Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-03-10
BEECHER -TILTON.
GEN. TRACY OPENS FOR THE
..... DEFENSE. ..I .....

us turee DAYS speech, III opening the
case for Mr. Beecher, in the world re-
nowned damage SUIT of Tllton vs..
Beecher:
Mr.. Tracy rose and said the time had
now arrived for the defense to open
their case. There were great interests
involved In this trial. They could not
be over-estimated, as they involved
the religious and moral interests OF So
ciety. Either this defendant was to
20 forth vindicated from this court
room or with stain upon his life aud
character. .dy client takes his stand
here alone, but supported by his God
and
THE JUSTICE OF HIS CHARACTER.
Defendant early devoted himself to
the ministry of God. 1t was no bed of
roses, He struck out for the wild
West, and rung the bells 10 the forest
glades, assisted by his dear wife, who
accompanied him. He is now the
same true, simple, unaffected man as
he was there in his Western home.
No pain or human sorrow but had not
found in him a reliever. Among his
great congrek alton he had ministered
for over twenty years untiringly. He
has been the indefatigable teacher of
the people for all these years. 1t was
because his preaching was known by
those who knew the man that he was
girded around in this trial
BY so MANY WARM HEARTS.
When danger threatened from
abroad he was the first to lead the
masses in defense of the Union. His
courage in that struggle won the adj
miration OF the whole world and the
urotitnHn nf his nannl.l
One of the most striking character
istics Of the man was a profound aud
earnest interest in young men. This
prosecution was the reward he receiv-
ed for the love and devotion he had
lavished upon a young man. The
speaker then went on to state the his
tory of Theodore Tilton. He embrac
ed the widest views, and believed that
the world would fellow iE the way
which he led. He became deist, de-
nying the existence of God, and
DENOUNCED THE MARRIAGE RELA-
TON
AS "a fraud, and hindering the ad-
vancement of the world. But TheO-
dore Tilton fell from his high emf
hence, to which few men attain, To the
bottom of an abyss. In the blind i'm
potence of his rage he determined to
visit his anger upon Henry Ward
Beecher, imagining he had been the
cause of his destruction. Beecher was
friend of
BOTH THEODORE Triton AND HIS
WIFE.
Friend, wife and children must be
trampled down to secure that Vlndica
ton for which he had bartered
his whole soul. Counsel spoke of
Beecher's affection for Theodore Til
ton, which was increased by the lat
ter's marriage to "A young girl, mems
Der of the congregation. Beecher was
then invited to fill the editorial chair
OF the Independent, and he had APP
pointed this man assistant editor, and
it was here the
FOUNDATION OF RIVALRY WAS LAID.
Beecher's habit of making himself at
home in the residences of members of
his church was known to TiIton, and
he was early requested by the latter to
visit his house.
When Tilton lived in Oxford street
Beecher began his visits to the house
invited by the former; but Beecher's
visits were not very frequent. Now
want you to consider, gentlemen, that
Mrs. Tilton is the true defendant in
this cause-she whose lips are sealed
in this matter. Theodore Tilton's ev-
cry wish was met by Mrs. Tilton, who
did everything in her power to make
him happy. Religion in life was one
of her greatest cares, and she was so
licitous that
THE HUSBAND OF HER CHOICE
Should walk in the right path, but
blinded by the flatteiv of Tilton, re-
fused to break Gway from his associates
and the companiOnship of those who
scofled at religion, ana uOw he would
try to make us believe that she fell in
to that pit which she was eudeavoring
to draw him away from. Counsel then
came back to Mr.. TiltOn's career when
he succeeded Mr. Beecher IN the ed
itorship of the IndependlHt, and in
the first year of his office, said counsel
he wrote the letter containing the
charges against his friend and pastor.
Counsel here quoted from letter writ
ten by rilton TO Beecher, speaking OF
the friendship between them. If, said
the letter, " L should die before you,
BE A FATHER TO MY CHILDREN.
l believe human friendships outlast
human life. aud meanwhile may our
Father above protect you" The letter
was signed, " Your eternal and devoted
friend, Theodore Tilton." The first
thing Theodore Tilton did after becOm-
ing editor of the Independent, resumed
counsel, was to satisfy people that he
had emancipated himself from the
power of Beecher. About this time
there was a question before the people
as to what should be the attitude oil
the Northern States toward the South
ern, and a controversy existed among
the members of the Republican party
as to what should be the course OF the
IndepeRdent. Beecher then wrote his
Cleveland letter, which was made the
subject of bitter attack by Tilton
who found himself with majority o.
the party. Men holding extreme
views
FLOCKED AROUND TILTON,
Obtained possession of him, and con
trolled him as long as he conducted
that paper. Even his religion becam,
tinged with these extreme views, as il
shown i'm his letters to his wife. Thi