The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-06-12

introduction to the interview between
her husband and Beecber. Mrs. IIlton
had, months before, made q verbal con
fession of adultery, but these the prose,
cution had not been allowed TO prove
The prosecution had also wished to prove
what the contents of Mrs. Tiltons pa
per was, but the defense bad opposed 1t
and the Court had excluded the evidence
Recess was here taken.
A Decided Sensation.
Just before recess. while Mr.. Beach
was speaking, he saw an expression o
increduIity resting upon the face OF the
foreman lCarpenterl. Looking hl"
sternly in the face, Mr.. Beach said; 81
am entitled to your respectful considera'
tion, sir. | am presenting to you,' still
looking sQuarely AT Mr. Carpenter, 'th'
sworn evidence in this case-evidence
that has not been contradictcd. You may
smile. but YOU are here under your oatl
to solemnly weigh the sworn evidence
presented before you, and | have right
to expect your courteous attention alter
thirteen days of speech-making on tho
other side
Thi, allusion of Mr.. Beachs created II
decided sensation in the Court room.
After Recess
Mr.. Beech continued his argument. IL
said that MIR EvartS criticised the reIa'
ton by Titon of his wlfe's confession on
the ground of its particularly, and
because it was precise and formal 1t
was said to pe unnatural that Mrs. III
ton speaking of Beecher should specify
that he was her pastor. Well, Jacob IN
speaking Of Laban and Rachel specified
not only that she was his daughter, but
his Youngest daughter. There was
significance in the alusion to Beecher as
her pastor. 1t Was this relation that he
bore to Mrs. Tilton that gave influence
to his persuasions. 1t was said that the
confession of Mrs. Tilton was no evil
dence against this defendant; that was
granted us the court had ruled it out.
But when this confession was detailed to
the accused who covered before and eX-
claimed that it would kill him, it be.
came significant evidence Of his guilt.
The defence claimed that this was fore
ed confession. There was "A weakness III
their position; they mIstook the paper
obtained from Mrs. Tilton on the 2Jth OF
December for her confession. But the
confession whose repetition staggered
Mr.. Beecher on the night of the Both,
was that revelation which was made by
Mrs. Tilton to her husband in July 1870,
In view Of this fact, the paper used By
MrTriltOn on the night OF December 30
became of no value in this case. 1t was
not the basis of this charge; was not the
accusation which was used against Mr.
Beecher in that interview. 1t was mere.
" used to introduce the interview, and
TIlton had described the manner in
which the paper was obtained. Speaking
of the failures of the faculty of mem.
ory. Mr.. Beach said that he bclieyed that
thcr" was more
Involuntary Perjury
committed in the courts of fjustice than
the human mind could conceive of. he
did not believe that single witness in
this case had given an exactly accurate
narrative of any transaction which occur
red two or three years ago, or even one
year ago. If there had been, it was one
OF Evart>' miracles. Laughter. IT
was very easy for skillful eX.
aminers like Porter and EvurtS to
lead witness to the use of some hastY or
extravagant expressions. If be Beach
had confessed to one of the jury that he
had committed murder the fact of the
confession would never fade from his
mind. although he might forget or mis-
rccollect the language. SO MIR. Beecher :
confession of guilt. His expressions OF
remorse and despair fixed their character
indclbly on the minds of 1liton, OF
Moulton, and of Mrs Moulton, although
the minute details might not be- accurately
retained IN their memories. Beach then
read from TiltOn's testimony To disprovc
the charge that he had garbled
the "Catherinc Gaunt' letter. Evarts
had alluded to BeecherS noble efforts
in England during our civil war and had
asked the jury: "But after all this, are
YOU gentlemen going TO convict Mr.,
Berchcr. who had done this great work
for his country Another was an arSu-
ment. said Mr.. Beach, that an advocate
ivanced to an American Jury, sitting
in a court of justice, to convince them oi
Breehers INNOCENCE, "Oh! You must
not convict him, England will laugh Mt
Won. You must not tell England he Sc.
du,sl woman or her ari>toCrlr would
meet YOU with contumcly. ON, my
learned friend has had too much to do
with England and her aristocracy. II TINS
was the way the jury were to be controIi-
ed, then God help American institutions
and Justice. Loud applause. Was
their verdict to depend upon what Eng
land thought of Mr.. Beecher? Why, no,
said counsel. their judgments were to be
controlled on.y by justice.
Cosnsel then went on to remark upon
Evarts making demi-god Of Beecher,
whereas not word was ever said by
his counsel in denial Of the charge ofim-
proper advances, and Tracy, in his open
ing admitted the question to be whether
the charge and ohenceiwas improper ad'
vanceS.
DC
Mr. Porter here interrupted Beach,
and sad he could not permit counsel TO
s,atca fnlsehood and misstatc what they
said When. said ex.Judgc Porter, have
we admitted the guilt Of improper 'ollci-
tations?
Mr. Beach replied that his learned
when he accused him of falsehood.
Mr.. Porter stated that he was aston
ishcd that Beach should say they admit
ted the guilt of the improper solicitations;
Judge Nelson stated he understood
Beach to say that the charge OF imPro-
per advances had not been denied.
Mr. Beach angrily repellcd the accn,
sation that he had stated talsehood and
said he would not take such insult from
any man.
Counsel then continued and diiatcd on
the habits of Bcec her and said that ne
stated that hi Saturdays were holidays
with him and now these were the days
when the troubles came To- him. He
found time on Saturday to pay visits to