St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-14
THE IDES OF MAY.

agine the mothers oe the land sitting up
writing such letters as the imaginary
one he would read. or course lit was
simply imaginary. lie said, but every
one could see the feminine handwriting
as the judge held it up, and every one
kr that it was one letter from the cor
re .,onoence he has received during the
trial. 1t was i'll part as follows:
plead for the dear young girls. 1
cannot but feel how urgent 1t is for
every one to watch and pray for them
constantly. l was left in the world
young to care for myself, and l can re-
member how men have tried to rob me
of all that was worth living fer. have
lived pure life because l early took
the Lord for my guide; and if had not
clung close TO Him the way would have
been very hard.''
MIR. Wilson said that the jury had
heard a most remarkable argument
from one of the defendants chosen
friends, Col. Phil Thompson. 1t was in
substance tina. as all men were bad
that as all men were laying snares-
why should the defendant be con-
demned? He was no worse than the
rest. Solomon. and David had been.
held uD as parallels of The defendant.
1t had been said that David was man
of great education; he may not have
practiced law all his life. but he had
been educated in the best schools of his
land; he had slvery tongue; he was a
man of passion; but Israel had come
from his loins, and he bad not been con-
demned, and therefore why should the
defendant be condemned? One story
had been overlooked in his Biblical
researches. That was the story of
Tamar, who was country girl, and of
AmmOn. who was mau of passion.
That episode had ended il, tragedy.
There were no juries in those days.
But since then the Prince of Peace had
come. There were methods of peace
and juries provided, and those methods
were being followed by the plaintiff.
But when juries failed to do their duty
more violent methods were resorted to
by outraged people, til he first Old barbar-
Gus methods.
There were some things which showed
the character of the defendant in this
suit. ana Mr.. Wilson spoke OF the high
character OF Mrs. Blackburn, and of
how Col. Thompson had slurred. her.
He next referred to the filings of Col.
Thompson at The female doctors. There
had been a time when women were
merely the drudges of mon, but they
were fast working to the front, and the
higher they came, the better for the
world. Mr.. Wilson said that the de-
nunclation Of the plaintiff as woman
OF bad character bordered on the ludl-
crOus when it was recollected that
what she was, was due to the defendant.
Adams poor plea, after the fall. had
not saved him from being through all
ages man of bad repute. There was
a slight clash when Mr.. Wilson asserted
that the colonel had taken Miss Pollard
from the house of Mrs. Thomas to visit
his Kentucky friends. At this statement
the heads of the Breckinridge contin-
gent began to shake in negation.
''lf there is to be any shaking of
H. i
will call your attention to the testimony
of Mr.. Francis. and will remind you
that when l asked the defendant about
1t, he did not deny it."
!. ''Oh. but did deny it." spoke up the
defendant, aud his counsel seconded
him.
Thereupon Judge Bradley raped
with mis- pencil OH the desk, saying:
'lf there is any correction to be made
here it should be made by COUNSEL"
"Then withdraw it all; don't care
a snap about it, said MIR. Wilson, mis-
taking the intention of the judge.
II referred to the correction by Mr..
Breckenridge" the court explained.
Mir. Breckenridge leaned forward and
inquired:
.'Dees your honor say that l cannot
correct errors?"
"You are represented by counsel
whose duty is to do that" responded
the judge.
''But it is my constitutional right to
represent myself" protested the de-
fendant. "Does your honor rule on
that?'
Judge Bradley kept on writing and
made no response.
Mr.. Wilson held that the secret mar
rage was no defense against the prom
ises made after it. The secret marriage
in itself breach of the con-
tract. Had the scene in Maj. Moore's !
office occurred in the state. of New York
it would have made the plaintiff the
wife Of the defendant. Mr.. Wilson
commented on the Circumstance that
no witnesses had been brought from
Kentucky to testify regarding the gen.
sral character Of Col. Breckenridge as a
man who Kept his contracts and was
,haste. On the other hand, every one
from Kentucky OF Washington who had