The herald., 1894-03-10
POLLARD BRECKENRIDGE.
The Sensational Seduction
Suit on Trial.
SalaciOus Character of the
Evidence.
The Fair Plaintiff Gets Hysterica.
in Court.
The Testimony of Governor Blackburn'A
Widow shows the Defendant in
BAD Light The Ools
onel Not Excited.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-HeAring OF
the Pollard d-Breckinridge suit was re-
sumed in the district court this morn
ing. Miss Pollard was one OF the frst
to appear. She was accompanied by
two elderly ladies'. Though subjected
to the constant scrutiny of the throng
which filled the court room, she seemed
perfectly at ease. Colonel Breckinridge
came late, but was fresh and smiling.
The case opened with a statement by
Lawyer Oslderon Carlisle to the jury,
reciting the contrast in the position OF
the parties to the suit; rehearsing how
Breckinridge took advantage of Miss
Pollards youth when she WAS = school
girl of II; that under promise OF mar
riage after the death OF his then living
wife, made before creditable witnesses,
ne became the father OF her three chill
dren; how be failed to keep his
promise. aud married another woman
how she endeavored to leave him then,
bat had been persuaded to continue his
mistress, because of her love for him.
During the address, the plaintiff
flushed crimson, trembled violently and
buried her face in her handkerchief,
while Breckinridge chatted unconcern-
edly with his attorneys.
Carlisle said his client did not claim
to be devoid of fault or blame, but
there was breach of promise which
was the issue. He then sketchsd her
life. A brilliant girl OF common parent
age, anxious to rise. As country girl,
uneducated, she met j. @. Rhodes, q
man of means, not OF high station, who
became enamored of her and, promised
to educate her il she would marry him.
She signed an agreement to that effect.
Afterwards, when he wss pressing her
for the fulfillment of the agreement, she
asked Breckinridge's counsel. He came
and AZ once began to take advantage Of
her youth, lack Of knowledge OF the
world. and accomplished her ruin under
promise of marriage after his wife'e
death, and had introduced her ae his
promised wife into the first families of
the city.
Then Attorney Phil Thompson an.
! nounced that the defense would reserve
it's opening statement till the conclusion
of plaintiffs testimony.
tain books, ons containing q Christmas
card given plaintiff by the defendant,
taken by counsel for the defense, be
returned. The defense asked that the
books be more accurately described.
The court held that the description was
sufficient. During the colloquy plaintiff
broke into hysterical and inarticulats
sobs and exclRmations.
Mrs. Julia @. Blackburn, widow OF
the late Governor Blackburn of Ken
lucky, was the fret witness. She trsti-
fed that in the spring of 1898, in Wash
ington, Colonel Breckinridge brought
Miss Pollard to her and askek her kind
care and protection for the young lady,
adding that as soon as suticient time
had elapsed after the death OF bis wife
he intended to marry her, in spite Of the
fact that he was old enough to be her
father, being 81 years her senior. At
another time he told Mrs. Blackburn,
when she chided him for forgetting the
devotion of his former wife, that he had
discovered that Miss Pollard was in
love with him, and as a man Of honor
felt bound to marry her. At another
time he asked witness to allay Miss Pol.
lard's jealousy. Mrs. Black burn asked
him if he had given her cause, and he
declared on his honor he had not. This
was when he was paying attention to
Mrs. Wing of Louisville, whom he sub
sequently married.
Mrs. Blackburn related how Miss
Pollard once il her presence urged
Breckinridge to fix the day, but ne put
her off, saying he would fix it later.
On cross s-examination Mrs. Black burn
said Miss Pollard. on social occasions,
bore herself like lady. AS to her feel
ing toward Miss Pollard she said she
felt sorry for any woman compelled to
fight her own battles. adding, az she
turned her flashing eyes on Breckin-
ridge, Just as sorry as | feel at being
compelled to appear here, when, il had
the defense of husband, it would never
have been necessary"
In 1892 Breckinridge called upon the
witness, he said. at Miss Pollard's re-
quest, to correct reports concerning the
latter. and asserted there could be no
scandal attached to Miss Pollard's name
since for long time after coming to
Washington she had remained in q Coz
vent. Mrs. Fillettee, witness stated,
had said Miss Pollard was forward,
taking undue liberties in the housea
of her friends. saying Miss Pollard in
vited Charles Dudley Warner to her
(Mrs. Fillettee's) house without per-
mission. When Miss Pollard came to
tell her Of Colonel Breckinridge's atten-
tions to Mrs. Wing, Mrs. Blackburn
advised her, if she had any self-respect,
to drop him on his next visit. Colonel
Breckinridge declared sternly and en-
phatically. frequently. that the stories
of his attentions to other women was
the work OF miserable gossips. Mrs.
Black burn extended Miss Pollard more
protection than she otherwise would,
because Breckenridge asked her and abe
believed him gentleman.
After the noon receHs Miss Pollard
was decidedly cheerful, smiling IS she
talked with her iawyers. Miss Mary
Desha, sister of the defendants first
wife, testified to having known Misc
but her evidence Was Of little
account.
I'M g..