smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

But blinded by his egotism and drunk with the
in,oxcaton Aaey he refused to break from his evil
associates the voice Of friendship the appeals Of
affection had power him And gentlemen they
ask US TO believe that at this me when al Of wes faith
woman devotion and mothers love, being excred 10
save Theodore Ton from the compsnonsp and coruptng
influence Of whose feet take hold hell this pure
minded and sanity woman her very effort to her hls
band fell herself Fell into the very sins against which for
many anxious years. she had been warning her husband
with strong crying and with teas Nay, more that the very
regon-the religion which she had cherished all her life and
which was confessedly conspicuous In that life,
furnished the motives for her fall! still, more
that so infatuated and mntelligent was her hold
upon faith that having nned she soemny denied this
conscientious crime and invented tissue Of lies TO support that
denial that still further moved by inspiration she believed
Divine she abandoned all the responsibilities and loves Of life
and caye spiritual guide himself all eprous and oahsome
with adultery and perury-and ancmax Of abOminatOns
that she is "a pure and whesouled woman" still Gentle
men, yon full grown you have the wisdom that
from the experience OF life the observation Of human nature
the knowledge Of affairs Is there among you that


cred all that experience and observation 70 entertain for


moment suggestion unutteraby absurd, absolutely
mOnEtrous,
Year: 1875

Small in stature, and of a childlike disposition,
abe is OF deeply reyerenaI and filed with an
exalted religious enthusiasm. The plaintiff himself de-
claes that, had she lived in former days and belonged
10 the Roman Catholic Church. she would have been
recognized Of those lustrious whose names
shine with the halo Of santness She devoted 70 her
home entertained views Of the sacrdness OF motherhood al
most romantic On that possbe and her whole life
under God absolutely husband and children without
to her self sacrifice Gifted sensitive, pure
sedepreciating, idozng her home and worshppng with
all the intensity Of her the husband Of her early love
her very existence blended with his that their union
fulfilled Lord Cokes definition Of marriage "wo souls united


in person" From the Theodore Tlton placed the
wedding ring upon the finger Of Elizabeth until that hour
when driven by his persecution she compelled 70 tear
herself from her home and from him forever there had been
but person in all things dominated tat household
and that Theodore Tion His wish to her
mand; whatever he wlled she did Relieving him from
every household incident the rearing Of young and
numerous family she was content to toll and sufr that he
might win the distinction he coveted 30 much.
Year: 1875

Ii now becomes my unpleasant duty TO invite you,
gentlemen CONSIDER for and what s Theodore
Tton The plaintiff in this presents the most impressive
morseess power and the destructive effect Of single absorbing
master passion An adommang selfish egotsm the basis
of his As boy he bright and ambitious and


his quckness Of apprehension and felicity Of statement DroughI
him early recognons praise Everybody hafiered and en-
couraged him. regarding hE seconcejt something when
years the hard experiences Of life would modify
into reasonable self reliance and honorable pride Begin
ming life reporter the public press he brought INTO
contact with great orators and public and he early resolved
to devote himself TO public career. All his studies were
turned upon this pOnt-to make himself graceful and power
m speaker and writer The Of appearing well and sounding
well the be soughta dangerous pursuit Tor one al
ready strongly predisposed by constitutional vanity
consider life drama and himself It's hero.


He unbounded confidence and cool calculating per-
tnacy way upward Possessed Of fine address,


lively Imagination fertile fancy and owRg speech nc lacked
the powers Of deep and original thought and than these
sound discriminating judgment and the unsesh aims
which the prime elements Of noble manhood Anxious
above all things shine he seized every opportunity and a
yOcated every which would give him prominence lie
adopted of heading OF the country, SUMNER Phil


lips Garrison and than any other Of Mr. Beecher who
seen lavish Of friendship and ad-and repro
daced them in sensational editorials and lectures The
extremists in politics and religion 10 whom he joined himself
ready reward facility with which he yielded himself
their by fostering his conce representing him a. the
successful antagonist OF Mr. Beecheths young David VINO
had oyerthrown the great Goiah in debate and the brilliant
occupant OF the editorial chair Of Tie Asdde who had
eclpsed the light ofhis predecessor.
Year: 1875

