The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-05
The Tilton. Beecher Trial.
New YoRK, June 4.


city court room this morning. Mr.. Evarts
arose and continued his address TO the jury
for the defense in the Tllton. Beeeher case.
He began by referring to the letter known
as the Catharine Gaunt letter, written by
Mrs. Tilton to her husband on the 2Sth of
June, 1872. which he stated furnished
complete refutatlon of the pretense that
this woman had committed adultery. Mr..
Evarts then read the letter in question to
the jury, in which Mrs. Tilton said that
her eyes had been opened for the first time
to a CONSCIOUSNESS OF her sin by reading
this book, and stating that she blessed God
for such character as Griffith Gaunt. 1t
was only when Mrs. Tilton read Catharine
Gaunt's life, said Mr.. Evalts, in this book
of fiction, when she read of pretended re-
laiion between a clergyman and woman
which did not exist in reality, the jury
might see how this work of fiction, had
played at the heart Of Mrs. Tilton, and she
the conduct of her husband, and she
thought she was responsible for the appe-
tites and indulgences Of her husband. The
first two sentences of the book written by
Mr. Reade showed the Jury what the feel
ing was which was engendered in the wife.
The husband says in it, "Once for ALL that
priest shall not darkcn my doors again."
and the woman replies, ''They are
my doors, and that holy man shall
cross them as often az lie desires"
The jury could see from this the feelings
which were disturbing the peace of this
household. The husbond had no sympa-
thies with the Catholic piety and ortho-
doxy of the wife, and she set her religious
confession above her husband in regard
and esteem. This excited the Jealous feel
Dgs of the husband, and led to the dis
turbed condition of the household which
followed. Yet Mr. Tilton did not hesitate
to take the same passion to himself, even
though he chose this book for his wife to
read and take profit therefrom. The jury
saw now, as in mirror, the heart and life
of this woman, Mrs. Titon, and the hus-
bands knowledge of it, This letter had
been mutilated when published. Parts of
it had been left out, and their places sup
piled by an asterlx in print. 1t was bad
enough to publish them, but infinitely
worse to suppress portions of the letter. 1t
was undoubtedly very hard that Beecher
should be judged by this letter, in which
he had no act. and took no part. He then
read the letter in which Mrs. Tilton said she
hoped Tilton would never be misled by a
woman as she had been by a man. Now,
said counsel, we drew from Tilton on the
stand that this woman, Catherine Gaunt,
was a pure woman, and had not been
guilty of any offense, and yet he CTilton)
published this letter to show that this
novel had opened to her the state of carnal
pollution she was in, and which she had
not seen before. Mr.. Evarts then read the
letter written by Mrs. Tilton TO Beecher,
March 8, 1871, in which she stated that the
bird was singing in her heart, and asking
him if his heart bounded towards all as it
used This woman, said counsel, was suf-
fering from her feelings at the accusation
she had made against Beecher, and made
efforts to restore everything as it was, and
everything had then been restored and her
heart was lghtened. The errors and mis-
takes on all sides had been corrected, and
this poor lady, assuming that openness of
| character was the best method, wrote a
| letter to Beecher.
| Evarts next took the 'nest-hiding" let
ter, and said the lmpure construction put
upon it was monstrous. You have all
heard, he said, of the symbol OF devotion
and self-sacriice by which wounded
mother bird, while her life is ebbing, COW
ers her brood from the pursuing fowler,
aud smothers her dying groans lest she
should betray them. That is the weapon
used by pious mother. Recurring to the
interview that Mr.. Moulton had with Mr..
Beecher the day after the letter of retrac-
ton was written, he discussed at great
length the version of the interview as given
| W HAis bOSShti, w WIN ms az
count of The preparation of the
letter of contrition. In this strong,
contirmatory light, he contended
was thrown on the relations of Mr.. Tiltor
and Mr.. Beecher, as described by the lat
ter, by the evidence of Mr.. Wllkeson. He
described Mr.. Tilton strolling into Wilke
sons office, and showing the Golden Age
article. and declaring that he would pub
lish the article unless justice was done tC
him In the matter of the 81, 900 Bowen diff
fculty, and said he cared not what mis-
chief resulted TO others so long as he tri
umphed. Mr.. rilton had not, he said con
tradicted any of that conversation with Mr.
Wilkeson he had not attempted to do so
When this stage of the argument had beer
discussed, the court was adjourned for re
cess.
After recess, the court stated that Mr.
Beach had sent word he was quite i'll, ant
probably should not be able to return thi
afternoon, but that he was perfectly will
ling that Evarts should proceed in his alb
sence. Evarts accordingly proceeded Il
discuss the letter of contrition. Mr.. Beacl
entered before O'Clock, and it was eviden
he was suffering from severe indispositiol
Mr.. Evarts said that it was sought t.
represent that certain written statement
attributed to Mr.. Beecher were argument
alive confessions of guilt, but that legal
nothing of the kind could be convictIn
evidence in case of this character. The
could be regarded as evidence against tn