The herald., 1894-04-15
The Jury Blamed for Not Max.
ing 1t Much More.
Opposing Counsel Have Their Last
Fierce, WOrdy Spa.
Tho Kentucky CoIOneI's Senatorial As
pir@tions Arr Now HOp~Iessly
Crushed. and Miss Pollard
VIII Now Star.
By tho Associatad prnsa

By tho Associated Press
WASHINGTON, April Il. - Foreman
Charles r. Cole OF the civil court this
afternoon announced verdict for the
plaintiff, Madeline Pollard, for SIS 000
damages from Congressman w. @. P.
Breckinridge for breaking his contract
to marry her, thus ending the long and
exciting Breckinridge.P 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
dramatic scenes which ever stirred up
the dingy little court room, reeking as
it was with the memories OF celebrated
cases; there was an approach of per-
sonal collision between Judge Wilson
and Attorney Charles Stoll during the
magnificent closing argument Of the
Washington lawyer, followed by talk
of a duel. and Judge Bradley. in his
charge TO the jury, scored Col. Phil
Thompson as q lawyer is seldom spoken
of in court.
The jury retired at 3:O7. The fret
ballot taken was on the merits of the
case, leaving out of consideration the
question of the amount of damages. 1t
resulted in IL votes for verdict for the
the plaintiff and one vote for the de.
fendant. TheTeupon the dissenting
gentleman was tigurRtively cornered by
his colleagues and for some time was ar
gued with. In speaking Of this discus.
sion afterward, Foreman Cole said that
the jurymen displayed fully as great
familiarity with the points OF the testi"
mony as had been evidenced by the
lawyers in their arguments. They laid
the case fully before the obdurate jury
man. called for the grounds on which
his belief was based, and finally over
came him by sheer force of logic. The
next question to be settled was the fig
ure at which the damages ehould be
fixed, Three jurors thought the full
amount sued tor, 0.O0O, should be
awarded. Foreman Cole said that a
verdict of 81 would vindcate Miss
Pollard and punish Mr.. Breckinridge
sufficiently, and he thought it was I'm.
necessary to impose any great financial
punishment upon him. Discussion OF
this matter followed until the ususl
course was adopted, each juror writing
the amount he considered Just upon q
|
! The amounts ranged from 81 to $50, 900,
and $751; 900 was the average.
Just before the final vote Jddge Brad
ley had sent a message to inquire Il,
there was any probability that verdict
would be sgreed upon. Receiving a re-
ply that the jury was about to conclude
its deliberations, ne entered the conrt.
room. His entrance, OF course, was the
signal for a gathering of the court. No.
a woman's face was in the court. Tie
room fairly bristled with blue coated
! bAiliffs, for rumors OF impending trouble
had hoated about all day, and there were
several detectives in the court. The
hands of the clock stood at three min
utes after o'clock when the jurors en-
tered. At this moment Colonel Breck.
inridge entered, surveying the room for
an instant. Following him came his
son Desha and Col. Phil Thompson.
| No one being pres ent to represent the
plaintiff, a bailltf was dispatched across
the street, and in few minutes Mr..
Carlisle arrived.
Then Judge Bradley stretched out his
hand warningly to the crowd when
this verdict is announced. for | ain in
| formed that a verdict has been agreed
upon, there must be 40 Demonstration,
either OF approval or disapproval
The clerk counted the roll of the jury
and then asked: "Gentlemea Of tho
Jury, have you agreed upon your YER
dict?"
awe have" replied Foreman Cole.
"We find for the plaintiff.
Inarticulate murnurs started, which
the ba;liff4 quickly hushed. I, Was
mere mixture OF vocal sounds, and ex-
pressed no particular sentiment except
surprise. Following this there WAS an
awkward pause Finally the judge
asked: For how much?"
For $15 COO" answered the foreman
Of the jury.
Another rustic like the first arose, but
was speedily queuchsd. Oae man nor
windoH shouted to crowd outside
Fifteen Thousand dollars. plainI6,"
but he was not reprimanded.
Colonel Breckinr dge rose slowly to his
feel. All those who saw his face cay il
waH nearly as white as his beard, but his
voice was as clear as usual when be
spoke in a hegitating way, saying: II
do not know tl,a r,actice OF this court,
but wish to liv h, usual notice Of
motion for a new i,l
He then dropped INTO a seat beside his
son, hardly less pale than himself
NObo0y waited to near the formal Rdr
journment. The jury fled out. Colonel
Breckenridge pulled his slouch hat over
bis eyes and followed them, with his son
10 his wake, elbowins their way across
tho nall TO the marshaPs Office. The
jurors were just ahead of MIN in the outer
hall, and he prelsed through to the
green door before the private Office.
There was no handshaking in congratu-
lation or sympathy between the colonel
or any one else.
Miss Pollard was not in the court
room and her attorney reported she did
not care to say anything about the YER
dict When messenger reached her
room with the news she exclaimed:
"0h, isn't it good; isn't it good;" and
then burst into sobs.
Major Bntterworth said: II do not
care 10 say anything" and walked away
toward his office. There the present