New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-28
A GREAT ORATORS POWER OVER HIS
HEARERS

for Mr. Beecher. William NJ. Evarts was begun yes
terday. The anxiety to hear the plea of the great
lawyer for the great preacher shown by the al
most unexamped pressure to get into the court
room which, early 1Ol2 o'clock, was filled with
spectators in every place where chair could be put.
At later hour q row of persons, who could not get
seats stood up along the walls. Outside Of the gal
lery doors, and the door leading to Chambers,
crowds gathered who stood on tp-toe and stretched
their necks, and pushed one another aside to get
a glimpse into the courtroom The efforts Of
some of those in the corridors to get within the
strictly guarded limits were amusing. One old gray
haired gentleman, accompanied by younger man,
endeavored in vain to move the memorable door
keeper of Chambers by entreaties. please, now"
he said, pleadingly, do let us in. Here only
just two of us-only two. We won't take up any
ROOM"
There were more ladies in the audience than have
been present any other day of the trial. They
cuped seats in every part of the room and at recess
half dozen of them secured possession, for hour,
of the vacated chairs of the jurymen.
All of the defendants counsel were present, while
only Mr. Beach and Mr. Morris appeared in court for
Mr. Tton. For the first time since the taking of
testimony was closed, Mr.. Moulton occupied his old
seat near Mr.. Tlton during the whole day.
Although the character of Mr.. Evartss address
was far from being denuncatory, yet the keen
thrusts, witty well argumentative, which he
occasionally gave the plaintiff and his friends, APP
peared to be more distasefu to both Mr.. TltOn and
Mr. Mouton, than the more violent invective OF
Judge Porter had been. Both of them turned red in
the face, and Mr. Moulton seemed to be angered
by a reference to Mrs. Moulton made by the orator.
Mr.. Beecher watched the speaker with thoughtful
looks. With lips slightly parted and one ear turned
partially toward the orator he seemed to catch not
only every word, but the significance of every in
donation and every shade of emphasis with the most
careful interest The jurymen appeared to feel that
their attention would have to be very close in order
to follow the argument of Mr.. Evarts, and not a
word seemed to escape their ears Both MI Beach
and Mr.. Tilton took notes very industriously
The attention of the audience was secured by the
first words that the orator spoke, and during the
whole day perfect silence reigned in the courtroom,
except when some humorous story, or witty remark,
set the auditors to laughing.
Mr. Evarts rose to begin his argument at almost
precisely IL o'clock His first words were clearly
audible in every part of the courtroom and the
noisy conversation in the audience was instantly
bushed and every one bent forward to look at the
orator. The orators voice during most OF the time
was pitched in clear, ringing tenor, only occa-
sionally dropping into a deep bass MIR. Evarts
speaks very deliberately with quiet but telling ges-
tures and incinations of the head His slender figure
hears some resemblance full-length portraits OF
Henry Clay. His face is thin and pale and his Tea
lures clear cut and classic. His bright blue-gray
ewes twinkle with merriment when he is telling q
humorous story but look hard and earnest when he
Is in the midst of serious argument lhe orator
address was sprnkled with witty sayings, and ne
freonently illustrated his arguments by anecdotes,
which set the audience laughing and gave the
court officers trouble to maintain quiet. Some
times Mr. Evarts laughed with the audience. Once
when an unusually humorous story had excited
noisy outbreak of merriment, Judge Nelson caused
everybody to smile, by rapping with his gavei ana
saving very gravely, I'VE must have silence L
have nv eye on several very respectable people VINO
are not conducting themselves properly. We must
have silence"
CHARACTER OF MIR. EvARTSS SUMMING UP.
The sentences of Mr.. Evarts yesterday were
ropnded ont with rhetorical precision and polish,
and he made frequent classical and historical REFER
ences and quotations The larger portion OF MS au
dress Yesterday was of a general and Introductory
character. He referred to the main features OF the
case the nature of the Offense charged, the enect
of the scandal on public morals ana Dehei'
and the character Of the accusers anu inc
accused He pictured seduction and adultery IN the
blacklist colors, and dwelt upon the Nervousness OF
the ofense with which Mr. Beecher was charged In
.s,ino that by law and justice it should be proved
with the utmost cearness in order to be established
Mr. T;lton,s conduct in continuing to live with his
wife for several years after the time OF the alegeo
adultery was strongly condemned. The nature and
history of the legal process for criminal converse
ton were explained at length, and the kind OF PROOF
required to establish it was explained. Inc amer
ence between the basis of this action IN England anu
in the United States was also set forth.
Finally near the close of the afternoon session MT
Evarts began to take up the testimony OF some OF
th. witnesses in detail. The evidence OF MI
Brasher one of the plaintiffs witnesses, VINO swore
that he had seen Mr. Beecher on MI llitons
stems at an early hour in the forenoon, was
first subjected to analysis. The IDEA that
because Mr. Beecher was seen stahalhg
nj Mr Tilton's door at o'clock o. m, waiting ior
the door to be opened. there was presumptve PROOF
of adultery, was ridiculed with o great deal OF
humor The evidence of Nh. Richards, the orother
of Mrs. Tilton, that he had seen Mr.. Beecher ana
Mr.. Tilton in Mr.. Tlton's parlOr, sitting close
torether, and that Mrs. TiltOn had started
confusedly away from Mr.. Beecher when her brother
entered the room was also considered. Mr' EVai'S
pointed out the alleged inconsistency between MI
Richards's cordial greeting to Mr.. Beecher ana MIS-
Tlton with the idea that what he had seen mao lou
him TO suspect his sister Of adultery.
In another part Of the address Mr. Richards wa
made the subject Of cuttingly sarcastic reference
Speaking Of Mr. Shearman's relations 70 inc CASE
Tia orator exclaimed: "He 10 ono who stcketh
closer than brother-if we can measure inc close
ness with which brother sticks by Joseph Acnafoss
adherence to his sister"
Mr. Iilton did not escape without SONIC severe cuts