The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-19
SCANDAL LITERATURE.
r1LroN. BEECHER TRIAL.

TILTON. BEECHER TRIAL.
SCENE FIRST IN THE GREAT SCANDAL DRAMA
THE OPENING SPEECH OF MORRIs-How
IT WAS RECEIVED BY THE PARTIES CON-
CERNED.
A Brooklyn special to the Cincinnati Com
mercial, the 18th inst, gives the following
picture of the first days scene in the great
trial: The scenes i'm court to-day were at
once impressive and memorable. Nothing
could have been more dramatic than the
spectacle presented at the moment OF the
entrance OF Beecher and his wife at the hour
of opening this morning. The court hushed
and half dsrkened, the austere judge on the
| bench, the lawyers and reporters in their
places. Tilton and MoultOn seated in the
center of the hall. the spectators in anxious
expectation, suddenly every eye was
turned in one direction as the familiar
face of Beecher appeared at the door.
and followed him az he made his way
| through the crowd approaching the place
assigned him beside his counsel. de was
preceded by venerable lady with white
silken hair, the only person OF der sex per-
nitted in the court, and folio wed by one of
his sons. Mr.. Bsecher AID his wife took
their seats in front of tie bench, and at the
end OF the table, at tho other end of which
were Tilton and Moulton. The celebrated
| protagonists confronted each other,
and Beecher glanced at Tilton for
a moment, though / did not see that
thew looked one another full in the face. In
passing through the room Beecher bad ex-
changed salutaIiOus with several friends
who were present, and before sitting down
he shook hands with two or three of his law
yers and other acquaintances. Beecher's
complexion WAS fresh and ruddy, his ex-
preston was benlgnant, his appearance
majestic. He suggests more than ever the
word leOnine. He gave the impression Of a
grand old lion, venerable and gray haired,
with massive head and face, indicative oil
reposs and power. His wife, who sits by his
side, is
AN oLD-FAsHIoNED LADY OF SIXTY,
with a large, calm and winning face, look
ing exactly like that OF Martha Washington
according to the familiar picture of her taken
about that time of life. At the other end o.
the table Is Triton, with his stSlwart anC
handsome manhood, placid and self pos
sessed, while Moulton, who sits besides him
: looks excited and i'll at ease. Around on al
\ sides are the formidable array Of counsel, and
not less than seventy newspaper reporters
. The roomis crowded, though only those arr
: admitted who have cards from the judge
: All the p8Tties were on hand few minutes
! | before IL and promptly at the hour Judge
. Nelson announced the opening of court
: Further trouble about jurors had been an
O ticipate6, out fortunately both sides haG
: agreed 10 be satisfied with the selection tina
y was finally made last week. At l, therefore
!, Morris, of counsel for prosecution, begal
: the opening speech OF the trial. At first b
:. spoke 80 low as TO be- InaudiDle, but sOOl
= he showed that his voice was sufficient 70
- all declamatory purposes. In opening b
y referred to the greatness of this extra
= ordinary case, then described tn
;, exceptional character and position of tn
- parties involved in ii, and next pictured th
u fearful nature of the defendants offense. II
II. hot moi M orrry
70 prove the direct act o. adultery, but that tn
20 | offense might be inferred from circun
~ stances, and that circumstantial evidence
~ most satisfactory in such a case as this. Il
n proceeded at great length to outline an
;; comment upon the evidence with which IL
~ public are already familiar, going ovt
~ ~ Beecher's letters, Mrs. Tilton's papers, an
y, the other material
al ESIPHAsIZING CERTAIN PASSAGES,
and giving them such meanings as I've
confirmatory of his argument. In this VOL
wv he occupied the court until the hour OF a
a joOrnment. at 4 O'Clock, and, as his sPee'
~ was not then completed, it will be RESUME
re tomorrow. The style of the speech W
n modelled on that of Tilton's published stat
it ment, resembled greatly those articles
Ter many respects, was characterized by q
es- same kind of logic, and had the same sort
yet sound, though it seemed less earnest.
I'm was hardly above the level of medioerit
he and as forensic effort it was slight
ed all respects. 1t presented no nov
)m point was feeble in argument, showed b
rk scazty material, and was unimpressive
ng delivered, though adorned with plenty
ed vocal and rhetorical fiourishes. The speak
Ter produced strange effects sometimes, /
of voice occasionally getting very loud, al
lrs again falling so low as to be inaudible. II
INT speech certainly made no such impressiC
IL, as ought to have been made at the openil
RS of this prosecution. The case for Tilton,
Ill presented to-day, disappointed his adht
IN ents. &c has been given out that this spec
in was to be the plaintiffs grand work, but
yer the prosecution have really developed the
so strength of assault, their entire position a.
RS. their lines in action, then their CO
on is very much weaker than most people b
In expected. The proceedings, however, haC
its certain inlpressiveness from the sccessori
W. the prominent figures in front, the Gag
Ter audience, the twilight room, and the fl
th. quently resounding voice of the couns
he Mr.. Beecher was not very attentive TO
On, sssailant's speech in the forenoon, but nae
TO SO in the afternoon; for the first two hot
rO- he made notes, looked over one or 4
in books, and seemed bored. In the afterno
he listenad. He was paipsbly weary OF I
st, whole affair. Atone time ne closed his ey
of leaned his head on one side, and seemed
tually to fall asleep. Yet that was sbunda