The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-17


his church and thar he left discretionary to the
officers thereof the question as to whether ne
should make IL public or not.
sHEARAAN WITTY.
Mr.. Sherman WAS Interrupted by Judge Full
lerton:-
1--WE are not DESTROYS to make that speech the
law OF the case"
Il don't think Il ever Will be-" said Mr.. Shear
man. sarcastically.
Mr.. Beach objected, and asked "What IL this
prosecution against Mr. Beecher {" 1t turns out
that an Infamous publication was made Imputing
70 MI: Beecher the very charge which We snege,
conversation with Mr.. Halliday, the assistant pas.
tor. Mr.. Beecher denied It. Counsel submitted
rules OF evidence and inadmissible.
Judge Nellson-Mr. shearman you can take the
Mr.. Evarts said the Court would please note
their exception.
Q, Mr.. Halliday. did you call meeting OF few
members OF Plymouth church At or about that
time A. did call meeting that very morning
or In the afternoon Of the day that the pastor
Q. Where was that meeting held ? A. 1t was
held IN the han OF the church.
few sir.
Q. Name them. A. There was George A. Bell,
Abram Hill, j. b. White and Deacon Hawkins.
Q. what was the subject OF discussion at the
meetings
Judge Nelson said he would take the testimony
II tins was regular meeting OF the church.
church, brought on through the publication Of the
Woodruff scandal.
OBJECTED to.
Mr.. Snearman said they desired to show the
action OF the church on tho question:. q Was 1t
not rule Of the churcn that three deacons of
Plymouth church or Of the Examining Committee
objected to ny MI. Norris
@ When was the meeting to which you refer
held A. IL was on Tuesday evening
Q. We're there as many as three members OF the
hAra
who were members eI Q0zcsO Of the Board OF Dea-
cons present; All the members OF the Examining
Committee are members OF the board; they were
me Court inquired Whether tue rules of the
present to call each meeting OF the church.
Mr.. Shearman said that deacons we're all men,
Snd they could At any time come together and
hold meeting which was IN accordance with the .
usage o. tine 0 many 6ess
not recorded In the business transactions OF the
church.
Mr. Evarts rose to explain what was legal in
matters appertaining to the United States In rec
ords, when Mr.. Beach hum0rously remarked that
OF the United States courts than he was with the
rules or Plymouth church.
Judge NeiIsop said he would like to see the
books Of the church recording these meetings
In the morning, and Mr.. Sherman SAID he would
produce The records.
Francis d. Moulton the wife OF Mr.. Moulton;
were you not intimately acquainted with her. and
Yes sir; but not intimately; saw her first in the
spring OF 1872 or late In tne autumn OF that years
saw her at her residence.
O. what was the object Of your can ? A. 1t was
simple pastoral call; make 500 every year.
A. Sa by her N
2 portrait OF Mr.. Beecher hanging on the wall
Q. Did she say anything Of him.
Objected to by Mr.. Beach.
Q. DID MRS; Moulton speak to yon on that occa-
o. well. on another occasion. DID you have
subsequent interview; state when ana where A.
Yes tine HSh Of M 1S
that il my impression; can tell how 1 know the
time Il you will permit me.
o. state what occurred between you and Mrs.
MOultOn at this interview.
Objected TO.
q. Who received you at the door, A. Mrs. Moul-
ton received me.
Q. What did you say to her?
Q. Did Mrs. Moulton say to you that she didn't
ness A. said to her, What does this Woodhull
story mean; how is It, Mrs. Mouton, that your
name ls connected with itfn she answered, II
don't Know what right Mrs. Woodruff mad to use
my name; had nothing TO do with ~" then there
SSIs @sfs HaaaS A0u'0h sAl0
MR. BEECHER Is MY PASTOR
and has been from cnidn0od snd they can say
my confidence in him;" regarded her as being in
earnest.
u. u
do you remember seeing Mrs. MOulton in attend
ancs on Plymouth CHURCH 7 A. Yes, sir; several
times since :he period Of my call | never saw her
at church unless she called around alter services
to the foot OF the pulpit stairs, and waited till Mr..
Beecher came and shook hands with her.
q. Did you shortly alter this meeting attend a
regular monthly meeting OF the Board OF Deacons?
! A. did; can't remember how many were pres
/ ent.
! Q. Was the question OF
THE POLICY To BE ADOPTED BY THE CHURCH
! entered mtoY
! objected to py Mr.. Fullerton.
Wltness-Tne regular meeting was gone through
/ with and Will appear on the record
Mr.. Beach interrupted the witness, objectng to
the defendant giving IN evidence any proceedings
bers, except such as were called attention to Dy
the plaintiff They might upon the West charges
but the action Of Plymouth church upon the gen
| eral subject OF the scandal Is inadmissibe. it
| would not be competent evidence, lis Honor
would admit, 10 give declarations OF Mr.. Beecher
! when Mr.. Tilton was not present They had only
TO do with the materially that the church had TO
do with the issue OF this case. on what principle
the acts OF the Officers and or
TIE USDERLINGS OF HIS CHURCH,
Mr. shearman SAID 1t was offensive, that word
''unde lings."
Mr.. Beach--Yes, underlings. l use the word In
no invldIous sense. Is 1t not compliment, an
the face of the earth ~ 1t Is monstrous propo-
slton that the action Of the church can DE given
Is TO oe the limit OF this inquiry II we to enter
into the action of this corporate body?
Committee Is not part OF the action of the church
Mr.. Beach asserted the contrary, inasmuch as
the church had adopted 1t.
MI. Eyarts said the matter lay in q nutshell.
The plaintiff had introduced evidence to AFFECT
Mr. Beecher. oy making his conduct the
principal issue determinabe on his conduct
during the series OF years following the
alleged act. They claim there Is evidence OF
guilt because OF the evidence OF suppression.
They mad the plaintiffs selection OF evidence to
snow this but they did not propose TO take the
steps that the plaintiff produced, but to show the
her
and their action IN adherlng to ms policy or
silence because no vindication OF Mr.. Beecner
was necessary.
Mr.. Beach said that the plaintiff had given no
evidence OF the action OF Plymouth church. They
had heard the West charges to Mr.. Beecher and
his reception OF them and the other side had
troduccd evidence OF the action or the church Tor
the purpose OF eireshnR the memory OF Mr.. West
on The subject. suppose they had proved the ac-
ton oil the Examining Committee On the West
charges would that entitle the defence TO
introduce evidence OF the action OF the
Church indenenlent OF Renchar,a