The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1893-12-30
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
It Is Agog Over the Pollard
Breckenridge Case.
SIMILAR SCANDALS OF THE PAST.
The Cases Of Senators Conkling. Sumner,
Christiancy, Cameron and Hen Hill. and
Representatives Thompson and Taulbee.
Private Lives Of Our Public Men.


Christiancy, Cameron and Hen Hill. and
Representatives Thompson and Taulbee
Private Lives Of Our Public Men.
There has always been a great deal of
talk about the corruption Of official life in
Washington, and there turks in the minds
of good many people sort OF ill defined
idea that the private characters OF some of
our congressman are not very creditable to
men in their exalted stations. Whatever
foundation there may be for these vague
| suspicious, it is certain that such moral
obliquity as exists in Washington society
is kept pretty well oelow the surface, and,
so far as outward appearances go, those who
walk in the bright light Of publicity lead
very decent and well regulated lives.
This fact is emphasized by the profound
sensation created not only in Washington,
but throughout the entire country, when il
was known that Miss Madeline " Pollard
had brought suit against Congressman
Breckinridge of Kentucky charging him
with betrayal and breach of promise of
( marriage Owing to the distinguished
character of the defendent and the hitherto
spotleSs reputation Of the young woman
herself. the public was taken entirely BY
surprise, and not since the day General Dan
Sickles shot Philip Barton hey has Wash
ington society been so stirred
OF course the case of Senator Conkling
and Kate Chase SpraSue caused good
deal of excitement when IL was first sprung
upon the public, and the scandalous con
duct of the young wife OF the late Senator
Christiancy created considerable righteous
indignation. Senator Sumner was also the
victim of an unfortunate marriage, which
embittered his life, grieved his friends and
shocked society. But all these things hap
pened long ago, and are now nearly forgot
ten In more recent years a woman named
Raymond brought suit against Senator Ben
Hill of Georgia, who was then one OF the
leaders of the Democratic party. She al
legged pretty much the same condition OF af.
fairs as does Miss Pollard, but her case was
not pressed
Another famous case that resem bles that
of Miss Pollard in good many particulars
was the suit OF Mrs. Mary ;. Oliver against
Senator Simon Cameron. who was then 81
years old On May ), 1850, "a decision was
rendered for the defendant. IL has fire.
quently been alleged that women who at
tempt To expose congressman do not re
celve fair treatment III the courts, and that
charge was repeatedly made in the Oliver
Cameron case. a woman who has grown
gray in the honorable service Of one Of the
departments said the other day;
Miss Pollard does not know what she Is
doing when she undertakes to down a
| nited States representative We who
have lived here for 25 years have seen many
good and virtuous woman absolutely de
stroyed in such an effort. Hundreds OF
perfectly pure and lovely women in our Sc
membrane have come to Washington
upon receiving promises from the repre-
sentatlves at home of good positions in
store for them, only tn be cruelty wrouged
and in most cases they have carried their
secrets To the grave, realizing their perfect
helplessness 10 secure redress. Of any kind "
Mr.. Breckenridge Is not the first Ken.
lucky represe ntative TO get into trouble
over woman. About 10 years ago Con.
gresham Phil Thompson Jr, shot and
killed man who was too attentive to his
wife. Mr., Thompson was acquitted At the
trial and reelected To congress. He i quite
intimate with Mr.. Breckenridge, and on "
few days ago went to Washington to see
what he could Ito to assist his friend ia his
present emergency The kincaid- Taulbee
case Is still fresh in the public mind Kin.
cald was "A correspondent and had been
writing rather freely concerning alleged ir.
regularltes in the private life of the con
gresham. Taulbee called him to- account,
and the correspondent was obliged toklu
the congressman to prove his case