Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-03-27

q dirty gray plaster ceiling, the very plain
est kind of rough benches and not a vestige
of ornament or color anywhere to relieve the
somber baroness. If closely packed, it
might hold 700 people, but after the case
got fairly started the court admitted but
few, while hundreds more crowded the
halls and eagerly beset every one who came
out to know how the case was going When
ever all the women in the courtroom except
the plaintiff, her two supporters and the
witnesses We're peremptorily ordered to
leave, and so or more of them filed out
looking very much Disconnected if not
ashamed, the male crowd which remained
has been so ungallant to indulge in Il
general smoker.
1t was in this queer old room that Con-
gressman-now Characteristics was tried
Just 33 years ago for killing Philip Barton
Key. Six years later the conspirators
against the life of Abraham Lincoln and
Secretary Seward sat here through many
weary days while their fate was deter
mined, and about Il years later Guiteaus
fate was determined i'll the same place. All
the parties and lawyers connected with this
case have each a special interest. Justice
Bradley has already made an interesting
record. Two long tables were ranged across
the bar in front of him. Behind the first sat
the plaintiff and her lawyers, and behind
the second the defendant and his, and as the
eyes of the spectators ranged from one to
the other it was noticed that she occasion
ally turned square around and glared upon
him with look which in our minds fully
justified his appeal to Colonel Moore, chief
of police, for protection against her pocket
pistol.
A Picture OF the Defendant.
Colonel Breckenridge is 56 years old and
looks every day of it and more. Every hair
of his head and his beard is of Il dead white
not white like snow, but rather like well
bleached tow. His eyes are seemingly of a
BLUSH gray, but very dull at present and
almost concealed by heavy and dropping
eyelids. His forehead is quite low and
broad, his nose Il fine aquiline, and his
broad face is almost red. In form he is so
heavy to look quite awkward. with Shout
ders like a buffalo, and is generally heavy
imbed and stocky.
Directly to his left the form of Ben But
terworth attracted much attention. He is
also heavy man, but far more Shapely and
active. In fact, he is the active man OF the
defense on questions of law. Against him
as the active man in law stood Calderon
Carlisle Il heavy built and ruddy man, with
an attractive manner and appearance.
Messrs. Shelby and Stoll are comparatively
young lawyers of Lexington, Ky. The
we'll known Colonel Phil Thompson of
kentucky completes the roll at that table.
Directly to the left of the plaintiff sat her
principal counsel, Hon. j. NJ. Wilson,
rather spare man, who in southern phrase
is known as ''hatchet faced" To the right
of the defendant We're the two ladies known
as her aids-decamp, Sisters of Mercy or
something Of that sort. But they We're hon
ored with mere glance.
The Plaintiff and Dude.
Every one stared long and earnestly at
the famous plaintiff. She is far from pref
ty. That much l can swear to, but will
say no more. l have never succeeded in de-
scribing heroine and am too old to try it
now. Her dress was dark blue, and after
the third day her manner might be called
composed - more composed indeed than
that of the defendant, whose eagerness often
led him to suggest points of law in an audi
BILE voice.
Although the proceedings were on the
whole solemn, yet an occasional witness in
voluntarily contributed a great deal of fun.
Among these was Mr.. Francis, the most
perfect specimen of an Anglomaniac ever
seen in Washington. In dress, eyeglasses
and language he completely filled the bill.
He created great amusement by his eX-
treme anxiety to show that his knowledge
of the case came by mere accident, and,
speaking with almost rasping grammatical
precision he insisted upon injecting into
his testimony from time to time short ex-
PLANTATION of the duties of a gentleman on
such an occasion. He told how he called at
the house of Mrs. Thomas and saw plaintiff
and defendant sitting together upon the
sofa in the parlor; how he stepped into the
hall and really couldn't go up stairs, you
know, until the servant announced him;
how there was only a portiere between him
and the parties, and he really couldn't help
hearing, you know, what they said.
At length he reached the point where
Miss Pollard told him that she intended tt
shoot herself if Colonel Breckenridge die
not marry her and kept the pistol by hel
bedside for that purpose, and then he added
II really felt called on as gentleman, you
know, to encourage her, and so l said, oh
dear Miss Pollard, you really must not
shoot yourself, for although Colonel Brock.
inridge is a very fine looking man, a very
distinguished man, an orator and con.
gresham, yet there are very many other
good men in the world" At this court,
jury, lawyers and audience broke into un
comfortable laughter, which was not check
ed for nearly a minute.
A Verdict That Kills.
The testimony of Colonel Moore was also
entertaining. But as TO the interest felt by
the audience, no other witness could com.
pare for a moment with Mrs. Blackburn.
And here the correspondent might appro
priately stop, and would stop if there wer
any longer any doubts as to the public yer
dict. But IL there is any serious division OF
sentiment in Washington no sound Of it
comes to my ears. The judgment of all
whose Judgment is worth anything is one
way. The verdict of the jury cuts no figure
It is the verdict of society which kills.
Looked at from that standpoint, this is
truly a colossal ruin-a ruin that is com
plete and irremediable. The heir of an
lsonored name, the scion of house famous
in Kentucky and the nation for 80 years,
and in Virginia for nearly 80 years before
that, an orator. a statesman, presbyterian
layman who has spoken with authority in
general assemblies, and man selected OF