The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-09
THE BRECKENRIDGE sui
BEGINNING OF TRIAL OF THE SUI
BROUGHT BIZ MISS POLLARD.
Jury OF white Men Quickly Secured anu
Court Adjourns Until To-Day-ihe
Defendant In Court.

social reputation and political life to-day
In the beginning Of suit which Madeline
V. Pollard has brought against him 10
determine whether he shall pay her w.
900 for alleged betrayal under promise
Of marriage. AT 1910 o'clock Judge Brad
ley who will preside at the trial, enter
ed the courtroom. and after the crier
had called the court to order, the judge
announced the case Of Pollard W.. Breck-
inridge the first case on the panel
There was no trouble in securing jury,
which is composed of white men. At
1885 the court adjourned until to-mor-
row TO allow the new counsel I'm the case
10 familiarlze themselves with il.
The C,ur, Room.
The trial is held In what is known as
the old criminal courtroom. i'm the east
wing Of the city Hall. II is a dingy
old room in the old part OF the build
ing. and just reeks with memories OF
famous cases. II was here that Dan
iel T.. Sickles was tried and acquitted
for shooting Philips Barton Key. II was
i'm this room that John Surratt was
tried for conspiracy. Here Guiteau, the
assassin Of Garfield. was the chief figure
i'm a remarkable trial, and ne went
forth from this court-room under SEN
tence Of death, Historically cursing judge
and jury and prosecutors. Here, too,
the first star route trial was held, ana
many other celebrated cases have been
argued. The walls Of the old room have
echoed the eloquence OF many Of the
most famous lawyers of the time. But
probably no case for many years has
attracted. and will attract so wide at
tention as that which the jury chosen to-
day is 10 decide The distinguished posi-
ton of the defendant and the spice OF
scandal i'm the case add an interest 20
IL which is felt wherever human nature
has not been so exalted as TO have lost
a relish for scandal.
The Parties 10 the suit.
Miss Pollard was not there. Every time
a woman appeared I'm the corridors peo-
pie turned. expecting 10 see Miss Pol
lard. but they did not see her. OF course
II she had come she would have been
the centre of interest. Her dress. her
manner. her gait. her height, the color
of her eyes. everything would have been
noted by the thrOng, but she did not
come so Mr.. Breckenridge mOnOpOized
all the interest. Miss Pollard. however
saw a good deal Of it. She was I'm Mr.
Carlisle's law Office. I'm the tail building
across the street. and if one knew where
TO look he might have seen. her face
peering out Of the window az times
looking Wistfully and anXiously toward
the courthouse She could see the peo-
pie throrging the portico, she might even
get glimpse through the windows OF
the courtroom and get a view Of the
gathering inside. and might have rec0g-
nized the silvery head Of the man she
asserts has ruined her life. She re-
NAMED there waiting for a message from
her lawyers 10 come TO court, If the
trial had been commenced but il was
postponed, and she did not come.
Mr. Breckenridge came into the court
room about 10 o'clock just before the
court opened, with MIR. Butterworth. who
has been one of his counsel since last
night. Mr.. Breckenridge looked self-pos-
sesscd His air was almos, iaunty. lie
was attired i'm a dark suit with a cuta-
way coat and wore black cravat. He
strOlled about the COURTROOM with hands
in pocket, stopping now and then 10
answer the greeting of a friend. He
seemed quite uncOncerned He bears his
hlty-six years well. His figure is sturdy
his handsome face is ruddy. and the only
sign 0f his years is the mass of silvery
white hair that crowns his head and the
snowy moustache and beard, trimmed
somewhat close, that covers his Well
formed jaw and chin. His blue eyes are
fresh-lookng ana altogether one cannot
help thinking be would look like man
of thirty IL his hair and beard Were re-
moved.
The Iawyers.
The lawyers ir the case assembled very
quickly There is AN array of them that
promises most interesting trial To- those
tttIt Law. d. IDIIr.ur all the furue flTIflun
which acute lawyers may lead the case.
Then there rs promise. too. OF some
brilliant OrltOry before the jury. ON Nit.
Brcckinridges side. besides Mir. Butter
worth. are eX-Congressman Phil. Inomp-
son. of Kentucky. Mir William A. Me-
Kenny. Of this city; Mr. John II. Stoil
Of Lexington, KY. a tall. smooth-ldcen
typical Kentuckan, and Mr.. John y. Smell
by. of Lexington law partner OF Air.
Breckenridge Mr.. William G.. Mattinsly.
of this city. appeared also in the ease
to-day. as he said. merely 10 assist in
the preliminary proceedings. owing TO the
continued absence Of Colonel Enoch Tot
ten, who is on "a journey looking for the
fountain OF health In Florida. on the
other side are CalderOn Carlisle, well
known az the District bar. and Mr. Jere
NJ. Wilson. ex-judge. eX-cOngressman, and
Of national repute as a lawyer. and Mr..
William G.. Johnston, Mr.. Carlisles law
perner There were others, too. who at
tractcd attention. Mr.. Desha Breckin-
ridge. son of the defendant, "A good-lookine
young man, with closely cropped black
beard sat in the jury box until he had
TO get out TO make room for the jury.
Representative G. II. Breckenridge, OF
Kentucky, was also there. When Judge
Bradley took his seat on the bench "A
few minutes after 10 all the counsel were
In their places and strung out i'm a long
line before the judge from the place where
MIR. Breckenridge and Mr. Butterworth
sat at the judges left to the seats of Mr..
Wilson and Mr. Carlisle on the right
the ace.
Tho case is well-known TO the reading
public. Last August the suit was filed, a
few DAYS after the second marriage of
Colonel Breckenridge. Since then both
parties 10 the suit have been engaged in
taking testimony i'm Kentucky and Gin
cinnau the attorneys for Miss Pollard
| endeavorng 10 substantiate her asser-
| tons that Colonel Breckenridge betrayed
her when a girl in a seminary at Cincin-
natl. and had made repeated promises TO
marry her; while the statements secured
| by Mr.. Breckenridge tend 10 blacken the
character Of the plaintiff
The plaintiffs claim will be- set forth
ia the jury tomorrow morning. when Mr.
| Carlisle will make the opening statement
| of the case