New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-16
Mp REECHERS CONTRACT.
:, ,nr,. w1LKEsoNs SUIT BREAKS DOWN.
nrxox WHICH THE PLAINTIFFS LAWYER DID


-, w,keson against the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
nudge Barrett's in the Supreme Court yester
- Mr. wiseson, who was absent on the trst Gay OF
,s.I WA near bis counsel Thorndike Saunders, and
s,ustimes engaged him In whispered consultations MI
Soher sat inside the bar but away from his lawyers
"a ,eeed 10 have only the ordinary interest OF spec
s.,or IN the proceedings Thomas G. Sherman ana MI
e.scher's son, william @. Beeoher, cared Tor
MA interests and they had very easy time OF H. Ior
matters had so shaped themselves by the time that te
plantif announced that his evidence was IN Ih"' W"
fourt tntmated that Mr.. wikeson would De non-sueu
unless he succeeded introducing very strong ana oe
evidence on point where he had failed utterly anu
- waiting for request from counsel Judge Bar
,o,, adjourned the case till this morning 70 give MIN
time 20 fud his evidence.
John r. Howard partner in the nrm OF D. b. oru
Co the original owners OF the contract on isre 10
comply with which the suit for dansgcss oASeo sup
pemeued the statements of the day before with ngures
A. 10 the firms outlay The Life OF Jesus the Ohrs
nth further estimates Of the cost OF Advertising etc.
,xuaned the nature the contract between the puo
u,hers and the subscribers, and gave IL a. MS
opinion that had it been completed tne 'eooHo
volume Of the work would have yielded he ~ -
unca As the first. making in all Sl339oV oo' &c
-, go evo,o,p ,tion bv Mr shearmln Mr.. Saunders
.r~eed that all evidence introduced as 10 INC
cost OF the books on hand shouiu % -
ant and TINS saved counsel for MT beeenei VIZ
work OF proving that large bumpers -
hook al
having already admitted that between January anu
Tr,v nearly % 600 copies he'd been printed aud none
sold The witness asked II IN the ia OF 1903 d.
Ford 4 CO. had taken an interest IN the paper oO
Tbs Church THion. This was objected To- MT oHedi
"a, said that he proposed 70 show tha1 whhe III
ueeeber was engaged IN wiring " The Lie OF Cnrls'
r-t 4 90 had thrown upon him the burdens and re-
,rsibuit1es % the edtOrshlp Of The church Union.
icb was afterwa ds called The Christian Union Ihat
thereafter they had not solicited MN TO continue us
rk on the book. but had treated II az entirely
coudrv matter that the fact that this was the
rsason Of the stopping work the book was so well
aarsfcod that none Of the partners, except Mr. Wke
son made any demand for the completion OF the book
Int continually wrote Mr.. Beecher TO take his time
e Court admitted the question. and the witness said
mar his firm mad purchased The church Union IN sep
,,m,4r or August, 1869. aud Mr. Beecher
b,a become It's editOr-inchef He identified
several letters written by him TO Mr. Beecher
IN the fall OF 1859. They discussed the
mans for the paper and offered criticisms On proofs
Of the book wing mat Mr.. Beecher was at work on
n al the tine. letter dated september TO- 1909
Mr. Howard called Mr.. Beechers attention 10 the tact
that the smile Of failing dew applied 70 the words
OF angels was used twice IN the volume, and that be
,o,ss.d Massage about Mary's feelings" which had
sounded particularly beautiful when Mr. Beecher read
ITO him froIn the manuscript He also called Mr..
Becher's attention remark IN the book that Christ
had shown no in Bethlehem and asked whether
his longing drink from tire well there was not sig
pincant episode In that relation
Judge Barrett SAID that the offer Of royalty to Mr.
