Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-12

i their position. They mistOOk the paper
obtained from Mrs. TiltOn on the 29th of
December for her confession, but the con-
fessiOn whose re-etitiOn staggered Mr..
Beeeher on the night Of the 30th, was that
revelation that was made by Mrs. TiltCn
| to her husband in July, 1870. In view Of
this fact, the paper used by Mrs. TiltOn on
| the night Of Dec. so became Of no value in
this case. II was not the basis Of this
charge, was not the accusation which was
used against Mr.. Beecher in that interview.
It was merely introduced to show the in
terview, and Mr. T,lb0n had described the
manner in which the paper was obtained.
Speaking of the failure Of the faculty Of
memory, Mr.. Beach said that he believed
that there was more
Involuntary Perjury
committed in courts Of justice than the
human mind could conceive. BE did not
believe that a single witness in the case had
given an exactly accutate narrative Of any
transaction which occurred two or three
years ago, o. even one year. If there had
been it was one Of Mr.. Evarts' miracles.
[Laughter.l It was very easy for skillful
crOss-examiner like Potter or ETarts 20 lead
a witness TO the use Of some hasty or ex-
traFagant expression. If he (Beach) had
confessed to one Of the jury that he had
committed a murder, the fact Of the con-
fessiOn would never fade from his mind,
although he might forget the language. So
of Mr.. Beecher's confession of guilt. His
expressions of remOrse and despair fixed
their character indellibly on the minds Of
Tilton, Moulton and Mrs. Moulton, al
though the minute details might not be &C
curately remembered.
Eyarts had alluded to Beecher's noble
efforts in England during our civil war,
and had asked the jury, "but after all this
are you, gentlemen, going to convict Mr..
Beecher who has done this work for his
cOuntry?' and this was an argument, said
Mr.. Beach, that an advocate advanced to |
an American Jury, sitting in court Of jus |
tice, 10 convince them Of Mr.. Beecher's |
innocence. Oh, you mustn't convict him. |
England VIII Laugh
at you. You must not tell England he |
seduced a woman, or her aristOcracy would !
meet you with cOntUmely. Oh, my learn |
ed friend has had too much to do with |
England and her aristOcracy. If this is the |
way jury were TO be controlled, then God |
help American institutions and justice. |
loud applause Was their verdict 70 de- /
pend on what England thought of Mr.. j
Beecher? Why no, said the counsel; their |
judgment was to be controlled by justice.
He went on to remark on Mr.. Evarts
making a demigOd Of Mr.. Beeeher, whereas
Not a word
was ever said by the counsel in denial of
the charge OfimprOper advances, and Tracy
in his opening admitted the question to be
whether the charge and offence were i'm
proper advances.
Mr.. Porter
here interrupted and said he could not per-
NIT counsel to state a falsehOOd and mis-
state what they said. When, said Judge
Porter, have we admitted the guilt Of i'm
proper solicitation.
Mr.. Beach replied that his learned
friends put their friendship TO a tension
when he accused him Of falsehOOd.
Mr.. Porter stated that be was astOUnded
that Mr.. Beach should say they admitted
the guilt of the improper solicitation.
Judge Nelson stated that he understood
Mr.. Beach to say that the charge Of i'm
proper advances had not been denied.
Mr. Beach angrily repelled the accusa-
tiOn that he had stated a falsehOOd and
said he would not take such an insult from
any man.
Counsel then continued and dilated on
the habits of Mr.. Beecher, and said that he
stated his Saturdays were holidays with
him and now these were the days when the
troubles come 10 him. BE found time on
TO pay visits, 70 60 to Mrs. TiltOn
and
Put che Baby 20 sleep,
and engage himself for future duties in
that connection, as be said onee-''if the
baby was uneasy and would not sleep send
for me- He also found time on Satur-
day 20 take Mrs. Tilton for drive.
Counsel next referred to TiltOns alleged
cruelty to his wife, and said there was only
one witness, Bessie Turner, who testified
to this conduct on his part. Joseph Rich
ards, Kate Carey, Mrs. Mcdonald and
others, aye even Mr.. Beecher, maintained
that this was beatiic and happy house
hold. Yet Bessie Turner'S testimony was
taken against these witnesses, and the jury
asked 70 believe it.
Counsel knew they all had prejudices
against TiltOn, who would crawl at M per-
sons feet, but he demanded justice at their
hands and he would get it somewhere and
somehow. He will get justice if not here,
in the future, and Henry Ward Beecher
would meet with a fitting reward.
Court here adjourned till Monday morn