The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-04-03
A REPENTANT ORATOR.
Mr.. Breckinridge Under the Fire
Of Cross-Examination.
FEELS REMoRsE FOR HIS FOLLY.
eThere Is but Ono Punishment Have Not
Deserved. and That is to Marry the
Woman who was Concerned with NE
In the Act"


Deserved. and That is to Marry the
Woman who Was Concerned with NE
In the Act"
WASHINGTON, April 8-Great expecta-
lions have been focused upon the cross
examination of Colonel w c. p. Brrckin-
ridge by eS Congressman Jere NJ. Wilson,
particularly here in Washington, where
she abilities of both men are appreciated
The expectations began to be realized after
the noon recess yesterday when the colonel
wac delivered over into the hands of his
opponents. He had continued his story of
the intrigue with Madeline Pollard
through the morning, entering many and
reitered denials of various statements
made by her, and relating his own version
of the interviews with the Washington
shief Of police, and of the correspondence
between himself aud the plaintiff.
He had been testifying for nearly two
court days when his direct testimony was
finished, and although Mr.. Wilson piled
him with questions all the afternoon, the
cross s-examination seemed to have been
but Just begun. 1t had been expected that
the colonel would be requested to recon
cile his position AZ churchman and
moralst with his course of conduct, and
Ahis expectation was not a misguided one,
for the examination took that direction
from the start.
The first time that the defendant has
shown marked embarrassment during the
trial was when an envelope was handed
mp to him with the request that he read
the direction and the contents, which he
lid with some reluctance, because it was
an invitation sent to Miss Pollard in Feb
fuary 1858, requesting the honor of her
presence at reception to be given in
honor of Hon. w &. p. Breckenridge at
the Norwood institute, and the Norwood
Institute is the most exclusive and fash
Aonable seminary for young ladies' in
Washington, patronized by the first fam
altes of Virginia and the south.
An embarrassing presumption which
JHdge Wilson clung to throughout was
that the same standard of morality should
be demanded of men as of women. Along
this line he questioned the gray haired
congressman upon his reading of Byron
Rad Burns and when the attorneys across
Che table interposed their objections he
Justified his course with the reminder
that the same questions had been asked
his client. To establish the fact of The
eolonels familiarity with those two poets
Judge Wilson quoted several passages
from the "Cotter's Saturday Night and
other publications, which contained
decidedly personal application, and under
which the witness could not help but
Mince Then he tested his recollection
regarding Louis XIV, Henry VIII, the
.foarth George and other historical per-
fsuaages noted fer heir disregard of mari
tai obligations, putting the witness in a
position which might have been laughablc
had 1t not been 50 serious
Again the colonel was impaled upon the
horns of dilemma when his inqnisitor
led him ar;fHlly to repeat the advice
which he alleges he had given Miss Pol
lard who according TO Brcckinridgel had
been intimate with Mr., Rhodes, That her
only honorable course WAS to marry him.
nrd made him chnose between admitting
khat the same rule 1IWst apply 20 his case,
or shat he established different basis of
action under such circu instances for man
and a woman. Between he two mlteina-
kires Colonel Brttisinritgc chose he lesser
svl, averring hat he would tender differ
RHt advice to a young woman and Il Young
msn
Mr. Brcckinr.dgc's most embarrassing
position was when Mr. Wilson piled him
xenorselessly with questions regarding
his ride in closed carriage with plaintiff
After he hnd admitted hat he was in good
health that night, aud had no throat
4ruuble, nor chills ta5 Mir Wilson ioco4cly
ahkedl, he was asked whether It Was not a
rather unusual proceeding to select Il
,eiused carriage for drive on hot sum
hsr evening. to which the colonel replied:
oa, mo- l doh lllnh II was, ana the
audience ianshtd VI the eonNefs''i ron or
Shs rae ne eohia only rtnenio Der nat MISS
Pollard did most of the talking.
,, gu were mol inclined TO talk Mr.
1furr,. ut4s.l
w nsoll eo'hilehleu'
ol, that aelehas upon the company /
am In, replied ihe colonel Continuing
ne described nov MISS foiiard had talked
pi ner aspirations 10 he an tnthpreSs, and
NOW he had encouraged hei'' telling her
that other women had beeh authors. but
ahat IL was matter oi work IKE any
0saef vocation,
heh you put your arm around hef
nna there pteh anythlhs Oh Il suggestive
mature
eli' cahhot answer that dehhltely
mere WIS hn particular Word or act lhhl
eouia ihS my hana on. hefe was just
eomethihs lhterhaily that moved mo to-
III sue had fePfossa me could not have
sea 70" nave encouraged me, and yet
Teuia nave peeh surprised IL she mad re
seotea II,
llla you give hsr any friendly advice
sn that occasion! lie was asked.
diu not
on We're man OF 4 and She girl oi
Fto u
THAT was all true aud much mere, Nc
sasn In America had less excuse for such
an action than i, with the domestic sur
- make no e.rIIse for IL II ;ust ban
oened so.n
"Anf The fact tbat she yaz n v,,,n, ,,ir
In school makes II all t1e warssy" Q
rYou eannot frame word. too stropt, :,
rharacterize il hive moi attcmnta a5 :,
sustify il or even defend it and ali tn,
heii I have Suffered s,rIrs thsn have ds