The morning call., 1894-04-15
HARDLY WHAT SHE ASKED.
But Fifteen Thousand Dollars Is
a Goodly Sum.
SOME LITTLE TALK OF A DUEL.
Dramatic Incidents Marking the Close
of a Case Which Was All
Dramatic.


Charles r. Cole of the Civil Court to-day
announced a verdict for the plaintiff.
Madeline Pollard. for SIS, 900 damages from
Congressman w. c. P. Breckenridge for
breaking his contract to marry her, thus
ending the long and exciting Breckenridge
Pollard breach-of-pr0mise trial.
Sensations have fairly crowded them
selves into the last day of the trial; there
had been some of the most dramatic
scenes which ever stirred up the dingy
little courtroom. reeklng as 1T was with
the memories of celebrated cases; there
was an approach of a personal collision
between Judge Wilson and Attorney
Charles Stoll during The magnificent clos
ing argument of the Washington lawyer,
followed by talk of duel, and Judge
Bradley in his charge to the jury scored
Colonel Phil Thompson as a lawyer is sell
dom spoken OF In court.
The jury retired at :07 p. NJ. The first
ballot taken was on the merits of the case,
leaving out of consideration the question
of the amount OF damages. 1t resulted in
eleven votes for verdict for the plaintiff
and one vote for the defendant There
upon the dissenting gentleman was fgura-
lively cornered by his colleagues and for
some time WAS arguel with. In speaking
of this discussion afterward, Foreman
Cole said that the jurymen displayed fully
'as great a familiarity with the points of
the testimony as had been evidenced by the
lawyers in their arguments. They laid
the case fully before the obdurate jury
man. called for the grounds on which his
belief was based and finally 0vercame
him by sheer force Of logic.
The next question to be settled was the
figure at which the damages should be
fixed. Three jurors thought the full
amount sued for, $4,000. should be
awarded. Foreman Cole said that a ver-
dict of 81 would vindicate Miss Pollard
and punish Mr.. Breckinridge sufficiently,
and he thought 1t was unnecessary to i'm
pose any great financial punishment upon
him. Discussion upon this matter fol-
lowed until the usual course was adopted,
each juror writing the amount he con-
sidered just upon a slip Of paper and a
balance being struck. The amounts ranged
from 81 to $4,000. and $4,000 was the
average.
Just before the final vote Judge Bradley
had sent message TO inquire if there was
any probability that verdict would De
agreed upon. Receiving the reply that
the jury was about to conclude its delibera-
tions he entered the courtro ON. His en-
trance, of course, was the signal for a
gathering of the crowd. Not a woman's
face was in the court. The room fairly
brstled with bIue-coated bailiffs. for ru-
mors of impending trouble had foated
H., oil hor n
tectives in tbs court. The hands of the
clock stood at three minutes after o'clock
when the jurors entered.
At this moment Congressman Breckin-
ridge, surveying the room for an instant,
entered, and following him came his son,
Desha, and Colonel Phil Thompson. No
one being present to represent the plaintiff
bailiff was dispatched across the street
and in few minutes Mr.. Carlisle arrived.
Then Judge Bradley stretched out his
hand warningly to the crowd. when
this verdict Is announced, for | am in
formed that verdict has been agreed
upon, there must be DO demonstration,
either of approval or disapproval."
The clerk called the roll of the jury. and
then asked. "Gentlemen OF the jury, have
you agreed upon your verdict?"
I'VE have" replied Foreman Cole. 1--WE
find for the plaintiff"
Inarticulate murmurs started, which the
bailiffs quickly hushed. 1t was mere
mixture of vocal sounds and expressed no
particular sentiment except surprise.
Following this there was an awkward
pause. Finally the Judge asked, "For
how much?"
"For S1o, ,Ooo." answered the foreman of
the jury.
Another rustic like the first arose, but
was speedily quenched. One man near a
window shouted to the crowd outside.
Fifteen thousand dollars, plaintiff" but
he was not reprimanded.
Colonel Breckenridge rose slowly to his
feet. All those who saw his face say it
was nearly as white as his beard. but his
voice was as clear as usual when he spoke
in hesitating way. saying:
II do not know the practice OF this
court, but l wish to give the usual notice
of motion for new trial" He then
dropped into seat beside his son. hardly
less pale than himself
Nobody walled to hear the for NAL ad-
journment. The jurors filed out. Colonel
Breckinridge pulled his souch hat over
his eyes and followed after them with his
son in his wake. elbowiDg their way ACROSS
the hall to the Marshaps Office. The jurors
were Just ahead of him in the outer hall
and he pressed Though to the green door
before the private Office. There was no
handshaking in congratulation Jr sympa-
thy between the colonel or any one else.
Miss Pollard was not In the courtroom,
and her attorney reported she did not care
to say anything about the verdict. When
a messenger reached her ROOM with the
news she exclaimed. "Oh isn't 1t good ];
isn't it good" and then burst into sobs.
Major Butterworlh said: Il don't care
to say anything" and walked away toward
his office. There the present Mrs. Breck-
inridge was awaiting events. There Is no
reason to believe the rum0r that she is
about to apply for divorce. Mr.. Butter
worth characterzes the stories as wholly
without foundation. The case. he said
later in the evening, would be fought to a
finish along every available and proper
line. That Miss Pollard will be finan-
cially bettered by the result OF the case is