New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-15

Of q seduccr Neither you nor can properly estimate
the condition Of his feeling But you will remember thnt
when Mr. Rchars presented as witness In this case
the fac' OF the fall OF his sister had become notorious IL
was bruited through the whole community; the DIS
closure Of her sin had been made public and whether
under such circumstances brother would feel that there
imperative duty owing to the law and to society.
whether he would cherish any of those natural resent
ments against the wrong Oer. Ii question which might
be differently decided according TO different tempcra-
ments and TO the different ideas which every gentleman
might indulge I'm regard to those obligations. can
imagine, though by means assert that that was the
condition OF feeling uroR the part Of Mr. Richards but
very well lima zinc when he looked upon the distress
and the anguish Of that sister, upon her broken relations
upon her severed household, upon her condition OF dis
grace and suffering IL might very well be that there were
sentiments Of indignation aud resentment which, wneh
her seducer was elcd to an account would lead MN 70
become Of his principal accuscrs. But II
Is sufficient TO cay that from the manifestations
Of Mr. Richards upon the stand 1t ia perfectly apparent
that he was unwilling and reluctant witness; ana
when you come to examine his testimony, think you
will concedc TO us, behalf Of the plaintiff an exceed
ing dclicacy and In the extent Of the evidence
which We sought TO produce from him. He was not
pressed by close and urgent questions lie was per-
mitted IN his way and according to his own dis
erection Just much he pleased OF the sight
which he viewed upon that occasion, when he ventured
into the paror of Mr. TtOn and found Mr. Beecher and
Mrs Tlton I'm the attitude which he stated 1t quite
possible that If there had been more critical examina-
ton there might have been more detail In the statement
OF Mr. Richards which would have been affecting TO
his feelings, and perhaps detrimental TO the char
acer OF his sister II Is enough to say that he was not
pressed beyond the most statement OF the crcum
stances falling under his observation The attack upon
Mr. Richards produced from Dr. CurTie OF The Christian
Adc0cao comments, all OF which do not deem
proper state 10 the Court and to the jury but portion
OF which, representing the position and the character OF
Mr. Richards, propose to adopt as my own.
Some ten days since the papers told OF the appearance
Mr. Joseph II. Richards, a brother OF the incupated
He began his statement upon the witness stand
an appeal 10 the consideration due to- him in view OF It,
This the Court recognized with great delcacy but not so
manner to his words remarked, with mingled and
defiance in his tone. I've know your position, and we
TO us this seemed. when we first read IT, loo brutal 10
have ii appeared but later Developments do not
tense few days later another of the attorneys at the
very beginning made cruel and VII ked attack upon Mr.
ana TO all who read hear of the case, virtually
conspator with inosc who were seeking to blast his ais
good name, going there voluntarily To make speech
from the witness stand and connect IL with such wit
outside facts IN this to properly estimate the
measure Of this brutality ON the part OF the
ae and !. our our ea auy to to state s s%
Richards IS man in middle life, brought
been engaged honorable business residing for severnl
years i'm BROOKLYN. aud the last eight years
IN New York. lie has been all these years h0nocd
and eminent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and Their in business or In society, or In the church.
has been shadow cast upon his reputation
Iut il his misfortune, while casually calling nj his
sisters house some years ago. to he personally cognz
thing between her and Mr.. cecler, the knowi-
edge of which made him unhappy He told the story 10
only per- os his wife and her brother, and Win
tie Ii secret STILL except IA paiilaiiy tolu
upon the witness stand. Neither the plaintiff nor the
counsel knew what his testimony would be until th'y
heard IT. hit sspccting that he would TESTIFY something
10 their adj vanlagr. they brought II forward, &c.
Yet in these facts Mr.. Tracy holds him mp
as OF the yost type, cosrns to blackcn The
name ms sister and for what If the other wit
NJ this against whom equally severe things
are said. worthy Of cred, nee as We know Mr.
Richards he. then are prepared to ndOrSe them IA
incapable Of bearing false witness Nor 40 we believe
that be would SUI sect the harm that he did, without
what seemed to him to DO incapable OF any other con-
structon
| do not read the further comments. But my learned
friend Mr.. Porter, has appealed 10 the jury OF the
vicnagc In the long residence OF Mr.. Richards in this
city ne has occupied positions OF trust; he has been
engaged in works of the highest Christian charity and
and may with great confidence appeal to
the reputation which he bears IN this community, TO
vindicate him from what deem to be the unfounded and
outrageous attacks OF counsel.