Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-05-21
The Reecher Case.

JUDGE PORTER BEGINS HIS SPEECH FOR THE DE-
FENDANT-HE RoAsTs TILToN AND MoULToN.
Ex-Judge Porter yesterday entered upon his
argument in the summing up for Mr.. Beecher.
First he pointed out the contrast between the
lives and characters of the plaintiff and defen-
dant, and denounced Mr.. Tlton with startling
earnestness. He then turned his attention to
the letters which passed between Mr.. and Mrs.
Tilton and analyzed them one by one, enlarging
upon the passages which he considered to be OPP
posed to the idea that Mrs. Tlton had been
guilty OF adultery.
EVERYBODY KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT
when almost the first words uttered by Judge
Porter we're these: Men are apt to be bold
Of speech when two stalwart champions like
Moulton and Tilton make joint assault upon
Clergyman and a woman the one forbidden by
his profession to return evil for evil the other
weak, powerless- az in the hollow of the
hand by d man who has but to look upon her to
subdue her to his will" The last clause, refer
ring to Mrs. Tlton, was delivered in deep, de-
liberate voice, with soathing force; and as the
words were uttered the speaker turned toward
Mr.. Tilton who sat behind him, and shook his
clenched hand in his face with look of scorn
MIR. T1LToN's FACE TURNED VERY RED
but he looked the lawyer straight in the eyes,
while his lips became pressed tight together,a as
If with suppressed passion.
Judge Porter continued at intervals TO turn
and denounce Mr.. Iilton to his face and more
than once the latter, who WAS busy making
notes, dropped his pen nervously, and, half
turning in his chair, faced the speaker with an
angry expression. Mr.. Beecher watched Judge
Porter closely with evident appreciation of bis
efforts, and sometimes he glanced at the flush
ed face of Mr. Tilton, when the orator Was de-
livering some of his fierce denunciations, with
half pitying look.
MRS. BEEoHRR LEANED FORWARD
in her chair and listened with rapt attention.
When Judge Porter was describing her hus-
bands career, and her own wifely devotion, her
eyes filled with tears, but moment afterward
she glanced up smiling at Mr.. Beecher. Mr..
Beecher himself cast his ewes down soberly as
he listened to the praises of himself.
The attention Of the audience was enchained
from the beginning, and they listened in perfect
silence. The jurymen showed more continuous
interest than they exhibited while the testimo-
ny WAS being taken, and not one OF them grew
inattentive during the whole day. The
CHIEF AIM OF JUDGE poRTER's ARGUMENT
yesterday was to prove, from the character both
Of Mr.. Beecher and Mrs. Tilton, and from the
tone and nature of Mrs. Tilton's letters to her
husband, the great improbability that any adul-
ferrous intercourse had taken place between Mrs.
Tilton and Mr.. Beecher A curious feature OF
the argument was the force with which little
points OF evidence, mere momentary flashes OF
light cast by brief and almost unnoticed express
sions Of the witnesses, were brought to bear by
the skillful orator.
Judge Porter says he will probably speak un-
til Friday night If his strength holds out. Mr..
Evarts has desired him to occupy the whole OF
the remainder Of this week with his argument