Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-04-02
How he First Became Acquainted
with TiItOn aud the MOultOns
Interview with Mrs.
Morse and Hrs.
TiltOn.
A Simple, Plain and Straight, For
ward Narrative of Facts Al
ready Familiar TO the
Public Etc.

NEN 1ORh5 ApEl i. - a lew
minutes after the clock indicated
eleven, almost every member Of
',he Beecher family was in the court
room. Colonel Henry and William
Beecher, the Plymouth pastors two
sons, and Herbert Beecher, his nephew,
came in first. The Beecher boys gave
1p their old seats, and took chairs just
behind that usually occupied by the
plaintiff. Roster Raymond sat on one
side Of them, and Stephen Pearl An
drews on the other. Mrs. Colonel
Beecher next came in alone, and took q
seat in the front row. At five minutes
past eleven o'clock the main door of the
courtroom opened and Mr.. Beecher en-
tered, looking the picture OF ruddy
health, and accompanied by Mr.. and
Mrs. Bsecher, Mrs. Harriet Scovel (Mr.
Beecher's dsughter), and her husband,
Rev. Mr.. Scovel, Congregational pas
tor, OF Norwich, Connecticut; Mrs.
Beecher's brother, Miss Catherine
BeecheT, and three unknown ladies, Mr..
Shesrman, and Francis ID. Moulton.
Hr. Moulton turned to the left as he
entered the courtroom, and went around
the jury-bOx and took a seat
near Mr. Morris, at the table
occupied by the plaintiffs lawyers, di-
rectly in front Of the witness stand.
Just as this remarkable procession en-
tered by the main door, the tall figure Of
Theodore Tilton was seen inside the
doorway, leading to the judges private
room. Mr.. Beach was beside him.
The two gentlemen fell back, and al
lowed the other party to pass. While
Mr.. Wallace Caldwell was making room
for the .new:arrivals, Mr.. Beach smiled.
Mr.. Tilton stood behind him, looking
worn aud pale. Mr.. Beach then made
an attempt TO pass, and as he did so his
eyes met BeecheT's. They shook hands
pleasantly. Mr.. Tilton looked steadily
at Bescher, but the latter did not return
the gaze. There was q slight attempt
at applause when Beecher entered, but
it quickly died away. As he passed
through, the spectators rose from their
seats; and the group, which had just ar
rived, was minutely scanned. At ten
minutes TO twelve Redpsth left the wit
ness stand, and Mr.. Visits, turning to
where the defendant sat, said: Mr..
BHecher will now be sworn" There
was a buzz in the courtroom, and
Beecher, accompanied by an officer,
walked round to the witness stand, be-
hind the jury-box. Every eye was
turned on him, but he looked as un-
moved and uncOncerned Jas he does on
Sunday when, ascending the platform Of
his church, he tOsses his soft felt-hat
away, and calmly divests himself of
his overcOat, preparatory to preaching.
Frank Moulton lent forward in his seat
as the great preacher. was seen on the
platform Of the witness stand lowering
over the spectators in the body OF the
courtroom. MoUlton looked steadily at
Beecher while the latter took his seat
and never relaxed an earnest gaze while
he gave his testimony. Beecher did
not once look toward where Moulton or
the plaintiff sat. be appeared to leOk
over their heads, at the crowd or at the
Jury. When the.clOck struck twelve,
and Evarts stopped for moment in his
examination, the witness threw off his
overcOat, and taking out his watch
camly compared it with the clock in the
courtroom. The preliminary testimony
was listened TO with breathless interest.
MIR. Bsecher walked with s firm step to
the witness stand and with up-lifted
hand, at the same time announcing that
he had conscientious scruples against
swearing on the bible, took the oath and
testified as follows:
BEECHKR's TEsTIMONY-HIs EARLY
LIFE.
was born in Litchfield. Connecticut,
in 1877; my father was Rev. Lyman
Beecher; he died at the age OF eighty
six; my mother died when was three
wears old; was thirteen years old when
we went away; the family then went
to Boston: for eight years my father was
clergyman OF the ort hodOx church in
LitchfieId; there were six boys and four
girls in the family; all my brothers were
clergymen; ] went 10 Amherst college
in 1880, aud went through, graduating
in 1894; pursued my theological studies
at Lane seminary; / was licensed to
preach I'm 1884, and got a church in
1ynchbuTg, a small town near Cjncin-
natl; was next settled in Indianapolis,
where / went for eight years; since then
had been in Brooklyn as pastor Of Ply
mouth church from its foundation; had
been its only pastor; the church then
did not number twenty-five members.
BIS VISITS TO EUROPE.
| have been twice absent abroad.
Once ] visited England for two or
three months on account Of weakness
from sickness. Ny second visit to Eu-
rope wss, / think, in 1868, returning in
November. i had been worn out at
preaching before and during the war,
and my friends advised this rest. AT
first l refused, but l afterward went TO
England, aud thence 10 the continent,
returning to England in September.
While there, gave discOurses on public
affairs in America, in Manchester,
Edinburgh, and other places.
HIs CHURCH-JOuRSALI
AND BOOKS.
The number Of communicates Of Ply
month church HOE II shout twenty fiye
hundred or three thousand; IL has been
two thousand; for the last ten years