The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-06-16

examination in reference to that letter.
The jury could see under what circum-
stances the Bacon letter was written. DR..
Bacon had given birth to all the epithets
used against Tilton on this trial. lie
called him
A KNAvE AND A DOG,
and instead Of being this he was acting
with magnaminity and generosity to.
wards l}eGCher us the lattCr's letters will
show. Could not BeGChQr have stated
then what he said before the Church
Committee. lie CTilton) was not knave
and dog aud you, DR.. bacon, are suffer.
ing from u misrepresentation. II he had
done so there would have been no Bacon
letter and no disturbance. All these
things arise from
COwARDICE OF BEECiEE.
Then followed the investigating commit
tee called by BeCchcr. Both TitOn and
MOulton worked to prevent amy exposure
Of the scandal to the public by this com.
mtteG. We come now to the Bowen let.
ter, which TiltOn testified was instigatcd
by story told him by Bowen, who urged
him to make n demand that Beecher
should leave the pulpit and Brooklyn,
and Bowen promised to support his de-
mand. We put Bowen on the stand with
this paper standing on record. Tilton de.
fed all contradiction, and Bowen was not
asked by the other side whether he was
not the author of the demand, and wheth.
cr he did not promise this demand, and
whether he did not promise friendship to
Beecher. This omission on the part Of
the defence was the highest testimonial
which could be given 10 TiltOn'SintCgrity.
There was not II single word Of di4crcdit
or denial on the part Of this evidence
given by IIecchCr, and it was part
Of the defence to put forth that
Henry Ward lIeechcr was too pure even
to be suspected Of sin.
Counsel then passed to the considera.
ton OF the tripartite covenant, and said
the part signed by Bowen was carefully
and cautiously drawn. When Tilton
contemplated any action lie was guided
by BecChCr, Moulton and Mrs MOulton
to avoid any exposure likely to follow.
The jury had seen how Moulton operated
and worked, supported by TiltOn, to keep
this matter quiet. Tilton was not aware
Of the appointment Of the investigating
committee until told Of 1t by his wife.
Was II n noble or Just measure to select
this committee from the members Of his
Church? Did not the committee know
that II was controversy between TiltOn
and Bcechcr for life or death?
THIS WAS A sTARCnAMnER INVESTIGATION
held with closed doors, and Tilton's wife
enticcd from home and taken before them,
duplicating her husband with charges,
which, II proved to betruc, rendered him
infamous; drawn away altogether from
her home, and now relying and living on
the charity dispensed by Plymouth
Church. Where were the several witness.
cs, Mrs. Bradshaw, Mrs. Morse and others,
whom the committee knew possessed Ger.
tain knowledge which would guide them
in their deliberations, mud why was no
attempt made to get them before this
COurt2 This committee served the pur.
pose for which II was called and rendered
Il verdict which was held up to the scorn
Of all the world.
COULD TiLrON III BLAMED
for standing up at once and defending
himself before this committee, his house.
hold disrupted, his wife fugitive from
her home, and he represented as n brute
in his family rclati0ns2 Was this man
to sit quiet, knowing the falscnCss Of the
accusations against him? What should
TiltOn do under the circumstances? The
jury could vindicatC the character Of
Theodore Tilton, but that would not
change his future; Triton would set
emerge from these shades 1t was the
merit Of great characters that they nj.
ways did and though his wife had Nban-
dOhch her home, and il was almost cheer
less, he would yet
REDEEM HIMSELF IN THE EYES OF THE
WORLD.
Counsel said, addressing the Court,
that Mr. Evntts had stated that II was
impossible for the jury TO convict on the
testimony OF the accusing party, but they
had the confession Of both parties, and
NIr. Beach Claiplcd that the full capacity
Of lIccchCr'S testimony warranted con.
viction from the jury.
Counsel quoted cases in support Of his
argument, and argued that Mr.. EvartS
wns In error when lIo Represented that
the force Of the evidence was restricted
by the rules Of the law governing criminal
trials, and counsel stated that under this
view he would proceed 10 discuss the Cvi.
dCncc.
At this point recess was taken.
AFTER RECESS
Mr.. reacl, resumed his argument and
cited decision Of Lord StOwcll in oppo.
silion to Evarts, that the evidence Of
guilt IN CnsO like this must exclude
reasonable doubt in order to Justify
verdict against the accused party. lie
then argued that the court should in.
struct the Jury that the theory Of law nd.
vnnccd by EvNrts was unsound aud crron.
cous. The charge in this case was
seduction and adultery, and the answer
To IL was blaCkmail and conspiracy. At
the first step that the jury took to invcs.
tigOtC these charges they we're confronted
by the figure Of Elizabeth Il. rilton.
Could they believe that Mrs. Tilton,
loving BecrhCr ns Becchcr had said he
believed shc did, and who with scandal.
Qua impudencc appeared in this court to
give him her support when the final
struggle between lover and husband came,
could they believe that shc was the zen.
trNl figure in n conspiracy against Mr..
l.cecher? Could they believe that this
woman, wife and mother, al the mere
bidding Of her husband had manufactured |
a false charge against her pastor which
involved her infamy2 This was one Of
these incredible positions which the
mind at once rejected, Then, however
low nny man might think Mr.. Til.
ton'a character to bc, could any man
believe hiS degradation to be SO great !