Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-26

known to Beecher, was q member of the
firm Of Woodruff & Robinson, one o.
the most prominent and respecta'
BILE firms In the city OF Brook.
lyn. Ehis firm, like many Others
which had dealings with the custom.
house, need man who could secure IA
vorable legislation, and could serve the
house to advantage in case of difficulty
with the government. Moulton was the
member of this firm who occupied this
position. To succeed in his work it was
necessary for him to have friends in high
places who found influence with the
newspaper press TlltOn, whom he had
known from boyhood, was such friend.
THE CASE AS IT WAS LEFT BY THE
PLAINTIFF.
New York Herald.
The trial so far has been one of con-
stant surprises. The dispute about the
Judge who should preside foreshadOwed
the bitter contest that was to follow, and
when the jury had been selected and the
first witness called the fight began.
Moulton's and TiltOn's examinations
extended over many days, and the line
of evidence embraced a wide field. Both
of these men gave asserted facts and en-
gagged in long debates about the princi-
Piles Of theology, the ethics of law, the
peculiarities OF literature, and they gave
their individual opinions about many
men and many things. Still, all through
the attenuated string of testimony there
ran steady current of assertion that
the plaintiff had suffered grievous inju-
ry from the defendant. But this did not
give the public sufficient ground to form
a settled opinion, and it was only when
new witnesses appeared that the trial
took familiar form and scope. During the
past week direct assertion of alleged
facts has taken the place of the mysti-
tying evidence given during the
first six weeks Of the proceedings, and
we are now getting something more
than the generalities that characterized
SO much of that which went before.
This is the state OF the case at the pres
ent moment, but it will not astonish
any one if new surprises are to come.
Ouly one side of the story is being re-
lated so far, and though that version is
a dark and grievOus one, all careful
minds will wait, as the jury must, until
the defense speaks. The most remarka.
BILE part of this trial is found, however,
in the extraordinary developments being
made regarding the habits and actions
Of the principal actors in the scandal.
We find that man who had for many
years occupied the position of a moral
teacher and counsellor of others was
himself accustomed to take counsel of
those who proved to be weak and I'M
fitted to give it. We see him relying
upon men confessedly his mental in
feriors in the hour of tribulalion and
dan ger, aud placing more confidence in
the temporary shifts and schemes OF
these unstable men than in the right
eOusness of his cause and the purity of
his life. Instead of confronting the
scandal in bold and defiant manner,
such as we would expect from preacher
of the gospel, we learned that he moved
heaven and earth to smother the vile
thing, even taking his accusers into his
embrace, and giving money in hopes
that the skeleton might thereby be hid
den ought OF sight. He appears to have
avoided those who believed in him and
relied upon those who ale now seeking
to destroy him. A more astonishing
revelation has never beer made. Even
while he was running after his so-called
friend he was giving range to calumny,
for we are told that officers of his church
began to think that he had committed
theft. 1t is sickening revelation, and
it is painful to find a man possessing
genius and a high order of intellect so
feebly fighting for his reputation. Then,
again, the trial has been source OF still
more wonderment. Ii the stories that
have been told in court are true, the
condition and phase of society ia which
these people lived and had their being
is not only remarkable, but it is posi-
lively incredible. The looseness of reli.
giOus doctrine, avOwed or asserted, the
warped views of the common duties of
life, the eheartburning and hatred, the fool
ish mental jealousy and bitter envy, the
shallow quarrels and disputes, all go to
make up chapter that is all the more
distressing bccause it is not all fiction.
The actors seem to have lived unreal
lives, and conducted themselves in a
way before unknown in civilized and
ristian'communities. Men and women
of all grades of feeling and sentiment
have communed with each other, and
unsettled their own moral convictions
by the contact. Women of very ques-
tionable character have been taken by
husbands into the sacred precincts OF
their domestic homes and the pure pres
ence of their wives. These women have
been cajoled and threatened by turns,
and weapons have been placed in their
hands wherewith they might stab and
wound those who gave them. Secrets
have been confessed TO people wholly
untitled to have cogniZance of them,
and counsel has been asked of dema-
gogues and visionary people, who had no
c common sympathy or bond with those
seeking such advice. Letters have been
written and expressions used never be-
fore dreamed of, SO that the literature of
this case has become unique and sensa-
tiOnal in the extreme. Violent friendship
has been expressed one day, and fierce
denunciation uttered the next; forgive
ness has been granted and peace declared
only TO be taken back and broken.
Language has been used in these letters
that appears childish and wicked.
Words Of love the most extravagant
have been uttered, humility and contri-
ton has been confessed, paradOxes of
the most extraordinary nature have
been asserted; in fact, the drGrldtiS per-
SOR0 in this wonderful drama of real life
seemed 10 be modelled after fashion
peculiarly and exclusively their own.
Nothing like it was ever known before,
aud the revelations thus made sicken
the heart and bewilder the mind of or
dinary men. No matter what the re-
suit of the present trial may be, the
written thoughts of the principal per-
sOnages will remain ineXplicable and
astounding. The guilt or innocence OF
the defendant stands wholly apart and
distinct when these letters are consid-
cred. That sane men or women could
write as these people seem to do is
scarcely credible, yet such appears to be
the fact, and as the record Of human
thought and belief they will long be
considered as something quite out of the
ordinary run Of such literature. From
these letters we learn that heathens
gave advice to christians and religious
writers used expressions savoring more
OF slang and impiety than of culture and
divine belief. Women make Of priest
living god whom they worship and
bow down before. Men give utterance
TO language which, il made the rule
of ordinary conduct, would unset
tie the sacred ties of marriage
and unhinge the mainsprings of
society. Things OF divine origin
and tenor are made subjects of
commercial speculation, and the great
moral truths are traded upon as one
would deal In the necessities OF luxuries
OF life. Hyperbole OF the most extrava-
CANT form pervades these letters, and