The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-30
MIR. BEECHER'S ALIBI.
lie Is Proved TO Have Been at Peekskill
When He Was Said To Be Con-
Tossing in Brooklyn.
TILTONS CHANGE OF BASE.
What He Stated Before the Church Ex-
aiming Committee.

The joyful spring weather OF yesterday dimin.
shed the attendance at the Brooklyn trial. There
was ample room and verge Tor everybody, and
some ingenious hand had cOntrived TO make the
ventilation almost perfect. The condition OF the
skies appears to have an influence on the attend
ance. In The desolate days OF winter the audi
ences were the largest Now that spring has
come and warm weather approaches the trial
loses Its stimulus. Nature becomes more potent
attraction. walk along Fulton street. Brook
lyn where the fashion and beauty or the city
stream up and down as long as the cheerful sun
light lasts is lar more exhllarating than even Judge
Fullerton's crosse EXAMINATION or q dislngenuouS
witness.
NOT AN EXCITING DAY,
but piece of evidence was Established that in
Importance transcends any the defence has as Yet
produced. 1t viii be remembered what a sensa-
ton the testimony OF Mrs. Moulton created. She
told in the hushed Stiffness of a crowded court
room story or thrilling interest. 1t was luently
narrated in good language anu with skillul infec-
ton OF the voice. she pictured Henry Ward
Beecher coming to her house June 2. 1873,
weary and worn out. How lie threw himself like
one tired of life on a convenient lounge; how the
great preacher spoke In the accents OF one
despairing OF salvation in this world or the next
how he confessed the crime with which he now
stands charged, aud how she advised him TO go
and make y clean breast OF it TO tue people OF
Ills church. Their conversation she stated lasted
Tor three hours and when 1t ceased and he iel of
to doze she covered him with an afghan. An
incident that followed The giving or this testi-
mony lent an additional interest. When the father
OF Mrs. Mouiton was proceeding from the court
room, ana while In the act OF stepping past Mr..
Beecner the latter stopped him 10 denOunce the
evidence that had been just gwen by his daughter,
and unheslatlngly pronounced 1t a lie. Rumors
followed that the defendant intended
TO PROVE AN AIlBI,
10 prove he could not have been at Mrs.
Moulton's house In Brooklyn June @ 1873, when
no was in PeeksEill. Yesterday the alibi
was established Turner, a gardener on Mr.
Beechers farm at Peekskil, swore to hav-
ing received telegram that day telling
him to meet Mr.. Beecher at the PeeKskI
depot with a horse and wagon. This evidence Of
ttsell would not stand, as the witness had not the
original telegram to show nor an entry of its re.
ceipt on That day. but two telegraph operators
testified, the one to the sending OF the message
and the other to the entry OF it on ledger under
the head OF June 2. 1873, message No. 8. mir. Kit
tredge. farmer OF Peelskili, swore lie saw Mr..
Beecher near his house on the same day, and q
Mr.. Putnam swore that he saw him on June 4,
1873, on the cars bound for New Haven.
MIS-. Mouton gave the ID OF June as the date OF
one visit IL Mr.. Beecher and the Attn OF June as
Me date OF the second. Here was evidence prov
Ing an alibi for both days. Beccher left Tor Peeks
Xiii on the "a Of June at an hour that forbid the
possibility OF his being at Mrs. Moulton's at the
time she stated. This abb evidence created
SOME CONSERVATION
u the camp OF the plaintiff. Mrs. Moulton ad.
hered infexiblv to her statement as to the date
Of June when Mr.. Beecher made to her the con.
!ession OF his guilt. Women's memories are said
to be exceedingly treacherous in the matter or
dates. The law can't help that. Dates prop half
the evidence OF the trial. Where they prove to be
surreptitious all the testimony built upon them
as ignomniouslY to the ground. To Mrs. Moul.
