Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-04-07
Beecher's Bearing.

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facts relative to which he is called to
testify. He is involuntarily an actor;
his accompanying gestures do not mere
ly grace his speech, but illustrate his
meaning. When he quotes the precise
language of any person with whom he
has conversed, he not only initiates tie
voice but reproduces the gestures and
even the air and bearing of the speak
er. So natural is this habit that he
not only initiated yesterday the voice
and illustrated manner of Tilton, but,
when he came to describe the scene
with Mrs. Tilton on Dec. 80, 1870,
(when she made the retraction of the
charge of improper proposals), his
voice changed to the appealing tones
OF weak and almost dying woman.
He even threw back his head, closed
his eyes, and folded his hands over his
breast as he described the position oc-
cupied by Mrs. Tilton. During the
relation of the scene with Mrs. Tilton,
Beecher, on being called upon to re-
peat the conversation with her, became
visibly effected, and his voice was
choked with emotion. The most dra-
matte of the morning scenes was Beech
er's solemn assertion Of his innocence
of any and all of the charges brought
against him from time to time by Til
ton. Mr.. Evarts led him by slow de-
grees to the eliminating point, and the
effect of the final declaration of inno-
cence was thereby heightened He
was first questioned as 10 the scene de-
scribed by the nurse, Mrs. Carey,
wherein Mrs. Tilton was represented as
sitting on Mr.. Beechers knee and as
calling him "Dear father" He gave
brief and emphatic denial to that
statement. Again, as to Mr.. Richards
meeting them under suspicious circum-
stonces, he declared that he could not
recollect of ever having seen Mr.. Rich.
ards while on visit to Tilton's house.
Mr.. Brasshire might have seen him on
the stoop of Tilton's house at an early
hour in the morning, but, if so, the
witness had no recollection of the visit.
He denied the truth of of Tilton's allie
cations concerning his actions on Oct.
10 and II, 1868.
Then Evarts slowly and with marked
elaboration, put the following ques-
tons:
Q-During your entire acquaintance
with Mrs. Tilton, Mr. Beecher, and up
to this month of Decent Der, 1870, had
there ever been any undue personal
familiarity between yourself and her?
A.--Never.
Q.-Had you at any time, directly
or indirectly, solicited improper favors
from her as a woman? A.-Never.
Q.-Had you ever received improper
favors from her? Alt was thing
impossible to her,-never.
Between each Of the three questions
there was long pause, as if Evarts
wished the jury to take in the whole
force and meaning of the emphatic de-
mails which came in response to each.
The last was given with increased en-
phasis, and long pause between it and
the next question was broken by the
loudest and most general applause yet
heard during the trial
Beecher's testimony reached its most
important point in the description of
the interview between himself and
Moulton on Jan. l, when the I" letter
of contrition " had its origin. The at
tention of the auditors was almost
breathless. Beecher seemed to forget
that he was witness. His form was
drawn up erect, his voice often trem-
bled, his gestures were sweeping and
forceful, and several times he was COM
PEELED to break off to control the emo
ton betrayed by the agitation of his
whole frame, as we'll as by the convul-
sive working of his face and the mois-
ture In his eyes. Some of his hearers
were very much affected, and Shearm an
and other members of Plymouth
Church wept freely.
THREE MEN FOUND Frozen NEAR
FORT HAYS, KANsAs.--TopEKA. Kan.