Yankton daily press and Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1875, 1875-06-04

CIR. Why should he think Beecher
needed an escort at o'clock at night
to walk short distance in the order.
l.y and reputable city Of Brooklyn?
Beecher reached Tilton's house and
was shown up to the sick chamber ol
Mrs. Tilton. The nurse, Mrs. Mitch
ell, did not need to be asked to leave
the room Mhen the Clergyman came
at<an unaccustomed hour to talk with
a sick woman who was his parishion-
er. She left the room as any nurse
would have left it, or as any member
Eof the family would leave it under
such circumstances She,had no fear
that her patient would be umluly dis
turbed, for she was q religious women
herself and she did not dread any dan
ger from the words of man who
that peace which passeth all
understanding. Her confidence was
justified, for when Beecher left and
the nurse returned she found Mrs.
Tilton calm and tranquil. Nothing
had occurred in that interview to dis.
turb her conscience. She had repent
ed wrong and redresscd an evil
communication which was false. She
had obtained a sort Of restoration OF
herself in the good opinion Of that
good man. Well might she sleep
peacably that night by the side of her
nurse.
Evarts then read from Beeccher's
Testimony as to this interview with
Mrs. Tilton. In regard to the first
part Of this he said it showed Beecher
had better memory than Moulton, for
he remembered he knew woman
was sick. 1t indicated, also, in the
description of the careful arrange
ment Of the snow-whitc drapery Of
the couch at that hour of the night,
that Mrs. Tilton had been prepared
for this visit. He continuedby read
ing the testimony of Mr.. Beecher as
to his conversation with Mrs Tilton,
and the writing Of the retraction. He
said the jury had seen the letter writ.
ten by Mrs. Tilton-immediatelN after
the charge was made by Mr.. Tilton,
which showed conclusively that the
charge was one OF improper solicita-
tion. No stronger evidence could be
produced, exccps the magical restora-
ton Of the written accusation from
the flames, in order to refute the pres
ent pretention Of the plaintiff that it
was charge Of any thing else. This
letter was, put in evidence sby the
plaintiff, and stes was bouD4 BY its
natural Interpretation The accusa-
ton, therefore, stands upon his own
evidence. not only by itself, but as
extorted from his sick wife by inn
portunity.
Mr.. Evarts cited the case of an ac-
tion for divorce in New Jersey, in.
which it was ruled that written
confession Of adultery obtained from
s feeble wife, shown to bbe-weak and
yielding, by husband shown to be
Of a strong and energetic will, when
they were locked in a room together,
was not to be received as testimony
entitled to weight. He then quoted
other authority upon the value, as
evidence, of ofstatements obtained frow
wives under the coercion Of their h,as-.
bands. Mr.. E. said that the old com.
mon law rule inregard to the respon.s
sibility Of the husband for the wife,
was still held unchanged by law Is.
this country and in England.
Counsel then resumed considera.
tiohsof the occurrences on the night
Of December Both, and referred to
the otfefSQf Moulton to accompany
Beecher to>his home. Unless Aloul-
ton was acting on that night as the
retainer Of Tilton md was anxious
that Beecher shoGkf kfnot on thet night
at least, receive any athcr counsel, or
even any other heather friendship,
why should he offer to go with him
to his home? How did%Beechar
need his company?
Referring to the character Of Mrs.
Tilton, Evarts said her letters to her
husband showed her to be a woman of
genuine and humble piety, who be-
lieved in the realities OF religion, and
the divinity of that Saviour whom
her husbaad crucii1ed in a wicked let
ter Of scof aud scon; they showed
alteration for her husband; her hum
BILE submission to his will, and the
fact THAT she was willing to take up
on herself the blame of almost unut-
terable wickedness-of almost unut.
tcrable shame-in her anxiety to
save him from reproach. Now on
this night of Dec. 3Oth, Tilton went
home and found his wife, he. testified,
in great distress Of mind. She gave
him, he said, i'd consequence of this
mental distress, tho paper dated at
midnight, in which she said she had
copied . letter dictated By. Reecher
to be used by him for his vindication
against any aScuser other than her