Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-06-04
THE TILT0NBEECHER rRr,H.
M. ESarts Continues His Address

NEW YORK. June 4.-There was alarge
crowd of spectators this morning in the
Brooklyn city court room when the procesl-
ings began. The jury were early IN iheir at
tendance, and all the parties 20 the suit Oc-
cupied their accustomed places. A few min
utes after the hour Mr.. Evarts arose and
continued his address 20 the Jury. lie began
by referring 10 the letter known as
THE CATHARTNE GAUNT LETTER,
written by Mrs. Tilton To her husband ON the
Sth June, ISL, which he stated furnished a
complete refutation OF the pretenSe that this
woman had committed adultery. Evaris
Then read The letter in question 20 the jury.
IN which Mrs.. TiltOn said her eyes had been
opened FOR the first time 10 a consciousness
81 her SIN by reading this book. and stating
mat She blessed God for such a character as
Aalharine GaunL IL was only when Mrs.
Triton read Catharine Gaunt's life, said
Mr.. EVarts. In tile book of fiction. when
she read OF a pretended relation be-
tween a clergyman and woman.
which did not exist an seality, and the Jury
might see how this work OF fiction hal
played on the heart of Mrs. Tiljonl; that she
saw as under the burning light Of the sun
the conduct OF her husband. and she thought
she was responsible for the appetiteS aud in
dulgences of her husband. The first two
sentences OF the book written by Reade
showed the jury what the feeling was which
was engendered i'm the wife. The husband
says I'm il: Once for all that priest snail not
darken my doors again, and the woman re-
plies; They are my doors and that holy
man shall cross them as often a. he Desires
The jury could See from this the feelings
which were disturbing the peace OF this
household. The husband had no sympathy
with the Catholic piety and orthodoxy OF the
wife, and she set her religious cOnfeS>or
above her husband In her regard and esteem.
This excited the jealous feelings OF the hus-
band and led 10 the disturbed condition Of
the household which followed. Yet Mr. Til
ton did not hesitate To take some passion 10
himself even, although he chose tins book
Tor his wife To read and profit thcrefrom.
The jury saw now as in n mirror
THE HEART AM LIFE osTHIs WOMAN.
Mrs. TiltOn, and the husbands knows edge Of
az. This letter t>1 been mutilated when
published. part a. II had been left out aud
the places supplied 10y aSteriSks i'm print.
Iwas bad enough - publish them. bat in
nnltely worse 10 suppress portions OF the
letter. 10 was undoubtedly very hard that
Beecher should be Judged by this letter i'm
which he had 10 act and took no part. Mr..
ENarts then read the letter In which Mrs.
1lltOn said She noped that TiltOn would
never be miSled by a good woman, a. she had
been 10y good man. Now. said counsel. we
drew frum Tilton on the stand that this wo-
man. Catharine, was pure woman. and had
not been guilty OF any offence. and yet he
(Tilton) published this letter 90 show that this
novel had opened % his wife the state of car
nal pollution she was in, and VIII ca she had
not seen before. Mr. EVarts then read the
letter written by Mrs. Tiltou to Beecher on
the sth OF March, ls1l, in which she stated
that
THE BIRD WAS SINGING IN HER HEART.
and az king him II his heart bounded towards
was suffering from Der feelings at the
accusation she had made against Beecher
and her efforts were directed TO restoring
everything. as 10 was, and everything had
then been restored, and her heart was light
ened. The errors and mistakes on all sides
had been corrected and this poor lady, as
sumlng that OpenneSS of character was the
best method, wrote letter 10 Beecher.