New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-21

bench and among the audience were Jackson S.
Schultz, w. A. Hall, DR.. Conant the Rev. P. Church.
D. D., Mrs. Lott Jones' sister of Mrs. Beecher State
Assessor Briggs Thomas E. Stillman. G. P. Lowrey,
and United States District-Attorney Tenney.
CHARACTERISTICS OF JUDGE PORTER'S
ORATORY.
Notwithstanding the deep interest shown in Judge
Porters opening speech Wednesday, the audience
yesterday had considerably lessened in size. The
courtroom well filled, but not crowded and the
number of disappointed applicants for admission
comparatively small Judge POrter's address was
fu of fiery passages and sarcastic denunciatOns of
the plaintiff, but it assumed somewhat more argu-
mentatve character than on the preceding day His
delivery was rather monOtonous, and many of his
sentences were spoken in so low voice to be in
audible in the more distant parts of the room. AT
times he threw much pathos into his voice, and
drew tears from the eyes of some of the counsel for
the defendant and of many persons III the audience
He frequently interrupted by suggestions from
Mr.. Shearnan which he received very atentivey.
Mr.. Beecher. who present with his wife and
her sister, Mrs Jones showed great interest in the
argument and kept his eyes fixed upon the speaker,
making no attempt to conceal the qualification with
which he appeared to listen TO the efforts of Judge
Porter The jury exhibited the same untaggng
interest and close attention that they showed on
Wednesday, and their looks seldom wandered from
Judge POrters face except when his words and man
caused them to glance at Mr.. Beecher or Mr.. Til
ton. The latter was closely watched by the audi
ence and whenever Judge Porter became paTticu-
Larry severe In denouncing the acts words of the
plaintiff people would lean in their chairs and
stretch their necks in order to catch a glimpse OF
Mr.. TiltOn's face and see the effect upon him.
Mr.. TiltOn maintained his self-cOntrol with less
appearance of effort than on Wednesday, and once
very c0oly interrupted Judge Porter and corrected
his reading of one of his Mr. TiltonsD letters Mr..
Tton gave critical attention to the argument fol-
lowing with book in hand. the citations and read
ings from the evidence made by Judge Porter, and
jotting down notes. Sever; times he talked in
low Tone very rapidly and earnestly, with Mr..
Beach OF Mr.. Morris.
Before beginning his argument Judge Porter ex-
planned that the reason that his words were some
times partially inaudijle account of a former
difficulty of the lungs, from which he had not en-
tirey recovered, and he asked reporters to remind
him whenever he dropped his voice too low. He at
hrst continued the line OF argument which he had
pursued on Wednesday, and read from some Of the
letters of Mr.. and Mrs. TtOn. Among these was the
letter OF Nh Tilton to his wife III February 1867 IN
which he mentions his meditations on Christ as He
would be in the character of a married man.
THIS letter Judge Porter read in a knocking manner
accompanied with scathing comments that produced
. marked effect upon the audience.
Reading one of Mrs. IiltOn's letters full of cx-
pressons of devotion TO her husband, the orator
sloquenty described-by way Of comment upon an
expression in the letter-the charm of apparent
yOuthfuness which the mutual love of husband and
wife casts over the gray hairs and wrinkles which
come upon them in age. In doing this he paid
graceful tribute TO Judge Nelson.
Judge Porter opened the more strictly argumenta-
tive par. of his address by calling attention to the
dates on which the complaint particularly charges
that adultery was committed-Oct. TO- and Oct H.
1865 These dates he asserted were selected De-
cause they were believed 10 be safe from proof OF an
abb bv the defendant u imagine he ex-
claimed, the searching of altman acs by luton anu
Mouton, when the days were fixed upon"
THE testimony of Miss Bessie Turner formed the
principal subject of the argument yesterday. with
great power the orator skeched the scenes between
Mjss Turner and Mr.. TiltOn described by Miss
Turner He then analysed her evidence, praislng
ner character as innocent and devoted, and her
,tatements as truthful and consistent. The
testimony of the witnesses who contra
aicted her was rapidly reviewed. Ax. Richards
WAS denounced, Mr.. Martin was sarcastic
raly called "Tilton's spy" and Mr.. IIton
himself was declared 10 have failed TO give more
Than "A uualIteu denial OF bue very Poihs ~ -A-S
Turner's evidence which it was most vital TO his
case to contradict Judge Porter lauded highly the
manner in which Miss Turner had borne the cross
examination of Mr.. Fullerton and Mr. Beach
and the general character OF her tesu-
nony With great effect the orator exclaimed,
"She to-day stands proud and erect, While he"
pointing at Mr. Tilton with contemptuous
look. and speaking in harsh voice, with scornful
emphasis, sinks from the gaze of manhood and OF
womanhoodw Judge Porter made powerful appeal
to the jury at this point asking the jurymen they
believed this TO be an honest man" and turning
toward Mr. Tilton he exclaimed, with fierce inten-
sity, Hollow treacherous, false, cowardly, base"
The testimony of Henry C. Bowen was taken up
near the close of the session, and Judge Porter
initiated the manner in which Mr.. Bowen had testi-
fed, putting his own Interpretation upon MI
Rowen,s exnressions Turning suddenly to Mr.
Tlton the lawyer caused a laugh by exclaiming'
with an ronical smile After all, Theodore do MT
you think that Henry c. made pretty poor WIT
ness ?" Mr.. Tilton darted back cOntemPtuous look
at the speaker. Judge Porter will continue his arsu-
ment to-day.