The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-10
MADELINE POLLARD'S SUIT
Sensational Incidents in the Opening
Of the Trial.


Connected With the Case the Only
Members of the Sex in Court-Miss
Pollard Inclined to Be HysterioaI.
Mrs. Luke Blackburn Proves a Val
liable Witness For the Plaintif-A
BristIing Array of Lawyers.
Washington March 9. - There was
enough of sensation and scandal in the
trial of Madeline Pollard's breach of
promise suit against Congressman Breck-
inridge, of Kentucky, to-day, to satisfy
even the most expectant in the fashion
ably attired masculine audience which
crowded the circuit court Witnesses well
known to all Washingtonians detailed
the secret history of the life Travelled by
the snowy bearded congressman and the
Young woman, who, seated only an arms
length apart, were magnets for the cur
iosity which always surrounds the per-
sauages of such case.
LEADING WITNESSES.
Chief among them, and most interesting
was Mrs Julia Blackburn, the widow Of
ex-Gov. Luke Blackburn, of Kentucky
lady under whose chaperonage Miss Pol
lard had been placed by Col. Breckin-
ridge; who showed herself quite as keen
as Col Phil Thompson, the Kentucky ex-
congressman, who tried unsuccessfully to
better his clients case by an inquisitorial
cross examination.
A sister of Col Breckiuridge's first
wife, Miss Mary Desha, also had some
thing to say concerning mysterious bas-
ket the materiality of which was not
made apparent
Another characteristic witness was
Col Moore, the chief of the Washington
police department, who might nave
stepped from a rench drama with his
hitherto concealed knowledge of under
ground scandal, his imperturbabe air
and matter of fact consultation of notes
regarding the tragic passages of Breckin-
ridge-POllard affairs, jOtted down on the
spot
DR. Lincoln, the eminently respectable
and dignihed family physician, played
minor part in the testimony.
Also there were letters read, kilograms
and four mysterious books taken from
Cincinnati convent.
MISS POLLARD IN TEARS.
Two friends supported Miss Pollard in
the ordeal, and they, with her attorneys,
were obliged at times to exert their
utmost persuasive powers TO prevent her
from creating scene in court.
Early in the day she broke down.
giving way to tears. and several
times she attempted to cry out in inter-
ruption of lawyers and witnesses, seem
lDE 10 be on the verge of hysteria Shortly
after taking her seat she turned to give
one piercing glance, apparently of hatred
and contempt, toward Col Breckinridge.
before which the snOwy-headed congress
man ayerted his face. At no after time
dld their eyes meet Col. Breckinridge
devoted himself for the most part
TO consultations with his attor-
neys, smiling frequently, as would
person with no vital interest
IN the case, and occasionally laughing
outright. Only when Mrs Blackburn
was speaking of him in tones which i'm
pied more than her words conveyed. did
Ihe congressman seem to feel embar-
raised, leaning forward with his head on
his breast.
THE SPECTATORS.
Except the half dozen connected with
the case there were no ladies in court,
put long lines of men. like the crowds be-
lore the box Office of a theater, waited
OUTSIDE Tor the doors to be opened These
men seemed to regard the trial altogether
IN the light of a theatrical
entertainment, apparently unconscious of
.he TACT that there was an element of
human tragedy about the fair Satur-
uay is motion day in the circuit court, so
tHe washington populace will be denied
= ~ unity W SdGlSLJ IL CuIlUSIty
until Monday.
SUSTAINED BY A SISTER.
One of the lady companions of Miss Pol
lard was one of the sisters of the Epico-
PaIlan House of Refuge, in which Miss
FoIiard is sheltered. The other, who sat
peSlue the plalnttn, was a well dressed
!auy of middle age, whose
tuenlty every one vainly endeavored
10 discover Miss Pollard's lawyers were
10y communicative on the point, ana the
Iduy name remains a mystery. The
number of lawyers made it necessary to
nave Two rows of tables, the front line
utNoted to the Pollard forces, the second
row occupied by the Breckenridge party.
30 mat the white haired defendant sat
o.HoSJ directly back Of his young antag-
OPENING OF THE CASE
me trial was really commenced when
Sdlueron Carlisle faced the Jury, leaning
lant t Uuly against a table, and in a delib-
Y' UIaye' conversational tone, outlined the
IL1.lefS which the plaintiff would en-
'or TO prove. He contrasted the po-
ffa,UuuS OF the two parties one a man of
ttbbu'Iy' OF political prominence, high in
oouhcus OF the presbyterian church,
t"'nouS throughout the country as an ora
,,,5 Ul the other, a friendless young
IouiiaH' something was said about the
49, =, "SpeIGS OF Jne case. Then he
tsau yhe declaration, which was published
~ Ii' utl when the suit was brought: how
NJ, W 6reckinridge had taken advantage of
~ fSS ~ Follard's youth when she was a girl
or5 g., at the Wesley Female Seminary,
NV -N nen Onen further, alleging that he was
Ia, ayher OF her three children, thai he
r,, ,",., Ia the presence of credible witness IS.
unused to marry her, having previously
u.i'He promise to become her husband
r,1. ~ngu ms wife should die; that he had
TT-alIIeu instead Mrs. Louise Wing, of
ll-ou,IsVllIe. that Miss Pollard has endeay-
,gu @ 10 lea him and make a career for
tIigISell, but had been persuaded to CON
fo, 60 aS his mistress, because Of her love
The PLAINTIFF BLUsHEs CRIMSON.
Duflng this reading Miss Pollard
U3Ieu crimson, she trembled violently
Cli Clt 28urled her face in her handkerchief.
a.. breckinridge chatted in matter of
az way with his lawyers.
5aAy!9rney Carlisle spoke in a manner
C.Giu u OF any court room embellishments, |
tiHdU tHdU MS address was the more etfeC- |
ir5 ds ne laid down the document, CON
CrfIulng: Cf That, gentlemen, is the story
ny client. She does not come here say |
Is mat she is devoid of fault or blame, |
i,l ~ mere IS the promise of marriage aud |
''1 Dreach, the issue Of this case"
7. hcg 4 +l,S, Ior