The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-03
DEAR SISTER LOUISE
Colonel Breckenridge Thus
Addressed His Letters
to Miss Pollard.
A PRETTY TYPEWRITER SAYS SO.
And She Further Says There We're
a Great Many Letters Sent
By the Colonel.

WASHINGTON, April 8, 1S94.-The mystery
of the alleged letter beginning my Dear
Sister LOUISE" pervaded everything about
the Circuit Court this morning when the
trial of the Pollard Breckenridge case began.
When the court adjorened yesterday after
noon Judge Wilson, Miss Pollards attorney,
was trying to make Col Breckenridge say
that in 1885 he had taken to be copied by a
typewriter in the Capitol letter beginning
My Dear Sister Louise" Col Breckin-
idge denied all knowledge Of such a
letter and he also said he had
no "dear sister Louise" Judge Viii
SON further asked him if he had not taken to
this same typewriter bundle of envelopes
to be addressed to Miss Pollard, of No. 76
North Upper street, Lexington, KY, and
Col Breckinridge denied this also. The
period when the alleged letter is supposed to
have been written was covered in the state
ment of Col. Breckenridge that he had no
relations and no correspondence with Miss
Pollard 10 1886. Additional interest was
given to the name "Louise" in the alleged
letter, because Miss Pollard claims that
Louise Wilson was her assumed name when
in Cincinnati in 1885.
LOUISE TO TESTIFY.
Judge Wilson said that the name of the
typewriter who copied the Sister Louise let
ter, which, however, he was unable to pro-
duce, was Mrs. Louise Lowell, and this
morning when the court convened Mrs.
LOWELL who is now a clerk in the Treasury,
was present with friend. They sat next
to Miss Pollard and Miss Ellis.
Major Butterworth asked Judge Bradley
to decide whether evidence about the Sister
Louise letter was competent. Mr.. Wilson,
in answer said he proposed to put the wit
ness, Louise Lowell, on the stand on the
ground that the plaintiff was not IN posses
sion of the knowledge she now had at the
time of her testimony in chief. 1t was not
the purpose of the plaintiff, he said, to play
any tricks or to take the defence by surprise,
and the defendant would be given ample
opportunity to make any explanation he
chose concerning the letter.
Mr.. Carlisle said he did not learn the name
of the witness and did not see her until Sun
day morning.
Major Butterworth said he was not criti-
cising counsel. but he thought the alleged
contents of an alleged letter should not be
placed in evidence until it was known
what the plaintiff expected to prove by it.
Judge Bradley in rendering his decision
referred to the question as "a novel situa-
tionn and said he had found authority for
the interjection of proof concerning the
existence of a document that might be lost
u.
proof tending to prove such letter as that
beginning MY Dear Sister Louise" might be
introduced.
MRS. LowELL's TESTIMONY.
Judge Wilson called Mrs. Lowell to the
stand. She said she had known Colonel
Breckenridge since February, 1856, when she
had q small office on the House side of the
Capitol, where she did stenography and
typewriting. She had done work for Col
onel Breckenridge, and was acquainted with
his handwriting. In answer to Judge Will
son, Mrs Lowell said the defendant had
brought to her at the time indicated, a letter
to be copied. The manuscript was in the
defendants handwriting. The witness said
she returned to Colonel Breckenridge the
manuscript, and the copy of the letter in
question She also did other work for the
defendant, such as addressing envelopes.
"Ah," said Judge Wilson. ''what did you
put on those envelopesW
Major Shelby objected, but the question
was allowed.
Lexington, KY" was the answer direct
contradiction of the testimony given by the
defendant. Miss Pollard smiled and there
was buzz of interest throughout the room.
Colonel Breckenridge busted himself writ
ing 1n.,z ....,
you made memorandum of the work done
II did, said Mrs. Lowell, and she pro-
duced a little blank book and read out Of it
the address given.
"Why did you put that name downg" said
Judge Wilson.
"Feeling sure that I should hear more of
Miss Pollard, and not being willing to trust
to memory put it down."
Snow tell what those envelopes looked
like"
'sThey were small envelopes, not such that
business man would use, and yellow with
age"
'sMY DEAR SISTER LOUISE"
Chow was the first communication he
brought to you addressedp
1--WE object to that" said Major Shelby.
"Objection overruled," said Judge Brad
isMy Dear Sister Louise" said the witness.
Major Butterworth and Major Shelby
made strenuous objection to the admission of
testimony concerning the contents of the
letter. Major Shelby contended that the
letter should be produced.
1--WE haven't lit was given to the de-
fendant to be mailed to the plaintiff" said
Judge Wilson.
eff mailed the latter to the plaintiff how
can produce the letter." said Colonel Breck-
inridge.
'sYou and I will have little conversation
about that after a WHILE" retorted Judge
Wilson.
Judge Bradley ruled out testimony as to
the contents of the letter. Judge Wilson
then asked the witness to tell by her memor-
andum book how many times she had done
typewriting work for the defendant and she
said that her record showed that she had
done work for Colonel Breckinridge fifteen
or sixteen times, but that did not really
represent the whole number of times she had
written letters for him.
KEPT MISS PoLLARD'S NAME.
On cross-examination Mrs. Lowell said
she had written Miss Pollard's name and ad-
dress on the fly leaf of her little memoran-
dunn book because she thought that she
might have to write the name again in her
work, and she wanted to remember it for
that reason. Mrs. Lowell said she kept no
record of Miss Pollard's name and address
in her regular accounts; nor did she keep
record that she had written a letter
for Colonel Breckenridge beginning
ssMy Dear Sister Louise" There was moth
ing in her regular account book to show
whether the work done for Colonel Breckin-
riege was a lecture or letter, or a speech.
The number of envelopes addressed to Miss
Pollard was about twelve at one time, and a
few scattering ones before that. There was
nothing in her record, she said, to indicate
the character of the work.
ENGLISH NAVAL ESTIMATES.
By Cable to the United Press.
7 Tn,rno,r ,,,.;1 1904 Tha phil Null