River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-01-29

Graphic Description OF Tracy and
MOuIt0n.


Mr.. Tracy waltzed him around all day
with a grip more decided than amatiye,
but he was an unrepentant Artful Dodg-
er, and behaved with the, meekness OF a
young shrub just out Of boarding school.
In vain did Mr.. Tracy elevate his chin,
look the cxecutioner, and snub the wit
ness on his answers. The more despotic
Tracy got the more dalliant and polite
Francis became. If he does not come out
perfect witness he will very nearly
come out perfect politician.
Moulton is Of the stamp of man to like
this dangerous eminence hc has. A fairly
successful merchant, he pines for more
brilliant career. The play of fine wits,
the game of fnesSe, the emotional antag
onization Of strong natures-his being
one-suits him. In this country to-day
there are thousands Of people who would
rather hear him lecture on "Friendship'
or "a Dangerous Game" a Ia Guy Lily.
ingstone, than to see or hear either
Beecher or Tilton. lie appeals, in his
position, to the material and worldly side
Of man-that side which dcspises the
transcendentalism and radiealism and
optimism Of both the principals in
this case, and looks somewhere for
bounce. life, craft, and GOODNESS, The
fiery nature Of his hair and ample mus
tache, the nerve and nervousness, the
good clothes, fine confidence and superb
suavity of the man relieve him
from the idea of any serious
connection with the Brooklyn set. lie
was called by Beecher My dear Won
Motke." As the trial proceeds he de-
yelops very nearly to the sell.mastery
and literary skill Of TiltOn, if, indeed, he
does not loom up as the larger being.
There is nobody in court with him eX-
cept counsel, but ke has slowly captured
friends from unwilling witnesses. The
jury, in part, look at him as he comes in
to court with certain approving wrin-
kle. The Judge gives him very fair pro-
lection. He seems to have very good
physique and not to be annoyed, especial
ly not to be inundated If he was pert
or forward or retaliatory he would speed
lily drop to the ground, but, on the
whole, he shows the superiority, for com
mon sense occasions of the business man
over the literary man, the preacher, and,
we might almost say, the lawyer. There
is little merry devilishness IN his way OF
testifying. Yesterday he kept lawyer
Tracy on string long while as to why
he omitted to insert Mrs. Beecher's letter
in one of his documents, with the intent
to say, after long worry, that he re-
he ought to have done it
three weeks ago.
II is the general opinion in tho court
that Tracy crosse xamlnatiOn is better
than Porter's as to an understanding Of
the evidence in the case, but poorer as far
rs its manner is concerned. Judge POr-
ter stayed home yesterday, sick. He
baillcd the witness the second day by his
polteness, and made spectators wish he
would make some points on Moulton, de-
serving to do so by his bearing. Indeed,
he did do very well, with Mr.. Evarts as
sistance, on Tuesday, and made no little
inroad upon the witness.
Mr.. Tracy labors under the dsadvan-
tage Of being hot friend Of Mr.. Beecher
and he has absolutely no art His face
Is like thin red furnace, revealing the
zeal within il, and he has been a public
prosecutor SO long before United
States court that his manner has
become oyerbearing, and this,
added to his excessive tenn
permanent, takes from him some Of the
sympathy which his natural manliness
should obtain. He is like Marshal Ba-
zaine on trial in court like this-his
military nature impatient under the re-
straInts of form and aflectatiOn. Look at
hun. Mr.. Tracy, standing there in the
centre Of the court, is at least six fest
high, and weighing probably go pounds.
His shoulders are square and powerful,
his chest broad and full, and his limbs
east in the largest mold Of country far
mer or boatman. The military character
Of the man, and his origin in rural parts
are plainly denoted by his countenance
and stature. His hands, feet, knees,
jaws, and joints are cast in the largest
pattern. Ills long frock coat is bIttoned
close thin tape tie .iSides his standing
collar from his shirt bosom, which has
two plain gold studs. Occasionally he
breaks his coat open, thrusts his hands
deep in his pockets, and exposes a gold
watch cham. He is very nearly Of the
size aud style Of the late Gen. George H..
Thomas.
The face above these imposing proper.
tons is individual and powerful, without
the aid Of a visual obliquitv which still
more gives il the air of combatiyencss,
not TO say carnage. lie, however, is a
good-looking man. The face slopes back.
ward like an inclinedIplanc, aud the jaws,
covered with a red stubble of beard, like
buckwheat stubble partly grzzled with
must, are even more prominent than the
large square forehead. Between tho jaws
and forehead the features are compressed
into a relatively small space The mouth
IS nearly hidden by the grayish muStache
and beard the nose is straight and thin
and short and little beakiSh. The eyes
are almost hidden and small and appar.
emily blue.
Erect, resolute. feryid, afraid Of no man,
but not so good TO handle the rapler as
the breodsword, Tracy whacked at Moul.
ton with SO much power that he lost rela.
lively more vitality than the witness.
lie had the keen assistance Of Mr.. Eyarts
aud no end Of suggestions from Mr.. Shear.
man