The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-04-15
"oh, what tangled web we weave,

..on. what tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive.
Washington. April 1A.-Foreman
Charles K. Cole. of the civil court, an
nounced the verdict for the plaintiff.
Madeline Pollard, for $4,000 damages
from Congressman w. c. ?. Breckin-
ridge, for breaking his contract to
marry her, thus ending the long and
exciting Brecl1inridge-Pollard breach
Of promise trial.
Sensations have fairly crowded them
selves into the last day Of the trial;
there had been some of the most dra-
matte scenes which ever stirred up the
dingy little court room, reeling as it
was with the memories of celebrated
cases; there was an approach 10 a ser
sonal encounter between Judge WfissR
and Charles Stoll during the magrifi-
cent argument of the Washington law
Yer, followed by a talk of a duel, and
Judge Bradley, in his charge to the
jury, scored Colonel Phil Thompson as
a lawyer is seldom spoken of in court.
On the Merits of the CaseaEeAa,
The jury retired at 3:O7 PM
The first ballot taken was d
merits Of the case, leaving out &
sideration the question of the
Of damages. 1t resulted in II v6s
verdict for the plaintiff and
for the defendant Thereups
the gentleman was figurativef
neEed by his colleagues and fsS
r Iilne was argued with.
In speaking Of this discussions
ward, Foreman Cole said that II
men displayed fully as much fai
1ty with the points of the testimorve s
rad been evidenced by the lawys
their arguments. They laid the rsst
1dly before the obdurate jur=
called for the grounds on which IN
DelleL was based, and finally overcome
MIN by sheer force of logic
Inc next question settled was the
ngure which the damages should be
nNed- Three jurors thought the full
amount should be awarded.
Foreman Cole said that a verdict nj
81 would Yindicate Miss Pollard. and
punish Mr.. Breckenridge sufici,,tlZ
and he thought it was unnecessary IA
impose any great financial punishment
upon him.
Discussion Of this matter followed TN.
I'll the usual course was adopted. aacb
Juror writing the amount he considered
just upon slip of paper, and a balance
being struck. The amounts rapge 4
from 81 10 $4,000, and S15.O)0 was Ike
average.
The Judges Warming.
Just before the final vote, Judge
bradley sent message to inquire if
there was any probability that a YER
dict would be agreed upon Receiving
the reply that the jury was about Ia
conclude its deliberations. ne epiere d
the court room. His entrance. of
course, was the signal for a gathering
Of the crowd. Not a wclnqn's taco was
in the court. The room fairly !l:stled
with blue-cOated baIliffs, for rur-C,rs of
impending trouble had coated about al
day, and there were 80 several de-
tectiveS in the court. ne hands of the
clock stood at 3 minutes after U'cIC ok
when the jurors entered. AT this mo-
ment, Congressman 8reckirridge. sur
Teying the room for al instant en-
tered. Following him came his son
Desha and Colonel Phil Thompson.
No che being present to represent the
plaintiff, a bailiff was dispatched across
the street. and in a few minutes Mr..
Carlisle arrived.
Then Judge Bradley stretched on1 his
hand Warningly 10 the crowd. "V-hen
this verdict is annouuce1. for I q N in
formed that a verdict has been ar. eed
upon, there must pe demonstration,
either of approval or disapprolal."
The clerk called the roll o. the Jury.
and then asked: Gentlemen Of the
jury, have you agreed upon YOUR YER
dict2"
I'VE have" replied Foreman Cole.
1--WE find for the plaintiff
There were murgnurs, which tie bail
:ffs quickly hushed. II was mere
mixture Of vocal sounds and which cX-
pressed no particular sentiment except
surprise. Following this. there was an
awkward pause. Finally the judge
asked; For how much?'
For $780," answered the foreman
Of the jury.
mother rustic like the first arose, but
St was speedily Quilted.
One man near a window shouted To
a crowd outside: "Sl5.G9O. plaintiff" but
he was not reDrlmanded.
Body Blow for the Colonel.
Colonel Breckenridge rose slowly to
Ssis feet All those VINO saw his face
say it was nearly as waite as MS beard.
but his voice was as clear as usual
when he spoAe q hesitauug way.
saying:
:, I do not know the practice Of this
court, but ! wish TO give the usual no
tee Of motion FOR new trial"
he then dropped into a sea- beside
his son, hardly less pale han himself.
Neither waite1 to hear further
The jurors fled out. Colonel Breckin-
ridge pulled his Slouch hat over his
eyes and followed after them. with
his son in his walk elbOwing their way
across the hall - the marshafs office
The jurists vera Just ahead of MIN
IN the outer hall, and he pressed
through them TO the gate before the
public Office There was nc hansshak-
ing or congratulations or sympathy be-
tween the colonel 0" any one else.
Miss Pollard was not in the court
room and her attorney reported she did
not care 20 say anything about The