The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-04-16
FIFTEEN THOUSAND.
The Amount Of Damages Awarded Miss
Pollard.
HER SUIT AGAINST BRECKENRIDGE
Sensations Fairly Crowded Themselves
Into the Last Day of the Breach
of Promise Trial.

w ASHINGTON, ApElI 44.-EOrchaA
Charles K. Cole, of the civil court, an
nounced a verdict for the plaintiff,
Madeline Pollard, for SIS, 900 damages
from Congressman Breckinridge for
breaking his contract to marry her, thus
ending the long and exciting Pollard
Breckinridge breach of promise trial.
Sensations fairly crowded themselves
into the last day of the trial. There had
been one of the most dramatic scenes
which ever stirred up the dingy little
courtroom, reeking as it was with the
memories of celebrated cases. There
was an approach to a personal collision
between Judge Wilson and Attorney
closing argument of the Washington
lawyer, followed by talk of duel, and
Judge Bradley, in his charge to the jury,
scored Colonel Thompson as lawyer is
seldom spoken of in court. The jury re-
tired as 8 :07 p. m. The first ballot
taken was on the merits of the case,
leaving out of consideration the amount
the plaintiff and one for the defendant.
Thereupon the dissenting gentleman
was fguratively cornered by his col
leagues and for some time was argued
with.
HOW A BALANCE WAS STRUCK.
In speaking of this discussion after
ward, Foreman Cole said that the jury
men displayed fully as great familiarity
with the points of the testimony
nc ho1 ham a~,-oaI h., ~ 10
yers in their arguments. They laid the
case fully before the ebdurate juryman,
calling for the grounds on which his be-
lief was based, and finally overcame him
by sheer force of logic. The next ques
tion to be settled was the figure at
which the damages should be awarded.
The foreman said that verdict of 81
Mr.. Breckenridge sufficiently, and he
thought it was unnecessary to impose
an great financial punishment 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, and balance
being struck. The amounts ranged
from 81 to $4,000, and $4,000 was the
average.
THE JURY's AWARD.
Just before the final vote Judge
Bradley sent to inquire if there were any
probability that a verdict would be
agreed upon. Receiving the reply that
the jury was about to conclude its delib-
erations, he entered the courtroom.
His entrance, of course, was the signal
for the gathering of the crowd. Not a
woman's face was in the court. The
room fairly bristled with blue-coated
bailiffs, for rumors of impending trouble
had foated abroad all day, and there
were several detectives in the court.
The hands of the clock stood at three
minutes after 4 when the jurors entered.
At this moment Representative Breck-
inridge, surveying the room an instant,
entered, and following him came his son
and Colonel Thompson. No one being
present to represent the plaintiff, a
bailif was dispatched across the street,
and in few minutes Mr.. Carlisle ar
rived. Then Judge Bradley stretched
out his hand warningly to the crowd,
saying:
"When the verdict is announced, for 1
am informed that verdict has been
agreed upon, there must be no demon
stration, either of approval or dis
approval"
The clerk called the roll of the jury,
and asked:
Gentlemen of the jury, have you
agreed upon your verdict?"
"We haye," replied Foreman Cole.
"We find for the plaintiff
Inarticulate murmurs started, which
the bailifs hushed. 1t was mere mix.
ture of vocal sounds. and which ex-