Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-01-22
THE BEEOHER-TILToN TRIAL.
SCENES IN THE COURT-BEECHER, TIL
TON. ELIZABETH AND MOULTON FAC

TON, ELIZABETH AND MOULTON FACE
TO FACE-THE 0oLNEss OF MR..
BEECHER- OF SYMPATHY.
&c, &C., &C., sc.
The trial of the suit of Tilton against
Henry Ward Beecher for 800, 900 damages
for the alleged seduction Of his wife, is in
before Judge Nelson. The ''mu-
tual friend" Frank Moulton, has been on
the stand for four days and is now being
cross examined. Mr.. VIM.
Evarts is the leading counsel for Beecher
and Roger A. Pryor, formerly of Virginia,
Ex-Judge Fullerton and others are counsel
for Tilton. The jury is composed of three
Presbyterians, two Episcopalians, two
Catholics, one Methodist, one Baptist, one
Lutheran and two of no particular church
leaning. The evidence differs very little
from that heretofore published in the let
ters and we do lfot propose to cumber oul
columns with its repetition. We give
some extracts describing various occur
rences in the court room:
THE COUNSEL.
Roger A. Pryor has been made to do
considerable work already, particularly in
roSs-examinations. He and Mr.. EvartS
have the quaintest faces in sight. Both
are bland, somewhat self-conscious men,
quite different in age and perhaps culture,
although Mr.. Pryor has been, if not stu
dent, u good miscellaneous reader. Evarts'
slim face, with excess of characteristics
compressed into it, is well known.
MI. Pryor has IA long head, very broad
at the temples, and long black hair, swept
straight behind his ears and turned under
at the end. His profile is not harmonious
and his underlip largely projects be-
yond the upper. His nose is combat
i've and prominent. Great purpose is ex-
pressed by dis countenance the eyes
are wide apart, darkish gray and glitter
ing, and he fully answers to the ideal of
the duelling editor and politician he once
was He has very healthy, ruddy skin,
and is dressed in blue cloth. His body is
wiry and active. His manners are concili-
atory and genteel, even fiattering. MI.
Pryor is a man of patience and enterprise,
and has stood firm through the difficult
years of waiting for practice in great city
where he came as a stranger.
The mysterious creature of the trial is
Judge Porter. He sits back and looks in
comical grandeur at the spectacle. MI.
Sherman, III the meantime, is pu tting his
Industrious as bee. Mr.. Hill, the junior
counsel, keeps his highly animated black
eyes and Napoleonic head ready for the
great work before him.
Judge Fullerton is a stout man, of horid
complexion and judicial bearing. Perhaps
no person in the whole array Of cousel has
more the quiet, mind-reading face and
carriage of counsellor of long practice
and disciplined faculties. He confers We
ry little, rises with his eyeglass in his hand
and interrogates, in cogent, manly way.
MI EvartS, speaking with no more precis-
ion and with even less ease. There is lit
tie of the pettifogger in Fuilerton's meth
cd, but he is said to be capable, in the
height Of a trial, of badgeringa witness
numerically, turning out his mind like a
reticule. lie is expected to cross exam
inc Mr.. Beecher with the whole ingenuity
of which he is capable, being a deyotee to
practice and carrying his full talent to ev-
cry case. His light blue eyes, relieved by
reddish fiaxen mouStache, browS and hair,
look all over a Juryman's face, searching
ly and expressively, and still not with
feeling any more than if he opened his
door to look out earnestly at the wealth
er.
THE PARTIES FACE TO FACE.
The courtroom was crowded an hour
before Judge Nelson's gayel was heard
Promptly at II O'Clock the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher, his silverhaired wife, and
Col. Beecher entered the courtroom and
took seats near ex-Judge John K. Porter
Within few minutes Theodore Tilton and
his counsel appeared. They had scarcely
taken their seats before a loud buzz ran a.
round the courtroom, MI. Tilton cast a
quick, nervous glance toward the door, and
crossing the threshold, One of these ladies
was Elizabeth R. Tilton the other her
friend. Anna M. Hicks. Mrs. Tilton was
attired in a black silk dress and dark vel
vet cloak, with black velvet hat ornamen-
ted by an ostrich feather. She removed
her veil, and glanced for a moment at her
husband. Mr.. Tilton returned the look,
and then whispered softly to Messrs. Beach
and Fullerton. The lawyers simply smiled,
and made no answer. Mrs. Tilton for the
time was the central figure of attraction.
She was very pale,S and her manner was
that of a timid, shy woman who felt i'll at
ease under hundreds Of staring eyes. The
crowd instinctively instituted a compari-
IOu UcUWccI uCl ttIlu NIL oCCCuCl tllu tlC
result was not favorably to Mrs. Tilton. 1t
was apparent that they were opposite in
character On one side was a weak, timid
sentimental woman; on the other a posi-
tive, determined, and even in her old age,
handsome woman. Mrs. Beecher was
cool and self-possessed throughout the pro-
ceedingS, Notwithstanding the bitter at
tacks upon her husbands honor Mrs.
Tilton was evidently nervous and embar-
raised. Mrs. Beecher has a classical face,
full of force and expression: Mrs. Tilton 3
face is of a commonplace type.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXAMINATION
OF HENRY WARD BEECHER.
The New York s'Sun - of Friday last
said
Mr.. Tilton spent most of yesterday In his
library going over the letters that are to
enter into the testimony of the case,
with ex-Judge Fullerton, who, perhaps, is
not so well Informed about the details as
his associates. Mr.. Fullerton Is at the
same time taking notes for the cross-exami.
nation Of the Rev, Henry Ward Beecher,
and to that end has a small volume con.
tanning Mr.. Beecher's statement, with pro-
fuse notes in pencil and ink on the wide mar
gin of the pages, by which be will refresh
his memory with his work. A part of the
programme is said to be that MI. Fuller
ton will take with him to court a very large
pile of presents that Mr.. Beecher made to
Elizabeth Tilton-among them a full set
of Mr.. Beecher's sermons, a very finely
bound and illuminated copy of the I" Life
of Christ 1.-TWO volumes of the English
edition Of "'Norwood some engravings,
few trinkets, piece f jewelry, and a
very pretty painting Of Towering vine
that MI. Beecher had made from an origi-
nal in the mountains. On the back of the
picture frames are re the y, words the
Mr.. Tilton is to testify that in addition
to the above presents, Nj. Beecher sent to
his wife boxes of perfume soap, cologne
and stationary. The presents that remain
in the Livington's street cottage are to be
handed to the Plymouth pastor, one by one,
tho viii naSS Stand for him To identify