The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-06
ELKINS CASE GOES TO JURY
Arguments in Half-million-dollar
Suit Concluded.
Sealed Verdict TO be Brought Into
Court This Morning II Agree
ment il Reached.

The suit of Robert Burton and George
4. Debreuil Of Baltimore. 10 recover half
a million dollars from Senator EIkins for
services in connection with the sale Of the
Western Maryland Railroad i'm 1872. is in
the hands OF the jury. and if an agree
ment is reached a sealed verdict viii be-
rendered this morning when court con-
veues at 10 o'clock The jury retired
about 100 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
and when az As p. ID. they sent word
TO Justice Wright who was waiting in his
Office. that they had not vet reached an
agreement. hc instructed them 10 continue
their deliberations. and 81 they reached a
verdict 10 seal it and deliver il iu court
this morning.
Justice WrghJs charge to the jury con-
sumed about twenty minutes lie de
cIared tlat the declaration and bills OF
particulars OF the plaintiffs served only
the purpose of identifying their claim.
and should not be- taken AS evidence. and
that whether or not the claims OF the
plaintiffs had been sUbs:autated. the Jury
must judge from the evidence which was
produced. He said that the only theory
upon which the plaintiffs could recover
was that Iu one OF their conferences with
Elkins there happened something to cause
both parties. the plaintiffs and the de-
PENDANT 90 understand that the latter
promised 10 pay for the plan OF acquisi-
ton. DC The understanding must have
been mutual
Attorney WorthingtOn. In his closing
argument for the defendant argued along
the same lines as his associate. ex-senator
Faulkner. on Monday.
He was answered by Attorney Dsbarra
T. IellOtt. for the plaintiffs. who argued
that the plaintiffs had rendered valuable
services FOR Senator Eikins. and that Sen
ator El1ins knew 81 and appreciated il.
as was shown in the tenor of his CONVEX
Stations with them and also his various
letters
MT Nellott took up a statement made
10y Mr. Faulkner 10 the effect that the
plaintiffs were not acting i'm good faith
as one man Go another. and that II was
a general rule tnat where "a man was
false in one thing De had 20 be- watched
carefully as to others Mr. Yellott said
me accepted this axiosn as cnunciated by
Air Faulkner. and that il would give him
pleasure % examine the conduct OF the
defendant, Senator ElkinS, in the light
thereof. lie said that i'm cases OF this
kind ~ was as matter Of course difficult
To trace the connection Of Senator EIkins
with the acquisition OF the Western Mary
land. He said that Senator Elkins. in his
letter of March 1903. had undertaken TO
give the plaintiffs the impression that be
was not interested I'm the acquisition OF
the Western Maryland. and that Mr.
Worthington, i'm his opening statement
had told the jury that Senator EIkins had
no more interest in the acquisition Of that
road than any man on the jury Yet
when III. Landstreet and Senator EIkins
were placed on the stand they were com
PEELED 10 admit that as "a matter of fact
Senator ElkiHs was interested IN acquir-
ing this road, and was a member of the
syndicate that purchased IT,