Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-03-04
The First witness Tor NJ. n.ecner.


Ire ffrss Witness for Hr. Beecher.
lFfysa ne NsU rc-k S,n
Judge Nelson's .avel struck only twic~ Cor
II O'Clock. hut he was accurate 10 \ sscood in
the point of time There was an Iastsat
silence, showing the extent of the cur iositv
as 20 who was going 90 be the nrst Witness
Tor the defence.
CA ne sts ID Deacon ovington in demeaaor
was dignifei, in dress he was neat aud sober,
and In spcS ch not very fluent His weakness
was Soon developed. He could not easily re-
call names, dates, or circumstances. Aftcr q
question involving definite recollection, hs
shut his eyes, was silent Tor a moment, and
member.
Mr.. hin put the question on the direct ex-
animation He f. alarge. fat. young lawyer,
with n capacious bald head and n bass Volce.
His task was n difficult AZ a croSs-examins-
o"n IN consequence OF the deacon's bal
memory upon points which he desired 90
bring out.
CRoss-ENANINFD M Mr.. FULLERTON.
The Deacon 10y this time was completely
muddled. To further questions as 10 where
one OF the Interviews with Mr.. Tracy hat
taken place he gave contradictory answers.
ard finally admitted that ~ was an indis met
I'm his memory. The spectators further coz
fused him by laughing, and the upshOt of ths
sS-eNaminatiOu was n cOmical exhibition
by thoroughly bewiidered witness tie
stuck through All his perpleNity, however. TO
the assertion that Mr.. Tracy ana Mrs Tiiton
had not had an interview alone in his hoass
but he could net give any clear reason Tor hlS
positivenesS.
FULLERTON DROPS ovINGroS.
Prom III " y HcrIf
Just AT three O'Clock, after Fullerton hsf
accumulated leading questions upOl OFiag-
ton until lac had extracted the important fact
that $50 had already been put in his hands
by Augustus Storrs, at whose house the
church committee met, he himself signing
the report eNoaerating Mr.. Beecher. This
money was 10 be used for the chillren ostea-
sibly, but Tilton himself had paid the school
bills, and Mrs. Ttlton had obtainei some OF
this money herself
The general effect Of the testimony Of
OvingiOn was regarded as less advantageous
TO the side which cited him than 10 the
plaintiff. This was, 10 a very great degree
owing TO Judge Fullerton's uuequallei cross
examining acumen and 90 the points IN his
possession derived from Tilton and judge
Morris, both OF whom, with Pryor, prompted
| frequently.
Mr.. Hill seemed DESTROYS 60 make a few
| points on the redirect and let Mr.. Ovington
| drop, as his good-natured, rather obtuse
method had been OF less advantage 20 the de-
fence than IL might have been with a moro
magnetic relation between counsel and man.
MARIA ~. ovINGToN.
Mrs. Ovington, wife OF the fiorid witness Of
the main part az the day, was a fat lady,
wearing great sealskln robe, black vel
vet hat and plain dress. She had a some
what dropsical look, and spoke with dim
Guilty and a rather embarrassed manner. She
met the Tiltons at their tin wedding, aud had
been very intimate since with Mrs. Tiltoa.
The Judge said that she might have a chair
on the floor IL she wished, without climbing
| TO the witness platform.
| Mr.. Evarts, who kept still almost all day,
| seemed disposed 10 initiate Judge Fullerton.
| who occasionally raps his associate, Morris.
Mr. Evarts was once as brusque with Mr..
| Hill.
The difficulty of getting testimony from
| Mrs. Ovington was her health and tempers-
4 ment. She said that Mrs. Tilton was "a
| beautiful Christian, !" and this called up Mr.
| Beach 20 strike IL out as mere generality.
Mr.. Beach, however, is generally courteous
| TO lady witnesses.
MRS. wooDHULL's CARD.
| Prom the " T. SuB,l
| Mrs. Victoria &. Woodruff has written a
card, in which She takes exception TO the re-
| port which appeared I'm several newspapers
| TO the jury in the Tilton-Beecher case that
| referred 10 her. AS printed, the reports ma 10
| Mr.. Tracy speak OF Mrs. wooihull as 1.-The
most notorious prostitute the world has ever
| known" In the speech as delivered Mr..
| Tracy described her a. 1.-THE most notorious
l preacher and practiser Of free love that the
\ world has ever known" and these last words
4 should have been printed instead Of the first
IL seems that Mr.. Tracy sent his speech or
parts OF 10 10 the Office OF the brooklyn Eagle,
| where IL was set in type before hand, with
| directions from Mr.. Tracy that other news
| papers should be furnished with advanced
| proofs. Mr.. Tracy afterward, In actually ad-
| dressing the jury, changed his mind as TO the
| words referring 10 Mrs. Woodhull, not deem
| ing IL prudent 60 employ his original phrase
| ology; but he failed 90 notify the Eagle OF
the change. and he is responsible for the un-
| UNSUITABLE attack ON Mrs. Woodruff, which
he thus sent out.