Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-04-13

considerable fun, the colonel himself
laughing heartily. Mr.. Butterworth
was unable to decipher them, and
declared that man who wrote such .
hand should be punished. Attorney
Stoll tackled them with the same fruit
less result. Col. Breckenridge had two
or three times suggested, Better lei
me read Them" and was finally per-
mitted to do so. He arose, facing the
Jury, and re-read the epistles in his
effective, mellow tones.
Then Mr.. Butterworth pointed out
that on her first appearance on the
stand the plaintiff had declared that,
while she was boarding at the house OF
Miss Hoyt, in Lexington, in 1885, she
and the colonel met at the public
library, or the house of Sarah Guess,
but that, on her second appearance, in
order to better fit the circumstances,
she had declared that she went to his
room in the boarding house.
Beginning his conclusion, the lawyer
told the jury that the inherent proba
bilities arising from the course of human
nature were 10 be considered more
deeply than the statements ofwitnesses.
The question was not whether VIM. G.
P. Breckenridge had violated any ordi-
nance, human or divine, had been
guilty of moral turpitude and conduct
which should bring upon him condemn
alton, but whether those two parties
had agreed that he was to become her
husband and she his wife TO awaken
horror before the public there had been
tale that Colonel Breckenridge had
led astray a euileloss little girl, and
had led her down the path ofnine years
of immortality to marriage contract,
ruthlessly violated. The jury was To
determine whether there had been any
such guileless little eirl-whcther
she had not been mature, know
ing woman. He denied that the
/ woman came 10 court 10 redress a
great wrong. No wrong could be re-
dressed in that way. Nor had she
wanted the balm of money, for she had
said there was none. Her motive did
not rise to the quality of revenge, mol
even hate, but sent abroad to every
home leaven she knew 10 be lie, the
influence Of which was measureless.
For what motive does the desperate
woman walk on any stage? She de
liberately turned from everything that
man or woman could desire and pro
claimed her shame. This is the yesti
bule OF wider stage upon which she
desires 10 enter. Is it the right OF any
individual TO corrupt public morals by
the excuse OF seeking reparation fol
wrong? What is there of PREPARATION
for wrong but to 60 home to her moth
er's freside, to Him who alone Cal
grant PREPARATION for wrong ?"
Her early life was not what it should
have been. he continued, but was what
her letters showed it TO be. 1t would
be said, "Butterworth, you are defend.
ing SIM but, no, he had little family
of his own, one son who had to fight
the battle OF life against fearful odds
No, he was defending the standard o.
womanhood, the virtue Of city and
country girls. No man could say that
seduction was possible under the cir
cumstances which had been portrayed
here. He protested against such a
standard being raised for virtue. As
for his client, no one knew through
what mre that man had been dragged,
and such was the penalty Of sin. He
did not want the jury carried away by
the whisper floating in the air that 3
verdict for the defendant would be a
ratification of his sin. He asked then.
had borne herself as this plaintiff had,
not to elevate her for the degradation
of him. Such a verdict would mean to
the girls that virtue was but as cloak,
to be thrown off or put on. American
womanhood should be indicated by
the standard to which wives and moth
ers must be held.
At ten minutes after three o'clock
Major Butterworth finished. There
was some consultation among the at
torneys, and then Mr. Wilson, stating
that he was hoarse, asked the court to
adjourn.
TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
The closing argument of the breach
of promise suit against Col. Breckin-
ridge. which commenced its sixth week
Yesterday, was begun this morning by
Hon. Jeremiah NJ Wilson, the chief
counsel for Miss Pollard. Judge VIII
son allowed his powerful voice full
sway, hurting accusation after accusa-
ton at the defendant. Miss Pollard
was not present. Maj. Butterworth
came in Just as Judge Wilson was
regretting his absence that he could not
ask him what he would do with the
fallen woman and the man who injured
her. 81 suppose" said Judge Wilson,
she would say, L would turn the
woman out and I'd send the man to
Congress- | stand here for woman
hood" Mr.. Wilson said. Il am here
to insist that the social law shall be
equally distributed; / stand here to
protest against allowing this man to
enter my parlor and your parlor, while
the basement door and the gate in the
back alley are bolted against the
woman. | condemn him Condemn
him if could so that the condemnation
would ring around the world" Col.
Thompson had told the jury that the
plaintiff was wanton woman, but, said
Judge Wilson, 'call her what you will,
| will show you that whatever she Is,
that defendant land he pointed an ac-
cusing finger at Col. Breckinridge) is
responsible for her condition. What ia
the argument of Col. Thompson and
Mai. Butterworth 1t is not that this
seventeen year old girl was not seduced
| hv- this fortv-savnn wear old man hI1t