Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-21
TILTON vs.. BEECHER.
Judge Porter Continues His
Talk to the Jury, and
Calls Hard names.

Plaintiffs Sins ReeOunted-" The Ma
Iign Influence OF Bowen ''-Riehards
ga bastard martin ga Miserable
PeEjured sPy''-MOuItOn as "TII-
tons MiniOn."
New YORK, May 20.-There was a full
| attendance this morning at the scandal trial
and the jury were early in their places.
Bessie Turner sat with the women facing
the Plymouth gathering, which included
the defendant, his wife, sons and daughter
in-law. Judge Porter apOlOgiZed for the
low tone IN which he spoke yesterday, and
said he would endeayOr to speak to-day
and afterwards 50 they all could hear.
Then resuming his address he continued
his remarks on the letters which passed be
tween TiltOn and wife. He spoke of Til
ton as having genius al that time 1861
which if il had not been misused, would
have raised him to a lofty position. COUNSEL
quoted from the letter Of TiltOn TO his wife,
dated Feb. il, 1867, in which he said he
had been specializing on the Life Of Jesus,
and asked her how he would have appeared
in the character of a married man. Jesus
undoubtedly loved some woman deyOtedly,
perhaps passiOnately. That is the language,
said the counsel, in which TheO. TiltOn
wrote 10 his devoted wife Of his God, and
counsel commented severely upon it.
In December, 1869, continued Porter, a
year after the death Of his son Paul, when
he alleges his wife was mistress Of the
hOnOred pastor Of Plymouth Church, Til
ton writes a letter 10 his wife, in which he
says her affection touched his deepest ma
ture, and he wished he was more worthy
of it.
God Would Indeed be Asleep
if lie did not Overturn the actions and in
tentiOns Of this invader.
We will now turn, said the counsel, TO
the 18th Of October, 1868, for there the is
sue Of the case hinges. On the 9th Of that
month, Henry Ward Beecher delivered one
Of his brilliant addresses in the Academy
Of Music, and his accusers thought they
could safely fix on the next day, the 10th,
as the date Of the first commission Of the
act. Counsel could imagine what hunting
through almanacs there was for this day by
both MOulton and TiltOn, so that there
would arise no danger from an alibi. The
next date fixed upon was between the Fri
day evening prayer meeting and the fol-
lowing Sunday. Seven years ago this
crime was said 20 be committed. Would
YOU believe that man goes for the first time
in his life, at the age of 60, to commit al
act Of debauCheTy? In order for Theodore
Tilton 10 wreak his vengeance on Henry
Ward Beecher, he walks over the body Of
his wife.
Counsel then commented on the witness
es for the defense, among whom he said
were fifteen men Of eminence and popular
ity, who transacted business with all pats
Of the world and whose word in CONNER
Cial circles was never doubted, whose
deaths, if they occurred together, would
cause the city Of Brooklyn to 60 into
mourning. Counsel then spoke Of
Bessie Turner
assisting in caring for the children in Til
toms household and as the loving COM.
paniOn Of Mrs. TiltOn wherever she went,
commanding respect and reverence. This /
girl then grew i'm that household to the
stature Of womauhOod. She, on two occa-
SiOus, was made the object Of approach
ment on the part Of her adopted father.
She gave the incidents of these approaches, /
and she had st the time no thought, nor
could she be led TO believe, the man she
was taught 10 honor and respect by Ms.
TiltOn was endeavOriug to destroy her for
aAlNA lll taAAA oAlet
life. This will show the heart Of the man
in which the accusations against Henry |
Ward Beecher and his CIiltnn's) wife had |
their origin.
AIr. Porter referred to Joseph II. Rich |
ards as the bastard who went before the |
church committee 20 put his own sister in |
a false attitude by his pretended sOlicitude. |
This man, under the malign influence Of |
TTarsysrv { Tlnrarn arrN FrrfruaF FThanff,ro
TiltOn, his hTutheT-in-laW, had come to 1
this courtroom 10 make a theatrical exhi-
DitiCn of himself, which only Theodore Til |
ton could have devised, There ought to be
some cipher al the end Of the alphabet by
which 90 designate such men.
Mr.. Porter then spoke in scathing terms
Of o. b. Martin, whom he declared 10 be
Tilton's
Miserable PeFjared Spy,
in comparison with whom he respected
even MOultOn, TiltOn's miniOn.
These were the men who had been put
forward 10 swear down Bessie Turner, but
a girl, who could stand the fire of the most
brilliant CTOss-eyamination in America, |
who cOuld defy Vim. Fullerton even after
the latter had been obliged 10 call 10 his
assistance the most brilliant advocate in
this country OF elsewhere, the girl who
could Withstand the combined attack Of |
Fullerton and Beach had but little 10 fear.
Mr.. Porter then urged the impOssibility |
of any girl Of twenty-five years, or any
person Of any ace, being able to fabrica'e
such a narrative as she had given Of the
events which took place in the family of
Mr.. TiltOn. He then spoke in praise Of
the COURAGE manifested by Bessie Turner
in the defense Of Ms. TiltOn against her
brutal husband.
Judge Porter then passed on to BOwen's
testimony. On CrOss-eXaminatiOn,S said the
counsel, Mr.. Bowers
Memory was Very TFeaeheTOus.
He did not remember Mr.. Beecher hav-
ing slandered TiltOn. He did not remem-
ber what was said though they had 4 con-
yersatiOn lasting sometime. After all
Theodore, said Mr.. Porter, turning to the
plaintiff, don't you think Mr.. Bowen made
4 poor witness, not showing rs MOultOn and
TiltOn said that he was tveacherOus but
that his memory was treacherOus. He
carried another dirk in his belt and
thrust il under the ribs of the man
who called him as a witness.
Counsel then spoke Of that portion of the
testimony where TiltOn came into his
house and announced that he was ruined.
The man said he who was at the head of
the leading American newspaper and in re
ceipt Of fifteen thousand dollars a year, an
nOUnced himself rs a ruined man.