The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-03-09
MISS POLLARD'S LIFE
Interesting Story Told by
Her Counsel at Wash
ington Today.
HOW SHE GAINED AN EDUCATION
Her First Acquaintance With Con-
gresham Breckinridge--His
Promise to Marry Her.

Hne v NlntOn Follard, bne lalnUlH III bne SUI
against Congressman w. c. R. Breckenridge,
avoided the crowd of sensation seekers about
the court room this morning, by appearing
long before the court convened. Miss Pol
lard was accompanied by her counsel, Judge
Jere Wilson and Calderon Carlisle, and she
entered the court room through the rear
door reserved for witnesses and members of
the bar. She has also with her Sister of
Mercy from the Home in this city, where
she has been staying recently, and a female
friend. Miss Pollard was cool. She showed
no signs of trepidation as she became the
focus of many pairs of male eyes and calmly
took her seat between Judge Wilson and the
Sister
The court had not convened at ten minutes
past ten o'clock, when the distinguished look
ing defendant entered the room. Miss Pol
lard was talking to Judge Wilson at the
time. Glancing up to see the newcomer, her
eyes met those of Colonel Breckinridge.
Without seeming to see him she went on
talking to her counsel, and apparently gazed
into space Every person in the court room
watched the little incident.
MISS PoLLARD'S APPEARANCE.
A little woman, slightly built, but not thin,
with features piquant, but not regular. Her
hair was wound in a thick coil about the
back of her head A little fiat, velvet bon
net not very stylish, but in good taste, held
in place by ribbon caught beneath the chin.
Over her dark dress, she wore blue ''Dlazer."
A little thin spotted veil covered her face,
but did not conceal her features. She also
wore black gloves.
Mr. Carlisle opened the case for the plain
tiff, taking up the'charges and the answers
Seriatinl.
just as Mr. Carlisle began his remarks,
Miss Pollard covered her ewes with her hand
kerchief and began to tremble, and it looked
for minute as if there would be fainting
scene. She, however, succeeded in calming
her agitation. Mr.. Carlisle read the COM
plaint
THE CoMPLAINANT'S STORY.
"There are three creditable witnesses"
said Mr. Carlisle. ''who will testify that the
promise to marry was reiterated by the de-
PENDANT in the presence of the plaintiff and
at other times when she was not present.
Summarizing what the evidence would
be, Mr. Carlisle said:-"The plaintiff is
Kentucky girl, the daughter of sad
dler. She was ambitious to learn, and as
far as possible her father helped her in that
ambition But in 1876 her father died, leav-
ing no estate. The plaintiff then went to
another State and remained some years.
linen Sn6 came DaCK 10 i've WIN du etuHU III
Lexington. She was still ambitious to get
an education but her mother had not the
means"
Then Mr.. Carlisle told the story of the
connection of Miss Pollard and James Rodes,
the old gardener The old man, he said, was
attracted by this country girl, and, be-
ing of some means and knowing her
proposition that he would pay for her edu-
cation if she would marry him. Not being
able to agree to this, she made counter
proposition that if he paid for her education
she would either marry him or pay back the
money. This was agreed to by Rodes, and
paper containing the agreement actually
drawn up and signed.
MET BRECKENRIDGE.
Then Mr.. Carlisle told how Miss Pollard
went to Wesleyan College in Cincinnati
on Rodes' money; how Rodes began insisting
that he be paid back or that she marry
him. how, while worried over Rodes' de-
mands, she was summoned home to see dy-
ing sister in Lexington and met Col. Breckin-
ridge on the train Then the counsel went
on to tell how, when Rodes persisted in his
demands and the plaintiff feared trouble,
she thought of writing to Col Breckenridge
and asking his advice. He answered her
letter in person and took her out driving.
obtained permission to take her
driving again. She Eprotested against
going in the closed carriage he brought but
he said he had throat affection and she
consented Then by wiles and artifces and
by other means, one thing leading to another,
the defendant accomplished her ruin.
The story of the alleged illicit relationship
existing between the plaintiff and the de-
fendant was sketched briefly and how after
his wife died Mr.. Breckenridge made her the
promise of marriage and reiterated it before
several witnesses, and how he finally broke
that promise by marrying Mrs. Louise Wing
of ST. Louis
In conclusion Mr.. Carlisle said that under
the law of the District of Columbia the
the plaintiff could get no damages for her
seduction. 1T was only for the broken
promise of marriage that she could secure
redress.
COUNSEL TALK.
Col Thompson, for the defendant re-
served his opening statement. Judge Will
son, for the plaintiff, said there were some
books in the case which be wanted
produced Major Butterworth, for the de-
fendant said he wanted these books more
particularly identified. He has received no
tice to produce the books, which were de-
scribed as four volumes of Washington
Irving's works, which had been delivered by
Sister Augustine to Mr. Scott, of the de-
fense He wanted them more particularly
described.
Major Butterworth insisted that the books
should be subscribed what were they; what
did they contain.
At this point Miss Pollard broke out, half
weepingly, with the cry, why does he ask
such questions, they are absurdp' She was
quieted, and Judge Wilson arose to persist
that the books be produced.
Judge Bradley overruled the objection and
ordered the books turned over to the clerk
of the court.
MRS. BLACKBURN TEsTIFIES.
Mrs RlackhI1rn. widow of Ex-Governor
Luke Blackburn of Kentucky, then took the
stand.
The testimony of Mrs. Blackburn was in
teresting. She said she lived in Louisville.
In answer to Mr. Carlisle, she said she knew
Col, Breckinbridge and Miss Pollard. She
had seen them together in her own apart
ments in this city on Good Friday, in 1898.
When she entered the room Col. Breckin-
bridge said:
Mrs Blackburn, I want to place this
young lady under your protection. lex
pect her to become nearer to me, and she
needs your inotherly care. expect to
marry her when sufficient time has elapsed
after the death of my wife,
Colonel Breckenridge had also talked with
the witness about the engagement at other
times.
AT one time he spoke Of the disparity be-
tween the ages of Miss Pollard and himself,
and she agreed that such marriages wore
foolish.
Col Breckenridge at another time said to
her.
Mrs. Blackburn, you appeared to be very
much shocked when told you OF my on
II was, y / replied. II think it d very poor