The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-02
THE RAGGED EDGE TRIAL.
General Tracy Concludes His Open
Ing Argument.
MRS MOULTON CRITICISED.
The Newspaper Scheme a
Case of Blackmail.
xrnHYr nnII mONr OIrnC ICNINn
HOW TILTON SUBSISTED.
BoWen's Part in the
Drama Of Revenge.
THE ''TRIPARTITE" EXPLAINED.

General Tracy proceeded on the fourth day OF
his opening address ior Mr.. Beecher's defence
with fair audience. He was now surrounded
with all the trappngs OF q yceum lecturer.
raised reading stand, covered with inquired red
cloth, was placed on the attorneys table, and the
manuscript, carefully written out, was deposited
In portfolio. There General Tracy stood and
read In the most affiicting and miserable manner
= series OF careful sentences. which should nave
risen up and rebuked their renderer. The impu-
ration that Tracy is as vain as the Plymouth CO.
rerie in general Will not stand in view OF the Slip
shod, sleepy. stumbling way their own author
repeated these sentences, the product or his ma
ture mind in the most important cause he ever
tried. That ne was aware OF the i'm
portance OF the case was plain enough,
for he told the jury that their duty
was the most important ever rendered by any
jury OF twelve men In the past $500 years. Here
there IL anachronism, as the jury system has 10
such antiquity, but as the period named ap-
proaches the origin OF the Christian era II was,
perhaps, q convenient way OF avoiding. while
preaching. parallel between the Preacher OF 1900
years ago and the preacher OF ls3o-1s75
TRACY's ELoQUENcE.
Many OF Mr.. Tracy's sentences in the morning
were quite eloquent. His reference to Mr.. Beecher
a. 'tnIs old man mortgaging the roof tree that
sheltered MS aged vile" and then receiving from
Triton q card inscribed. "Grace, mercy and peace"
~ the receipt for the remittance OF this mortgage
money, was rendered With tremulous voice and
the hand raised Mr.. Beechers face, the orator,
meantime, shedding tears. Mr.. Beecher. however,
did not weep.
After the recess tracy spoke with languor de-
rived from somnolence and imparung it, He has
been hard driven in composing portions OF his
speech, az he expected the plaintiff to introduce
more witnesses. Tracy's references to Mrs. Moul-
ton yesterday bore every appearance, by the low
toned, stumbling address in which they were deliv-
cred, OF having been cut down from some stronger
Characterization. He showed the intention Of
proving an ahbi by Mrs. Beecher on the date Of
the alleged interview OF June 2, 1873. Here there
was piece OF bad art in not separating wider the
Imputauon on Mrs. Moulton and the authority Of
Mrs. Beecher. Tracy had charged that wife
would take the witness stand save the iather Of
her only child (meaning Mrs. Moulton), even by
perjury. In the next breath he promised that
Mrs. Beecher would acquit her husband by her
testimony
THEORY OF THE DEFENCE.
Mr.. Tracy charged that the offence MI. Beecher
mad committed was "a complicated transaction,
including details di1ncult OF just or exact state
mentn He therefore said that he would not try
10 state what this complication was, but would
prove his case, and that would explain the letters,
read letter, the date being liked as prior to Mrs.
Tilron's alleged fall from virtue, and elucldated
the idea that the Plymouth coterie had a great
deal or despair in mere phraseology. ana were
prone to exaggeration.
The Judge on the bench listened languidly to all
this, keeping order and conversing with Samuel
Nelson White, grandson OF the great old Judge
samuel Nelson. OF the supreme Court OF the
United States, and with two law students from
Dwight College.
SMILES ALL ROUND.
Mr.. Evarts listened to the drawing, school
room elocution Of his colleague, with his hands be-
nind his head. his chair cooked back and now and
then Tracy looked to him and smiled suggestively.
Edward Beecher with his red face, thick lips and
fringe OF white beard, was at the opposite end OF
the table, his head oetweenthe palms OF his hands,
and at the least opportunity he broke into per-
rectiy jovial and hearty laugh. Mr. Beecner
laughed too, when Tracy commented upon Beech
er's delight that Mrs. Moulton knew his secret, as
at least one woman could now keep a secret. His
wife was IN good spirits and appearance most or the
day. but Mr.. Beecher himself showed more varie-
ties OF uneasiness and mental suffering than at any
time in the case. His color was very bright
pink, with Pushes ct moments, and In his face was
m expression OF wistfulness and hopeuness, as II
q critical moment had been reached ana every
word Of his counsel was OF gravity. He watched
the jury Ali day, his eyes swimming, his forehead
wrinkled 1t times, and In perfect antithess OF mis-
older, less mentally alert and duller brother,
Edward. The latter had good-natured vacant
countenance, dozed with fatigue and old age for
forty winks, and then came up smiling. Henry's
lace Was often Ike an animated grape, where
every rudy or purple vein pusated with
An inner agitation. Some OF the old descrip.
tions written OF the great preachers sorrow
day. Mrs. Beecher's complexion is oleached al
most perfectly white, and her hair being OF the
same hue she brings into stronger relief the high
color Of her husband Mrs. Colonel Beecner was
also in the Court yesterday, tidy, smiling young
woman. Plymouth church was out in force, but
thsre was much moving In the audience and the
choking OF the door was unintermttent as one
person or one group slipped out and let another
The snow came nne and nerce all day, driving
the tramps and corner loungers into the hobbies Of
che Court, so that cold toes without and deep
mental Indifference WITHIN we're the alternatives.
HARD WORKING NEWS WRITER'S
There ID one set OF men In the court room VINO
hold very large space or the floor, yet are sell
dom looked az or spoken 10 by lawyers, the Judge
DIT she principals in the tral-sne reporters and
correspondents. The amount OF work done by
these men u prodiglous. One western newspaper
II printing the trial verbatim and editorial tele-
grams besidsa Tue Chicago papers are compel.
ing with nearly equal enterprise, and scarcely an
Issue OF any daily Journal in this country is dest
suite OF an editorial article upon the latest deve
0pmsnfs OF the trial. From the court room the
despatch and messenger boys 90 every few min
utes to the telegraph station. Not gesture q ol
an expression occurs unnoted.
TfLToN KEEPING TALLY.
Theodore Tilton has heard every word OF Tracyi
spescn--sixteen hours oil solid readinR-witn al
oldlsh. lepgthening lace casting up he effect o
Tie sentences In It's wrinkles. His CHAIR 10 cocket
back; mis- hands are ia MS pockets; ne swings
slowly and gently by the leverage OF his long legs
watching the Jury ana occasionally peeping
Beecher. Mr.. Beach alone OF Tnton's counsel ha
listened TO the whole OF Mr.. Trscy's speech VIII
respectful attention.
The peroration yesterday was delivered with {
slow. religious impressiveness, ana brought
round oil applause from the gallery. Mr.. Beecnei
bowed 10 the speaker. as II to say, "NeH DONE
The Judge made NO e1ort 10 suppress the ap
plause.