Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-04-15
CLOSING THE ARGUMENT.

Attorney Wilson Narrowly Avoids
serious AiJsrcatioa with Attorney
ston
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 14.-Judge
Jere Wilson was again the central figure
in what is doubtless the final day OF the
Pollard Breckenridge case. Although ne
proposed TO curtail ais speech as much as
he could consistently with the rights Of his
client. it was apparent from the detail
with which ne entered into the discussion
that he would consume half Of the day.
Madeline Pollard, the plaintiff, was not
in TIE court. but the Breckinridges, father
and son, were in their usual places, but at
tended by none OF tue lawyers except Mr.
Stol, Of Kentucky. .... ...
Judre Wilson started his speech with
great earuestuess. All the specific charges
against the character of his client had been
disposed of, lie said, except the charge
resting solely on the word OF the defend
ant. that Mss Pollard had been Intimate
with Rhodes. According 10 law, as IL
would be laid down by the Court how
ever. that cut no figure al all even II
worthy of belief, because Col. Breckle-
ridge had admitted that he knew OF 1t long
before the year or
TIE FIRST TALK OF MARRIAGE.
Euteriuq upon a discussion Of the testimo-
ny of Col Breckenridge, Mr. Wilson start
ed with the proposition that the plaintlh
and defendant took the stand upon equal
terms The same edi0luty attaches 10
the testimony of each where It stood alone,
but there was one vital difference, namely,
that she statements OF Madeline Pollard
were supported 0y other most credible
witnesses, while Col Breckenridge must
ask that his word stand uncOrrOborated.
Miss Pollard was sustained by MRS.
Blackburn, or Mary YauCey, by Francis,
by Mrs Lowell. Col. Breckenridge was
contradicted by Sarah Guess, and il would
be shown that her testimony was INFINITE
ly more credible than his. Sarah had tes-
tfed that he came to her begging her not
20 tell what she knew OF the case.
In discussing the testimony or Mrs.
Lowell, MIR. Wilson pointed out that Col
Breckiuudge had not az the outset denied
that be had written the letters, and ne had
fenced Sdrotly against the questions un-
Ill he had secured ao admission that tney
were destroyed, aud could not rise up to
confront him.
Then he denied Il absolutely.
Then turning to another part OF the tes-
timony as showing the creoj6ilty OF the.
defsndant, Judge Wilson incited an angry
passage Of words. This was not the hrst
time
BE BAD BEEN sEDECED,"
be said, levellirg that bony finger OF his
at the Kentucky Colonel. For be tells
YOU ne knew the house Of Sarah Guess; be
had been there before with some other
scion before my client had seduced him"
Colonel Breckinridge interpOsed re-
mOnstrance Now, your honor he said.
leaning forward, there is not the slightest
statement Of that before the jury, not the
slightest evidence Of that. 1 merely said
that l had been there before"
Il believe YOU are correct" said Judge
Bradley, "that is all you said"
"YOu had better denied IL on the stand,
II YOU wanted to-" said Mr.. Wilson 10 the
defendant
81 was not asked TO-" replied Colonel
Brec6nridge
.Well. YOU can't testify now"
This is the last chance, and want the
testimony quoted correctly. l want TO set
your errors Alright.
''I am merely arguing on the probabilities
OF the csse;' declared Mr.. Wilson; draw
ing the natural deductions from the evil
Uence. If I had asked who you went with
90 sarah Guess's before, there would have
been half dozen lawyers on their feet"
"But you did not ask it." retorJed the
Colonel
"But he knew Mrs. Rose in Louisville"
said Alr. Wilson.
Attorney Stoll-''There is no evidence
that she kept an improper house then"
Mr.. Wis0u-"Ah, but he met her on the
street She gade him her card,
INDICATING HER BUSINESS.
He knew her so well that be knew how TO
take my client there. Gentlemen, there
were written on stone ten commandments
said AIR. Wilson, picking up the thread Of
his argument. Zone of which was Thou
shalt not commit adultery This defend
ant admits that over and over again
he has violated that one. On the same
stone is written Thou shalt not bear false
witness, and ii a man shall violate one Of
these command ments ana 0e caught in the
tolls of the law, is it not possible that uD-
der suCn straits he may violate the 9th
ersr'
Every other point Of the defense having
been disposed Of, Mr.. Wilson said there re-
NAMED out the statement Of the defendant
that there was amutual understanding that
the contract 20 marry should not be carried
out. and he characterized 10 plcturesQuely
as a "cleau shaven baldheaded, obese
falsehOOd. " manufactured 10 ht the exlgen-
cies Of the case. Be discussed the proba-
bihty OF a woman about 20 give birth 10
child colseOting TO such al arrangement
and reviewed the testimony Of Mrs. Black
burn, 20 show that Colonel Breckenridge
had taken the aggressive IN proclaiming 10
Mrs. Blackburn the engagement, and de-
c.ariug that he never intended 70 marry any
one but Madeline Pollard and that her leal-
Ousy of Mrs. Wing was aoSurd.
The attorney asked "WhO is my clientln
and called upon the jury to witness the de-
fsnse had not spared denunciatiOns OF her.
The defendant himself
HAD TOLD MRS. BLACKBURN
that she was Of humble but respectable
origin. and Of natural talents. Discussing
the circumstances Of her childhood, he re-
ferred 70 the disputed letter. declaring il
TO ba OF no consequence. but he would
brand il as a forgery manufactured for the
purposes Of the third plea, adding" And this
is not the only piece OF rascality manufac-
tured for this defense Ii was a common
thing for papers 70 be forged for the pur-
poses Of tha case. Expert evidence was
balderlash.P ? sham and pretenSe, and lt was
most remarkable that OF al the years OF
that this was the only let
ter produced.
Here Mir. Wilson wanted TO read 20 the
iurv. as be said, an opinion OF the courts,
on the value Of expert testimony.
"Ifit is proper for me 70 read this now"
he said. ~ will do so. If not, Will pass Il
up 70 your honor"
as there any objection2' asked Judge
Bradley, and Mr.. StoN said: i think be
had better hand it up. II we had time we
could produce = dozen authorities on the
other siden