Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-04-19
MISS POLLARD WINS.
Tho Jury Decides that Congressman
Breckenridge Must Pay Her
01b,OO Damages.


Breckenridge Must Pay Her
49, 900 Damages.
The noted suit Of Madeline Pollard against
Congressman W. G. p. Breckinrdgc for go, =
600 damages for seduction and breach OF
promise Of marriage was concluded at WASH
ington on the 14th. The verdict was in her
favor and the jury gave her $4,000 damages.
This case is one Of the most sensational that
has ever been tried in the country, owing to
the prominence of Colonel Breckenridge and
the character Of the testimony. Breckenridge
when on the stand admitted being criminally
intimate with Miss Pollard while his wife was
alive, but claimed that she was unchaste be-
fore, and that he had never promised to mar
~ her.
Although defended by Major Butterworth
and three other lawyers, the evidence was so
strong that he had no show for acquittal The
attorneys for the prosecution, Wilson and
Carlisle are noted lawyers and handled
their case with consumate skill.
Judge Wilson closed for the prosecution on
Saturday morning and scored the defendant
numerically. Judge Bradley then charged
the jury. He first spoke Of the pollution OF
the case. He said It contained few interest
ing legal points, and that If the parties had
been obscure It would have attracted but little
attention.
1t was only question whether q contract
to marry existed, and whether, II broken,
there was an excuse for breaking 1t. The
verdict was not to vindicate the character Of
either party. Although If the testimony was
unfit to be reviewed, 1t was to be said, to the
credit Of both parties, that they had handled
indelicate details as carefully and decently rs
possible. Nearly all OF the counsel had OBJ
served the same restraint, and he regretted
that this could not be said Of all the counsel.
Here all eyes were turned toward Phil
Thompson who, In making his defense Of
Colonel Breckinridgc's character had de-
clared that all men were guilty of
adultery and that 1t was moth
ing to be regarded seriously.
Judge Bradley went on to say that any revolt
ing standards Of manhood which had been set
up were not to be weighed rs evidence, nor
were collateral details to obscure tho main
Issue.
The credit to be placed upon the testimony
of plaintiff and defendant, where they DIFF
fered, was TO be judged in the light Of the
character and the lives of the two.
The Judge said that If the defendant had
any knowledge of improper conduct Of tho
plaintiff, when he promised to marry her, II
he did, bis actions condoned these oYcnses.
The jury retired at 1907 p. m. The first
ballot taken was upon the merits Of the case,
leaving out Of consideration the question OF
the amount of damages. 1t resulted in II
votes for verdict for the plaintiff, and one
vote for the defendant. Thereupon the dis
senting gentleman was fguratively corncred
by his colleagues and for some time was
argued with They laid the case fully before
the obdurate juryman, called for the grounds
on which his belief wac based, and finally
overcsme him by sheer force Of logic.
The next question to be settled was the
figure at which the da images should be fixed.
Three jurors thought the full amount sued
for-45O, ,OOO-should be awarded. Foreman
Cole said that verdict of 81 would vindicate
Miss Pollard and punish Mr.. Breckinridge
sufficiently, and he thought 1t was unneces-
eary to impose any great financial punish
ment upon him. Discussion of this matter
followed until the usual course was adopted,
each Juror writing the amount he considered
Just upon slip Of paper aud balance being
struck The amounts ranged from 81 to S5O,-
600, and SIS, coo was the average.
Public opinion in Kentucky and throughout
the country seems to sustain the verdict and
number Of prominent women in Washington
have appealed to the House to expel Breckin-
ridge.
At the close Of the trial Breckenridge gave
notice of request for new trial. He keeps up
bold front.
Miss Polar d Is sick as a result Of the eI.
element Of the trial. She denies any inten-
tlon Of going upon the stage ss reported.