to go any further in that path, and Tilton was
forced to seek another friend.
il was hardly necessary said counsel, that
he should devote much time TO describing
Francis ID. Mouton. They had seen him in
the courtroom for ten days and were liable to
form some opinion. lie was a man cold, fear
less, and calculating: one who calculated
10 deceive the very elect. He admitted that he
WIS heather. lie was the junior member of
one Of the largest commercial firms in this city
There Were interests in Albany and elsewhere
which called the attention Of this junior MEM
Der there and his partnership with this firm
ceased when his influence in these quarters
was destroyed. Moulton had access to the col
u.nnS Of the Republican organ controlled by
iilion IN $50. Mr. MOulton tells YOU that ht
became acquainted with Beechtr'S crime. and
obtained. his friendship after learning that he
had debaUchCd his Old friends WIFE There
never was il note written by Mr.. Moulton
which was not written with Mr.. Titons con
sent, and never was there a statement made by
Moulton which was not dictated by Mr.. Tilton.
Another thing they should bear in mind was
the letter Of August D, sent by MOulton to
Beecher II was copied in shorthand by Mr..
Hilton before it was sent. Yet Moulton tells
inI tl,n Il
ence in his possession, and Tilton admits that
he took shorthand notes Of most of them when
they were read to him.
This was the man who Mr.. Tilton chose fol
his friend and contidant to destroy sir. Beecher
They resorted to this SANDER; we have seen
how Mrs. Hilton WAS narrowed to make this
accusation against her pastor, and this sugges
ton was made by the Devil. Moulton had gone
to Beecher's house and asked him to come tC
his house and hold an interview with Mr. Til
ton. On The way he inquired the object of the
lnterVleW, and MOultOn said Tilton would tel
HIM. Mouton on the way pro1fered his friend
snip TO Beccher, and introduced this man whom
he accuses Of adultery to his wife, and took him
up 10 that Wlte'S bedroom. That wife sympa-
thlZed with the adulterer, and on one occasion
even kissed him on the forehead. When Mr.
beechrl was init oduped i'm tha house want to
call your attention to what Tilton did. lie salC
10 Beecher, Il suppose you received my letter.
ana on Beecilers reply that he had. Tilton said
Wei, want You to consider this letter never
written" Beecher interrupted him, and askel
what 1t was Bowen had been saying about him
and Illton left the story of his wrongs and di
crossed 10 tell Beecher of the Bowen stories
All of this story. said the counsel. since fb,
Time OF the church committee. has been incOn
sstent with the actions of the plaintiff TO sus
tain the charge Of adultery On that storm,
night of the interview i'll Moulton's house, the1
brought Beecher there to make their charg,
against him, and that charge was not to be adnl
terry. There Were no charges of adultery INIT
Mrs Tilton left her home at the instiqation q
Mrs. Morse and they found that Reecher wa.
in consultation with her. and Tilton was threat
ened with dismissal from the independent. an(
this plot he matched I'D with Henry q Rownn
He formed this conspiracy TO drive Reerher o,1t
Of BROOKLYN, and the only ouestion was 1,-la,
Francis D. Mouton entered if. If Theodore
1ilton was Il man of flesh and blood he conf,
not have carried this dread secret in his bosom
for six months without letting il ont. Refor4
this it was not adultery. but a Charge f maxine
improper proposals and advances to his Wifi
NEW YorK. rFp o9 Tho ono,,i,,rr o,Inaa
of GEN. Tracy confines 10 cccasinn oomn1o
Ne'7loh ,oiiiilltH