Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-09
POLbARD-BRECKENRIDGE.
The Case Formally Opened in Washington
Yesterday Morning;

Yesterday Morning:
WASHINGTON, D. c., March s.-The
dlngy little white Court House Of the
District OF Columbia, an old specimen
OF architecture standing in judiciary
Square, fronted by imposing white pill
lars and overlooking a statue OF Aora-
ham Lincoln, will be the theatre for
weeks to come of the most sensational
episode of litigation known to the pass
ing generation of WashinRtonlans.
Congressman w. c. P. Breckenridge,
long titled the silver tOnRued orator or
Kentucky, son of a Presbyterian min
lister, veteran of the Confederate army,
a member of one Of the most distin-
guished families of his State and here
tofore conspicuous as politician and
churchman, begins to-day the role OF
defendant in a suit for $500 damages
for breach of promise and seduction
brought by Miss Madeline V. Pollard,
also a Kentuckian.
Last August the suit was filed, after
the second marriage of Col. Brecken-
ridge. Since then both parties to the
suit have been engaged in taking testi-
mony In Kentucky and ia Cincinnati,
the attorneys for Miss Pollard en-
deavoring to substantiate her asser-
tions that Col. Breckenridge sed uced
her while a girl in a seminary at Gin
cinnati, was the father Of her children,
and had made repeated promises to
marry her; while the statements Sc
cured by Mr.. Breckenridge tend to
blacken the character Of the piaintlt.
Miss Pollard for year had clerical
position in the Census Bureau at Wash
ington and has done much writing for
/ the newspapers, sometimes under the
name of Madeline Vinton Pollard, and
| occasionally as Madeline Breckenridge
Pollard. During the months between
the filing OF the suit and its trial she
has lived in a house of refuge Of the
Episcopal church in Washington, aud
her brother, who was editor of week.
ly paper In Kentucky, has been in the
city as her adviser.
Half an hour before 10 o'clock, the
time for the court to open, the corridors
swarmed with curious men endeavoring
by every device to pass the doorkeep-
ers. When Col. Breckenridge arrived
there was a ruddy glow of health on his
l.face. He was accompanied by Ben But
terworth, VINO had been engaged to take
the place of Col. Totten in the defense.
Col. Phil Thompson, Of Breckenridge's
counsel, was also absent, and to the dis
appointment Of the curious the plaintiff
failed to appear.
VIM. L. Mattlngly rose when the case
was called to state that he appeared in
the preliminaries In the absence of Col.
Thompson. He made inquiry about
some depositionS which be said had been
taken for the plaintiff and withdrawn
from the files OF the court
Mr.. Carlisle replied that the living
witnesses would be produced in place Of
the depOsitions.
Shortly before II o'clock twelve jur-
ors, all white business men apparently,
from their dress, Ia the middle walks of
life, were sworn to truly try the issues
between Madeline Pollard and VIM. G.
2. Breckenridge.
Col, Thompson, for Mr.. Breckenridge,
then asked the court to pass the case
until tomorrow, on account of the large
mass of testimony which had just ar
rived and had not been examined, and
because Mr.. Butterworth had only been
called into the case the night before.
Judge Bradley assented, and the trial
ives continued until tomorrow morning
at 10 o'clock.
Miss Pollard was about to start for
the ceuru house when the trial was ad-
journed. She was accompanied by a
lady friend, but her lawyers sent mes
senger to meet her with the announce
ment OF the adjournment, and she re-
turned home. She will be present to-
morrow and throughout the trial.