The Portland daily press., 1882-11-15
w ell Bestowed.
NEW YORK.
The Reecher Contract Case.

The Beecher Contract Case. sl
NEW York, Nov 14.-The suit of Samuel
Wilkeson against Henry Ward Beecher was
called for trial yesterday before Judge Barrett
In the Supreme Court. The suit is for breach
of contract. Beecher contracted with the pub
fishing firm of Ford & Co., in December, 1867,
to write for them life of Christ He agreed
to write the book within eighteen months and
received as part payment in advance and be-
fore he would sign the contract, $4,000.
Wilkeson was partner in the firm and paid
the advance. Since then the plaintiff says he
has never been able to get the book out of
Beecher, nor the $4,000 advanced. The first
part of the work was furnished Ford & Co.
some years ago and was published and circu-
lated The second part, however, was only
partially furnished by the defendant. The
plaintiff alleges that he was put to considera-
BILE expense in preparing for printing the work.
and he sues to recover what he has expended
When the case was called to-day both sides
answered ready. Beecher was present and lis
tened to the opening of the proceedings
Counsel for defendant moved to dismiss the
complaint on the ground that it did not state
that the payment of royalty to Beecher had
been fulfilled and that the statement had not
been given him as to the number of books pub
lished. The counsel also moved to dismiss tho
complaint upon the paper itself.
Judge Barrett denied the motion.
Counsel for plaintiff then put in evidence
the contract between Ford & Co. and Beecher
whereby the latter agreed to write the book in
consideration of one dollar. The partnership
of the plaintiff in tn firm of Ford & Co. was
also proved. A number Of other papers were
also putin evidence.
John r. Howard, of the firm of Ford & Co.,
testified that from January 1, 1872, to Novem-
ber 8, 1877, 1865 copies of the Life of
Christ" were sold. He said that they en-
gagged artists, engravers and printers for the
work. They had great many applications
from agents and supplied them each with a
book in the form of that which the firm pre-
posed to publish. The entire cost to him of
the printing and publishing of part first of the
work the witness estimated to be $62, 100.15
The items were given by the witness The
cost of the books sold he estimated at $780,
5000, and also the books on hand at $685.
7S0 Y. The aggregate receipt for the books
sold were $67 ,48425.
An ex-Indian Agents Crimes
Ex-Indian Agent Tiffany, who is indicted
in Arizona Territory for embezzling moneys
and government property aggregating about
$4,000, and appropriating the same to his cwn
use, gave bail this afternoon before U. S. Com
missioner Shields in the sum of $15.0 900 to ap-
pear at the opening of the U. S. District
Court in Tucson, Arizona Territory, the first
Monday of February.
Death Of a Merchant.
Benz. 8. Breckwith, merchant. died at
Staten Islond last night. aged 65. He was a
native of New England.
$4,000 Worth of .Furs Stolen.
Troy, Nov. 14.--Last night burglars entered
the fur store OF S. B. Mount and carried away
$4,000 worth Of sealskin, otter and other fur
garments.
The Land League.
The executive committee of the Irish Ma
tional Land Leapue at the meeting tonight
advised the reorganization of the League with
view Of giving a national prestige to the
movement.
Municipal Trouble at Troy, N. Y.
Troy, Nov. 1e.--There is great excitement
here over the organization of the new board oi
aldermen. The Republicans and Independ
ents have IL members and the Democrats IL
The latter at the meeting of the old board
seated candidate who claimed to be electe d
to fill vacancy, thus tieing the board. May
or Fitzgerald suspended the city clerk and ap
pointed a clerk pro tenn, and the Democrats
left the room when the roll was being called
to organize new board The clerk pro ten
tn en- recognized the claim of ex.Aldermar
M orrisey, an Independent, as holding ovel
and the board proceeded to organize without
the Democrats. The courts will be appealed
| to to settle the matter.