Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-04-08
FIRST EDITION.
The BROOKLYN Trial.

AIR. BEEcHER STILL ON THE sTASD-PRO0REss OF
THE cAsE, YEsTEGDaY-ExrLAININo HIS LET
TERs
Mr. Beecher continued yesterday the task Of
explaining his various letters and contradicting
the statements Of MIR. Iilton and Mr.. Msulton
Their relations with Mrs. Woodruff, the effort
to restore Mr.. Tilton to membership in Plymouth
Church, and the document familiarly known az
the ragged edge letter" were the main ele-
ments in the mornings testimony. In the af-
ternoon tho Tripartte Covenant formed the
principal topic discussed The audience was
large, as usual
Mr.. Beecher testified that his
REFUSAL TO PRESIDE
ut the Steinway Hall meeting was positive and
that Mr.. Moulton and Mr.. Titon both knew it to
be absolute, though they had testified different
ly. His relations with Mrs. Woodruff were not
cordial, he did not agree with her eocial views
and told her so, and refused positively to invite
her to his house, although Mr.. Moulton and Mr..
Tilton received her at their homes. The rela-
tions Of the last-named gentlemen and the wife
of Mr.. Moulton with Mrs. Woodruff were, on
the contrary, intimate and affectionate and on
one occasion, at dinner at Mr.. Moulton's
house, he had seen all three welcome Mrs.
Woodruff with kiss.
Tho poem by Mr. Tilton called
"sIR MARMADUKE's MUSINGS"
was taken up, and Mr.. Beecher testified that on
ton his Indignation at Its publication, calling 1t
'a dastardly thing" and declaring that it was
"an i'll bird that fouls it's own nest Mr.. Beech
er subsequently denied having said to Mr.. Moul-
ton, az alleged by the latter, "that it almost
broke his heart to read it, and that he " consid-
cred it virtually telling OF the story of him
self and Elizabeth" He explained that he had
said that it broke his heart to have such things
sad "brnging Elizabeth's name out in such
way before the world for it WAS an arrow shot
at her."
A DECIDED SENSATION
was produced when Mr. Evarts brought up the
"ragged edge" letter, written Feb. g. 1872. Mr.,
Beecher explained at length the circumstances
under which it was written, and what was meant
by its expressions. His manner in narrating
these circumstances was very emotional and the
whole audience listened breathlessly. But for
the restrictions OF the rules of evidence Mr..
Beecher would probably have made his state
ment ON this point more elaborate, but he was
manifestly under restraint; and not merely Of
laws Of evidence, for more than once the tears
bubbled to his eyes and his voice choked through
excess of emotion.
FURTHER INQUIRIES AND ANSWERS
were DEVOTED to the "tripartite agreement" and
to the publication by Mrs. Woodruff of the
scandal, and the narrative now reached Decem-
ber, 1872, when Mr.. Beecher and Mr.. and Mrs.
Tilton had conference at Mr.. Moulton's house
for the purpose Of coming to an agreement on
separate cards denying the Woodruff scandal.
Mrs. Tton copied card written for her by
her husband Mr.. Beechei then cd to sec
Mr.. Tton's card, but Mr.. Tilton declined to
submit one, and Mr.. Beecher then put his in his
pocket, declining to contradict the story unless
Mr.. Tilton Joined in the denial. The testimony
of the defendant in regard to this interview was
IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION
% that OF Mr.. Tilton, WHO affirmed that Mr..
Beecher was willing to join NJ g. Tilton in de-
NAL, provided he had MIR. Tilton's word Of honor
hat he would not overturn the denial by pub
ishing anything to the contrary