The Washington times., 1894-04-05
LIKE CROWS AFTER CARRION
Justice Bradley Excoriates the Crowds
That Have Attended the Trial.
THEIR CONDUCT DISGUSTING
Judge Wilson Finishes Col. Breckinridge's
cross-Examination-T Turning Him on the
Spit in the Endeavor to Explain Away
Mrs. Blackburn's Damaging Testimony.

| The inquisition suffered by Representative
Breckenridge at the hands Of Judge Jere
Wilson regarding the testimony OF Mrs.
Governor Blackburn would have been the
talk OF the city last night but for some re-
marks from Judge Bradley which enlivened the
close Of the days proceedings and have OBJ
scured all other passing features of the trial
in their interest
For days past since the case reached the
zenith Of its sensationalism crowds of men.
boys, and women. many of them well dressed
and respectable IL appearance, have thronged
the courthouse corridors, the sidewalks, and
even the street in front of the offices OF the
attorneys in the case at the hour for adjourn
ment, waiting for the principals to appear,
elbowing for vantage points, bandying per-
sonal comments. and making things so
generally disagreeable that the objects oftheir
attention have been driven to make their
escape through side doors, adopting various
maneuvers to avoid the unpleasant notoriety.
Judge Bradley has meantime been smother
ing growing feeling of disgust.
Last night his emotions passed the safety
gauge, and he gave some of these people such
pointed tongue-lashing as has rarely been
heard in courtroom. After contracting to
hold the courtroom spectators in check until
their prey could get away. he held the usual
attempted rush at bay until he had told them
that their conduct was characterized by lnde-
cency; that they reminded him of buzzards
lowering around carrion, and other things
not pleasant for them to hear.
There have been several Congressman in
the audience every day. with sprinkling OF
public men, even an occasional minister OF
the gospel. They. with men gray-haired and
hairless, have leaned forward eagerly, open
mouthed, for hours, drinking in every detail
of the scandal. Every allusion TO the aspects
of the case not mentionable in mixed society,
even the occasional downright obscenity of
it, has drawn from some elements OF the au-
dience an unfailing responsive giggle. He
not being endowed with this same peculiar
sense of humor. these things have grated
upon the judges conception OF the proprie-
ties.
This lecture from the court was followed
by an early adjournment. because the cross
examination OF the colonel, who had occupied
the center of the stage since last Thursday,
was finished and his attorneys wanted a
council of war before proceeding.
1t had been hard day for the colonel, be-
cause Judge Wilson spent most OF IL in a de-
tailed comparison of the testimony Of Mrs.
Blackburn and the defendant, compelling him
to reconcile or explain their differences. To
spectators it looked at times US though the
attorney was heading things toward Ken
lucky tragedy such as Mrs. Blackburn init
mated would have obviated the occasion for
her appearance on the witness stand had her
husband been living. He seemed 10 be seek
ing from the defendant a statement that Mrs.
Blackburn had triled with the truth. but the
questions furnished one of the finest eX-
hibitions OF hair-splitting on record.
Col. Breckenridge averred that Mrs. Black
burns description OF nearly every one OF the
was wrong. but qualified his denials by the
statements that she had confused times and
places. had put constructions not intended
upon his utterances. had attributed to him
things said by Madeline Pollard. but inserted
a saving clause that she had no doubt hon
estly endeavored to give her recollection of
events.
To-day the defense will close their case
Much of their reliance was placed upon the
testimony of the defendant himself, and they
may wind up in short order.
The plaintiff has several witnesses in town
for rebuttal. Mrs. Mcclellan Brown. OF Gin
cinnati. the wife of the former principal OF
Wesleyan Institute. registered at the Riggs
House yesterday. and will be called to dis
prove the story of the former fiancee. Rankin
Rossell. Other Kentucky witnesses who are
stopping at the same place are: c. II. keene
and J. NJ. Kelly, OF Lexington. and H. L.
Owen. CT Covington. Besides these people,
Dir. Wilson laid the foundation for the appear
ance of several witnesses to impeacn Col
Breckinridge. one of them the colored cook
at Miss PoIlard's swell H-street boarding
house: another the laDdlady of the house
where she was confined in 1855 for the birth
of her second child.
Col. Breckinridge looked extremely pale
when he stepped into the witness stand yes
terdav morning.
The first question which Judge Wilson asked
i'm rbat har ba md hoo, in oil
borough. to which he replied that he had been
in the little hamlet once to make speech at
barbecue. which he thought was in 1886 or 1888.
one OF those campaigns Did not think it could
have been in 1885, as no campaign was in
progress.
He did not remember the colored woman who
opened the door at 1919 H street the day after
he took luncheon there in April (as heretofore
testified to- nor having complimented her ON
her luncheon.
"Did you not say to her that when you and
Madeline went to keeping house you wanted
her to come and cook for you?"
THAT is entirely fsncifuL / never said any
thing Of the sort to any colored woman"
"Did she not say that she had been in service
in that family a long time and did not want to
leave?"
'.No such conversation could have occurred"
Recurring to the colonel's statement that
he had not made no protestations of love to
Miss Pollard on the occasion of that momen-
tous carriage ride. when seduction is alleged
to have occurred. Mr.. Wilson asked him
when he had first begun to talk to her affec-
tionately.
~ never did make any protestations OF love /
talked TO her kindly. encouragingly, when she
was depressed, endeavored To get her to do
something to make place in the world for her
self / spoke solicitousy to her, particularly
when frs learned that she was pregnant by
me, having the interest in her which n man
might for young unmarried woman who had
such circumstances in her life for which he felt