IONS testimony great value was attached, as 1t
affirmed direct confession from the lips O! the
defendant. 1t was naturally supposed that any.
hing so serious would not be offered without well
considered recollection as to the time OF Its occur
ence. The defence felt jubilant over it's victory
hough 1t is only. alter all, an outpost captured,
he citadel being sui strong and well defended.
The loriorn hope destined to storm and destroy
this must be led by Mr.. Beecher himself, to whom
all eyes now turn in the crisis OF the struggle.
OTHER TESTIMONY.
The testimony or Mr.. Wiuslow, eXDistrcs At.
torney or Brooklyn, ana that OF Horace b. Clafln
led up well In tue attack on several positions as.
sumed by the plantin. The showed that
while Mr.. Tilton decried an investigation by the
church committee Mr. Beecher was anxious that
1t should take place; the other witness made 1t
sppear that Tilton nourished the history OF the
scandal in te1ro1ean 10 compel Bowen to pay him
the money due him on his contracts The testimony
OF Mr.. S. V. White, while not materially valuable,
exhibits the plaindlf in TIE light Of querulous
complainer who Is forever whispering the story Of
his wrongs, yet declines to speak out boldly when
light IS sought Or and demanded. On the whole
the defence began the week wen and made "a
favorable Impression. "Walt Tor the Iebutting
testimony" said one OF the counsel tor the de.
fence ut recess; at VIII knock the case OF the de-
fence higher than Sam WilKeson ever dreamed
the Lille OF Christ would CO."
Moulton sat between Judge Morris and Tllton,
pulling the ends OF his nane-colored mustache,
and at times very lntenty observing the various
witnesses that assembled the stand. lie exchanged
an occasional remark with Mr.. Morris tnat must
nave been Intended Tor q Joke, Tor both, as Scrub
says, laughed consumedly"
THE EVIDENCE.
DAVID BOWS, sworn. stateu--l belong to the firm
OF David Dows Co. we have been III the prod.
uce business Tor the past Two years; Miss Bessie
the spring to the SUMMERS / have no memoran.
DUN OF the different times she was paid; my IAN.
think they lett on tho LIST OF May aud returned
about the l2tn OF June; the adies OF my family
that went with the party returned with them.
LAWYER WITNESS.
John Winslow, sworn, stated-I practise as q
lawyer IN New YorS; was formerly District At.
to1ney Tor Kings county; was a member oi The
Cburch investigating Committees; was present
at tue meeting when Mrs, Illion was PRESENT; 1t
TOOK place on the 5th OF Jaly, at AIR. Ovlngt0n's:
the committee Adjourned rom Mr. OviugtOn's TO
MI. Sorrs' and | believe Mr.. Tracy went with
tncm Mr.. Tracy was absent from Mrs. Ovington's
lor some minutes after the committee met; most
o1 the Questions put 10 Mrs. lilton were by mem.
6 6ers OF the comm,tee; was present when MI.
July, Ut MI. Storrs'; he first SAID he did not
!h'hK there was any necessity Tor The investga.
ton; he said his case against MIR. BeecGer was III
Wi WITH documents and papers, ! cannot
recall NJ this moment wat .dr. Tracy SAID;
Dot u woId was SAID ~ Mr.. 1lltou
ABOUT any verbal confession being made
10 nlu by Sir. Beecher; | had an
interview u iew days alter tAis meeting with
AR. Ilton u was the same day that tAe card rom
MI. lltoh appeared In he argus, accet ting Mr.
Beecaers challenge Tor an investigation inlo tho
Ease betWeea them by the chuIch: said 10 Mr.
lHtou. ''Ineucole, nave Just read your letter;n
he said he would IKE TO talk with me he SAID this
investigation was
ALL WRONG AND OUGHT NOT 10 pRocEED:
he SAID lie had Drawn up TWO or three reports
ana he wanted the committee to accept one OF
then when wop!d exoDerdte all three Beecher,
himself and Mrs. Tuton--auu then they might all