The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-06
HELP FOR MISS POLLARD.
Mrs. Luke Blackburn Likely to
Testify Against Col. Breckenridge.
From the New York World.


Lexington, Ky, Sept. 1.-Several i'm
portant facts have come to light in con-
nection with Miss Madeline Pollard's suit
against Representative w. C. p. Breck-
inridge, which will have an influential
bearing upon the result.
1t seems that when the suit was brought
Gen. Basil Duke was interviewed by a re
porter of Louisville paper. Col. Brock
inridge served with Gen. Duke during
the war, and the two have been warm
friends for period anterior even to that
Gen. Duke naturally plead for a suspen-
sion of Judgment, and while not express
ing the belief that there was no founda-
ton for such an action, discredited the
charge of seduction. In short, he made
the best defense he could make for his
friend.
Soon after this interview appeared it is
said Gen. Duke received q letter from
Mrs. Blackburn. Owing to the close re-
latiOns that Gen. Duke had with the late
Luke p. Blackburn Dad the no less cor
dial friendship which had always existed
between Mrs. Blackburn and himself and
his family, that lady felt justified in ad-
dressing him on the delicate subject. She
told him that had he known the facts he
would not have undertaken to defend Col
Breckenridge. She went on to say in sub
stance that the latter had told her of his
engagement with Miss Pollard, had placed
Miss Pollard under her chaperonage, and
had specially requested Mrs. Blackburn S
kindest consideration for Miss Pollard on
the ground that she would soon become
Mrs. Breckenridge. Mrs. Blackburn, of
course, entirely unconscious of the rela-
tons existing between the TWO, &C
cepted the charge, permitted Miss Pollard
to share all the social recognition she her
self received, and even invited her
to accompany herself and Mrs. Zane
to the springs. Mrs. Blackburn was in
dignant beyond expression when the dis
closures made by the suit appeared in the
papers. In her letter to Gen. Duke she
freely expressed her deep sense of wrong
and outrage, and characterized the con-
duct of Col. Breckenridge in the strongest
terms she could command. She con
cluded with the declaration that were
her husband alive he would hold Brock
inridge personally accountable for the
indignity and insult she had been of
fered.
1t appears further that Senator Joe
Blackburn. who was half-brother to the
late Gov Blackburn, became acquainted
with the relations existing between Col
Breckenridge and Miss Pollard, and wheI
he heard how Mrs. Blackburn had been
slonS and without secrecy that he intend
ed holding Breckenridge responsible fol
his conduct. The suit followed, however
and the presumption is that Senator
Blackburn decided to await its result be
fore taking action.
Mrs. Luke Blackburn has always held
high position in society. She was q
Miss Churchill of English stock, and col
laterally descended from the famous Duke
of Marlborough. John Churchill, one OF
the younger sons of the family, came To
this country about the middle of the last
century and settled in MiddleSeX county.
Va. The old homestead is still there, a
well preserved relic of colonial architect
ure. The kentucky branch of the family
have all been persons of wealth and social
Importance Mrs. Blackburn and Mrs.
Zane, her widowed sister, have spent
their winters in Washington for several
years and were recognized leaders of the
southern society of that city.
The late Gov. Luke p. Blackburn be-
came famous both as a physician and a
politician. He was courageous to rash
ness and would have resented the slightest
reflection upon any member of his family
The opinion prevails that if the case
ever comes to trial it will not be tried in
Washington. The constitution provides
that senators and representatives shall
in all cases except treason, felony and
breach of the peace, be privileged from
arrest during their atteneance at the SEES
sions of their respective houses and in
going to and returning from the same -
The supreme court has decided that the
privilege eXempts congressman from the
obligation of answering a civil as well as
a criminal process under the conditions
stated, as ''arrest" is known as a civil as
well as criminal process. 1t is probable
that Col. Breckenridge will take adYan-
tage Of this clause and plead his priv
lege. In such an event the case would be
dismissed without prejudice and an ac-
ton instituted elsewhere, or a new ser
vice served in Washington at some time
when the defendant is not in "atten-
dance on the sessions of congress.
Should the case come to trial during
the life of Mrs Blackburn she will prove
an important witnesses. Though shrink
ing in womanly modesty, from the ordeal
and deeply deploring the notoriety, she is
reported rs being so indignant that she
will not hesitate to respond to a summons
for her presence in court. Her testimony
will be corrobOrated, if confederation is
needed, by the evidence of Mrs. Zane,
who is cognizant of the facts and was
likewise victim of the indignity.
ASKED HER HAND By LETTER.
From the Louisville Colrier-Journal.
Manchester, KY, Aug. 3l.-Miss Made
line Pollard, who has sued Col. Breckin-
ridge, has sister, Mrs. Stroeve, wife of
the Methodist preacher, and a brother,
Ernest Pollard, living at London, KY
Mrs. Stroeve is quite an intelligent, re
fined and cultured woman, and is hand
some, while the brother is an energetic
and buslness-like young clerk, and is well
thought of by his associates and employ
erS.
1t has been stated that Mrs. Pollard
received, while on a visit to London last
year, letters from Col. Breckenridge ask
ing her daughters hand in marrige, and
the old woman, being proud Of the pro-
posal, freely gave her consent.
Some damaging testimony and letters
from Breckenridge to London will be in
PRODUCED at the trial.
IF -FOUR BACK ACHES,
Or you are all worn out, really good 70; moth
iv1t IL ia rol debility