The Dickinson press., 1894-04-21
THE POLLARD CASE.
A VERDICT RENDERED. IN THE
BREACH OF PROMISE CASE.

1EAAASn Or 4AOMISE CASEs
The Jury Thinks That Col. Breck-
tnridge Should Pay Miss Pollard
41b,OOO-He Will Appeal-Miss Poll
lard Su6ers . Nervous Collapse.
Washington, April 13.-Maj. Ben But
terwerth had the floor again when the
Poil0rd- breckenridge case was resumed
yesterday. He began with the considera-
ton of Miss Pollard's letters to James
Rhodes, which he said were the f0unda-
ton of the case. He did not care any
thing about the top, he said, if there were
no foundation for it to rest upon. Mr..
Butterworth argued that verdict against
his client in this case would only be n
fragrant instance of vicariOus punishment.
He drew picture of Col. Breckinridge
"crouching helpless at the woman's feet"
and went on to say how horribly revolt
ing was her story that he could meet his
mistress before the mould had gathered
on the grave clothes of his buried wife,
and that he had taken her to bawdy
house for two hours to convey to her the
tender message that she was to follow in
the footsteps of that wife.
1t implied that woman Of corrupt life,
from choice, who had doubtful relations
with Rhodes, who had illegitimate chill
dren Mt sundry and divers places and mis-
carriages ut Others, was to sit at his table
in q union that was the acme of all that
was vicious and contemplate. That wom-
On, who had lived ten years without earn
ing cent US the mistress of his life,
wanted money and not himself Mr.. But
terworth firmly believed that the woman
knew of that secret marriage in New
York on the 18th of April. The plaintiffs
counsel had artfully pushed to the front
some stimable characters in order to OBJ
scure the dark background. Mrs. Black
burn had been imposed upon by the
plaintiff; the defendant was helpless in
the premises. He and the plaintiff were
lin the business of lying nt that time.
and were justified in it because the pur-
pose was ito rescue a home, to rescue n
woman; to open to her better life."
Mrs. Blackburn was righteously indignant
that she had been imposed upon in the
matter, and it was natural that she should
visit her wrath upon Col. Breckinridyc.
She was. however, confused i'll her recol-
lection of conversations. The major con-
cludcd with u brilliant peroration, and
was complmented by several persons. Mr..
Wilson. for the plaintiff, will follow and
close the arguments, after which the case
will be given to the jury.
Washington, April IA. JUICE Jere
W''s'" continued his speech to-day. If
he concludes in tiuM the ease will he
given to the Jury this evening During
his address Judge Wilson distlain,cd yil
intention to leal in crltory, md vet he
was able to use orl.ory of the most Of
fcctual kind. THE def .nsc of Adam"
was what he called Col. Brecki ,ri lge's
position. and to the credit uf humanity
he said ADAM had always been deemed
Il coward and craven. He lid not at
tempt to assert that his client was free
from fault. but that just .ts far .ls she
had strayc,: from TIL. path of womau.y
virlMe she had been led by one man.
He has been equally guilty with my
client, declared the lawyer. "evrn more
SO. for he had taken IL solemn VOW to
heaven and she had not. He had broken
that VOW by his own confession before
lie ever met Madeline Pollard. He has
admitted that he knew Sarah Guess,
knew the character of her house and hai
been there before he went with Madeline
Pollard. He has lived lie for ten years.
his life has been that of faithlessness to
the rost sacred obligations of life. He
has lived life OF duplicity, Of hypocrisy.
such as You can't coin words to express
the length and breadth of. He tells you
that he went to Mrs. Blackburn inten-
tionally to deceive her; he tells you that
he went to Moore to tell him a lie. When
he attempts 10 blacken the testimony Of
my client | want to measure his testi-
mony by the rules of law. How do you
know that he is not telling this story
to deceive yoa? The probability is that
he is doing it, for he is now in the tolls;
he is brought to bay, and in his extremity
he asks you to believe such story on
his unsupported word. This man steeped
aid soaked in depravity and original sin.
want the world to know that whatever
OF slime is on her comes from this de.
fendant. 1t is the tail of the serpant
over her life. wish all the mothers Of
the land could see this woman in her
true light. They would open their hearts
to this woman: their sympathies woulG
well up for her. She would he, If not
excused, understood IA not haing the Sc
ducer of this unprotected man, but as
injured by his machinatiOns."
Washington. April IT, - Foreman
Charles II. Cole, Of the circuit court
jury, at 4:45 o'clock Saturday afternoon
al 10, need verdict for the plaintiff,
Madeline Pollard, for S15,OOO damages
from Congressman w. C.. T.. Breckinrlge
for breaking his contract to marry her,
thus ending the long and exciting r..k-
lnridgc-POllard breach of promise case.
Sensations had fairly crowded irto the
last day of the trial. There had been
some of the most dramatic scenes which
ever stirred the dingy little court room,
reckng as it was with the memories Of
celebrated cases. There was an app .,ach
to personal collision between Judge
Wilson and Charles Stoll during the
magnificent closing argument of the
Washington lawyer, followed by talk of
duel. and Judge Bradley, in his charge
to the jury scored Col. Phil Thompson ts
a lawyer is seldom spoken of in court.
The jury retir-d at :::O7 y. III. The
hands of the clock stood at 4:3O when
thu jurors entered.
Almost at this moment from the outer
door ut the judges left was thrust the
slvery head of Congressman Brecfin.
ridge. surveying the room for all instant
before he entered. Following him came
his son. Desha, and Col. Phil Thompson.
NO. one being present TO represent the
piaintiff, hliliff was dispatched across
the street, and in FIVE minutes CaIderon
Carlisle arrived.
The clerk called the roll of the Jury.
then srumbled loudly an :ntcrrogatory
which. when interpreted, was: Gentle
men of the jury. have you agreed upon
your vcrditt:"
I'VE have" responded Foreman Cole.
1--WE find for the plaintiff"
An ilarticuiate mL,nur started, whicl,
the bailiffs quickly hu>lied 1t was mere.
iy a mixture If vocal sound and crowd.
ing, and which exercised no particul ,r
stI tIment except sn nris". Following
this was an awkward pause. FinlI
the judge asked:
For how much:"
Fifteen thousand dollars" answered
the f"ren'nn Of the jury.
Another .ustle like the f;rst p.x,st.. BIZ.
was speedily squelched. One MAJ .,,:;.
window shouted 20 the crowd ontsid...
$4,000, plaintiff but he was not repri-
nanded.
Col. Breckinridge rose slowly to his
A T.: g. 4