Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-23
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE PLEADS,
He Denies the Allegations Made by Miss
Pollard
Both as to Seduction and Promise OF
Marrfage-His Story ms to How He
First Met the Fair PIaintiR

In the case of Madeline v. Pollard egt.
VIM c. P. Breckenridge for $4,000 for
breach of promise Of marriage. &C.. in
which a few days ago the demurrer was
overruled, with leave to plead in three days.
the defendant, by his counsel, Enoch Tot
ten and p. b. Thompson, jr, this morning
filed plea.
To the first, second and third counts the
defendant says that he never promised as
alleged. and adds as to the third:
How He Met Miss Pollard.
''That in the spring Of 1884, the defend
ant being on the train from Lexington to
Frankfort, was accosted by a young wo-
man, between twenty and twenty-five
years of age, who introduced herself to
him as Miss Madeline Breckenridge Pollard.
saying that her father was such an ad-
mirer of John c. Breckinridge that he
named her after the said Breckinridge;
that subsequently the defendant received a
letter from the plaintiff saying that she
was in great distress, and desiring his legal
advice, and asking him to see her at Wes-
leyan College. in Cincinnati, which the de-
fendant answered was inconvenlent, and
she notified him that the matter about
which she was distressed was an engage
ment to marry, which had assumed con-
dition worse than divorce suit, ana re-
iterating her request to see him person.
ally; that the defendant did see the plain
tiff at said college. and she gave him full
recital Of her relations with one James Z.
Rodes. and thereupon the Defendant I'D
vised her to consummate the contract be-
tween her and said Rodes by marriage;
and subsequently, after a full converse
ton with said Rodes, the defendant re-
newed his advice.
Something Of a Surprise.
The inimation in The Star of yesterday
that the plea of Congressman Breckenridge
In answer to the suit Of Miss Pollard would
be that of the general issue. which means a
simple denial of the alleged promise or con-
tract, came from q source which left no
doubt as to such q course being that de-
termined upon. Hence, the extended an
swer or plea to the third count OF Miss
Pollard's declaration was matter or no
little surprise today to those cognizant OF
the situation yesterday. The lengthy pea
entered today was a matter of hardly less
surprise to those members OF the bar who
have carefully watched the proceedings.
Denies the Seduction Charge.
The defendant denies that he then or at
any other time or place. by wiles and arti-
fees and protestations of affection. or by
any other means. attempted to Jake ad-
vantage of the youth and inexperience of
the plaintiff; and denies that he then or at
any other time seduced the plaintiff; and he
denies that the plaintiff was at any time
any time prevented her from going abroad.
or from entering upon any career that the
plaintiff desired to enter upon. or that IL
was through any protestaticn, influence or
request of the defendant that the plaintn
failed either to go abroad or TO enter upon
any career she desired.
Denies Promise of Marriage.
He also denies that there was at any time
any agreement, contract or understanding
of marriage between the plaintiff end the
her entire acquaintance with the defend
ant, that a marriage between the plaintiff
and defendant was Impossible.
A. Grave Mistake.
Those who cared to express themselves
in the matter Of the defendants plea
rather emphatically stated their belief that
the defendant had in going into details
committed a grave mistake. for the reason
that II divulged considerably more of the
line of defense than il was safe or wise to
do. The plea, they asserted. should have
been the one said to have been first con-
templated. that Of the general issue. which
In the briefest words possible denies the
contract or promise. and in that way dis
closes no line of defense.
Advantages to the Plaintiff.
BY SO fully answering Miss Pollards allie
cations in his plea today, It is believed tina,
the difficulties naturally attendant upon the
defense in a suit of this kind have been
greatly increased. 1t is also stated that the
extended plea gives the plaintiff greater
opportunities OF attack than she would have
possessed had tbe plea been one Of simple
denial.