Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-04-14
The Ragged Edge Of Remorse," and
Other Letters.
From the Cincinnati Commercially


BROOKLYN, April THE most no.
table episode uf the day, which Uccu-
pied an hour, was Beecher's elaborate
explanation Of his letter to Moultnu
about 1.-The tormeuts of the damned y
aud 1.-The horror Of great darkness, "
aud "the sharp and ragged edge of r, e
morse" and stepping down aud
out" During his clucIdation Of the
passages and sentiments of this
BIG INDIAN LETTER,
Which elucidation differed in every
respect and particular from the thpO-
ries of the prosecution, Beecher was
under deep emotion, often breaking
forth in passionate utterance and
swaying In the chair while the foun-
taiu of tears was in frequent operation.
The moment that Beecher's eXamina-
ton about this letter was commenced
Moulton rose up in front OF Beecher,
moved along beside the counsel, made
his way among the reporters, marched
round the jury, strobe through the
crowd of spectators, got 10 a side door
blocked with people, squeezed through
them, aud disappeared from court, in a
very noticeable way.
The celebrated letter WAS read aloud
to Mr.. Beecher, clause by clause, and
he elucidated each of them, often de-
liveTing himself as though he were
engaged in sermoniziug. He had been
on the ragged ege, but his griefs came
from the everlasting resurrection of
Mr.. Tilton's troubles in one or another
form of aggrayation for he had an
unspeakable dread of "immoral inn
petuatiOn," as he was "A minister. lie
had been doing wrong in saying that
most of his time was spent in great
darkness, for he generally lived very near
to God. But he felt, in view of the
Tilton trouble. like crying out with
st. Paul, Z" could wish myself ac-
cursed from Christ for your sake; !" or,
With David about Absalom, Would
to God | could die for thee" In many
of these passages
BEECHER TREMBLED WITH EMOTION,
His face assumed its most sanguinary
color, and his eyes floated in lachrymal
supertluX. Now, sir" cried Evarts,
when he finally closed Beecher's ex-
animation about the letter, "was there
present when you wrote this letter any
thought of criminal connection with
Mis-. TiltOn?" mo, sir; no, sir; n o,
sir, :" replied Beecher, deeply, and then
again summed up his actual feelings.
Mr.. Beecher told to-day of the
scheme to get him to preside at the
Woodruff meeting, aud negatived
directly all the testimony of Tilton
and MOultOn on the subject. He mar
rated the attempts to induce Tilton to
return to Plymouth Church, and de-
MED positively all TiIton's testimony
on the subject, as it was read piece
meal false, never" did not -"
purely imaginative" "no sir nO.'
He began a description of the rail
road interview with Tilton, and denied
Tilton's testimony about it. His story
about
MoULTON's WAY OF RAISING MONEY
For Tilton was told in his livelest
style. He described his first menace from
Tilton and Moulton, who threatened
to publish the scandal. He knew but
little of the Tilton- Bowen arbitration,
the tripartite treaty, or the payment of
money by Bowen, but he told in that
little play he was merely an obedient
actor III matter managed by others.
Mr.. Beecher was examined about the
publication of the Woodruff scandal,
which he first heard of before its ap-
pearance, from q tall, thin, lank old
gentleman, sixty years old, who came
in great distress toisay that an awful
thing was about to lie published, and
whom Beecher subsequently suspected
to be blackmailer. After describing
his action regarding the original scan
dal Beecher denied positively each
item of the evidence of Tilton and
MOulton on the subject. Not soli~
tary word, suggestion or thought of
this matter is mine," said he, land it
is all absolute fiction.n
On other points regarding Woodruff
he gave pOint-blank denials to the evil
dence of the same parties. When
asked about
THE "TRUE STORY
Mr.. Beecher said he first heard it read
at meeting with Tilton and Moulton,
and proceeded to give vivid and pic
turesque sketch the interview I:
"TiltUn went on rcaling and reading,
while | got madder aud madder, and
finally said quietly, will not stand
it, upon which Tilton gathered HIM
self up, lion-like, and began TO storm
till NuultOn fell on Tilton, and the
lion ,.,.d d the tiger had fight between
them. lvrs.' After this and other
scenes uI Tie occasion had been graphi-
caliy described by Beecher, he solemn.
ly denied the truth of the various parts
of Tilton's testimony regarding the
interview, During the successive de-
NAL scenes in court Beecher seemed
sorely wearied out with denying the
sworn evidence of Tilton and Moulton.
Within the five days that he has occu-
pied the witness chair, he must have
positively denied nearly one hundred
of the most important allegations of
Tilton and Moulton concerning all the
leading points in dispute. Ordinary
peuurers may henceforth hide their
diminished heads.
Beecher mentioned numerous acts
to day which will be used by his
counsel in support of the theory of a
conspiracy and blackmail.
When Mr.. Beecher was questioned
about his letter of
ENTRAVAGANT FRIENDSHIP FOR
MOULToN,
lie replied: Moulton did seem to ne
to give new meaning TO friendship,
and" added Beecher sarcastically, -
think SO still.n Smiling. That part