There was but one person on earth to whom She
could make known her and that was their friend
and pastor Boundcss her faith in God and in the efficacy
OF PRAYER enthusiast she believed in
wise and faithful application OF appropriate means How
natural that she should appeal in this emergency 70 him
who had been the friend Of his youth the counselor and guide
Of his matucr manhood lie sympatized with her suffering
and promised help How faithfully and how endery he couH-
eed the plaintiff have seen by the beautiful letter. as wise
a. il is beautiful which the defendant wrote to the plaintiff in
1861 II Tton could have but needed that advice how different
the scene this day witness There would have
been no bleeding heart deserted hear one no wife with
broken heart aud blasted life children with blight resting
upon their young and innocent lives but nome happy and
united family bound together by the ties OF love and respect


household altar undesecated in those early days Of simple
piety Of which be Is much ashamed.
Year: 1875

He fell in with gay, fascinating people, who con-
sdcred themselves free from the conventional restraints OF So
cety and little by little he slid into their ways OF thinking
His unbalanced vanity proof against the wine Of
dangerous theories presented the Of the aerer
Surrounded only by who burned incense TO his vanity nc
became inflated with success and fsncied himself monumen
ta genins prolific Of wit and wisomn word the
foremost man Of his Conspious destitute alike OF og
cal power and the poe OF nice moral sense he embraced the
widest views and rushed forward believing that the world
would follow where he led Some persons Of cool heads
can speculate social, political or religious questions
without losing their balance. but with Theodore
Tnton to calculate the depths abyss plunge head
long into IT, believer the Christian faith and member OF
IN orthodox church. pecuated the origin Of matter ana
the Attributes Of God until he deist denying the
divinity Of Christ md rejecting the Scriptures Divine rev
eation Of Gods will 10 man The husband OF gifted pure
aud loving wife-the father Of interesting family having as
he describes H. an ideal home he specuaed social prob
ems and was led by man influence under which he fell
10 denounce the marriage relation remnant Of efete civil
zaon clog and hndrance the development Of the race
His remedy for the evils Of marriage easy divorce
leaving parties as free dissolve the relation as they
were 10 enter into IT, lie denies that he IS a


free lover but Victoria WOOdh the apostle OF free love-
asks for no greater freedom Than this leader OF men
must know how to construct and preserve, but Theodore
Ttnn knew only unsette and destroy The moment
he position Of prominence that he could be stu
and criticised the garg defects OF his character discov
cred themselves who had hitherto been his dupes
Opposition prng up every quarter and at last he forced
70 realize thai the foundation which had been for him.
and on which he had placed by than b. h
self was crunbno beneath his feet The end Theo
dure Ttor fcl-e from ennence seldom attained by
Of hs ageo he very bottom OF the abyss he depths Of which
he had attempted TO sound.
Year: 1875




There followed soon after very marked change
in his social views respecting relation of the and par
ticulary that Of marriage and divorce Mr. Ton espoused
with zeal the cause Of suffrage he reports himself IN
The Golden ACE as having said during the that after ha
abolition Of slavery the great question which would a
tate the public mind would that of womans suffrage And
undoubtedly believing that great social revolution was I'm
pending aspred make himself the leader OF the move
ment But its members differed widely among themselves
their views OF the marriage relation. Many perhaps ma
jorty conceded with all Christian people upon this snb,ec
while others held that marriage was Of cy con-
tract and that the parties thereuno should DC As
free 30 dissolve the relation they were 70 enter
into It. As was his custom, Titon accepted ne moss
radical views upon this az upon other sao'ec1-
He soon began with friends visiting at his honse upon
this matter He did hesitate declare before his wife thar
he had now regard the marriage relation very der
emily from whs, he once did To him longer sacred
institution to be regulated by Church stale bis most
intimate friends Of both sexes be those who agreed
with HIN upon the subjecof marriage They used TO converse
much upon the relation sexes the great value OF mutual
friendships between married and unmarried women or DC
tween married and other mems wives OF the extent 70


