The Indianapolis journal., 1894-03-17
DIR. Paxton Explains.

PITTSBURG, March 16.-The statement
that Colonel Breckenridge and Mrs. Louise
Wing had been secretly married by Rev.
DR.. Paxton on April 20, 1S9S was confirmed
by the latter in an interview tonight. Dr.
Paxton has been stopping here for several
months with relatives. and apparently has
fully recovered his health. He at first
unwilling to talk about the Breckenridge
Pollard case, and said he had nothing what
ever to do with it. He stated that the mar
riage had taken place on the date stated,
and he had suppressed the fact TO oblige
Colonel Breckenridge and the bride. In re-
sponse to frequent kilograms he had kept
putting off recording, and only did it at
last to obviate a journey 10 the capital in
the present unsatisfactory state Of his
health as witness in this scandal suit.
Moved, however, by an apparent desire to
make the facts of the marriage as clear
as possible, now that they had come out,
DR.. Paxton proceeded to fill in the details
of the story himself, as follows:
ION the 29th of last April my man. Char
lie, came TO me in my study and told me
that gentleman was downstairs and want
ed to me- When L went down Billy
Breckenridge came TO me and asked me
whether l would marry him and Mrs. Wing.
| said would. and shortly afterwards Mrs
Wing drove up to the: door in another car
riage This was, l think, about 1880 in the
evening. 1 took them to the study, and
called Mrs. Paxton and Eleanora n. Col
Inns, who was stopping at our house, to act
AFTER the ceremony Colonel Breckenridge
asked me not to put the marriage on rec
ord His children might raise a great fuss,
and, besides, it would seem highly improper
with his wife dead only nine or ten months,
/ forget which. Mrs. Wing added her So
licitations, she desired to become ac-
uuainted with her husbands family and
win aft q gpp
was made known. 1 agreed, and they went
away very happy, as he seemed very de-
voted TO her.
I'm this old Quaker State I believe. you
must have a license TO get married. In
New York you don't. A minister is just
provided with blanks from the Health Bu-
reau which set forth a full history of the
parties, as we'll as the marriage and go on
public record. 1 simply did not return mine
friend Of Billy and l thought myself 1t
was best, all things considered not to
make it public l suppressed such reports
before in affairs of honor, you know, and
the like. Everything was going along all
right, and 1 supposed Mrs. Wing was MAX
ing friends nicely with the family, when up
crops this Pollard scandal. l don't know
thing about Miss Pollard. and never
heard her name before l saw it In that
connection. Almost Immediately in June
Colonel Breckinridge and Mrs. Wing We're
publicly married in Kentucky without con-
sulting me at all. l next received tele-
gram not to record the April marriage, at
least tin after the scandal had blown over
There is no special law in New York that
know of on the return of marriages There
is nothing to make man hurry up as soon
as he has married couple and get 1t re-
corded. never obse I'd any special time
Since this suit Wa begun L have just
been followed up by grams from Col
Breckenridge and his al, vney TO come to
Washington as witness. would have
want a year and a half rest, and I am
taking It. So just telegraphed to my man.
Charlie, who takes charge of the house in
my absence, to go to my study, get that
marriage record and file It. / considered
that was my share Of the evidence-all /
had to do with the suit. That was done a
couple of days ago by my man.
I II don't know whether by the suppress
| sion / have rendered myself liable to the
| law / don't know whether New York has
| any law bearing on such suppression. Per-
| haps have committed misdemeanor and
may have to pay a fine; as the marriage
| was nearly year Old when registered"