The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-21
NEW YORK.
The Beecher 1,rial

Iuo b00cu6r 1Tl6l,
NEW YORK, Nov. 20.-The trial of the suit
of Samuel Wilkeson against Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher for damages for breach of contract for
falling to complete his Life of Christ was re-
sumed in the Supreme Court this morning.
Mr.. Beecher was called to the stand by the
plaintiffs counsel. He did not remember
having in 1876 received, read or signed papers
shown him, nor did he recollect having heard
read a modified copy Of it. He did not be-
lieve that any demand for copy was made
since 1876. He knew they wanted copy and
they knew they could not get it. He under
staod that copy was to be furnished them, but
there was no limitation of time.
He had repeated conversations with Ford &
Co. as to the expediency of issuing the book in
1874 when Plymouth church was invaded and
presented by various councils (referring to the
Congregational counciD the gen tlemen of the
firm were entirely In accordance with me as to
the impossibility of putting ont the second
volume of the Life of Christ.
The counsel for plaintiff then declared his
case closed, and Beecher's counsel renewed his
motion to dismiss the case.
Judge Barrett granted the melton to dismiss
and made an rder allowing Mr.. Beecher $35
extra allowance.
Upon application of plaintiffs counsel a stay
OF 80 days was granted.
ColIyer on Whittier.
Rev. Robert Collyer read Whittier's poem,
"The Reformer" instead of a passage of Scrip
ture in the Church of the Disciples last even
ing In his sermon he praised Whittier as the
purest and sweetest sivger of the time and for
his manful fight for the black man. "They
went to Longfellow," said he, land repre-
sented to him that If he eliminated abolitionism
from his poems they would sell better in the
South. Longfellow consented. They said
the same thing to Lowell, and he did what
proposition to Whittier they met with con-
scentious and valorous refusal"
The Shipping Commission.
The first witness examined this morning be-
fore the joint executive committee appointed
to inquire ints the cause Of the decline in
American shipping was Matthew McEleny
who corroborated previous testimony given.
Matthew Nelson spoke of the great risks in
yolved in loaning money, on vessels, He
thought no bankers would like the risk. 1t
was impossible to establish shipping in high
tariff country. All laws prior to 1872, he
thought, should be remodelled and the ship
ping bill abolished as being unconstitutional
He advocated q law to extend federal control
over pilots, as their excessive fees keep many
vessels from New York. If Americans, he
said, were allowed to purchase ships where they
choose there would be an increase in Ameri-
can shipping, though time would be needed to
build it up. If Americans could buy and sell
ships in the markets Of the world, he thought
that within five years the ship owning industry
would be increased largely
Surgeon John b. Hamilton testified that
American sailors are shipped in bad condition
and become patients in foreign hospitals. He
advocated the abolition of advance pay.
Capt. Michael Daley recommended that
ships be purchased whenever they could be
got cheapest and thought he could sail vessel
OF 1900 tons as ehesply as an English vesss
could be run. He was in favor OF doing away
with three months pay plan and believed in
the abolition of all consular fees.
Ex-Congressmsn Calkens declared that he
was opposed to rebate, and preferred Ameri-
can material to foreign for ship building and
believed in relief by way of bounty. He was
In favor of subsidies and did not believe in
buying ships abroad.
John Roach testified that in the last ten
years he had built $10,00O,O00 worth of iron
vessels in foreign trade. He advocated home
sbipbuildng. England has $3.50, ,00o, 900 OF her
capitalists money invested in shipping. This
could never be done in this country. Our
capitalists are chary Of putting their money in
our shipping interests. At this point Mr..
Robson desired to be excused from further
service on the committee, as he would have to
leave owing to death in his family. Con-
gresham Candley so signified his intention Of
leaving. Should he do so the committee will
be left without quorum.
Death of aWell Known Scientist.
Prof Henry Draper, we'll known in scientific
circles, died this morning, aged 65.