Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-01-18
THE BROOKLYN SCANDAL.

ably satisfactory; ami signals, u Is to
be hoped, the end Of the er-parte state.
ments with which the community has
been tormented since the early summer.
What the public will be chiefly concern
ed about is the evidence that may be
elected under oath. The jury may dis.
agree. Or the final judgment of the court
may be postponed indefinitely. by the
introduction of strange points of law.
But when the evidence admitted is all
reported, there will be ample material
for reasonably settled conviction on
the whole matter
This is a civil suit. Theodore Tilton
sues Henry Ward Beeeher for damages
IN the sum of 100000, alleging that
Mr. Beecher has corrupted and seduced
his tlilton's) wife thus destroying his
home and causing him great grief and
injury. MIR. Tilton alleges that his ob.
ject in bringing the suit in this form is
not to obtain Mr. Beeeher's money,
which he will not under any circum-
stances accept, but to obtain a verdict
on the facts, and that he sues for DANA
ges only because there Is no other way
under the laws Of New York for him to
obtain judicial decision of the issue of
fact. Mr. Beecher. on his part. has
caused to be instituted criminal suit
against Mr.. 1'ilton for libel to the inju-
ry of his reputation, the penalty of which
is a term in the penitentiary.
There has been no little dexterous ef
fort on the part of the counsel for each
of the parties to bring to trial first the
case in which their client was defendant
When it appeared that the civil suit
would be first tried, MIR. Beecher's coun-
sci endeavored to compel Mr. Tilton to
furnish bill Of particulars, more spe-
cifc than his declaration upon which
suit was begun as to the times and plac.
es Of the offences alleged. Over this
question of requiring a bill of particu-
lars there has been u long controversy.
with appeals from one tribunal to aroth-
err, the circumstances Of which are not
now of interest to the general public.
The result Of it all was that, while il
was decided that a bill of particular,
might be required at the discretion Of
the court, the petition of the defendant
asking the court to require one was moi
granted. The case. therefore, comes t
trial in such shape that Mr.. 1'ilton may
introduce evidence to show that ADULTERY
was committed, without being restricted
to proof that it was committed at Ger
tain specified times and places. 1t i
difficult to see how any pertinent an,
legitimate testimony relative to the fac
of guilt is to be excluded now.
There has never been trial involvin!
the character of persons and fainilie
standing high in public favor which at
tracted the attention or excited the zen
eral interest that will wait upon the is
sue OF this one. The plaintiff and tn
defendant are widely known. The fam
OF the accused is exceptional lie ha
warm friends and very cordial enemies
Beyond these two and their immediate
connections the scandal has spread owe
a wide field of social corruption and dis
order. 1t is q chronicle which pure mel
and women may well desire to be excus
ed from; but at the same time it is
serious consideration whether it is eithe
wise or courageous to refuse to know tn
truth. and leave the subject to be mad
a jest Of by the thoughtless and the Ii
centious. The question is wehther it
! lessons shall be turned to account by tn
enemies Of social order and purity, O
whether the conservators of moralit
and decency shall sec to it that iustic
Is done, though the heavens fall. Ca
anything now work greater harm tina
! the suppression of the truth? The sin
pie worst known and understood in il
full proportions cannot do half the harl
that may be worked by indulgence
p devilish insinuations that cannot be d,
5 eisively refuted -BoStou Adrertiser.
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