Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-04-08
Bee0her.

When We read Tilton's story Of the
wrongs which he alleged Beecher had
committed against him, we felt that it
needed confirmation. We thought that
the character and the work of the Brook
Ign Preacher entitled him to more con-
sideration than is usually shown to ordi-
nary men, and we waited for an accumu-
lation of testimony on the one side, and
for IN explanation, Or TN explicit denial
from the accused. Moulton's statement
soon followed Tilton's, and presented
sun an array Of evidence against Beecher
rs to convict him in the judgment Of the
world.
At that time Mr. Becchcr made a gen
eral denial of everything in the nature of
criminality, and appointed committee
from his own church to investigate the
charges against him. To the public such
action seemed rather for the purpose of
concealmcnt than of full exposition, and
it did not make a favorable impression.
Connect with this the collateral facts that
the action of that committee was exparte,
that it admitted no testimony against
Beechcr not included in the two state
ments, and that after hurried examina-
ton he was exculpated entirely, and we
have prima facie case so strong as to be
accepted generally as conclusive. 1t
should be said however, that Plymouth
Church aba1ed not one whit Of their con-
tidence in their Pastor, and that some of
the most respectable newspapers contin-
ued to assert his innocence, but Aotwith-
standing this, VIC think the public opin-
ion prepondcrated the weight of his un-
circunstantial denial and convicted him
of the crime charged. When the trial be-
gan Mr. Bcecher was in the valley of hu-
initiation, but to-day he is upon the dc.
tectable mountains. Previously to the
defendants taking the stand the whole ar
ray Of testimony analysed and compared
went to convict Tilton Of being every
thing that he ought not to bc-to show
that he had no such affection for his wife
as he pretended, that he had made his
home a hell by his petu]cnce, his mean
ness, and his marital infdelity, that his
Jealousy Of Beccher was occasioned by
the latters popularity and nothing else,
that his Statement" was made for the
purpose of obtaining money, and that his
whole case was a stupedous fraud. AT
this situation of affairs the defendant
takes the stand, unravels the sophistries
Of lawyers, explains the antiquities of
his own letters to Moulton and denies the
allegations of Tilton, with such clcarness,
candor and conc!usivcnes rs to challenge
the admiration of all, and to produce the
universal conviction Of his innocence.
Even Tilton breaks down under the crush
ing weight of Beechcr's testimony, declar.
ing that lie is without home, family or
friends-ruincd for this world and ready
to die. Bcechcr has grown immensely in
in the estimation OF all classes. Since his
innocence became apparent men have
been able to see what terrible prosecution
he has suffered, and they now regard him
as a mrrtyr too good to do mean act and
too noble to avenge IN injury. Should
the trial result as now seems probable, in
his complete exculpstion, it will be the
means of making him the most popular
man that the world has ever known, and
of sending Tilton down topostcrity AS the
most infamous traducer Of which the an
nails of time furnish any account.
This ctor,, &c to11 ~ a oort,;n Th;co M