New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-29
Tie CHARGE OLE CONspTRAC7.

TIE CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY.
Many who watched the proceedings at the last
session OF the Brooklyn City Court were at loss to
explain why OF the three colored witnesses was
subjected to a rigid cross-examination. while the
others not asked 4 question. The testimony OF
these witnesses was evidently introduced by the de-
Tense for double purpose ~ 10 invadate by direct
contradictions Mr. Tlton's account Of his relations
with Mrs. Woodruff. the orr lin and period of their
acquaintance its nature and extent his whereabouts
on or about July f. 1871, and other points; III by re-
counting the incidents Of Mr. 1iltons association
with Mrs. Woodruff and her friends TO af
feet the character Of the pll,utih, and to
lower the value of his word in the di-
rect issue Of veracity raised between him aud
Mr.. Beechor WHY, then, was one Of them Tgidy
| cross-examined while the Others were summary
dismissed7 The most natural explanation Is this
The first witness gave testimony bearing upon the
charge of conspiracy, while the others dill not This
incident shows that MT. IltOns counsel
have taken up the gauntlet which Mr.
Tracy threw down to then, and that the
assault of the prosecution in rebatta will be largely
directed against the gound OF conspiracy upon
which the defense have entrenched themselves. Nj
Beecher in giving his testimony viii be compelled
to reconcile his alectiorate letters 10 one OF che
alleged conspirators and his creduIty IN trust
ing them both and yielding to their
Judgment during protractcd negotiations, with
the main ground Of defense that he
was the victim of a cons Tracy; ard II is easy to
forecast the tactics Of Mr.. Fullerton in conducting
the crossexauiinatiuu. Since therefore, the charge
Of conspiracy Is the main issue over which warfare
will be waged during the remainder of the trial. the
indictment which Mr. Tracy in his address framed
against Nh Titon and Mr. Mou.ton. and the eyl
ly..rf
sight by those VINO wish to rcad uAdcrstanuilGy
the reports OF the proceedings
The general charge is that Mr.. Tilton has been
conspirator against the reputation Of Mr.. Beecher
since Dec. 46 1870 and that Mr.. MGulton has aided
Mr. Tllton in the alleged plot; chat the conspiracy
was conducted az different times for specific ends
AMI that the suit FOR criminal conversation Was the
elimination rather than the ultimate obi of the
conspiracy II grew upon the alleged potters until
it got beyond their control. The Indictment rs 5ir
Tracy presents it, includes the following counts:
l. Conspiracy on Dec %, 1870. between Theodore
rilton aid Henry c. Bowen 70 drive henry Wand
BaecAer out Of brooklyn by means Of an out
rageous scandal" On this count the defense rely
mainly upon the testimony Of llr Tilton himself
Mr.. Tracy. il will be remembered, qualified the
charge against Mr.. Bowen by baSing 1t upon the
testimony of Mr. Iit0n.
H. Conspiracy or Dee. % and 80 to prevent the
discharge of SIR. Tilton from the employ OF Mr.
Bowen, and subsequently 10 reinstate him. The
means alleged TO have been used were III entrap-
ping Mrs. TIltOn into signing an accusation disas-
trous to the reputation OF her pastor" hy |ch the
responsibility for the challclgG OF Dec 70 was shifted
from husband to wife: ~ inducing Mr.. Beecher to
believe that he had alienated Mrs. TiCon's affections
from her husband and ruined him By repeating
| to Mr. Bowen, Bessie Turner's story and other
scandals, alleged by Mr. Moulton to be false; l3
obtaining Mr. Beecher's signature to the apology
and letter from him to Mr. Bowen qualifying the
charges against Mr.. Tlton; al procuring from
Bessie Turner a retraction of the story told to Mr.
Beecher, and inducing him to pay her school bills
The witnesses for the defense on this count are
Mrs Mitchell, Bessie Turner, and Mr. Beecher.
III. Conspiracy for the purpose ~ Of entrapping
Slr. Beecher into support of Mrs Woodruff at Stein
way Hail. whereby the author of the Life" would
be relieved from public opprobr1um, and ~ of in
ducing the publication of the scandal instead of
suppressing it," The witnesses for the defense on
this count are Charles COwley, Thomas n. Cook and
James b. Woodley.
". Conspiracy on March 90, 1872 in threatening
to publish Mr. Tilton's letter to AIR. Bowen, dated
Jan. 3 1871 and i'll inducing Mr.. Bowen to pay $1,000
then in litigation. Samuel Wlkeson is the main
witness ON TINS count.
V. Conspiracy in December 1872, in attempting
to induce Afr. Beecher's friends to start newspa-
per- on which Mr. Tilton was to be employed under
the assurances that the documentary evidence Of
the scandal would be destroyed. Jackson Schultz
and John c. Southworth are the main witnesses on
this count.
VI Conspiracy in securing the publication of Mr
Tilten's letter 20 Mr.. Bowen, dated Jan. 2, 1871.
st. Clare McMeway and John w. Hartman are wit
nesses on'ths count
VII. Conspiracy in April, 1873, in inducing Mr..
Beecher to pay $5 900 for the support of The Golden
Age. Mr. Beecher will testify on this count
Vail Oc;spirsey in a.tamptins, in the Spring of
1874. to blackmail Mr Beecher and his friends. No
testimony has yet been offered on this count.
These are the principal counts of the indictment
for conspiracy which Mr. Tracy may be said to have
found" against Mr.. Tilton and Mr.. MoultOn. Ac-
eordipg to this Wow Of the the present suit for
damages has not been the ultimate object OF the
conspiracy. but merely marks the elimination Of
series Of minor plots laid for different ends against
MI BeecheTs reputation all of them being based
upon the possession of Mira Tiltons written
ton against her pastor and the apology which he
was induced to sign.