The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-02-19
Mr.. Beecher's Line of Defense.


1t is our purpose to invite the atten-
ton of our readers TO certain circun-
stances showing what the theory of the J
defense must be, and that there IL reasonI
still to hope that the innocency of Mr..
Beecher of the crime with which ne IL
charged, can be established. We are
not about to urge the plausibility of this
theory, but will content ourselves with
presenting it az possibility.
Our readers have noticed the recur-
renee of the phrase spiritual adultery"
or as Mr.. Tilton phrased it in an article
of his read in his cross-examination,
adultery of the soul" This, Tilton
said in his editorial, was the most Grim
inal form of the crime. He is man Of
poetic temperament and morbid moods
excitable, erratic, seeker of originality,
cultivator of the imagination, and he
has testified that his memory is a series
of pictures-not record of events.
Many have read the novel of 4" Griffith
Gaunt," and recollect the devotion of the
lady to the priest, mistaken by the hus-
band for criminal passion. Mrs. Til
ton, it will be remembered, referred to
this story, and admitted that, like
Catherine Gaunt, she had given up too
much of her heart to her pastor, and she
felt remorse for it. Suppose the trouble
began right here.
Mr.. Tilton has expressed himself that
"adultery of the soul" is the highest
form of the crime. He accused his wife
of that. She confessed it. He was
jealous of Beecher's fame, and now came
to look upon him as usurping his place
IN fA' % of ~ IF row
morbidness, ,wretcnedness, andacute exag
geration of petty things-the aggravation
of all irritations--a state of monomania.
Mrs. Illton Is nervous person, worn
with sickness, weary of contention, afraid
of her husband, devoted to long prayers
and vigils, q timid little woman, magma
tive, troubled with fancies, craving sym
pathy and support, shrinking from con-
tention, and often in dreamy state Of
mind like an opium eater-a woman of
illusions-one who has fallen into frances.
She says her husband was everlastingly
nagging ut her about this crime of the
soul, and endeavoring to give it Il physi
cal Interpretation, and especially to ac-
cuse Mr.. Beecher. She might, there
fore, write or say almost anything, with
out seriously affecting the case.
Instances are not unfrequentin which
people go on misunderstanding each
other vitality for years, when both believe
all the while that they have perfect
knowledge. They may converse. each
i'll his own current of thought, and
neither see the thoughts of the other. 1t
is the lack of mutual understanding that
makes quarrels. IN these entalgle-
ments, what one uttars "a o protest be-
comes TO the other confession word
of self-reproach for trivial thing is
sounded abroad as cry of despair. The
world is full of these neutrality-suspicious.
The drama-farce and tragedy-abounds
with them. History bristles with them.
Trifles light as air. i'll other than the
miserable scenes of singing jealousy,
become " confirmation strong as proofs
of holy writ, y of some preconceived no
ton. One may walk very near the truth,
and yet in an abyss of falsehood.
We offer this theory of the defense
merely rs worthy the considerate atten-
ton of our readers, feeling that the vast
majority of them would be happy to well
come any rational solution of the dark
mystery of the case, consistent with the
redemption of the illustrious name that
is now in the valley of the shadow of
1poth