The Daily Texarkanian., 1894-04-16
MADELINE POLLARD WINS.
The Famous Pollard Breckenridge
Legal Scandal over
at Last,

scenes in the Pollard-Breckinridge
breach of promise case, which came
to final close in Judge Bradley's
court, in that city, at 4:15 o'clock
p. m, Saturday, resulting in a de-
cisive victory for the plaintiff, who
was awarded $15, 600 as legal redress
for her wrongs, and a monetary
balm for her wounded sensibili-
ties.
At the hour and moment above
mentioned the final scene in the
great legal and moral, or rather
immoral, drama, was enacted, when
Charles Cole, foreman of the Jury
sworn to try the cause, of Madeline
Pollard, PLAINTIFFS. W. c. P Breck-
inridge, defendent, announced a
verdict in favor of the said plaintiff
and according to her damages, in
the sum of $4,000 against said de-
fendent, for his breace of marriage
contract between the two.
Sensations had fairly crowded in
to the last day of the trial, and
there had been some of The most
dramatic scenes which ever stirred
the dingy little court room, reeking
as it was with the memories of cele-
brated cases There was an ap-
proach to a personal collision be-
tween Maj. Wilson and Attorney
Charles H. Stoll during the magni-
ficient closing argument of the
Washington lawyer, followed by
talk of a duel, and Judge Bradley, in
his charge to the jury, scored COL
Phil Johnson as a lawyer is seldom
spoken of in court.
The Jury retired at 3:07 p, m,
The first ballot taken was upon
the merits Of the case, leaving out
of consideration the question of the
amount of damages, 1t resulted in
eleven votes for a verdict in favor
of the plaintiff and one vote for the
defendant Thereupon the dissent
ing gentleman was fguratively cor
nered by his colleagues and forsome
time was argued at
In speaking of this discussion af-
terward Foreman Cole said the ju-
rymen displayed fully as great a fa
miliarity with the points of the tes-
timony as had been evidenced by
the lawyers in their arguments.
They laid the case fully before the
obdurate juryman, called for the
grounds on which his belief was
based and we're finally able to over
come him by sheer force of logic
The next question to be settled was
the figure at which the damages
should be rated, and upon this mat
ter there was the widest possible
difference,
Two or three jurors thought the
full amount sued for, $50, 600 should
be awarded. Foreman Cole said
that a verdict of 81 would vindicate
Miss Pollard and punish Mr., Breck-
inridge sufficiently and he thought
it was unnecessary to impose any
great financial punishment upon
him. Discussion of this matter fol
lowed until the usual course was
adopted, each juror writing the
amonnt he considered just upon a
slip of paper and a balance being
struck the amount ranged from
81 to $50, 600 and $l5, 600 was the av-
erage
Just before the final vote Judge
Bradley had sent messenger to
inquire if there we're any probabil-
ity that verdict would be agreed
upon soon. Receiving the reply
that the jury was about to conclude
its deliberations he entered the
court room, His entrance, of course
was the signal for gathering of
the crowd
Not a womans face was seen in
the court The room fairly bristled
with blue coated bailiffs for rumors
of impending trouble had hoated
about all day and there were sever
al detectives in the crowd The
hands Of the clock stood at 80 min
utes afrer 4 o'clock when the jurors
in single file entered, Almost at
this moment from the outer door
at the Judges LETT was thrust the
silvery head Of Congressman Breck-
inridge surveying the room for an
instant before ne entered. Follow
Ing came his son, Desha, and Col,
Phil Thompson
No one being present to represent
the plaintiff a bailiff was sent across
the street and in five minutes Mr.,
CaIderon Carlisle arrived, Then
Judge Bradley stretched out his
hand warningly to say when the
verdict announced, for am inform
ed that a verdict has been agreed