Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-04-14
n.bELIHs's psFEH:E.
Judge wilson Makes The Closing Argument in
Behalf OF Plaintiff.

WASHINGTON. April l3.-The closing
argument in the breach of promise suit
against Col. Breckenridge vas begun this
forenoon by ex-Judge Wilson, chief counsel
for Miss Pollard. He scathingiy denounced
the Kentucky congressman for his treat
ment of Miss Pollard. and declared be Was
wholly responsible for her unhsppy eondi-
| ton.
! 81 stand here for womanhood," Wilson
said. This defendant proclaimed from the
stand that while affairs Of this kind injure
man they destroy woman. l am here TO
insist that the law shall be equally dis
tribu.ed
Il stand here to protest against allowing
the man TO enter my parlor and your parlor
while the basement door and the gate are
bolted against the woman. condemn him.
would condemn him if could, so that the
condemnation would ring round the world. P"
The defence of the country girl by Major
! Butterwor,h was criticised severely, but
| Judge Wilson, who also took up the speech
of Col Thompson ard to each historical
ard biblical incident referred 10 by the
speaker, gave hostile turn TO the defend
ant.
- W MAJ IL tue hlkG4I-Hl VI wi. IAOIui
| son ard Major Butterworth: II is not that
this lI-yesr-old girl was seduced By this
4T-year-oh man, but that she seduced him.
THAT is their argument. If itwer not
20 Sc rious it would be lufisrous. How
could that defendant sit there and allow
the utterauce Of such sentiments If he were
not craven and a coward:
HE says the woman oil it, That's his
defence. It's the old story of the Girlen
of Eden"
Major Bu,terworth has told the jury
| nothing whichever about the case said
Judge Wilson, when he started in to do
so he found that he was getting into muddy
water. SO he said, IN just stand on the
bank and shoot off fireworks.''
Judge Wilson's remarks caused &C.
| casional laughter and some shutiles OF ap-
provsl which Judge Bradley rebaked.
"There is enc thing | expect to show land
| if | show it shall be satisfied" said Judge
| wilson. Ii is that this woman is friendless
and alone and barred out OF sotisty, thai
| this woman's condition is traceable TO that
man. This is the simplest case in the world
and if you will get out of your heads the
| clamor and the shouting of the defendants
counsel you will see how simple it is. >
| He held up to scorn the attempt of Major
Butterworth to show vicious hatits through
Miss Pollard's school girl letters. "Made-
line Pollard had not met James c. Rodes
| until the summer of 1888, yet during May,
June and July of that year." said Judge
Wilson, the defence sought to prove that
| she was then living in house of prostitu-
ton in Lexington. In all the letters TO
James C. Rodes from the plaintiff there
was not suggestion of any improper rtla-
tons.
Mr.. Wilson, without sparing the wit
nesses, handled the te testimony of Brant and
Kaufman aud the other witnesses who made
oath to the plaintiff having visited the house
of Lena Singleton, when that house at the
time spoken of had no existence and said that
he knew of nothing more worthy of repro
baton than the putting before the jury
every per ured statement that could be
hunted up in the back alleys and slop
barrels of Lexington to blacken the charac-
ter of this unfortunate girl.
Judge Wilson said that Rankin Resell
furnished loop which the defence tried to
place around the neck of his clients charac
ter. He gave the lie to Rosells statemen,
that he had broken his engagement with
Miss Pollard because she let him fondle and
csress her.
Judge Wilson took up the statement OF
Col. Breckenridge that on the day he called
on Miss Pollard at Wesleyan college she
told him she had wrongful relations with
Rodes. This Miss Pollard denied.
Her word in this case is as good as his,
said Judge Wilson, "snd this doctrine of
improbability comes here with crushing
force against the defendant. Was it proba-
BILE that Roies had also told TIE defendant
of wrongful relations with the plaintiff"
Then, with dramatic manner and deep
voice of accusation, Judge Wilson made q
severe arraignment of Col. Breckenridge.
He said, ale has lived lie.
For 10 years his life has been
faitlle ssness to the most sacred
obligation of life. He has lived life OF
hypocrisy, Il life of which he himself said,
You cant find words to coin into phrases
to dc fine the height, length and depth Of
my fault | am so filed with pity for this
homeless, ffiendless woman that can inj
it in my heart TO say things that | would
not otherwise have sail. After he has toli
Won that he lived lie for 10 years, | don't
believe | could find man so foolish as to
believe him now. What has he not done:
He has even falsif d lis marriage certif-
cate, Can you believe the story he tells,
with sill its improb abilities, which he ask
you to believe in the same breath in which
he tells you of all the decep'i,ns of other
people?
How can you know he is not practicine
these things on you? 1t is simply jmpos-
sible for you to fad that M.ael,ne Pollard
told him any such story about Rodes. or
Rodes told this story about himself. What.
ever there is of slime upon her comes from
this defendent. Every distorted muscle,
every broken bone in her character comes
from this defendant. 1t is trail of the
serpent that is over her life.
At $50 the court adj burned until tomor-
row.