New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-12
SCENE IN THE COURTROOM.

SCENE IN THE COURTROOM.
After the dull rectatiye of the examination OK
jurors, the real action Of the Brooklyn scandal surf
opened yesterday with the address of ex-Judge
Morris. Inasmuch as the prosecution had admitted,
during the argument the bill Of particulars. that
testimony had been kept in reserve and that the
evidence in the tIial by jury would be the same
in the trial by newspaper the interest manifested
in the opening appeal was not intense II was, in
fact, review OF the salient features Of the
case and if the phrase I'VE will show
had been changed to 1--WE have shown" it
would have passed for " summing up As the case
was opened there are to be surprises for tho
courtroom or the Jury during the trial far tho
prosecution is concerned. The alleged confessions
of Mr. Beecher and Mrs. TIltOn to Nr. Iilton MI.
MoultOn. and Others. the correspondence OF Mr.
Beecher the letters Of Mrs Tlton and Mrs Morse.
the alleged clandestine correspondence between
Mr. Beecher and Mrs Tilton, which was quoted by
Mr. MoultOn in his first statement. and the circuEn-
stantial evidence Of guilt in the efforts when MI
Beecher made for concealment. the mortgagng OF
his house the payment If Bessie Turner'S school
BILL etc. are the main points Of the prosecution. and
not one of them has the faintest flavor Of novelty
The apology intrusted to Mr. MoultOu seems 10 DO
the pivot of Mr. TiltOns case, around which every
thing else turns.
For two hours before the proceedings were opened
the long corridors Of the courthouse were throsged,
and the services of "A large number OF police were
required. Ticket holders alone were admitted. and
long before the Judges gavel bad been heard every
seat was occupied Mr.. Tilton aud his group OF
counsel appeared promptly az II o'clock, aud were
soon followed by Mr. Beecher's body Of defenders.
In a moment every eye was turned TO the
doorway a. Mr.. BeecheT, accompanied by Mrs.
Beecher entered the courtroom. Friends
no all hands Beefher
with heartncss as he advanced. IL was a sman
triumph a. such things co. and there was a pleased
expression on his face when he took his seat A
buzz of talk followed their entrance, and comments
were exchanged on the prOprlety OF Mrs Beechers
presence. II her critics, however. expected that
there were to be passages IN the opening address
which would be offensive to the ear, they were
doomed to disappointment, for the language was
chaste and in good taste.
The ury-box now full. ard after words or
caution 10 the audience from the beech and afew
remarks By Mr. Evarts, the proceedings opened.
Ex-Judge Morris began his address soon after IL
o'clock aud closed at o'clock an hour having been
spent at lunch He is man Of medium hight. with
black hair aud ,side-whskers. ruddy face, keen
| glance a sympathetic smile. and an expression
| which is calm without being cold. His movements
are easy and graceful, his manner is cool and dehb-
crate and his gestures strong aud full OF force,
being made with the full arm in long curves. HIS
delivery is .ther monotOnous for there no
changes of tone 10 vibrate through an audience In
the upper register his voice has a metallic nng,
and Is surcharged with force and earnestness
When he is speaking calmly, without emotion, his
tones are clear and ncisiye After a few sentences
uttered In a grave. cautious manner, fOreeful
gesture is made and he breaks ont with ringing
tones of indignation and accusation, which in Q
moment are unified aud hushed to whispers too low
to be heard by the Jurynen. ms method 10
repeated with few variations and the effect of these
whispered passages is very annoying 10 the audi
ence however they may impress jury. Alter
qIiet narrative passage he sums up the lnferences IN
passionate interrogation IN hlgh Key, az fOf IN
stance who was the transgressor y Then after
long pause comes the reply in whisper, Her for
giveness / have The repetition of this method
rem Tered his delivery rather tedious His invective
in regard to the letter to Mrs Tilton, in which Mr.
Beecher intimated that a meeting would be- safe,
was marred by this alienation ot high tones and
whispers.
Mr. Morris appreciated the fact that his business
lay wholly with the jury. aud they were rarely out
of his sight He stood a few feet in front Of them
with Mr.. TiltOn and Mr. MOultOn directly behind
him. and Mr.. and Mrs. Beecher facing him TO his
left. Occasionally, in framing an accusation, he
turned toward Mr. Beecher with sweep OF the left
hand and twice, when a reference was made To Mrs.
Beecher he cast a quick glance IN her direction.
With these few exceptions his eyes never left the
Jurors aud they in turn followed him with close at
tention. While there were few passages of heated
denunciation. there was much keen. hard analysis.
Probably the most effective sentences those IN
which he took 70 pieces Mr.. Beecher's apology and
elandestine letters The expressions Il humble
myself before you as ] do before my Cod
Her forgiveness | have" Bearing the
transCressions of another" and many more were
held before the lens of his own Interpretation until
their Significance seemed to enlarge under such
searching analysis. The apology which was de-
liyered TO Mr. Moulton in confidence was read in
deem voice with great intensity OF manner as If he
wished the words to sink deep in the memory Of
overy Juror and when every expression had been
analyzed he assumed an attitude of triumph, and
vehemently striking the table declared that It was
not necessary to 20 step further for that letter
condemned Mr.. Beecher. unless the English lam
QuaQe could be blotted out. Mr. Morris apparently
was not in very good health when he began but he
warmed 10 his work and his delivery much
| better later in the day.
Probably the closest listener in the courtroom was
| Mrs Beecher Her eyes were liked on the speakers
face from first 10 last If there was magic spe in
! his voice Her face was strangely cooreSs ana I'M
passive. and her self-pOssessi0n was perfect. hei
forehead is high and abnormal, and Is crcwneu VIZ"
| hair which il "a white as snow. Her features "o
large commanding aud positive. ana her eyes "e
| keen and MERGING She was dreSseu IN oi"'N
NTH q bine Tooleu wrap. As she sat there ioo'ion-
-. ,,th , s,rano, calm on Der features ana pecu-
li,r glitter IN her eyes, her dignity seeeu W assei
49, "a ar ar defiance the critics who judged
'Lt how chr place was not beside her husband IN