The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-06-11

/ WHCAHtT pIhlHtlH uCsCINCu W w HuHHHSe
out Of court. He had no desire to detraC
from the extravagant laudation OF Mr.
Beechcr as preacher and public man
but when il was assumed that Mr., Beech
er could not sin, he took issue with the
counsel for the defense,
AN IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
The doctrine ran all through their adj
dresses that because Beecher was a great
preacher, a great writer, and had done .
great deal OF good, therefore he was in
capable OF sin, and II he had sinned il
was miracle. Ii We accepted this doc
trine what became Of the teachings of IhC
Bible and our experience OF the world
Were We to accept the theory that the
human heart was not dcCeittul above all
things and desperately wicked; that men
no longer stole the livery OF heaven tC
serve the devil in; that men must begood
because they appeared good, what be-
comes OF the atOnement under this theO'
ry; what need was there for God to de-
sccnd from heaven and sacrifice himself
Tor The sins OF men, il man could become
perfect and incapable OF sin? lie denied
this doctrine, but he did not wish to dis.
paragc unjustly the value Of character.
The most eloquent words OF the counsel
for the defense had been expended on this
point. lie rcvcrcnCcd the character and
especially that holy character which
should attach to u minister OF that God
whom ii he did not adore in christian
spirit he At least reverenCed and feared.
THE ORAL EVIDENCE,
II this ease rested on the oral testimony
alone, leaving out that Of Mrs. MSulton,
he should hesitate long to believe that
the defendant could be guilty Of this
charge, although it was brought by two
men whom he believed to he rs pure and
honorable as any who had ever adorned
the ranks OF litcraturc--of that business
which had been SO highly extolled by his
learned friend,
The hour Of recess having arrived, Mr..
Beach took his seat.
A SHARP REBUKE TO THE AUDIENCE.
Judge Nielsen told the court officers
that they must exact promise Of quiet
from the persons in the gallery, or the
gallery would be closed. lie said that he
scarcely knew what to say to persons
upon the floor who had offended against
order. II he had not witnessed their con-
duct he could not have believed that cit
liens could have come into court and dis
gracch themselves by disturbing the coun-
sci and jury with M Obtrusive expression
Of their opinions,
4 recess was then taken.
AFTER RECESS.
The crowd after recess was rs great rs
in the morning. Tracy and Moulton
spoke to each other and laughed rs they
came in, the circumstance causing con-
siderable surprise and comment among
the audience.
Mr.. Beach resumed his address to the
Jury, and referred to the regret expressed
BY Porter that W. o. Bartlett had been
prevented from engaging as counsel in
this case. As Mr.. Bartlett was connected
with newspaper in the city OF New
York, hG would quote from that journal
what might be considered as Mr.. Bart.
let's present opinion, whatever his views
might have been in the early stages Of
this case.
lie then read an extract from an cditO.
rial on this case, in which it was argued
that n superficial good character did not
afford an insight into the
"TRrE ISwARpSEs' OF A MAN,"
or inform one Of the "bottom facts" in Il
mans career; that the Patriarchs Of Is.
racl, the men beloved Of God, were guilty
Of many sins, and that the best men in
all ages and countries had illustrated the
truth Of the Westminster confession, that
we all inherit corrupt nature, md are
all inclined to evil. The article also set
forth that liccclcr had never been in.
clncd to nsccticism, but had always been
disposed to crafty the desires Of the
flesh. So much, said Mr.! Beach, for
Bartlett.
Mr.. portcr--Do you mean to say that
Bartlett wrote that?
Mr., beach, mean to say that bartlett
ia closely connected with that journal,
and in the habit Of mNkingto it some Of
its most able contributions.
nEECnER not WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
Mr.. Beach then asked the jury to lUok
at precedents Of this kind, and referred to
the cases Of number OF eminent divines
who had been convicted Of adultery, and
said Lucifcr, the great archangel, fell,
and Of two Of the chosen Disciples Of the
Saviour one denied the Master and the
other betrayed Him The instances OF
mans dcpravity and proncncss to sin
proving that the most exalted are not only
not free from temptation, but are often
too weak to resist II, might be multiplied
u hundred fold.
Mr. Beach then referred to the case Of
Prof. Webster, Of Harvard College, who,
holding the highest position in lIoston,
murdered DR.. Parkmnn under the inilu.
cnce Of mcrccnary motives, and after II
denial of his guilt was tried, convicted
and hanged. In the trial as here
the argument introduced was that n
man Of his previous life and reputation
could not possibly have been guilty Of
such II crime. Take away the shield Of
characlrr-judge lIceChcr rs any other
man. according TO the prcpondCrancC Of
the evidence, and could there be any
doubt rs to what the judgment in this
ease would be? Counsel quoted from
Evarts' address 10 the jury, with regard
to the physique and character Of Mr..
lIccclcr. This plea Of Mr. Evnrts was
all ilusory Mr.. I'ceChcr says there is
no need for men to
COME TO HIM AND CONFESS
their sins, for he could read II in their
eyes and on their skins, and men Thought
that l,ccausc they committed their sins at
night they could he hidden; and ngain
that that there were some men who
could mot hide their predominant passions
from the eye. This, said Mr.. Beach, was
uttered from Plymouth Church pulpit by
Mr.. lIeCchcr. Mr.. liccchCr also says that
the intellectual forces were increased in a
much greater degree than they were
before, bnt that the animal passions re.
mainCd exactly the same as they had al.
wavs been "l'ind me- said Mr.. Beech.
cr, "a great prclaic or bishop who made
the world better than he found II, and |
will find YOU some drOss in him." Counsel
would not have entered into this subject
had not Mr.. Evarts touched upon II, and
he would not say anything except that
which he believed sound and lust. lie
had nothing to advance about defendants