which such ntinaces could be carried and still be innocent
and finally could be nothing criminal m any reaon
which love had sanctihed This say gentlemen we shan
show you was frequent subject Of conversation between MI
Tton and his associates visiting his house was these
entinent 40 offensive TO this pure devoted wife and
mother that she was compelled listen to day after day and
week after week. This change bis sentiment wa poss
Bile more repugnant than his change in religion The one
she sove against with anguish enaty and with tears;
the other she resisted and fought against She Gesped tba
doctrine and adherents she forbade her home 10 ths
women who advocated it, che demonstrated with ner nhsoAnd
against the principles he held and the people with whom he
associated and particularly suspected his numerous friend
ships with women which he characterized as sacred weddings
which knew no sex"
Year: 1875

Thus has he-alone-almost fulfilled the divine
command Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel 10
every creature estimate fun force Of my words when
affirm that no man ever exerted in bis own lifetime so wide
spread and benehcent influence The faeang and abd-
ING power Of this Christian minister has long been marvel
to the people Of two continents, and theories both
friendly and hostile have been advanced TO explain It,
Gentlemen shall solve the problem for yonf the reason OF
tho mower OF this mans preaching Is that behind his sermons
tbre IS Ii,e-and behind the le It because they
have come from the heart they have gone 20 the heart


because his preaching known by those vino know him best
TO be illustrated by hs daily living that he f. in this supreme
emergency Of his life grded by millions Of faithful hearts and
walled to heaven by unaeng love and confidence OF hs
people.
Year: 1875

But If there are those who are not interested in
the minister Of the Gospel invite them 70 contemplate the
patro and phanthropst Epousng the cause Of the op
presd he abored for the emancipation Of race When the
AGITATION rcsulted in conflict Of mperlng the Union Of
the States his clarion voice heard everywhere Grousng the
nation 70 the holy srfe danger threatened from abroad
he was prompt to plead the of American union on the oa
as of American liberty the fare Of infuraed thousands set
on by foreign esocacy 70 reye him and TO strike him
down Mr. Beeeher's hand TO hand fight with Tue Enghsh


masses on English soil thrilling page in history known ana
read Of al men, His courage his DEVOTION his eoqnence I'D
that memorable contest the admiration Of al Europe and
can never be forgotten by American people In that srng


ole Henry Ward the nations gratitude and the ma
lions love When fury Of the storm had spent its force


when the war was over and the nation was saved then the
voice which had rng like trumpet in The sre was Tie nrs
n Mead for fobearance the yanqushed for con
donation Of the past and permanent peace resting upon uh
versa amnesty This gentlemen lie true and uniarlered po


trait Of the defendant in this caseas husband father GU


xeu a patriot phiIanthropst, minister and man. III IL
were a statement 10 be established by es
timouy thousands upon thousands Of witnesses nlght
crowd this Court To confirm ts truth for the name OF Henry
Ward Bcecaa long been e treasure Of The nAo as w
Year: 1875

One OF the most striking characteristics OF the
been describing profound and ever active
in young men The Rrsi work he pnbshed
work which him envabe reputation while be was himself
yet Young man which sti disseminated by thousands
in this and other lands was ha lectures Young Men
When, therefore, his earlier Brooklyn ministry he encoun
tered young Of unusual promise Ike him TO re-
oeye the youth into his heart of hearts and to lavish upon
him that affection that expenditure Of time and that wealth
Of intimate intercourse which few Of the highest
culture had desired For that privileged intimacy and
Or that actonate Devotion this prosecution is the grateful
eward The heart which that generous sowing brought
forth only the deadly ngtbae Of envy the heart
Of The pialntf IN this suit
Year: 1875

