New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-09
MIR. BEECHER'S ALIBI.

From that time onward until June, 1873,
there any profession preense that Mr. Beecher
sought, that Mrs MotOn received any statement az
ALL in the way conversation otherwise, that was
in tho nature of confession, express or implied
or that any conversation assumed as exist
ing except what might be described as his
great SORROW" and the facts os Mr.. Beecher
conceived them be. Now, you will see that great
many things be said in the way OF conversation be-
tween people, one OF whom years afterwards, under
takes to recoect what said and to mputo to words
not remembered of course, for the moment witness
says he remembers every word In conversation OF
which no memorandum made and which was
not treasured up you discredt him-to i'm
pute to the conversation a meaning. made
out not Of what the party talking said,
but Of what the party hearing imagined or supposed and
what her mind accepted the basis Of the conversation
and you accept that kind Of testimony are involved
at once in the midst of In the OF Derby ag
Derby which have already referred. so great an a
thority as Chancellor Zabriskie says:
The whole effect Of the testimony Of this witness de-
ponds upon recollectng the words used by the de-
fendant III she aferward from talking with Derby and
Others drew conclusion to what the affair was she
would naturally cOnstrue this conversation to support it,
and in fault of recollecting the words would and might
honestly use such as would express that meaning.
Now, them this lady coming, she said, after the
sentiments awakened against Mr. Beecher and in her hs
bands behalf by the declared hostes Of 1874 under
takes in 1875 to give you an interview. In tho first
that no interview occurred between Mrs. Mouton and
Mr. Beecher on the I'd day Of June-certanly inter
view OF the dimensions, the beginning and the
end, that she assigns to 1t, and there is nothing
frmer in her testimony than her assurance that
it was an interview begun after O'clock lasting three
four hours, and ending at the hour Of lunch that
point is made firm by her recollection that her usual
hour OF lunch had arrived and that Mr. Beecher eav
ing said Mother THAT is his wife, will expect me at
unch" and that he could not stay and lunch with her
So too We have an idea that this surely after
she had received the note on Sunday and recollection
that il occurred Just before another interview, when Mr.
Beccher came back, he had led her to suppose he
would, to bring her mementOcs, you remember
before he finally took poison So that have got fixed
This the OCCASION the only visit to herself alone and
purposed and there another, assigned that
length OF time to draw out these long Conversations
guments reproo advice, confession, expotuation; and
find that the evidence shows that Mr. Beccher went
In the o'clock train to Peekskill and therefore he
here at O'clock that he must have left here at
o'clock have lunched and taken the O'Clock train
and so there go two hours OF this lady's limit
Then you have the evidence of Mr. Cleveland that Mr.
Beecher was over in NewYork from 1Oia to settle up
the affairs OF his newspaper for his expected prolonged
absence, which would bring to 10 o'clock on leaving
this side; and then his statement that
he was not out Of the house, but was
occupied all that morning with Mr.. Knsella
In deliberations about this card then the date and Mr.
Kinsella's statement that have read to you. in the
newspaper, that effect in the publication ITSELF as
part OF the publication that forenoon after coming from
Mr Beecher that telegram sent of at halfpas 8 ;
that there were servants in the house, and that there
fore Mrs. Beccher took the telegraphc message to the
Office Mr.. Beecher remaining in the house-all that
makes up perfect OF the occupations Of Mr. Beecher
himself and an actual dliJt
But when you to look at the situation you will sec
that the moral abb is complete. There was
no place chance for the feelings for their
expression that Monday morning In the vein and tone
that Mrs Moulton portrays them and then when come
20 show You her evidence you will that upon her
showing, II is impossible that her narrative Of the time
can correct by its reference things as conec
tura and future that had already occurred. Now
gentlemen against this abb the only evidence adduced
is first Mrs. Eddy, the very respectable daughter Of
most excellent friend, Judge Sutherland Of NewYork
and have doubt the excellent wife OF very respect
able bookkeeper in the employment Of the Robnsons
But II Is hard Mrs. Mouton that the only possible wit
ness to sustain her interview with Mr. Beecher has
to part with three hours Of 1t to start with
Mr. Beecher coming away at an hour quite early In
the morning she says when she went around to
her friend. according ~ her custom and 1t could not
been later than IL o'clock, upon any fair estimate
Of her testimony, that Mr. Beecher had got through with
that interview. Them have another witness who
dertakes to give you impression ut least Of possibility
OF Mr.. Bcecher having gone to Mr.. Moultons house
Monday morning; mean ihs young M james, who re-
members. he thinks that here about after
o'clock he was going his usual route to take ferry