The Portland daily press., 1879-04-02
TALMAGE'S TRIAL.
The Reverend Gentleman Objects
to Being Tried On News
paper Interviews.
Am Acrimonious Debate Between
Grave Presbyters.

~~N>--o
terry had stated that if the presbytery refused to
receive newspaper accounts of interviews with
Talmage he should read them outside and let them
influence bin, and protesting against being tiled on
this kind of evidence.
At the conclusion of the reading of the protest Dr.
Van Dyke said
soemnly declare that I never said any such
thing. ! said that when DR.. Talmage was put upon
the stand should ask him whether those inter-
views were correctly reported or not. and If he
replied that they were, or declined to answer the
question, should read them, and let them affect
my judgment; but that if he denied them, 1 should
believe him. Go on, exclude me from my privilege
as members OF this Presbytery, if you want to. 1
am not juror; am just as much a judge of this
court as you are, Mr.. Moderator. This Presbytery
cannot dictate to me what shall read. have not
read one line of those interviews, but repeat now
what said before.
DIR. Spear-The counsel for the defense have no
disposition to raise issue on this paper at the
present stage. DR.. Van Dyke, in my hearing, said,
distinctly and definitely, what is charged in this
statement. declare that he did say it, and can
prove it by any number of gentlemen. This paper
was drawn by the counsel of the accused at his
request.
DR.. Van Dyke-I insist as my constitutional right,
that some disposal shall be made of this paper at
once.
By the Moderator's direction, the stenographer
read his minutes of DR.. Van Dykes speech, in which
the alleged language was used. DR.. Van Dyke was
reported as saying substantially what was charged
| in DR. Talmage's paper. The reading of the i'm
portant sentences was greeted with loud applause.
DR.. Van Dyke-I insist upon immediate action
being taken upon this paper.
Mr.. Crcsby-Dr. Van Dykes position is this mat
ter, to my eyes, is as clear as day. (Laughter.)
Mr.. McCulloch-This was done to create the back
ground of public sentiment. move that the
matter be laid on the table.
DR.. Van Dyke No, sir, I object to that; yon can't
do it.
Mr.. Mccullough Withdrew the motion. Nearly
every member of the Presbytery had a speech to
| make or motion to offer. and for a few minutes
| everything was in confusion Dr. Van Dyke contin-
ued to insist that he had been incorrectly reported
and DIR. Spear reiterated the that he had
heard the words himself and that they were written
| precisely as DR.. Van Dyke spoke them.
| DR.. Buter-I move that the paper be returned to
| the counsel for the defense.
DR.. Spear Return it to the defendant if you re-
| turn it to anybody, not to his counsel.
DR. Butler again moved that the paper be returned
to the counsel for the Defense saying that the
duct of this trial, both sides, has been entirely
contrary to the rule of our book This paper is en-
tirey out of ORDER We here before God, not be-
fore the people of Brooklyn. We are not here as
| jurymen, but as judges and we want The simplest
| facts in their simplest form.
Mr.. Millard-The defendant has right to demand
that no person shall sit in judgment on him who has
| prejudged the case.
DR.. Butler-I call the gentleman to order.
Mr.. Millard-I speak of the brother who has
l iuefh had Aonr said Ia fam dov
thing about 'the counsel on the other side.'' Let
| him explain what he meant by that remark.
DR.. Butier-I meant on the other side of the house
nothing more.
Mr.. Millard-Ajudge who says he will form his
decision from outside facts
DIR. Van Dyke-I never said so.
Mr.. Willard Then can't understand language.
| DR.. Van Dyke-Well, you can't; you'd better &c
back to your primer. have not read those inter-
views. am not a newspaper readng man. The
trouble with both my friends is they are trying tc
play lawyers when they are not lawyers.
| Mr. Willard The interviews were ruled out,
| DR.. Van Dyke-I don't care whether they were Oh
not. The Presbytery may rule out the Book Of Gene
sis if it chooses, but I'll read it still.
Mr.. Crosby-I move to amend the motion that the
paper be returned to the counsel improper and Out
| of place.
/ NIL Mlhdru cdlleu idr LIE yeas anu nays,
DR.. Wells moved another amendment, that thu
Presbytery has found that the paper does not agree
with the stenographic report, and that Dr. Var
Dykes version of his address is found to be the tru
| one. Mr.. Crosby accepted this as part of hi
| amendment.
DR.. Spear-You have man arraigned at your ba
under an indictment that slabs him to the very
heart Will this Presbytery, before God and man
turn that defendant coldly away? Generous AMI
noble men ought not to do it.
DR. Van Dyke II I believed that this paper CAM
simply from the heart of DR.. Talmage, would b.
able to bear it. But 1 know that it came simpl,
| from the hands of his counsel In the daily news
papers have been stabbed where everybody know
| my heart is the tenderest. I am entitled to know
whether this Presbytery regards me as competent t.
cit in this case or not My integrity has been i'm
peached
DR.. Talmage Gmpressively)-I am asked whethe
that paper comes from my heart. 1t does.
DR.. Van Dyke-Did he write the paper?
DR.. Spear-I will answer that question for him
He did not
DR.. Wells-I move my amendment as a substitute,
for Mr.. Crosby's amendment.
DR.. Butler accepted the amendment.
DR. Drake-It is strange doctrine that the de
fendant may not speak in his own defense.
Mr.. McClellan-when 1 heard DR.. Van Dykes re
mark last week regarded it as an unhappy remark
| ali hough understood 1t in the same way that DR.
Van Dyke explains It,
| The motion to return the paper to the defendant
counsel, as out of place, DIR. Van Dykes being tn
true version, was then put The yeas and nays wer
Ordered by the Presbytery, and the motion was car
ried by vote of % to g. Mr.. Halsey then asked
leave to read some newspaper tracts but the leave
/ Woe uotu tod