The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-18

WASHINGTON. April 1.-THE local
demand for Oratory was largely satisfied
today by the finish OF Col Phil Thomp-
sons speech in the .Pollard-B recl5inridge
trial and the beginning of plea by Maj.
Benjamin Butter-worth. another ex-mem-
Der OF congress Although Maj. Butter
worth talked more than half Of the day
he progressed no further than the first
relations between his client and Made
line Pollard back in 1884. His whole
argument was devoted to the point that
the young woman had not been the pure
and unsophisticated girl of seventeen
when the silver-haired colonel met her
that she had represented herself to be.
1t was a strong display Of oratory.
There was an interesting incident dur
Ing the morning when Judge Bradley
carried into execution the threat he made
several times of clearing the room of
spectators. Mr.. Butterworth had been
painting glowingly the virtues of his
client. whose friendship he had enjoyed
for many years. and was declaring dra-
Tnatically that no man to whom Benja-
min Butterworth had been a friend in his
prosperity would be deserted by him in
adversely. when several men broke into
dered all who were not members of the
bar 10 leave the court room.
Col. Phil Thompson resumed his speech
against Madeline Pollard when the cir
cult court met today. He first comment
ed on the improbability of the formal
proposal Of marriage from Col. Breckin-
ridge to the plaintiff in the fall of 1892,
and declared her story was the act Of
a bawd. of a woman who felt that if
she could not marry him she could dis
grace him. In his vehement way the
colonel pictured what must have been
the agony Of the congressman with the
plaintiff following him around and com
polling him 10 tell Mrs. Blackburn that
they were TO be married.
she was a walking arsenal" said
the lawyer again. Talk about Ken
lucky colonies ana turning up coat tails
here in this court house to see if there
were pistols. Did you see the look on
the woman's face when she came into
this court house, Why. I was afraid TO
sit beside the colonel for fear stray
bullet might hit me" Col Thompson
closed With an appeal TO the jury to re-
turn a verdict according to the law and
testimony.
Butterworth Speaks.
Mai. Butterworth, whose mild man.
ner is in great contrast to that of his
colleague, began his remarks by ex-
pressing qualification that this pestilence
must soon be brought TO an end. Upon
those VINO were to blame for bringing
1t before the public. the burden must
rest. There was no wrong to be righted
by this suit. Even to save the lives OF
the two principals, the incorruptible
judiciary of the country could not afford
20 deal with such a mass of contagion,
nor should the hearthstones of the
country have been invaded by it for any
purpose. He could not use harsh Ian
guage Of Miss Pollard but he would
that some one had whispered into her
ear the words Of the master: GO and
sin no more.
Some people had been solicitious for
fear his C3utJerwOrth' - friendship had
been misplaced. He had known the de-
PENDANT as statesman. soldier, father,
husband and friend. 'and you may speed
~ on the lightnings that TO whom Ben
ButterwOrth was a friend in the days
OF his prosperity. he will not turn his
back in adversely.
This statement was followed by an
outbreak of applause from the specta-
tors.
Spectators Ordered Out.
Judge Bradley leaned forward and
raped his desk.
Now you may clear the court room, -
he said to the bailiffs. I'VE have had
enough Of outrages in this court room
No one stirred and then Judge Bradley
said: Every one who is not a member
OF the bar will leave the court room"
Several men got up and started out,
when one elderly spectator inquired:
'Does that apply to members of the bar
from away. L am a lawyer from New
York
Il take it for granted that no attorney
would disgrace a court by such demon
STATIONS. All lawyers from outside the
city are welcome here But there are
Others sitting here that are not members
of the bar to my knowledge" More men
Were ushered out by the bailiffs, but
more than half of the spectators re-
manned.
Then Mr.. Butterworth proceeded to re-
view the childhood of Miss Pollard as
described by herself. Mr.. Butterworth
said he had himself as much at stake
az the hOnOred counsel for the plaintiff
He had a daughter and a wife He could
not afford that justice should not be
done. He was not there to eXtenuate the
conduct of Col Breckenridge: if he did
he knew that the colonel would dis
charge him from the case. The country
had been solicitous about a sixteen-year-
old schoolgirl, but there was no such
person in the case. If she had been
but sixteen why had not her mother been
called to prove it2 If she had been but
sixteen she was as much skilled in love-
making as any woman he had ever
known. The other side had talked about
the fascination of silver tongue. That
was stale, Mai. ButterwOrth said. lie
paid a tribute TO the bravery Of Col.
Breckenridge and declared that the jury
knew that such a man was not bad al
heart He was going on to describe how
81 Col. Breckenridge smiled people said
he was a monster: If he looked grave
they said he was shamming but IL Miss
Pollard laughed they said. Behold the
smiles even though a veil Of tears"
The Judge Interrupts.
Then Judge Bradley interposed say
ing. Mr.. Butterworth. don't you think
you had better c.ni.pe yourself 10 the
evidence in the case. This IS all what
you have heard outside and has no con-
necfion with the case
Not al all non3lUsed the attorney ie-
r}is1: "Of coutse, as a judicial officer.