New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-02
THE DEFENDANT SWORN.


Only for moment were the murmurs of surprise
at the strange conclusion of Mr.. Redpaths testi-
mony heard. Every one knew that the supreme
moment of the trial had come, and that MIR. Beecher
was to face the jury and deny the charges when
had been made against him. Tho silence was un-
broken save by the restless movements of the nerv-
Gus auditors when Mr.. Evarts, turning to Mr..
BeecheT said
mir. Beecher, will YOU be swOrnT
He had come into the room nearly an hour before
in advance of the time for opening court his wife
on his arm and had seated himself by her side, sur
rounded by his daughter and her husband Mr.. SEQ
vlle his elder sister, Mrs Perkins, his brothers. Ed
ward and Thomas X. Beecher Mrs. Edward Beecher,
his daughter-in-law and a larger delegation from
Plymouth Church than had ever before appeared in
the courtroom He was attired as usual not q
change in his habit his long gray hair was DISNEY
eled as it usually is he looked as he always does
except that his face was-not paler-but less iished
Otherwise it was the same fixed, placid look which
he has worn throughout the t:iai except on the ex
citing occasion when Mrs MoultOn told her strange
story OF mis- confession to her.
He rose when Mr. Evarts spoke and, with only a
look and smile at his faithful wife, who turned
her white, thin face up to him as he arose, he
stepped behind the Plymouth group, and, passing
behind the iury-bOx, approached the witness-chalr
officer presented the Bible for him 10 be swOrr but
he motioned it aside, and, turning full upon the
Clerk lifted up his right hand. The Clerk, sup
posing he desired to affirm, had begun to administer
that form of oath, when Mr.. Fullerton and MI
Beach objected, unless Mr.. Beecher should declare
that he had CONSCIENTIOUS scruples against swearing
upon the Scriptures. brief discussion between the
Judge and Mr. Beach was brought to an end by Mr.
Beecher himself who declared that he had such con-
scientious scruples. The clerk then began again
You solemnly affirm and declare when Mr.
Beecher dropped his arm, and Mr.. Evarts at the
same moment explained that Mr.. Beecher took the
oath in the New England form. Again the Clerk
began this time in slower and more impressive
tones and in manner strangely unlike the rusty,
mechanical habit Of speech which has grown upon
him in long years of service.
"YOu soemnly swear by the everything God that
the evidence you shall give in this issue joined be-
tween Theodore TiltOn plaintiff and Henry ward
Beecher shall be the truth. the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth"
Mr.. Beecher unlike any other witness who has
preceded him, and with most reverential bow, his
eyes cast down, answered. 81 do"
If any of the auditors anticipated anything trem-
Mons in his tones they were disappointed. Once the
reporter thought he saw his uplifted hand tremble
as he took the oath but it was probably magma
III
his look and when he had dropped his hat and taken
from his shoulders lis cloak and thrown it across his
left arm il was the same familiar face that is
OH every Friday evening in the Plymouth Church
Lecture-room And throughout the rest of the days
session he sat there unchanged unaffected, appar-
entity as cool as if in his lecture-rOOm. Nlslby he
was the least affected man in the ROOM His manner
was entirely uncOnstraned He sat most of the time
with the two middle fingers of bis right hand thrust
in his vest. At noon, when the striking OF
City Hall clock interrupted the proceedings,
he took out his watch, if to how accurately 1T
kept time Once when he had occasion to look for
a memorandum book, the officer behind him offered
TO relieve him of his cloak and he surrendered it
with. THANK YOU" He was perfectly at ease the
reporter looked in vain for those minute evidences
of nervousness which readers are always glad TO
have described and the description may appear
tame but il is truthful The best idea to be formed
of him bv those who have seen him i'll pulpit or lee
ture-room is to recall him as he appeared then and
there. Around the corners of his mouth and eyes
there urked the familiar quiet smile which be-
trays the great humor of the man, which cannot be
repressed and which frequently finds expression
even in his most serious discourses, in the extraor
binary phrases in which bis ideas are often
protesouely dressed. In his testimony yes
terday this humOr cropped out several times Once
when referring to his literary IabOS he called nl-
self "a very voluminOus author" he half smiled,
half blushed at what he evidently thought might
be regarded as an egotistical expression. And mo-
ment later his eyes twinkled and frightened just
the least and his old half smile came back, when he
had to say that during certain period he had made
MANY political speeches, and preached not few
political sermons" This irrepressible humor bub
bled to the surface still later, when he was
asked il he hal not written many
Ietters-was not, in fact great correspondent He
smiled as he hesitated second or two before an-
swering: 81 should say not if should Judge from
nv impression; but if they should begin to hunt
over my letters presume it would be found that
had" This was the first alluson to his troublesome
habit of writing long letters. Still later this humor
found more extrayagant expression. He had been |
asked if his first public discussion with Mr.. Titon
had not been marked by considerable antagOnism |
and asperity in the expression of their views. He
answered, as if approaching the joke: Nothing |
that transcribed what l see here in court" Even
Mr.. Beach unbent at this, and smiled with the |
Beecher party The rest of the plaintiffs counsel |
sat gloomy silent, and stern. they had done all
through the day, taking their cue from Mr.. Iilton |
and Mr.. Moulton.
But lest it be imagined that the witnesses manner
was trivial it should be added that these incidents
durng the early part of the day when bis
entiOn was drawn to comparatively trivial matters.
And even during this period there incidents Of
he opposite character. betraying the deep feeling
md hearty earnestnsss of the man. Once. for in-
tance when asked about his early intimacy and
with Mr. Tiltou he answered with |