The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-06-16


the central figure in a conspiracy against
Beecher2 Could they believe that
this woman, wife and a mother
ut the mere bidding Of her husband, had
manufactured false charge against her
pastor, which involved her own infamy?
This was one of these incredible propo-
sitions which the mind at once rejected.
Then, however low any person might
think Mr.. Tilton's character to be, could
any man believe his degradation to be so
great that he would deliberately enter
into conspiracy which was founded
upon the pretended infamy of his wife?
Then, what could be the object Of such u
conspiracy? Money? He wanted none.
He was living in comparative luxury
upon the product of his intellectual la
Dor Mt the time when he obtained his
wife's confession, in July, 1870. Was it
fame? He wanted none. He had OBJ
tained high literary reputation through
out country, and held an enviable rank as
an editor, author and orator. If this
charge was true, not only had Tilton and
Moulton perjure1 themselves in this
case, but Mrs. Moulton and Mrs. Brad
shaw had done the like for the sake OF
Theodore Tilton, and Mrs. Tilton had
ruined her good name for the same pur-
pose. If this was Il conspiracy TO extract
money, why was Beecher's offer not ac-
cepted when he volunteered to aid in
paving off the mortgage upon Tilton's
house, as testified by Beecher himself?
Rut what has struck his mind
most forcibly as utterly destroying
this idea of blackmail was Beechers own
reluctant admission in the cross exami
nation that he believed TitOn was sim
cere in his accusations on the night OF
December 80, 1870 How could this be
reconciled with any idea of Il conspiracy
which was organized IN that month?
When Beecher made that admission he
stamped the whole
THeory OfCnnspiracy and Blackmail
rs an absurdity. Imagine, gentlemen,
these two men engaging in conspiracy
to extract money from Beecher, and be-
lieving him (Beecher) to be innocent.
How did the jury think he would treat
these charges, knowing him as they did?
Would he have cowed before them
or yielded to them? Oh no, said the
speaker he would have turned on the
first breath of the accusation and tram
pied the accuser in the dust in his right
eOus indignation. 1t was perfectly amaz-
ING that Mr.. Beecher should go harboring
and fondlng the blackmaiers and day
after day uttering nObest tributes to
their characters. Counsel alluded to the
endeavors made by Sherman and Tracy
to imbue Beecher with the idea that these
men were blackmailers and Beechers
struggles against that thought
Counsel then reverted 10 the charge
against the defendant, and said that if his
evidence was 10 be- believed, and hcnever
had stain on his garments, or his con-
science, then the case was clear, but II
there WAS not clear denial of these
charges down on the record, then Mr.
Bccchcr was guilty man. The question
was whether Henry Ward Beecher could
be allowed to come on the stand and
oycrturn all this mass Of testimony
against him by his own unsupported
word. He then read to the jury letter
OF rctraction, and said that from thetcrm
used, it was evident that in the letter Of
confession much stronger terms We're
used The body Of the paper says, -
gave paper nculpating my friend
Henry Ward Beecher,' and it was pre-
postcrous from this to believe that the
letter of confession only charged impro.
per solicitations. When had this lady
subjected herself to determination of her
sband or been subjected to hi. will
in opposition to the wishes Of Beech"r.
Tell me that, if you can, said the counsel,
why this woman had