Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-14
/ S T BL AC K M ALL ?
Stories About the Pollard Breckinridga
Sensation.
The Congressman Asks the Public t.
Suspend Judgment - Miss Pollard
ms a School Girl-In Seclusion.

Few things have transpired in this city
which have caused such a genuine sensa-
ton as the suit filed on Saturday by Miss
Madeline V. Pollard against Congressman
w. c. p. Breckinridse of Kentucky. charg-
ing him with breach of promise and seduc-
ton. In the gossip which 1t occasioned the
financial situation which has engrossed the
public was lost sight OF, and the suit was
the topic of discussion in its every detail
The particulars of the charges, set forth
in the suit, and which were printed in Sat
urday's Star. gave the first accurate in
formation. The prominence of the person
charged with the offense makes the case
an interesting one from one end of the
country to the other, while in this city and
in Kentucky, where Miss Pollard has many
acquaintances, the affair was even more
sensational.
When the suit was filed Mr.. Breckin-
ridge was in Philadelphia attending the
launching of the Minneapolis and was unac-
quainted with the fact until he reached
welded wife are stopping.
How the Papers Were Served.
At the hotel friend met the X entucl1y
Representative and told him about it. Col
Breckenridge did not seem to be oerturbed
and after a hasty toilet he and Mrs. Breck-
inridge went into the public dining room
and had dinner. On leaving the dining room
they were met by a very nervous attache
of the marshafs Office who served the
papers on the defendant.
Col Breckenridge showed the papers to
his wife as they were entering the elevator
and neither appeared disturbed. He be-
trayed no signs of nervousness AMI was
as courtly in his deneanor as ever. in
response TO a request for statement IN re-
ply to the charges made by Miss Pollard,
Col. Breckinridge said:
II have been in the city only few min
utes and have not had time to examine the
papers in this case. l can only say at this
time. before | have had a chance TO know
the extent of the allegations made, that L
hope my friends will believe that these
charges are the result of vindicJiveness,
vexation and perhaps'of intention 10 black
mail, and l ask that they suspend jcdg-
ment until a full hearing shall have shown
all that is in them. / do not care TO say
anything further until have had an ,orpor-
tunity to consult with attorneys and thor
oughly examine the allegations"
Congressman Breckenridge is a national
character He is a man of fine pnysiqre,
handsome features and an oratorical ability
which long ago won for him the name Of
the "Silver Tongued orator" The ar
nouncement that he was to speak was gen.
orally the occasion of a filed gallery Many
friends of Col Breckenridge refuse to be-
lieve the story, and claim IL is a Hack
mailing scheme. as the colonel is a religi-
Gus man. a noted defender of the Presby-
terrain faith and recently was the ora TOT
at the national meeting of the Young Peo-
pies Christian Endeavor Society.
A number of people can now be found
who are ready TO relate stories about The
defendants playing the part of n gay
L.othario for many years. One story is
told of his last election to Congress-.
The ConEresSman's Nerve.
1t seems that the masses of the people
in his district had been informed as to the
character of his private life. and there
was consequently reaction against him.
| His supporters. fearing that he would lose
the election. called upon him to defend
himself and make a public denial Of the
charges.
The representative assented and a great
mass meeting was called. On the evening
in question the hall was packed. as the OBJ
tect of the meeting had been pretty web I'M
derstood. Selling the splendid opportunity
to impress his audience. Mr.. BrecEinridge
made one of the most brilliant political
speeches of his career, fairly electrifying
his hearers by his eloousnce. Just at the
| conclusion. in the quickest and coolest ma n
ner, he picked up box lying on the table,
and said:
some faults of mine. i should like to pre-
sent this box Of cigars to any mar who
viii come forward and state that he has
| never been guilty of the same offense"
Naturally no one claimed the prize. but
rumor says that q person present feebly
shouted, Il don't smoke" The nerve dis
| that his election by large majority was
| the result.
Representative Breckinridge was mar
| ried only few weeks ago to Mrs. Louise
Wing. The announcement created sur
| prise in Washington and no little gossip
A great many persons here had long ex-
gected his marriage with Miss Pollard
| This was probably due to public an
nouncement here that the marriage of MIR
breckenridge and Miss Pollard would take
| place some time next winter. which state
ment Mr.. Breckenridge took occasion to
| deny at the time.
The Plaintiff.
Miss Pollard Is brunette of medium
| size. very slender and has rather heavy
features. Her hair is very beautiful. being
| most abundant and OF a dark chestnu;
color. Her eyes are dark brown. She has
| never been considered a beauty but tei
| face lights up wonderfully when in con.
| versation. She has been looked upon as
/ rather attractive young woman. She has
| been well known in the Kentuckian socia
circles sh OF the capital to which it is said
| now charges with breach of promise
Miss Pollard has always been veryfriend
y with the members of the Breckinrids,
| family, and was often at their home.
1t was popularity supposed at that time
and. indeed. until she filed her bill. thai
the Representative was her. guardian. an
| impression which seems to have been en-
| couraged on both sides. After losing hel
place in the department she did society
newspaper work for some of the south arr
papers. A special dispatch from Louisviil.
/ says-of Miss Pollard:
Miss Madeline Pollard was born neal
Frankfort, KY. being the daughter of tn,
1
| and penniless when quite young Jame.
| Rhodes, an employe of the Eastern Lunati,
| Asylum here, took a fancy to her when sh,
was about ten years old. He sent her Il
| school,
After finishing her education she began I,
Write Tor the local newspapers and did con
| siderable work in that line.
| she then obtained a position clerk IL
the Interior Department. but was dismisSe5
| by President Harrison. She afterward wen
| to New York city, where she engaged fl
| Literary work.
Miss Pollard is tall and slender with darl
| eyes and black hair. She possesses an ex
| she Is about twenty-seven years old.
Yesterday neither party to the sui
| could be seen. Mr.. Rrecktnridge re
| manned at the hotel, but to all calls from
| reporters he said that he had nothing I,
| add. Miss Pollard had been stopping at -
| East Capitol street, but she left there OF
| saturday at about noon and the residents
| of the house professed that they had n,
| idea as to her present whereabouts. II /
| believed that she is Still in the CITY, hui 4
remaining hid from the public.
| 1t is said that the story which wa
| brought out in the suit has been in tn
| possession of some persons in this Cit,
| was no surprise to them. Those who ha,
| this Information also say that the afTaf
nearly took another even more sense rioD a
| form. as a brother of Miss Pollard win.
| recently came into possession of the al
| legged facts, arrived in this city for the DIR
pose Of using a pistol on the Congressman
| He was, however, dissuaded from this r,Ia,
| when he reached here and It was decide
| that the law should be applied to- Mem
| bers o. the detective force have been secret
| ~ protecting Congressman Breckenridge q
! me tapltol since the extra session began.