Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-04-19

The people of the whole country will heave
n sigh of relief to learn that the now famous
Pollard Breckinridge trial has been finished,
for the details Of the sase have been nause-
ating. The jury in the case awarded the
plaintiff verdict OF $l5, 600, but SO far as
the outcome of the case is concerned the
amount of money allowed the plaintiff seems
to be immaterial. 1t has been understood
all along that Congressman Breckinridge
was worth nothing comparatively, and the
chances are accordingly against the col
lection by the plaintiff of the sum awarded.
Casting aside all the filth that has been
lugged into the case, the simple question
which confronted tho jury was, whether or
not Breckenridge promised to marry Miss
Pollard. The fact that the counsel for the
plaintiff disclosed on every possible occasion
the true nature of the relations which
existed between the principals
in the case, goes far to show not only that
the plaintiff sought to blast the reputation
of Breckenridge and make him suffer as
much as she had suffered. MS she alleged in
her testimony; but it also gives color to the
statement that the political opponents of
Breckenridge in Kentucky furnished Miss
Pollard with the means to carry on this suit
for the purpose of running the defendant
political fortunes.
BE this MS it may, the reputation Of Con
gresham Breclainridge is now blackened so
that it is almost as dark rs his true charac-
ter, and SO far US tho country in general is
concerned, he might as well retire from pub
lie view. Among his constituents however,
there is said to be distinct reaction in the
defendants favor, strange as it NAV
seem. Word comes from Kentucky that those
who were at first inclined to condemn the
congressman have been preiudiced in his
favor by the general cutlery which has been
raised against him. and in spite of the dam
aging character of Breckinridge's admis-
sions as well as of the evidence against him
there is said to be IA growing disposition on
the part of his friends TO try to vindicate
him at the polls. Those friends may be en-
couraged by the success which attended n
similar effort on the part of the friends Of
Sir Charles Dixie of England, but they will
find to their sorrow that Amsrica is
not England, If the constituents Of
| Breckenridge should have the hardihood to
return him to Congress the chances are that
the force of public sentiment would compel
the House to take measures looking toward
| his retirement, as unusual as such u course
might be.
| This disposition noted on the part OF the
| friends Of Breckenridge, no less than the
| character of many Of the disclosures made
! during the taking of testimony in the case
affords an instructive glimpse into the moral
rules which obtain in some of the high life of
Kentucky, and we are greatly in error if the
| outcome of the present trial does not do
much to raise the moral standard required of
some men who are admitted to drawing rooms
| in the country in general, ifnDt in Kentucky
While the details of evidence published have
been disgusting, the words of bitter con
demnation which have been rained down
| upon the head of Breckenridge cannot fail
to be restraining TO others who might be
disposed to initiate him. All sorts of ad-
venturesses will undoubtedly hereafter be
encouraged by the result Of this trial To
prosecute real or fictitional claims of q SINH
lar nature, so that the Breckinridges will be
forced to walk in straight and narrow
path for some time to come. On the whole,
therefore, the chances are that the wide
spread advertising given the Breckinridge
| trial will prove to be not an unmixed evil