The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-18


that he had fenced adroitly against the
questions until he had secured an adj
mission that they were destroyed and
could rise TO confront him. Then he
denied 1t absolutely. Then. turning TO
another point Of the testimony as show
ing the credibility OF the defendant.
Judge Wilson melted an angry passage
This was not the first time he had
been seduced," he said. leveling that
bony forefinger of his at the colonel
from Kentucky, for he tells you that
he knew the house of Sarah Guess, ne
had been there before with some other
siren before my client had seduced him.
Col. Breckinridse InterpOses.
Col Breckenridge interposed a re-.
snonst-ance. Now. your honor" he
said. leaning forward. there is not the
slightest evidence of that. 1 merely
said that 1 had been there before"
Il believe you are correct" said Judge
BRADLEY. that is all you said"
You had better denied it on the stand
81 you wanted to-" said Mr.. Wilson to
Il was asked to-" replied Col. Breckin-
ridge.
well. you cannot testify now"
This Is the last chance, and / want
the testimony quoted correctly. 1 want
TO set your errors right"
Il am merely arguing on the probabili-
ties Of the case declared MIR. Wilson.
drawing the natural deductions from EVIL
dence. If ! had asked who went
with you TO Sarah Guess before there
would have been half dozen lawyers
But you did not ask it." retorted the
colonel.
But he knew Mrs. Rose in Louisville"
said Mr.. Wilson.
Attorney StoII-''There is no evidence
that she kept an improper house then"
Mr.. Wilson-"Ah. but he met her on
the street. She gave him her card. in
dicating her business. He knew her so
we'll that he knew how to take the client
there. Gentlemen. there were written on
stone ten commandments" said Mr.. VIII
son, picking UP the thread Of his argu-
ment zone Of which was. Thou shalt not
commit adultery This defendant ad-
nits over and over again that he has
violated that one On the same stone Is
written. Thou shalt not bear false wit
ness and If a man shall violate one Of
these comma ndments and be caught in
the tolls Of the law, is II not possible that
under such straits he may violate the
other
The Contract to Marry.
cver1- other point Of the defense hav-
lag been disposed of, Mr.. Wilson said
there remained but the statement of the
defndant that there was a mutual under
standing that the contract TO marry
should not be carried out, and that he
chara cterized picuresqUely as "a clean
shavcn. bald-headed. obese faIsehood'
manufactured to fit the eXigencies of the
case. He discussed the probability of q
woman about to give birth to child
COnscnting to such an arrangement and
reviewed the testimony Of Mrs Black
burn to show that Col. Breckenridge had
taken the aggressive in proclaiming to
Mrs. Blackburn the engagement and de-
claring that he never intended to marry
anyone but Madeline Pollard and that
her jealousy of Mrs. Wing was absurd.
The attorney asked, Where is my
client" and called upon the jury to wit
ness that the defense had not spared
denunciatiOns Of her. The defendant
himself had told Mrs. Blackburn that she
was of humble but respectable origin
and Of natural talent. He pictured the
desOlation Of her home when her father
had left the family penniless. three of
the children going TO the Odd Fellows
home, her mother going TO the house Of
one relative and she TO an aunt in Pitts
burg Mr.. Butterworth had told of her
ambition. her talents and also paid
tribute to Mary Anderson. In her own
way, if her life had been permitted TO
take its natural course the plaintiff
might have attained as great distinction
as Mary Anderson, and this made the
crime Of the defendant in pervertine- her
had been like a bird in a cage, beating
against the bars Of environment.
The Letter Forgery.
Discussing the circumstances Of her
childhood he referred to the disputed
letter, declaring it TO be Of no conse-
Quence but he would brand it as a
forgery. manufactured for the purposes
Of the third plea, adding And this Is
not the only piece Of rascality manu-
featured for this defense. 1t was a COM
mon thing for papers TO be forged for
the purposes of the case. Expert evil
dence was balderdash. sham and IRE
tense. and IL was most remarkable that
of all the years Of correspondence this
was the only letter produced"
HereupOn Mr.. Wilson wanted to read
60 the judge, as he said. an opinion of
The courts on the value of expert test
mony.
III it is proper for me to read this
now" he said, Il will do so. If not. I
will pass it up to your honor"
Is there any objection?" asked Judge
Bradley, and Mr.. Stoll said: II think
we could produce a dozen authorities on
the other side"
Mr.. Wilson, having made his point 10
the jury, passed up the book to the
Judge and proceeded to declare that
experts were paid according to the strain
2 scandal from expert testimony until
legislators stipulated that unbiased ex-
pertS should be appointed by the courts
He cited the Morrill, letter as an evidence
Of the fallibility of the expert testimony
and then stirred up the fiercest passage
OF the trial by stating that the Wessie
Brown letter, from which this had been
forged, had been procured by the de-
Tense and carried in Mr.. StOll's pocket.
The Air Was Blue.
"Mr. Wilson" demanded Attorney
Stoll. do you mean to insinuate that
committed that forgery?''
Il do not" replied Mr.. Wilson, Il say
some skilled penman committed that
forgery
DO you mean TO say that I was
party TO it?"
Il say you had the wessie Brown
letter Did not your demanded Judge
Wilson, fiercely: Did not your
i did. replied Mr.. Stoll, belligerently.
and for moment the air was sur
charged with belligerency.
i do not propose" Numbered Judge
Wilson, that you shall stand here and
traduce my client by the hour and in
timidate me from a discharge of nv
duty"
Then he rumbled in a knowing way:
81 know some things"
The Wessie Brown letter and the al
legged forgery were submitted TO the
Jurors for comparison, while Mr.. Wilson
rested in the chair Of the witness box