From that abyss he behcld aar of the man who


had been his early friend and patron but whom he had long
garded inferior and rival standing firm and erect his in
flence widening and deepening and bis hold public favor
becoming more and permanent and FED
by nornate vanity awake 10 reasonable est
mate of himself Failure and disappointment lead such


man 10 determination excite within him only bitterness
race and malice With him II IL his folly and mpo
tence that npeSed his advance bn some maeyolent
power has terered In the blindness OF his rage Theodore
Ton persuaded himself ha the sole and efficient cause OF his
Beecher tha the one man who had prevented
him from reaching the opmos summit Of fame BeecAer
But one resource was len 70 him II he had not power 10
build he still the power destroy and Beecher should feel
that power To ecpsel neglected gall and
wood soul II ne could famous be could AZ least
be Infamous and he preferred niamy 70 oblivion Nj
Beecher mad ong been his friend and the intimate
fnend of MS wife That friendship he could pcryert
and make himself the author, and al the same time
the central fcure OF the amous scandal Of modern times
II be could suppant Bceche in the affection Of the peO
pie ne could scandaze him he had made it impossible for
any honorable pen write his biography then was It
worth any line devoted to him in the biography
OF Henry Ward Beecher HIS natural towards plots and
conspiraces now fully revealed itself and Beecher the
object Of MS Ills andgenus for attudinzing-for
Ton s nothing If not drauac-began TO be displayed As
in play everything arranged with view to effect
Facts nothing TO him except they could be adrotly
used to serve the purpose OF his pageant Friends wife chill
dren and al other hold sacred and DEAR must be
trampled down and walked reach the notice
and applause for which he has shown himself willing to
barter his immortal soul Pure might abhor and shun
him. but pure least should her grave bear
ing witness his power blasted life and broken heart
Here gentlemen speaks the master passion Of this
peryered man Al this very moment he could realize the
sad truth that he morally dead he would sill rejoice in this
post moem investigation Of his character The decayng
corpse would rather be dssected than buried but propose
centlemen 10 dssect him frt the interest Of truth and
bury him aerwardin the interest Of deency SUCH gentlemen
il the plaintiff in this stannch new vessel launched
upon an honorable voyage sailing with prosperous winds
unruied seas has transformed into pirate by the wicked
uess of her commander and wrecked by his folly and lies


stranded hulk the object Of the curiosity
and adherence Of mankind
Year: 1875

Not that / would endorse the remarkable state.
ment Of the plaintiff counsel in his opening that upon the
result Of your verdict very large extent will depend the
integrity of the Christian religion God forbid that the in
tegy Of the Christian religion shOnd depend upon the charac
ter the fortunes of any man. however learned eloquent
deyout The Christian religion founded upon the eternal
rock Of Gods and Gods decree II h from everlasting
TO everlasting and will abide when the remots records of fu
history shall have faded the Of time and the
heavens shall have been rolled together scroll Ny client
expects other support from the Christian religion than snch
may be found promises He takes his stand here alone upon
his integrity sustained only by God and the justice Of his
And yet Gentlemen Irepeat you cannot consider him
altogether without reference that sacred faith Of which he
has been for long time of the honored ministers
which would acquire usire in his vndcaon and which could
not but be deeply wounded in his fail.
Year: 1875

THE DEFENDANTS PAST A CLAIM OF DIFFERENCE.


The son Of one of the most eminent clergymen Of
the last generation member Of large family Of which al
the cergymen and all the authors Of repuea
family let say gentlemen fair fame the shadow
Of reproach has rested hitherto the defendant early de-
voted himself to the efdenyng pursuit o; minister Of the
Gospel For bed Of uxurious abode that
he spread hmsef-he made Of dominant family
influence secure the refinement and privileges Of a
wealthy city parish. He strnck boldly out into the
wd hardshp of the Ear West He rode the rough circuit
Of home missionary life. With his hands he made the


fires swept the floors and the bell N his forest church,
with hands assisted only by the faithful vile who
stood by him then whoto the honor of womanhood-
by him to-day he mnistered necessities of his
forest home When the hunders Of his manly eoquence had
reached this distant and the imperative demand Of
the church had summoned him wider sphere Of action he
has been the genuine, true uehearted unaffected
man here that he in the West. In
the midst Of all the refnements and lnIuries
Of city life his motto has been that Of the great apos-
tie he 50 much resembles II be aDased ard
know abound" To who in the early days when
be was than now undertook control his
by threatening loss Of place ne made this memorable
reply: "You may me- you cannot control
came from woods and go back the woods again


