West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-09-07
THE slLvER.roNGUED ORATOR.
kcntucky's Brilliant Congressman
Mixed Up in a Sensational
Scandal.

The social circles Of Washin gton
have been stirrod up to high pitch
for some time over the sensational
scandal in which one of the most
brilliant men in public life is very
seriously involved and is tho de-
fondant in suit for $50, 900 dam
ages for seduction and breach OF
promise. The defendant is w. G. p.
Breckenridge, Member of Congress
from kentucky, and very popular
down thore. He represents tho
Seventh District and had a plurali-
ty of 7,155 at the last election. lie
is very eloquent speaker and is
called tho "Silyer Tongued Orator"
and comes rom enc OF the leading
families Of the country. The plain
tiff is Miss Madeline V. Pollard, OF
Louisville, Ky. She is 26 years
old and not specially attractive,
being short and rather stout. She
went 10 Washington several years
ago as clerk in the Interior De-
partment, and was dismissed last
year for uttering slander abont
the late Gen. sherman. Through
Mr.. breckenridge influence she
WAS rc-instated. She has written
some for the papers and is smart
and we'll educated. A few months
ago it was announced in tho papers
that Miss Pollard and Mr.. Brcck-
enridge we've soon to DO married.
The young lady had always moved
In good society and was generally
recognized as ward Of the Con-
gresham, who IS old enough to be-
her father, and Ais hair aud beard
being premnturcly gray, he looks
older than he really IS. On July
l4th OF this year the gay old gentle
man married Mrs. Louis Wing, a
charming widow OF louisville, KY.
The announcement Of this mar
riage so affected Miss Pollard that
she was taken seriously I'll and came
out OF the hospital short time
since. She at once employed the
best legal talent and sued for $50
900, and as she has money to push
the suit, che will make it pretty
warm for Mr.. Breckenridge.
The complaint sets forth that she
first met Mr.. Breckenridge about
April, 1884; that she was then q
student of the Wesleyan Female In
stitute of Cincinnati. The defen-
dant made her acquaintance by ac-
costing her on railway train when
she was On route from school to her
home in Kentucky. Miss Pollard
claims that sbe was hattered by
hr. breckenridge attention. lie
was then AZ years old. The two
had a pleasant journey together. In
the July following, she haying oc-
casion to want professional advice,
wrote to Mr. Breckenridge, asking
il he could advise hor. lie readily
asscnted and thereupon about Au-
gust 3rd, 1884, he camc TO the
Seminary 10 see her, and secured
permission from the President Of
the College to take her % drive
with him, upon the ground that she.
Miss Pollard, was the daughter Of
an old friend. II was upon that
occasion, according TO Miss Pol
lard's statement, that Mr.. Brock.
euridge began his wiles and artifccs
and DIotostations Of affection. lie
took advantage Of her youth and
inexpcricnco and two days later
accomplished her ruin. Shortly
after Mr.. Breckenridge placed her
IN the Ssyro Institute at Lexington.
Ky. In due season the young lady
became pregnant and was obliged
to 90 TO Cinmnnati. where a child
was born. From this time on, until
July, 1892, Miss Pollard claims she
was completely under The domina-
ton and control Of Mr Brecken-
ridge She submitted herself wholly
to him aud to bis will and during
the period bore him y second child.
The complainant swears that on
many occasions she sought TO ter
inmate their relations, but was dis
suadod. She became pregnant a
third time, but bad a miscarriage.
Mr.. Breckenridge promised to mar
~ her, but on July 1 4 be married