Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-02-11
A S,ss.snl in. tip.

For tour weeks the suit Of Mr.. Tilton
against Mr.. Bcccher has been before the
courts Of Brooklyn. Several days We're
consumed by counsel in opening the case,
hut for eleven days Frank Moul'on, the
Mutual Fricnd," has been on the wit
ness stand. 1t is seldom that witness has
been subjected to the strain and pressure
that was applied to Mr. Moulton, and sci
dom has Il witness preserved his eQua-
;limity and coalness throughout such a
tr3 ing ordeal SO completely as he has
Lie has evidently decided that no taunis,
sncers, jibcs or sarcastic remarks should
provoke him to lose his presence ofmind
or destroy the well prepared story with
which lie had made the public so famil-
lar. He maintained his purpose with a
steauGastness that entities him to the
champions belt for model Witnesses And
what is the result Of the trial thus far? Ii
may be briefly summed up. First, elo-
quent counsels have aired their vocabula-
ries Of choice and expressive English; {;
second. Mr.. Moulton has testified that
Mr. Beechcr admitted to him the commits
sion of adultery with Mrs. Tilton; third
that Mr. Moulton, us the friend Of all par
ties, undertook to prevent this matter be-
ing made public: that he especially en-
deavored to keep Mr. Tilton quiet; and
that he (Moulton) deliberately lied t"
whoever questioned him upon the subject;
| fourth, Moulton received from Beecher
$500 during the period ofh protcsscd
friendship, portion Of wliich he expend
ell forthe education Of Bessie Turner, but
the greater part of which sum lie paid to
Mr.. Tilton for t e support vt the Golden
Age. 1t appears, also, that Gen. Butler
An additional letter Of Mr.. Beecher was
also put in evidence, claimed to tie the
original of letter lie w:ote to the officers
OF Plymouth Church, rendering his resig
nation as pastor at a time when the expos
ure of his offenscs seemed imminent. The
greater portion of the time consumed in
|
verifying and making part of the record
the various letters and documents which
he had previously published in connec
ton with his statement.
Mrs. Bradshaw, an intimate friend Of
all parties, testified that when the Tiltor
scandal was made known, she was most
anxious to dcnounce it as false, and wrote
to Mr.. Bcecher asking him to authorize
her to do so. To this Mr.. Beecher replied
The hest help you can give is to contin
ue to love and trust those whom you have
always trusted, and refuse to have any
hand in giving mischievous publicity tc
private affairs, even by allowing them tt
be discussed in your presence"
Mr.. West, the third witness, told how
he preferred charges against Mr.. Tiltor
for slandering his pastor, and in Il subse
quent interview with that gentleman, Mr.
Bcecher did all he could to induce wit
ness to let the matter drop. When he fl
nally expressed his determination to pusi
the case, Mr.. Beecher said: "lf you do it
sir, you will act contrary to my wishes
The prosecution then called Theodore
Tilton, the plaintiff, whereupon alcngth!
argument between counsel cnsued, as tt
his right to be examined as Il witness il
his own behalf At the close of the dis
cussion, the court reserved its decision
until Monday morning. 1t is deemed
highlo probable that Mr.. Tilton will b.
permitted to tell his own story, in whicl
case his examination will doubtless oc
cupy fully as much time rs did Mou
toms. How many other witnesses are t
be called for the prosecution is not ind
Gated by the proceedings thus far. Not
ing has been developed for the prosecu
tiOn additional to what has been mad
public in the statcmens Of TiltOn an
MOulton, andal that has been gained b
them is the placing Of those statement