This man so introduced has wrought and taught FOR
thirty years midst He longer stranger and
longer acquaintance Genial and unassuming in his
ners inspiring his speech wine accessible all from
the eavest humbest child the life he has lived
before fruitful Gods Summer-as
open and benehcent as His day.
Year: 1875

And now, gentlemen, ask you to consider for a
that Mrs Ton the defendant this causeshe
whose lips are sealed whose hands tied while the battle
is waging her body She make outcry and strike
blow in her defense She only and pray as
she has done often already looking for her deyerance to
Almighty God and the spirit OF justice which He inspires in
the hearts Of men.
Year: 1875

Mr. TlLTON SOLlCITS NIX. BbEChERS COhfANl'


At this time, gentlemen, Mr. Beechcr had Sum
residence the country which the habit of his
family repair along last Of May the first OF june and
again IN October and sometimes as late "a November
But Mr. Beecher spent portion Of the time, while his family
thus residing country and prior TO the beginning Of
his Summer vacation in the city working at his own house.
taking his Of the families OF his church
during the time he in the city This habit OF Mr.
Beecher thus living portions Of his time with the families
members Of his church, well known TO Mr. Ilton
and he, early in 1861 or lsGe, urged Mr Beecher to
make his house also a place Of frequent resort. lie
spoke often Mr. Beechcr OF his wifes great affection FOR
him. and requested him call and make himself at home
the family Beecher had known Mrs Tion prior to his
acquaintance with Mr. Ton but he had known her young
girl member Of the Church. and the acquaintance had pract
cay ceased after her marriage until il renewed a the re-
quest Of Mr. Ton have staed-ceased mem so far as
his vts at their house for in the early years OF their mar


they boarding and when they began TO keep house
they commenced in oxford far from the place Of Mr.
Beechers residence that quite mpraccabe for him to
visit the house often s at the earnest solicitation Of Mr.
Ton have said he began his visits at the house OF Mr.
rlton in 0xfor-st but the plaintiff tells yon, his visits
quite ineqnent But visiting that house he made the
acquaintance Of Mrs Ton wife and mother-a relation
which first disclosed him these Wits thus made at
the earnest solicitation Of the plaintiff.
Year: 1875

Cornwall.

 Owing to the severe drought, news items are at discount. Nothing is talked about or thought about but the shortness of the crop in general. The hay and tobacco crops are very slight; corn is looking well as an average; potatoes are struggling with the Cry weather, and Cornwall of course, not to be behind other places, has the DO. tato bug; they are composed of three dis tinct species, one of which, reading the edi tor of THE NEWS comments of two weeks ago, are called the Pukeadorus stinkus bug ......On Saturday evening of last week an entertainment was given at the house of s. F. Dudley for the benefit of the Cornwall Cornet Band; the band were treated to ice cream and other delicacies, besides en- toying the society of the boarders, which we all know to country people is a rare treat, there being sort of sotherness' about them which we in the country admire, but those of us who do not know that it is very surprised when driving an innocent bovine through the streets to hear feminine shrieks and exclamations such as 'Oh mercy, there is COW; wonder if it will hook ? etc.; and also to see young man who comes up into the country for his health, whenever he goes out doors in a sunshiny day carry an umbrella large enough to keep the rain off from two elephants and mule; but these things we have yet to learn.... ..Seve- ral of our young men are making prepara- tons to attend camp meeting; that is they are getting their boots hlacked and their fa- ces washed......One evening of last week there might have been seen (speaking after the manner of the dime novelist) young man walking along the streets of our vil- lage, who from his strange manner was thought to be troubled with nothing on his mind. He wandered to and fro on the face of the earth without apparent purpose. Some of our philanthropists taking pity on his forlorn state, took him and learned that his strangeness was occasioned by the grand order of the o. M. w. & G. having met at his place of abode. Kind reader, would you know the name of this strange young man? twas X.Y.Z.