New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-06
A PICTURE OF THE COURTROOM.

For two or three DAYS past the public reports OF
the great trial have made mention Of the audi
ence, the lawyers the plaintiff and the group which
clusters about him, the Plymouth delegation, and
the jury. for Mr.. Beecher has monopoized attention.
When he is on the stand and giving testimony not
An eve wanders from him, those of the ste
pographers bent upon their notes The attention not
only of the audience, eager and curious learn far
ther details but also of the jury the court officers
even the reporters who write the descriptions how
ever wearied with the length of the trial is alb
sOrbed in what he says, and forl that matter in
what he does also; for his requires the at
tention not merely of ear but of eye, since his ac-
ton-Or his acting if one may say so-as well "a his
words, becomes part of the testimony, and, as The
TRIBUNE's report will show, par. of the actual
record. Under these circumstances the chronicers
of the trial. rule forget to observe the surround
ings. special study of these, yesterday, revealed
curious facts and interesting pictures.
The Plymouth jury has been largely augmented
by both sexes About ten ladies sat yesterday in
that interesting group. Mr.. Caldwell, the fore
man." has again resumed the duties of usher and
Assistant Pastor Halliday who has partly recovered
from his illness and the apprehensons Of libel SUITS
sat in Mr.. Caldwelps place. All of Mr. Beechers
and two of his brothers daily sit in the front
row of seats reserved for the defendants friends
The Rev. Mr.. Scovlle now occupies Mr.. Beechers
vile sits next to her mother and the to the left
of their sister. From first TO last they fixed fig
ures listening almost breathlessly to the declara-
tions of husband and father
The jury, directly to the left Of the Plymouth
Jrohp. seem to have taken new appearance
ince Mr.. Beecher took the stand. They have never
been inattentive-with one exceptOD-even when
he testimony related to comparatively trivial
points; but since Mr.. Beecher began eleven pairs
of eyes from the jury-box have been constantly
fixed upon him. The one exception remans-a
juror who confessed inter ignorance of the issue
when examined, and who is probably in the same
state of mind at present. The most constantly at
tentve men in the jury are Mr., Carpenter,
the foreman. and A. R. Case, who sits be-
side him. Their ewes seem never to wander
from the witness. Mr. McMurn the twelfth juror,
constantly leans forward in his seat as if hearing
was difficult. Few of the jurors appear to look
upon the duty of listening a labor; all seem as
deeply interested as the audience in what Mr..
Beecher says. None of them have been moved to
tears as some of the audience have been, but the
remark is not uncommon, however improper 1t may
be to make it, that if Mr. Boeeher has another scene
like that of the letter of cOnttion to describe. his
manner and delivery his pathos and his earnestness
will cause tears to flow even in the jury box.
Themostinteresting group inthe room at this time
In formed bv the plaintiff and his friend Mr. M0ul
ton They sit side by side, between Mr.. Morris aud
Mr.. Fullerton, with a corner of the plaintiffs table
for their convenience in making notes. and within
about eight feet OF Mr. Beecher, in front and little
TO the left of him. Mr.. Tilton maintains composed
couutenance, cold in expression, and seldom moves,
body OF muscle. He has wonderful control over his
features. His eyes maintain constant, fixed CLASSY
look seldom removed even Neutrality-suspicious. com
pei Mr. Beecher to keep silence. The only muscular
movement observable in Mr. Tilton is the occasional
rising or falling of the Adams apple in his throat,
ms if he were swallowing his emotion rage to hide
il. Mr. MOutOn is more restless, more busy with
hands aBd face. The plaintiff and his friend both
make notes.-the first seldom, the latter frequently.
as If he again writing out at dlctation another
letter of contrition apology, confession. His
facial expression often varies; first laugh, next
sneer, then again a look of amazement Frequent
whispers TO Mr.. Morris and occasional ones to Mr..
Fullerton supplement his notes for their informa
ton.
There is no change in Mr. Beecher's manner. He
comes in daily with his wife. conducts her 10 her
accustomed place. and after exchange of glances
which plainly express mutual encouragement he
goes M once TO the witness stand. He carries each
morning a nOsegay of wild violets-a tiny bunch
oulythe fragrance of which ne occasionally catches
Seemingly to keep the perfume from going to waste
be sometimes wraps his handkerchief around the
wild flowers. His manner OF delivery varies only
with his matter; yesterday the matter was grave,
and only once or twice did he indulge III the
humor which bubbles to the surface when |
ever the pressure of the circumstances will
permit. Some of his pleasantTies were tinged |
with bitterness For instance, he alluded |
TO Mr.. Moulton's frequent indisposition arising
sometimes from late hours. After Indignantly de-
nying Mr.. Moultons statement that he had ad |
United the commission of adultery to Mr. Bowen. he
added soto rOce, "When admit that TO Henry G.
Bowen il is sure TO be impressed on my mind" The
purest "Beecherism of the day the explana
ton of his mode of fixing dates, by reference to his
diary OF lecture engagements, which days. he
added were not movable feasts in the calendar"
His testimony yesterday was in the main q review
of the testimony of the plaintiff and Mr. Moulton,
with explanations Of various letters
REGULATING THE LETTER OF CONTRITlON.
Resuming AT the point at which he had left OIL on
Friday and continuing the examination of Mr.
Beecher in bis usual slow and guarded manner. Mr..
Evarts called his attention once more to the occa-
sion of the writing Of the letter of contriton. An
introductory question or two led up to the denial
that that document was in any sense the work of
III