The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-15
the Jury Decree That Brecklnridge
Shall Pay Her the Sum Of
$4,000.
For Refusing to Keep His Promise
to Make Her His
Wife.
II DID not Take Them Very Long to Make
Up Their Minds TO That
Effect

G. =. Breokingrids for breaking his con
tract 20 marry her. thus end'ng the long
and exciting Breckinridge- Pollard breach
Of promise trial. Sensations fairly crowded
themselves into the last day Of the
trial. Thee have been some OF the
most dramatic scenes which ever stirred up
the oiney little court room. gsskinR ~ Il
was with memories Of celebrated cases.
There WAS an approach 20 personal col
lision between Judge Wilson and Charles
stoll durinR the magnificent argument
Of the Washington lawyer. fo!losed by
talk OF a dusl, and Judge Bradley. IN
bis charge 70 ths Jury. scored Col. Phil
Thompson ns a lawyer 10 seldom spoken Of
in court The jury retired at 3;ll ,. ~.
The first ballot taken was on this merits Of
ths case. leaving ont Of consideration the
question OF the amount of damages. II
resulted In eleven votes for verdict for
plaintiff aud ono yots for defendant. The
obdu ate iuryman was finally overcome By
the sheer force OF logic.
Discussion OF the financial punishment
followed until tas usual oourss was adopt
ed. each juror writing the amount eousid-
cred just upon q paper aud a balance being
struck. The amounts ranged from 81 10
$4,000 and Sl5 600 was the average
Judge Wilson started his yeech BY as
sefting that all specific charges against
plaintiff had been disposed Of except the
charge that Miss Pollard had been inti-
mate with Rhodes, resting solely on Brsck
inridGe's word. The charge cut no figure.
because Bfeckinridge admitted knowledge
Of the charge before talk OF the marriage.
The principals took the witness stand on an
q NH~a .Ha..
msnts are supported bT reputable Witnesses,
while Brsckinridgo's statement are unsup-
ported aud sometimsa contradictory. After
calling attention so the admission that
tlaintid's letters had been destroyed. Judge
Wilson said this wss not the iitst time be
had been seduced. Said be, leveling his
fOrehnQer as the Kentucky colonel, "foT he
tells you he knew the house Of sa ah Goss;
had been there before with some other 81
en-, before my client had seiueed him"
Col. Brsckinridpo lntsrpossd a rsmon-
atrance. mo, your honor he said. lean
ing forward. there is not she slightest
abatement Of that Kind before the iury; not
the slightest evidence of that. 1 merely
said hai been there.
81 believe you are correct" said Judge
Bradley, that 10 all you said"
You had better have denied 10 on the
stand If you wanted TO-" said Mr. Wilson
TO defendant.
Il was not asked" replied Col b sekin-
ridge.
well. you can't testify now"
This is the last chance. and | want the
testimony quoted correctly. ! want 10 set
your errors right.
Il am merely arguing on the ptobabii.
ties OF she case" declarsd Mr.. Wilson,
drawing natural DEDUCTIONS from the svi-
dence. II had asked whum you went
with TO Sarah Goss before there would
have been half a dozen lawyers on thsir
feet"
but you did not ask it. rstorted the
colonel.
"Bn, be knew Ais. Rose in Louisville, :"
Attorney stosl-"rhers is no evidenoa
that she kept an improper house then"
MIR. Milson-'Ah. bat he met her on the
street. She gave him her card. indicating
her business. lie knew her we'll enough 20
take my client there. Gentlemen. there
were written on tue stone the command
ments, said Mr.. Wilson, picking up the
thread Of his argument. ''ons of which.
thou shalt not commit adultery this de-
fsndant admits that over aud over again he
violated. On the same stone IL written,
thou shalt not beAr falss witness, and II
man shall violate one Of these command
ments and be caught in the tolls OF the law.
is il not possible shat. under suoh straits
be might violate the otheFr"
Judge Wilson described Defendants
claim of an understanding that the con-
tract Of marriage Was not 20 be carried out.
as a clean shaven. bald headed falsehood."
and aallel attention 10 the imp obability Of
a woman about 20 become mother con-
ssnting 90 such arrangement Then ths
attorney drew a pathetic picture OF tbe
fathsrlsas girls life. Then be pronsunced
she letter submitted by she defense as a
forgery. severely artaiQnine the expert tes-
timony on writing. aud offered sn opinion
af ha "A ha Of
mony. which was passed up 90 Judge
Bradley.
Then came the statement which caused
the excitement. Wilson stated that she
Wsssis Brown letter. from which the letter
In question had been forged, had teen pro-
cured by defense and oaFTisd in Mr.. stolrs
pocket. After heated passage between
ntoll aud Wilson. she former Acknowledged
having the Meisie Brown letter. he two
letters we're shown 60 the juro for COM
parison, during intense sxcitsmeut IA the
conrt room. Wilson resumed his address,
hen Butterwoi th snte ed, saying. Wilson
says Charles StOll forged that letter"
He will hear from that again, remarked
Mr.. Stoll. The remark reached Judge
Wilson. and he stepped forward from his
chair. what was thstg" be asked.
"fher, - another court than this one"
Air. Stoll.
what do you msanf' asked the tall and
cadaverous gray haired lndianian.
Il msan." responded Mr stoll most de-
"thAt you state that / forged the
letter. which denOunce as vile and infa-
nous"
what do YOU mean By another courtp'
demanded Mr.. Wilson. forcibly. what
DO you mean by another courtY'
Here judge Bradley intorpose1. "Now,
gent emen," he said. Il tank you had bet
ie not proceed with this.n lhers Waa a
Tause.
Wilson cooilY resumed his argument
handing the jurors g tiu-type of hisa Pol-
lard. taken With Wsssis Brown. IN the sun
mer Of 1854 and dWelt upon ths closed
ca 60 iage incident.
ntorm clouds seemed 90 hover over the
court room. and Judge bradley evidently
waited for the atmosphere 10 cool. To- be
les the usual time Tor ths noon recess pass
hv several minutes aud did not ~ iourn un-
al Wilson called Attsnton 20 me time I
The atenoRTaphsr biouRht o. MF. Stoll a I
OF Mf. Wils0n'a iemafka Ihe-e 1
was much talk Of a dusl daring abe noon
recess. Mf. otoll vent out OF the ooaft
during She recess on the arm Of n % ior But
terworth. Who seemed 90 be giving him pa
oine counsel. Afierward Air. Stoli saii 20
an Associated pFesH reporter: Major Bat
teTworth is senior oouhasl Of abe case and
has eontrol Of IL URtil finished andsf his