The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-08
THE POPULAR VERDICT.

THE PULPIT AND BAR OF INDIANAPOLIS ON
THE BROOKLYN sCANDAL-FRoM NEW YORK
HERALD INTERVIEWS.
Early in June Mr.. j. w. Bingham, of this
city, interviewed leading ministers and law
yers here upon the Tlton-Beecher trial for
the New York Herald. but the interviews
were not published until Saturday, when
they appeared in connection with many
others throughout the country. Here is the
way such sentiment is reported under the
head ofIndiana:
THECLERGY.
The Rev. E. A. Bradley, rector of Christ's
Church, said he had no doubt of Beecher's
innocence. He considered his explanation
of his letters satisfactory. Hewould not,
however, like to be in his Shoes because of
the suspicion that would ever attach to his
name. The Rev. @. w. +. Birch, pastor of
the Third Presbyterian Church, said
that Beecher had mixed in bad COM
pany, and was culpable for that. AS
far as his examination had gone he had not
found enough to satisfy him that Beecher
was guilty of the crime imputed to him.
The pastor of Plymouth Congregational
Church, the Rev. o. S. Dean, thought that
Beecher had been guilty of indiscretions
and bad done some very foolish things, but
bis opinion had been from the first, and had
not been changed by the evidence, thag his
4
mai intimacy with Mrs. Tlton. The Rev
Henry Day. pastor OF the FiIst
Baptist Church, said he had a
very decided opinion in regard to
the case, but as he lived in a community
where Mr.. Beecher formerly preached. and
where he had many old friends, he did not
think it would be wise TO give it. He
thought the jury would disagree, with pre-
ponderance in Mr.. Beecher's favor in the
ratio of eight 20 four. The Rev. DR.: j. II:
Bayliss, of Trinity Methodist Episcopal
Church, said he would not wish to be quoted.
At the outset he had been interviewed. and
then said that it was bad for Beecber, but
that both sides should be heard. Where
there was such great outburst there must
be some guilt, but he was not prepared to
say just what the degree of guilt was.
TIE LAWYERS.
General Thomas M. Browne is well known
throughout the state for bis legal ability and
and is also prominent in politics, having
run against Hendricks for governor in the
last race. General Browne said that can
vassed by legal rules there was not much
doubt Of Beeeher's guilt. He had no doubt
what the verdict OF New York or Brook
lyn jury would be in such a case sitting in
the shadow of Plymouth Church, with the
] outside influence that would be brought to
& bear. ThesHon. S. E. Perkins, formerly a
Judge of the Supreme Court OF this state
and who now occupies a seat on the
bench of the Superior Court OF this
county, said that had the suit been between
4 ordinary persons Tilton would recover
As it was, Beecher's great reputation and
1Elton's loose character would help the
fGcmer out. The Hos. J. <. Mcdonald
UNITED States senator from this state, holds
a aoorrespondingly exalted position in the
/ legal profession. Senator Mcdonald said
that he considered the written evidence
was proof of the existence of a guilty love
between Beecher and Mrs. Tilten. He
thought there was no proof of an overt
| Sfimiaal act as no witsless h&d seen the ac-
eused IN fisgrante delictu. Mr.. w. r. Fish
back possesses an envi2ble reputation as
lawyer. and was at one time editor Of the
late .Ss Louis Democrat. He said
that the same amount of criminating evil
dence that there was against Beecher would
convicta man of ordinary standing in oui
Criminal Court, and the people would Snly
laugh if the same explanation was Offered
that Beecher had made. The Hon. A. G.
Porter. a distinguished member OF the bar,
and ga ex-Rnember Of congress, e5incidod
with the views of his partner. Mr.. FYshback.
] in regard to the criminativeness of the evil
dence. Beecler's explanation Of his letters
/ was a bar to his belief in his innocence.
/ ar. HI. w. Harrington an able lawyer, said
| he had looked upon Beecher as guilty ever
since the publicatiout OF the correspondence
between him and he: other parties con-
uested with the suil. They attempted to
yux Latin ambiguity upon the letters, but
tbst was "too thin," to use a common
phase, for belief.
Mr.. Edward +. Burke, of Cincinnati, pub
fishes q pathetic card in the ENQUIRER, in