River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-01-22
Becher- TiIton----Incidents of the
Great Trial.
New York Correspondence Jan. ~ Chicag
Times.

Times.
The plaintiffs counsel have shown
their hands in the contest between Til
ton and Beecher. Judge Morris con.
cluded his three days opening speech
to-day, the result being that the jury
must believe defendant guilty, from all
those letters and documents so long
before the public, particularly Mrs.
Tilton's written confession, and Beech.
er's contrition letter, as inconsistent
with anything but guilt, and also from
evidence to be given by Moulton and
Carpenter, that Beecher plainly confess.
cd guilt to them. Tilton will be offered
as a witness, but it is intimated that
the defense will contest his competency.
1t was not known, until stated by coun-
sci, that Carpenter woul ! testify to a
confession.
THE PARTY ~ COURT.
In addition to the Beechcr family,
Mrs. Field, Mrs. Ilton, and another
lady friend, there were also in court,
to-day, amongst the notables, Rev. 4.
Dewitt Talmage, Rev. w. Buckley,
one or two unknown clergymen and a
host of Brooklyn politicians. There
were vases of flowers before Bcecher,
as usual, and to-day his wife carried a
large bouquet in her hand.
THE CRIMINAL AT THE EAR.
Beecher was decidedly the most re.
Misunderstanding man IN the court, and
would az once attract tho notice Of a
etr~nsor. Owing 80 his long body, he
sits high, and towers above the heads of
his family with bold yet intellectual
face, so full Of latent humor, yet SO EN-.
inently clerical.
his VICTIMS.
lie paid no attention whatever to
Elizabeth to-day, for the matter in
hand was too serious; whereas she
looked at him long and steadily.
Iilton never turned his glance at
either, but watched with serious face
the effect of the speech and evidence
on the jury.
PRONOUNCED HIS own CONDEMNATION.
Judge Morris, in the course of his
speed h, created a sensation in this man.
ner. Condemning Beecher out of his
own mouth, he said he would not at
tempt to depict the RIGHTEOUSNESS of
the crime of adultery, but would give
them the words Of an author much
better able to do it than he. Counsel
then read a lengthy printed slip,
short extract from which will give an
idea Of the remainder:
'rhe seducer, playing upon the most
| sacred passions, betrays innocence by
It's tenderest faculties, its trust, its un.
suspecting faith, its honor. The vic.
tim, often and often, is not an accom-
phce so much as a sufferer, betrayed by
an exorcism which bewitched her no.
blest affections and became the suicide
of her virtue The betrayer, from the
the most intense selfshness; without
one noble motive; without one pretense
OF honor; by lies, deyilish jugglery,
and fraud, binding the eye, confusing
the conscience; misleading the judg-
ment, and distilling the dew of sorcery
upon every flower Of sweet affection !;
deliberately, heartlessly, dooms his con.
| Hiding victim. The accursed sorcerer
opens the door Of the world to push
her forth. She looks out shuddering,
for there is shame and sharp-toothed
hatred. The polished scoundrel be-
trayed her to abandon her. Surely so.
ciety will crush him. They will smite
the wolf, and seek out the bleeding
lamb. Oh, my soul, believe it not.
What sigh is that The dropping vic.
! tim is worse used than The Internal de-
stroyer. He is fondled, courted, pa ssed
from house to house; and she is
crushed and mangled in the Infatuated
tramp of public Indignation
When he had concluded, Judge Nor.
ris, With uplilted hand and glistening
eye, turned toward Beecher, and thun.
dered out, Twenty years ago-twenty
Years ago and that was the expression
Of the defendant.
Beecher flushed, laughed, and whis.
peied with his friends. "Oh. how
true, continued the counsel, she drew
the picture. In January, 1871, he
writes of his victim: "She is gailtless.
sinned against, bearing the transgres.
sions of another" How truly he wrote.
twenty years ago, "The victim, often
and often, is not an accomplce so much
as sufferer" They say that, because
he wrote in the letter Of coutrition.
''She is guiltless," there was no adul.
terry. In answer, we turn to this, his
own picture Of the sednccr and victim.
1t appears the extract was from n
sermon of Beecher's.
THE PERoRATION.
In concluding, counsel said, "As YOU
love your home; as you love your fam
lily and your children; rs you regard
the sacredness Of your home; as Won
reverence virtue and respect the sane
tity Of the family altar, | call upon YOU
in the name Of all that has been viola.
ted call upon you in the name of
Christianity; by the teachings Of the
Saviour on the Mount; by the law
Numbered from Mount Sinai; by every
consideration that is near and dear ia
us on earth i call upon You to brand
the seducer MS his crime deserves. Let
It DO written ON every door throughout
the land, Death and destruction TO tn,
seducer;" and when you have rendered
that verdict, you will receive tn,
prayers and blessings Of every virtuou,
mother, Of every yirtuous daughter il
the land, and peaceful conscience will
follow you through life; will be with