The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-15
THE STAR Of
OLD KENTUCKY
Testimony Resumed In Miss POllard'S Case
Against the Colonel,
IDENTIFICATION VERY DIFFICULT
Sister Cecilia Has a Good Memory
For Names But Poor for Faces.
Cannot State Positively That the
Plaintiff Was an Inmate Of Norwood
Convent-Gratitude But no Love for
Old Jim Rodes-A Romantic Story.
The Case Grows More Interesting.
WASHINGTON. March IA

WASHINGTON, March IA
6PHE testimony of Sister Cecilia Of
Pueblo, Col, formerly superior
of the Norwood Asylum, near
u Cincinnati, was resumed when
the Breckenridge trial commenced this
morning. Miss Pollard was again in
the courtroom, sitting nearly in front
of Colonel Breckinridge, with only the
austere-facsd sister from the House of
Refuge beside her. the other unknown
friend being for the first time absent.
Sister Cecilia was on the witness stand.
Replying to Attorney Carlisle's qu9s
| tions she said that she had good
memory Of names, but poor memory
for frees. she could not affirm posi-
lively that Miss Pollard had been an
| inmate of the Norwood convent nor
could she swear that she had not.
When Mr.. Carlisle inquired her belief
on the fact, Attorney Butterworth OBJ
jected that while any facts might be
given. the opinion of the witness was
incompetent Attorney Shelby added
that the question of the opinion Of the
witness was an attempt to invade the
province Of the jury.
Mr.. Carlisle supported the admis.
sibility of the answer with authOri-
ties, and Mr.. Butterworth rebutted
with more authorities.
Judge Bradley said that if the ques-
| tion was intended to elicit the opiuion
of witness as to the identity Of the
plaintiff with u certain psrson who was
at the asylum at certain time it was
competent If it was intended to show
that the witness, from things she had
subsequently learned, had become con-
vinced that the plaintiff had at some
time been an inmate OF the asylum it
was incompetent.
There was some hesitation on the
part of Miss Pollsrd's counsel in fran
| ing question, it being apparent that
the sister was scrupulously careful
about the extent to which she would
commit herself in identifying Miss
Pollard
A. QUESTION FOR THE JURY.
Finally tue plaintiffs counsel re-.
served an exception 10 the court 8
ruling and then framed n different
question, asking "What is your opin
ion as to the identity of the plaintiff
with patient in your asylum in May,
June and July, 1852 which was also
overruled, another exception noted and
followed by the question What 10
your belief as to whether the plaintiff
was in your asylum during those
months" That is a question for the
jury" said Judge Bradley.
The identity of the friend who sat
beside Miss Pollard throughout the
trial was divulged when Mr. Carlisle
called DR.. Belle Buchanan, and that
lady walked around to the witness
stand and took the oath. As she was
giving her name, occupation and the
usual preliminary answers Mr.. Phil
Thompson spoke out familisrly: Speak
up a little louder, please, doctor we
cant hear You
DR.. Buchanan has an intelligent face
She stated that she fret made Miss
Pollards acquaintance under the name
of Louise Wilson in June. 1885, when
Miss Pollard came from the founding
ASYLUM at Norwood in carriage, her
coming having been arranged by DR..
Mary Street, now Mrs. Logan TheiI
house was at the corner of Fourth and
John streets.
Miss Pollard had been given tho
medicine she needed aud massage treat
me1t and had seemed very weak.
THE CINCINNATI HISTORY.
When court reconVened at the after
noon session Mrs Wesley Robin
son was called as witness, but sh {
was heard only through her dep )sition
taken in Cincinnati. She knew Miss
Pollard, she snid, at the Wesleyan
college, of which her father, W. X.
Brown. was president, aud where Miss
Pollard was pupil,
Miss Pollard had told the deponent
that her father admired w. 9. p
Breckenridge, or John Breckinridge or
some Breckenridge, and had given her
that maine. Miss Pollard also said she
admired the defendant, who was then.
to quote the witness. "the star of Ken
lucky"
In the letter which the witness haG
| u,
Miss Pollard referred to her deep debt
of gratitude to James G. Rodes, ant
said How can ever marry the oil
wretchy' Also in the letter Miss Pol
lard referred to her love for Professor
Overman, A story called DESTINY
was appended to the letter. Extracts
from the document were read the de
ponent, and she told of the various
persons mentioned.
The deponent testified that Miss Pol
lard told her she had met Colonel
Breckinridge on q train and this en-
couu ter with SO distinguished aman
was talked over n great deal in the col.
lege. 1t may have been through thi,
talk. said the deponent, that the name
breckenridge" was inserted in Miss
Pollsrd's name by her school mates
Miss Pollard had always seemed to the
deponent to be an innocent, pnre
minded girl
MIR. Carlisle read the letter in full
Most of it has been published. but some
parts that were not given to the public
press became public through the read
ing today. 1t was an account of Mis-
Pollard's life. The letter told of Miss
Pollard's meeting with old man Rcdss
her contract with him and her inabilit,
to pay him back.
Miss Pollard said she had for him
"the strongest and most ardent senti
ments ever entertained for morta
man" She also said, 81 do not love
| n N II