Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-07-08
THE BEECHER TRIAL.

ton trial, after deliberating eight days, reported
to the court that they could not possibly agree
upon a verdict, whereupon they were dis
charged. Nine of the jury were in favor of
acquittal, and three were in favor of ver-
dict for the plaintiff. Interest is now center
ing in the case of Loader and Price, who
during the last days of the trial, made affi'
davits that they had witnessed, in Tiltons
house, improper conduct between Beecher
and Mrs. Tilton. These sworn statements
turn out to have been utterly false, and the
atlantis are now under indictment for perjury.
The motive of the men does not seem to be
manifest, as it does not appear that they had
been promised reward, while all the men,
bers of Titon's counsel Indignantly refuse to
appear for the alleged perjurers, or to have
anything to do with their case.
Though the jury failed to find a verdict in
the great scandal case, for its length and in
tricacy unparalleled in the annals Of the ad'
mnistration of justice, yet the people have
formed their opinion either one way or the
other, which could hardly be changed by a
repetition of the proceedings and it is hoped
that the public will be spared the inaiction.
Regarding the probability Of a new trial,
Mr.. Beach, the leading counsel for Tilton, is
reported to have said, last Friday evening,
that he regarded the result of the trial as a
decided success for Mr.. Titon. A disagree.
ment of the jury was all that had been hoped
for from the first, when they saw the efforts
of every kind made to influence the jury in
favor of Mr.. Beecher, and the immense
amount of influence brought to bear upon the
jurymen, particularly the moral and social
effect of the pressure in Court of the large
delegation of the friends Of the defendant
At first the whole tone of public opinion was
in favor of Mr. Beecher, but he thinks that
that has been been very materially modified
during the progress of the trial.
Mr.. Beach further said that he did not
think, though he was not speaking with any
authority from Mr.. Tilton, that the plaintiff
would wish to begin the case again. 1t is not
likely that case of such length would be
allowed to be repeated, at least in the same
manner, as it was too much both for the
courts and the people. He thought it unde'
sirable that there should be any more time
spent in the consideration of such an affair."
which was neither of benefit to the parties
themselves, nor instructive for the general
public. He thought that there was posi-
biity of new trial, on account of the heavy
costs involved and to be paid, but that such
a thing was not probable. He himself would
advise Mr.. Tilton not to pursue the matter
further, and he thought that the latter would
not proceed unless forced by the defense.
There was no desire for money damages by
Mr.. Tilton, and he would not have received
them had they been awarded him. All that
was wished was full investigation of the
case in all its parts, and that has been accom-
plished to the plaintiffs satisfaction. Mr..
Tilton asks nothing more, for his method in
prosecuting was to have the case fairly brought
before the public in all its bearings, in order
that he might be set once more i'll his old po'
sition before the people, which had been so
seriously damaged by the action of the Ply
mouth Church Committee, DIR. Bacon, and
other friends of Mr.. Beecher. This the plain.
tiff feels has been in great measure accom-
plished, and as he now stands in a much bet.
ter light than at the beginning of the trial,
and as public opinion is now far more favor
able to him, he has gained all that he hoped
or desired by the trial.
But if Titon feels that he has cause to con.
gratulate himself, Beecher and the Plymouth
congregation feel no less jubilant over the
failure of the jury to agree upon verdict
The Friday night prayer-meeting at Plymouth
Church partook more of the character of q
mutual admiration society, in which the pas
tor was complimented and congratulated by
his flock; while he, in return, devoted the
main part of lengthy discourse to the mis-.
representations and misunderstanding of his
followers his gratitude for their confidence
and prophesying nobler future before the
church.
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