Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-27
THE CAsE OF MRS. POLLARD.
Her Suit Against j. Z. Lyon.

In the Circuit Court, after our report closed
yesterday, the trial OF the suit Of Mrs. Pollard
sgt j. +. Lyon, for breach Of contract, was con-
tinued, a. follows
Mr.. Bradley said he lad letters from Mr.. Il.
A. Pollard. which were complete vindication
Of Mrs. POllards character, but he presume,
they were not admissible, and he would not
offer them.
MR.. DowELL BRGs AN INTERVIEW
lin the excluded letter of Mr.. DOwell, tie first
husband of Mrs. Pollard, he writes to Der ="
have received information to-day VIII, CHI never
knew before, but which had .eason 10 srs-
pect, and he urges that she should grant him
LETTERS OF Mr.. POLLARD.
The inst letter of Mr.. 4. A. Pollard TO Mrs.
Pollard, referred to by Mr.. Bradley, is as fol-
lows:
"RIcHNoNp, Dec. NY Belored dsd HoHored
Wife AT last, writing day and night almost
without TODD or sleep, 1 have completed the
obituary paper, which contains all the sad par
hculars of my dear brothers assassination. I
send you ten copies to morrow, which please
distribute among those whom Won NAV believe to
be sSmpathizing friends. My beloved wife, if
show you what unutterable agonies i have ell
dured." "Thank God have been
true to him, and will be to the end. will return
as soon AS this business is settled. When you see
the papers Il send you, you will know sil."
"My beloved and honered wife, /
send with difficulty the inclosed. You de not
know what am suffering of poverty, of grief,
me, dear mercifal God! My beloved and hon
ored wife, humbly say farewell, but say it in
faithful memory, in uRalterable atfecsicn.
"Nour broken hearted but devoted husband,
!" EDWARD A. POLLARD.
al have copied in the obituary paper a senti-
tlent OF ycur letter as from a noble lady. And,
dearest vile, you are indeed noble"
There is also telegram from Nj. Pollard to
Mrs. Pollard, AZ follows:
RICHMOND, Va, New. q, 1s6s.-Kr,. Pol
Yours has been the first word of comfort in nv
agony, while Others insult and ieer. God bless
yoa, noblest Of women Am alone with my
brothers corpse. No relative friend near.
Pray Tor me and for him. Will write TO-DAY
and send necessary things, which you were too
noble to mention in my sorrow.
EDWARD A. POLLARD"
There is also letter of Mr.. Pollard, post
marked December ), as follows: my Beloved
and Honored WHEAT last, with the strength
and grace of Almighty God, writing day and
night alone, almost without food or sleep, have
produced a memorial ian obituary. paper OF nv
dear brother. AT this moment hundreds OF the
papers are being sold in the streets The very
atmosphere is vocal with the cries OF the news
boys; and II is said there never has been such
an excitement known before in Richmond.
thank Almighty and Merciful God, who has
enabled me to work faithfully far, and that
there is now prospect of a SaceepiRg change in
public opinion and the vindicatiOn of my
brothers memory. Continue to think tenderly
and Prayeriully OF me, noble precious wife. 1
dTeamt last night that we were alone standing
together by broad sea coast. / have got to at
tend to my poor brothers business, and then,
not harshly but deliberately, step BY step for
justice. May the dear God watch over my sweet
wife. Your afflicted, ever true husband,
edward A. POLLARD"
ME-. cox OPENED THE CASE
Tor the defendant. He said it was a bad ,lay
when the defendant engaged plaintiff, or took
her under his roof, as she had the worst kind of
character in Richmond which city she hailed
from. She had testified that she had engaged in
several pistol fights. Mr.. Lyon was introduced
to her, she assuming false name, and he had
been informed that by using her name as the
proprietor of the house it would draw a large
patronage. Mrs. Pollard was to have one-rifth
OF the profits OF the house; and, 30 far as draw
ing patronage, the stigma OF her character fol-
lowed her and injured the establishment. 1t
could accommodate from 60 to as guests and
still during the whole time of her association
with the house there never were more than ill
teen dodgers. She was going on excursions with
married men, and her conduct was such that she
was the cause of gossip which harmed the
house. Furthermore, she was under the infiu-
eDce of chlorOform and laudanum continually
and while 80 was very disagreeable. No breach
occurred until July, although Mrs. Pollard had
given occasion for it several times. You have
heard the letters read, one OF which was from
Mrs. r. who called the defendant low puppy,
a dog, &c.
Mr.. Cox related all the circumstances con-
nected with the case. On the 18th OF September
Lyon caused notice to be served on ht r to leave
the house. and, instead of leaving, she took an
other dose OF laudanum and ehIOroform and a
state OF frenzy followed and finally her physi-
clans examined her and certified that she was
insane. Mr.. Lyon then had her moved to the
insane asylum, and when she has, unfortunate
ly, recovered, she brings these charges against
the defendant 10 secure monev. She cannot re-
cover for the breach Of contract unless sh.
could prove that the establishment was protita-
BILE, which il was not.
MR.. Lyons STATEMENT.
MI. T. Lyon testified that he prepared a no
hce OF the proposed dissolution OF contract be.
tween himself and plaintiff, and handed it to his
clerk, MIR. Hook, to serve upon Mrs. Pollard.
Ii was served, and Mrs. p. objected, saving il
was degrading to her to send such a notice by
- fad IN NIT ur.I
Brett that il the notice was withdrawn she would
leave the house in a week and publish a card 10
the effect that she desired to leave the hotel on
account OF Ill health, and Offering her interest
in the business Tor sale. Witness directed Mr.
Hook 10 withdraw the notice, which was done
Mrs Pol'ard then refused to sign the card for
the newspapers. A few days later she went to
Cobb's Island, and on returning to Washington
declined to leave the hotel, saying she would not
leave = except as corpse" In September a
second notice was served, and about the middle
OF the month she was taken to the insane asy-
lum. The hotel had never been profitable under
her management, except in July, 1870, and no
the business. The letter TO Mrs. Garrison. in
troduced by the counsel for the plaintiff was
written with view to pacify Mrs. Pollard. Wit
ness regarded it as an unfortunate concession ON
his part.
Mr. h. Hook testified that he was emploved as
clerk AT the ST. Cloud Hotel in 1870, and cor
Toborated the testimony OF Lyon As to the no
tice.
Cross-examined: The books and business was
Kept In her name after the serving Of the notice
and up to the time witness left the hotel. Wit
ness did not hear the agreement made as to the
withdrawal of the notice.
William +. Brett testified As to the serving of
the notice, and to Mrs. Pollard agreeing to leave
II il was withdrawn.
To-day's Proceedings.
The case was resumed this morning. There
were butfew spectators present at the opening
but at noon the court room was densely packed
TIE FIRST WITNESS FOR DRFENCE CALLED
was Mr.. Abraham MorrelI, who testified that he
had been guest at the hotel, and that plaintiff
had represented the business of the hotel a.
disastrous and Improbable, and expressed de-
sire to retire from it.
Mr.. Cox asked ii the conduct OF plaintiff was
beneficial or prejudicial to the business OBJ
Jected TO, and objection sustained. Mr.. Cox
also asked what were Mrs. Pollard's habits as to
using laudanum and chOroform, and what
was her mental condition. These questions
were objected to, and the Court sustaining the
objections, exceptions were noted
Cross examined.-It was about Nav 1870
when plaintiff said that the business was I'm
profitable. She used to speak OF her trouble. TO
him, and he advised her to hold on as the bu,i-
ness would probably improve.