Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-05-20
The Rcechcr Case.

JUDGE PORTER BEGINS HIS SPEECH FOR THE De
FENDANT-HE RoAsTs TILToN AND MoULToN.
Ex-Judge Porter yesterday entered upon his
argument in the summing up for Mr.. Beecher.
First he pointed out the contrast between tho
lives and characters of the plaintiff and defen-
dant, and denounced Mr.. Tlton with startling
earnestness. He then turned his attention to
the letters which passed between Mr.. and Mrs.
Tilton and analysed them one by one. enlarging
upon the passages which lie considered to be op-
posed to the idea that Mrs Iilton had been
guilty of adultery.
EVERYBODY KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT
when almost the first words uttered by Judge
Porter were these: Men are apt to be bold
of speech when two staiwart champions like
Mouton and Tilton make joint assault upon a
clergyman and woman, the one forbidden by
his profession to return evil for evil the other
weak powerless-held as il the hollow Of the
hand by man who has but to look upon her to
subdne her to his will" The last clause, refer
ring to Mrs. Tilton, was delivered in a deep, de-
liberate voice, with scathing force and as the
words were uttered the speaker turned toward
Mr.. Tilton, who sat behind him, and shook his
clenched hand in his face with look of scorn.
MIR. T1LroN's FACE TURNED VERY RED.
but he looked the lawyer straight in the eyes,
while his lips became pressed tight together, ,as
if with suppressed passion.
Judge Porter continued at intervals to turn
and denounce Mr.. 1ilton to his face, and more
than once tho latter, who was busy making
notes, dropped his pen nervously, and. half
turning in his chair, faced the speaker with an
angry expression. Mr.. Beecher watched Judge
Porter closely with evident appreciation of his
efforts, and sometimes he glanced at the flush
ed face of Mr.. Tilton, when the orator was de-
livering some of his fieice denunciations, witch
a half pitying look.
MRS. BEEoHIR LEANED FORWARD
in her chair and listened with rapt attention.
When Judge Porter was describing her hus-
bands career, and her own wifelv devotion, her
eyes filled with tears, but a moment afterward
she glanced up smiling at Mr., Beecher. MIR.
l'eecher himself cast his ewes down soberly as
he listened to the praises of himself.
The attention of the audience was enchained
from the beginning, and they listened i'll perfect
silence. The jurymen showed more continuous
interest than they exhibited while the testimo.
ny was being taken, and not one of them grew
during the whole day. The
CHIEF AIM OF JUDGE PoRTER's ARGUMENT
was to prove from the character both
of Mr.. Beecher and Mrs. Tilton, and from the
tone and nature Of Mrs. Tilton's letters to her
the great mprobability that any adul-
ferrous intercourse had takeu place between Mrs.
Iiton and Mr.. Beecher. A curious feature of
the argument was the force with which little
points of evidence, mere momentary flashes of
light cast by brief and almost unnoticed express
sons of the witnesses, were brought to bear by
the skillful orato'.
Judge Porte: says he will probably speak un-
til Friday night If his strength holds out. Mr..
Evarts has desired him to occupy the whole of
the remainder of this week with his argument.