Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-08-14
A SENSATIONAL SUIT.
Serious Charges Against
a Congressman.
A CLAIM OF SEDUCTION.
The Stetesman Hints at Conspiracy,
Vindictiveness and Blacamail.

WASHINGTON, Aug. IA. Congressman
w. O. Il. Bcecknrihge; the lvrr-h
and silver-tongucd orator Of Kentucky,
has been maze defendant in a sensational
suit for $4,000 for an alleged failure to
keep promise OF marriage. Mr. Breckin-
ridge is one Of the picturesque figures Of
the house. lie is IS years old, and besides
being politician he has obtained distinc-
tion In church work.
The suit Is brought by Miss Madeline v.
Pollard, who is a Kentuckian, and whom
1t was gossiped about he intended to
marry.
Mr.. Breckinridge's first wife died a little
over year ago His engagement to Miss
Pollard was published In the Washington
and Louisville papers last winter and no
denial was made.
On the 18th of last month Mr.. Breckin-
ridges marriage to Mrs Louise Wing of
st. Louis was announced. There was
much surprise expressed and speculation
was rife as to why the other engagement
was broken.
About Miss Pollard.
Miss Pollard is we'll known In Washing
ton and has held positions in several of the
departments. She was discharged from
the pension Office for making the remark
when General Sherman died that "The
devil would get his own"
She is rs years of age, tall and slight of
build, with plain face. She is not much
older than Mr.. Breckinridge's unmarried
daughter, who moved In Washington So
ciety circles before her mothers death
The papers In the case were prepared by
two OF Washington's most prominent law.
yers. Calderon Carlisle and jeremiah Will
son.
The Exposure.
This is the story which all Washington
read with such regret In Saturday even
ing's papers:
In the supreme court of the district of
Columbia, today, was filed by Jere NJ. Wilson
and Calderon Carlisle, attorneys for the plain
tiff, a suit for S50,O) for breach of promise
against Representative william c. =. Breckin-
ridge Of Kentucky by Madeline Pollard.
The plaintiff charges that I'm April, 1894,
when she was II years old, and a student at
Wesleyan Female Seminary at Cincinnati, she
was met on the train travelling from school TO
Frankfort, KY, by w. g. T.. Breckenridge,
who made her acquaintance, and thdt on the
3d day Of August, 1881, he came to see her at
the seminary nd got permission of the presi-
dent for her To dine with him, and began by
ton TO take advantage of her youth and mex
perience and To gain her affection, but later
In the same month he accomplished her seduc-
tion.
She AYERS that he got her completely under
his control, and that she bore child TO him.
The allegations filed 40 with great length into
the relations which existed between the plain
tiff and Mr. Breckenridge, as she charges, un-
til recently.
Broken Promises.
She alleges that she bore two children to
him, and that after their death she came to
Washington, and that after the death of his
wife she was again In a delicate situation and
with protestations of love and affection he in
duced her TO continue their relations, and
promised to marry her as soon IL would be
proper for him to do so in a sufficient time
after the death of his wife,
IL Is alleged that he solemnly promised that
there should be secret marriage on May 81,
1882 and that the marriage should take place
In the city Of New York, but after that, on
the Plea of her condition, the time appointed
iof the marriage Was postponed until the FOL
lowing December or January, after the child
should have been born.
From time TO time, she alleges, the date for
the marriage was postponed, until. on the
18th day of July, she alleges that Mr. Breok-
inrdge wrongfully and injuriously married
another woman, Mrs. Louisa Wing who was
The plaintiff, therefore, asks for damages Of
S5O,OOO
Breckinridge Is Mum.
An attache of the marshal's Office served
the papers on the defendant Saturday
night. Colonel Breckinridge showed the
papers to his wife and neither appeared
disturbed. A few minutes later Colonel
Breckenridge saw reporter Ia his room.
He betrayed no signs of nervousness. In
response to a request for statement In
reply to the charges made by Miss Pol.
lard, Colonel Breckenridge said:
II have been in the city only few min
utes, and have not had time to examine
the papers In this case can only say at
this time, before have chance to know
the extent Of the allegations made, that I
hope my friends will believe that these
charges are he result of vindictiveness
vexation and perhaps of intention to
blackmail, and | ask that they suspend
judgment until full hearing shall have
shown all that IL in them.
do not care to say anything further
until have had an opportunity to con-
suit with attorneys and thoroughly exam
inc the alieQatiOuSp