New-York tribune., 1894-04-12
MISS POLLARD ATTACKED
MAJOR BUTTERwoRTH TAKES HIS TURN
BEFORE THE JURY.
A POWERFUL. AND SARCASTIC ANALYSIS OF TIE
INNOCENT COUNTRY GYRULs' CHAR
ACrER-CoLoNEL THOMPSON. FIN
fsHEs Ills ARGUMENT.


Washington April 1l.-Colonel Phil Thompson re-
sumed his argument for Colonel Breckinridse this
morning IN the Pollard BreckinridGe breach of
promise case before sparse attendance MIS-
Pollard not present. but the defendant was o',
hand. Colonel Thompson took UP the aies'-
breach OF promise and asked II II were not II fe-
markabe thing that a man who had been ilV'hs ''
adultery with woman for nine years with ue
distinct understandings she said. that ne "o"iu
marry her II he ever free, should te" '""'
woman that he had something surprising 10 sd!
20 her and then propose. Everything in the con-
duct OF the plaintiff last spring. he saii-her al
tempts on the defendants life her threats 10 u'S
grace him; her promise to commit suicide ana I'd'e
a written story Of their relations for pnDhealoh
ali these showed a character the reverse OF that
claimed by the plaintiff. This woman had laid h'r
plans 10 bring breach of promise suit. Had she
not told Claude de la Roche Francis OF the pre-
tended engagement. and asked him 10 remember
It. saying she might need his help by-and-bye?
"a courtship with pistos!'' cried Coonel Iholhp
SON. Talk about your Kentucky colonels' ana
having them come into court throwing up their coat
tails 10 see whether they had pistols underneath
them. I suspect there was one coat-taI that was"
turned up that had weapon beneath il. INA you
see the vicious look that woman's face the DAY
this case started? afraid. sitting there beSue
the Colonel that bullet would come straight at us
from that woman's pistol on, what cour'smp'
with It's only memento a pistol!
Colonel Thompson finished 1890 having spoken
a day, with brief interVas lie WAS 4o'
lowed by Major Ben Butterworth. also for the de-
fsnse an eloouent talker Major Butterworth be-
gan somewhat diffldently but he soon warmed up
10 his work, characterizinS the suit as iar-
reaching pestllence that should never nave oeeh
brought. to trial.
Major Butterworth said he had known coroner
Rreckinridge many years-as lawyer. friend, col
league brother. and" he said, |you may speed II
on the lightnings gentlemen. that TO the man whom
Ben Butterworth friend in his prosperity ne
does not turn his back on him in his adversely,
The popularity Of the genial Qhioan and the be-
lief in this sentiment shown just here by h2nd-
clapping from the spectators.
Judge Bradley Indignantly resented this breach OF
decorlm Clear the Court" he cried. There have
been enough dsgraceful scenes here" The bailihs
were a little slow In clearing the room and Judge
Bradley ordered all who were not lawyers 10 90.
"There great many here who are not mem
bers OF the bar. who are sitting In the bar seats
they'll have 10 go" said the Judge. ard they
went in droves. Fully three-fourths OF the men
sitting inside the rails went out. but their seats
were filled up again in two minutes.
1T was a most remarkable thing. said Major
But,erworth resuming, how innocent this little
schoolgirl had been. They didn't raise girls that
way on the Miami when he was boy. lie
offered nothing in extenuaon of the defendant: his
friend Judge Wilson could not be more severe on
him than he had been on himself. But as 70 the |
p.antif. she had said 81 was only simple country
gyurL Mr. Cahlie." and what could simple |
country girl know about man?
"If that your theory" cried Major ButtcTworth |
"I denounce IT as vile sander every girl in the
world A country girl knows the difference between
right and wrong. My mVsfr was d country girl |
plsving with your mother" her neighbor, my good |
friend turning 10 Judge Wilson, on the banks Of |
the Miami Ny sister country girl; 50 was |
yours They needed to tell them the differ
ence between right and wrong; they needed no |
watchful duenna 10 protect them from bad men.
Don't you know that?" to Judge Wilson
Yes and I'll speak Of 1t again." said Judge VIII
but, people say Gould country girls resls; the sill
yer tongue?' I'm sick of that; it has been worked |
threadbare"
Major Butterworth went to tell how he had |
heard and read comments on the defendants de-
meanor in court-"if ne laughed. unfeeing wretch;
II he was grave. an he feels his shame II he smiled
he was trivial But If the plaintiff smiied-ah, she
was smiling through va.e OF tears.
"Now Major Butterworth" cried Judge Bradley,
s'piease confne yourself to the case. The matters
which you speak OF have been picked up through the
newspapers, or rumor. or something else and have
nothing to do with the evidence. You are losing /
time"
Major Butterworth. after little debate with the
Court acquiesced in the suggestion Of Judge Brad
ley, and resumed his argument.
Major Butterworth picked Miss Polarl's char.
acter to pieces beginning with the letters she wrote
10 owen Robinson in 1880 Even then he said, she
knew about love and marriage. and correspendet
with young men-ths innocent girl, who says she
never knew person. did not have single friend
not bowing acquaintance-" Innocent litte
schoogyurl." He said y did not believe her stories
about her age: how she did not know until she vas
twelve years old about the year she was born ana
ali that.
Taking UP the Wessie Brown letter. which he
read. Major Butterworth said that that writing
told Of experience in love rather remarkable in an
innocent little girl who knew nobody. This led
Major ButterWOrtn 10 inquire WY IL NdS lHdt
while other girls in America went without chap
alone with the boys Why was InGIe ,G George rST or
was 1t that this girl was SO watched? She had
been engaged to Rodes she had been engaged to
and Professor Obermeyer. did she not have
Taking up the letter dated July 90 1884 inviting
Colonel Brecklnridge, 70 call on Miss Pollard at
forssa eg MSeg he
for the plaintiff for trying TO hold up the defendant
s sse cTdsncs a rRe Wrote s5e lace O
shaHns MS h si at e feroe "9a Of
and me ant Poa or yc are
guilty OF forgery you have disgraced your family
your traditions and your boy. who sits by your SIDE
Contrasting the claim Of Miss Pollard that she
girl when she met met GOons S e,,ag Bresk s
had written. Major Butterworth SAID M that , II she
o s e saa 's the & nen w wsi she
true he said With eyes turned upward and hands
Rsn Rrses oferng s premium to every woman for pull
Ing down glittering star in the political or any
other armament"
With no attempt to disguise his irony. he pict-
ured Miss Pollard she had made herself appear
at the meeting with the defendant at Wesleyan |
College, a poor luttering little creature who tred
and tried to tell this man OF her trouble with
Rodes and was laughingly diverted and made 10
tell of herself and TO listen TO batteries.
Major Butterworth maintained that II Miss Pol
lard had been all she claimed and II Colonel Breck
inridge had made wrongful advances he would have
been repulsed in way that would have Kept MN
from further conduct of that sort
There is that about the vrtuous woman" he
cried, which chlls every germ OF ascivious ap-
proach" AS for the carriage ride that night If
she were n virtuous woman. al the first approach
OF lasciviousness his part she would have cried
and Major Butterworth made rush at the white
Lsired defendant and shook his his face, |