The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-13
CRAVEN And COWARD
Terrible Arraignment Of
Colonel Breckenridge
By Judge Wilson.
DEFENDANTS DEFENSE RIDICULED.
''The Woman Did 1t" Is the Same
Excuse Adam Gave Some
Time Ago.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 1894-The closing
argument of the protracted breach of prom
ise suit against Colonel Breckenridge. which
commenced its sixth week yestnrday, was
begun at ten o'clock this morning by Mr..
Jeremiah NJ. Wilson. the chief counsel for
Miss Pollard. Judge Wilson is tall, spare
man with narrow shoulders, very thin
face accentuated by prominent Roman
nose, and hardly looks the power he pos
sesses in making an argument before jury.
Starting quietly in tones so low that they
could scarcely be heard, Judge Wilson
gradually allowed his powerful voice full
sway, hurting accusation after accusation
at the white haired Kentuckian. The plain
tiff was not present Neither was Major
Butterworth at the opening, but he came in
with Desha Breckinridge just as Judge Will
son was re GREETING his absence that he could
ask him what he would do with the fallen
woman and the man who had injured her.
81 suppose" said Judge Wilson, Che would
say, L would turn the woman out, and I'd
send the man to Congress. stand
here for womanhood," Mr. Wilson said.
.sThis defendant proclaimed from the
stand that while affairs of this kind only in
jured man they destroyed woman. I
am here to insist that the social law shall
be equally distributed; 1 stand here to pro-
test against allowing hat man to enter my
parlor and your parlor, while the basement
door and the gate in the back alley are
boited against the woman. 1 condemn him;
condemn him if / could SO that the con-
demnation would ring round the world"
CRITICIZED BUTTERwoRTH.
The defense of the country girl by Major
Butterworth was criticized severely by Judge
speech lof Colonel Phil Thompson,
and to each of the historical
and Biblical incidents referred to
by that speaker, give a turn hostile to the
defendant. Colonel Thompson's sneer about
female doctors was made the cue for de-
education of women whoshad too long been
the drudge of man.
Col. Thompson had told the jury that the
plaintiff was wanton, but. said Ju dge Will
son, "Call her what you will, will show
you that whatever she is, that defendant
(and he pointed an accusing finger
at Col. Breckinridge) is responsible
argument of Col Thompson and Major
Butterworth? 1t is not that this seventeen
yearold girl was seduced by this forty
year-old man, but that she seduced him.
That's their argument. If it were not so
serious it would be ludicrous How could
that defendant sit there and allow the utter
ance of such sentiments If he were not
craven and cowardp'
1.-THE WOMAN DID IT.r
'tHe says, The woman did it That's
his defense; it's the old story Of the Garden
of Eden; that's what Adam said when
brought before the King of men; she did
it, and, gentlemen, Adam has not been in
good grace from that time to this"
Major Butterworth had told the jury
nothing whatever about the case. said Judge
Wilson. When he started in to do SO he
found that he was getting into muddy
L. L tkTyI =
bank and shoot off fireworks" :"
Judge Wilson's remarks caused occasional
laughter and some shuffles of approval,
which Judge Bradley rebuked.