Beechtr Ia 1873 was a waiver Of all claims OF J. B. Ford
Co. because Beecher's neglect up to that time,
and should rule. To lay foundation for another
letter Of Mr. Howards. MI sherman read the follow
tug lsttcr Mr. WiIkesoR;
NEW YORK sept. Is. 1873
Nj DEAR MR. BEECHBRi The nrm OF J. b. Ford q
Co have 81 THIS date invested Oh tnslr CAPITA ~ yS%r
A. our books snow. The sales of the volume issued
lures a,nonnt TO $4,000 In unbound sheets and in
sock generally Of tue hrst VOLUME We have locked up
ceesed Ia reply to my questions to-day one 81 my co
partners sara TO me: IIe safes are nothing 20 speaE
se1 The Is that il If not known when the work
when the purchasers receive the sccoUd volume;
aud that people Will take the lrs any more. with
the Of not getting the othef Ihs Is the reason why
900 III Great Britain Tor reprint OF me
vOtk s worthless 70 as Inc LnSn5n lever guy Is 80
OF any work. except great hl5lOIs or DGA "
illustrated mechanics. While the residue Is uAwrlteh
Mr. BeecHer the firm OF Ford q Co is out Of money
II Is nov a borrower The fault OF TINS Is yours. and
u The .alrs OF tue work would long ago rein
burse1 tue investment ana made pr0nts Inc concern
4, enlarge its business aud reward LoOr. Certainly
wDuld nave been saved from the damage ana lame
markell aud borrow money No reason eau be given,
NJ 800 1or ,,nr faI1ire to IN III yuur en- g4genrut Il,
us either law Conscience, which WI excuse he
lacecs, Tor currently tnTouGh all the ume since you
resards foaud ample .ime TO do Literary
H. earning large sums Of money hereby
Wrle not harsnly trutufulb when say that your
best excuse IOr your ornauce o! your agree
my house lie maj you preferred 10 do 0tAer
ana make 0ther pronts mat the laDor was lrK-
come 10 you successful performance depends
OF your moods that you had discounted your intel
lee N al inter, 81 IN the work
Seher one 4or til, otOer OF these will relieve
gca - "a" u n1 he srformed TIM IS business
enga-rment based upon cash paynent 70 you OF
$4,000 which greatly needed 10 establish your SOL
IN uIo. You have had our mOuey. We ought 10 nave
APPEAL 10 ,ou Mr.. Beecher to finish that work aud
30 relleve house. Ii s your duty 10 DO IT, 10 my
yoger aud ess rich partners your delay to do IL hs
% 'r,r ssive and cruel I feel Dound to ADD ma 4
tnr reasous thus lar avaed 10 keep out
of IN. ,eond volume ana pie up Sl5 900 of our capital
IN uDsable sheets and Other STOCK are 20 continue,
you morally bound 70 cancel our contract am re-
Additionally ours, SAMUEL WnKEsON.
MI Howard identified another letter written Oy him
OF septic Der 49, 1873. and sad that he had learned OF
Mr. WilkesOn's letter when he wrote H. Mr.. shearnan
read me following extract! really Time TO
wrte 10 sou tbis afternoon but thing must say
Yesterday found ivy desk. press copy OF letter
you in the Mss u redOubsble friend and copsrtner
sw. asked Ed ltne witness said " Ec." Ed
L. Fora can had sent tle letter (Or wicd mad
'Yos' san too. MIN he was gong to
vrte soaeHng but WO.lint LAY what and
wouldn't let am s.e 1t IN after it had gone-
Nov, Ei (nor you, for he matter of thau deny
the iacts; bu. do Doth waat you 10 know uIe
pustiIg form TINS time and IN that way is
contrary to feelings ana Judgment and our WISHES
For NY IT, CON ireheIid now better ever
Why II Das been impossible for you TO have Inc sap
How uUrns the past Two Year,, ana while should
have v ,i.trn wIJAin a day two urging you tu
~ Up the proofs that the type might cast, the 40
esoz OVerruu and matters Ohdt mdch pat ahead
@ay f4s when you do begin TO feel IL possible
- qfoduec, AMY must protest against SANS let
'1 nj sail 40 90 to hin well as you
tHlnk t.c wOglu- up Jf tie proc would probably
e9 ~ Graw your nnd again 20 the saDje and with
A. Weather this fl you could dc uuCI with tie DOuk
s0fe spring But u Is The i1t OF Tic letter
Mhu al Anow hi tool c1HapfOve VI and refuse TO bo
wen taciuy bo0Is by It,"
ieW ques lions from the lawyer broGght out the fact
that the witness had known Mr Beecner ever since ne
e~"e 20 bfooHyn and that his fathers family and MI
b'eenrrs "ere On terms OF tue closest IN imacy Mr.