New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-03
TESTIMONY OF THE OPENING WITNESSES
FOR THE DEFENSE.

IeIl Il
FOR THE DEFENSE.
The proceedings Yesterday were ushered in with a
fever of expectancy on the part of the spectators
but this gradually subsidized the day passed. The
interest was revived about threequarers of an hour
before the closing by the testimony of witness to
the conduct of Mr.. TitOn at Winsted, Conn.,, some
wears ago The court IN the morning waited several
moments for Mr.. EvaIts, who finally arrived
and Mr.. Shearman announced that neces-
sity would oblige the defense to pro-
duce their witnesses little out OF
order. The name of Edward J. OvngtOn was then
called and that gentleman from seat beside
his wife and Mrs Sherman. and took the witness
chair He is tall, erect well-knit man with very
light sandy beard and hair and is apparently bash
fu and retiring in disposition. His direct examna-
ton ran smoothly Mr. John l.. Hill, who, since last
Summer, has done considerable underestimate work
for the defense conducted the questioning The testi-
Inony was chiefly in regard to events which followed
the publication of the Bacon letter. Mr. Ovington
testified that Mr. Tton boosted that he (Mr. 1ilton)
could make his wife tell what he pleased, and that
If she saw him commit the Nathan murder she
would swear that he did not do 1t. BY bringing out
evidence of Mr.. Tilton's great influence over his
wife il is intended to prove that by its aid he pro-
cured her confessions regarding the case. Mr.
Ovington said positively that Mr. Tracy only saw
Mrs Tilton about two minutes before she appeared
before the Plymouth investigating Committee.
The crosse Examination by Mr.. Fullerton was most
remarkable, and showed how completely witness
may become confused and embarrassed in the hands
of skiful lawyer Not that Mr.. Fullerton was
harsh severe for he just the opposite-smooth
aud pote-but be tangled the story of the witness
that the latter lost his selpOssessiOD and becoudcd
his testimony with mistakes and contradictions.
The crOss-examlnation disclosed that Mr.. Ovington
had received SS75 from Augustus StOrrs. which had
been expended to fit out Mrs. TlltOn's children for
school, and for the support of Mrs. TiltOD. Mr.
Til;on has paid the school bills of the children at
Washington, Conn. Ii was also brought out that
Messrs. Evars Porter aud the other lawyers for Mr.
Beecher have visited at Mr. OvingtOn's house, where
Mrs. Tilton has been staying since last July
Also that Mr.. Beecher called once soon after Mrs
Tlt0n appeared before the Investigating Com
nittee and that Mr.. Ovlngton last Summer declined
70 tell Florence TitOn where her mother when
Mrs. TiltOn was visiting in Fairfield, Conn. Mr..
Ovington is going to Europe Saturday. Mrs.
TGlton will remain with his family in BROOKLYN
Another witness who is going away was called
Yesterday out Of the regular order-Rufus Z. Holmes
of Winsted Conn. When Mr.. Tilton lectured in
that town he was the Vice President of the Young
Mems Christian Association there He thought that
the lady who was with Mr. TiltOn at that time
was 2; OF . years of age; and he testi-
fed that he went to Mr. Tilton's in
the hotel at Winsted, and knocked twice.
As he was going away a lady opened the
door, and MI Tltons voice from within asked Mr..
Holmes to wait. and they would 90 out together.
Ar Holmes declared that Mr.. Tilton on the bed
with only pantalOOns. shirt, and stockings on The
lady's hair and dress were disheveled. Mr.. Fuller
ton in cross-questioning the witness, brought out
that Mr. ia nv
pOintment that no effort was made to conceal any
thing after the door opened, and that Mr..
Holmes afterward introduced the plaintiff to his
wife, sisters, and others.
That the juTymen are alert was made evident by
the question Of Mr.. Carpenter, the foreman who.
before the witness stepped down. asked him if there
was a fire in the room where Mr.. Tilton and the
LADY were found. This was put in view of the
plaintiffs statement that there was no fire in his
own room. and that he therefore went to the ladys
room VIII IRE there was one. Mr.. Holmes corrobo-
rated Mr. Tilton's statement in regard to the pres
ence of fire in the room where Mr.. Tllton was
found by the witness
Mrs Maria n. OvinQton, wife of Edward j. Owing
ton, was placed In the witness chair about Is min
utes before the closing The lady is an invalid. and
she testified that until yesterday she has not been
out Of the house since last October. Little progress
was made in her examination before the hour of adj
joarnment arrived, aud nothing of importance was
developed. Mr.. Hill is conducting Mrs. OvingtOn's
examination.