The evening world., 1894-03-09
He Declares the Congressman
swore That Marry Her
He Would.
MRS. BLACKBURN TESTlFIEs.
Widow OF kentucky's Governor
a Strong Witness for
Plaintiff.
ny As-nciated Press.)

WASHINGTON. March 9.-One of the
first persons to enter the Circuit Court
room tEis morning was Miss Madeline
Pollard. the plaintiff In the 1900 breach
Of promise suit against Congressman w.
c. p. Breckenridge.
This was the first sight of the plaintiff
vouchsafed to the scandal lovers who
crowded the court. and for a quarter OF
an nour before the trial began she was
the target of all eyes and the subject OF
many curious Miss Pollard
Is an attractive woman apparently Of
about thirty years. Her slender. some
what glrllsh figure was covered by o
long black ulster. Her face Is nearly
coloiless. She mas a small plquant
mouth, upturned nose, flashing black
eyes and heavy dark brown hair. She
wore Il small black bonnet this morning.
Miss Pollard seemed quite at her ease.
Her face was covered with a thin veil,
which In nc way concealed her features.
She talked with her lawyers most of the
time prior to the opening of court.
The trial was really commenced when
Calderon Carlisle, facing the Jury, lean
Ing ~languidly against Il table. and in de-
liberate conversational tones, outlined the
matters which the plaintin would en-
utdsOT 10 prove.
skctching briefly what should be
proven in the case, Mr.. Carlisle spoke OF
Miss Pollard as the daughter Of a sad
der; brilliant and always e~ndeayoring
wh"n She was a young girl John c.
Rhodes, a man of means, but not of
nth position was, attracted by her
sh" would marry him, and she. a simple
country girl. had signed an agreement,
promising II Rhodes would educate her
mar In NTFN1llt nav TNF him ~ IN hall
the money, the agreement being signed
with the sanction of al unwise mother.
Afterwards, when Miss Pollard wa In
trouble, because Rhodes was pressing her
10 fuial her promise. and because she.
a country SRI, believed he could invoke
me law TO his aid. she had written Mr..
which was answered in person.
col. breckenridge said they could not
talk Freely at the school. and suggested
they could walk out together, a sugges-
ton which Miss Pollard said was not
necessary. as she could obtain permission
readily. Afterwards he called In a closed
carriage one evening, to which she oh
jrcted. but met the plausible excuse that
his throat was delicate.
Then began the girls ruin. From that
hour began IL secret life between the two.
The a~rtiiiceS resorted to were touched
upon by the lawyer until he came down
when. said Mr.. Carlisle, he defendant
promised to marry the young woman he
had wrOnged. TO take the only step which
he could take to blot out the sin and
step which he alone could take.
lie had introduced her as his prom
isal wife into the first families OF the
city. Under the law OF the District there
could b. no CAIN for damages on ac-
count or such action, but the remedy. or
rather what rcparation could be made
law guaranteed. MI. Carlisle. In con-
~clusIon, asked only that the jury be
not blinded to the truth by the flashes
Of. ]eloquence which would come from the
other side.
Attorney Phil Thompson announced
that the defendants opening statement
OF the plaintiffs testimony.
Julia e. blackburn" called the clerk.
There was 4 rustic Of Interest. and a
ami "A pale face, threaded her way to the
stand and took a chair. In answer to
Mr.. Clrlisle'S questions. she said she
MAS the widow OF Luke J., Blackburn,
"X-Governor of Kentucky, and her home
was n louisville.
+ further luest.ons. Mrs, Blackburn
,nrldco ana Miss Pollard had called on
tor and had persisted in sending for her
ness. She was Induced 10 receive them.
Mrs. Blackburn spoke firmly, and con-
tlnued'
your kind care and protection. for ex-
pect that in the future she VIII be a
iicient time after tn, death of my wife
has elapsed | intend to marry her;
He said: You may consider this fool
iSh.' | replied hat there was always
risk in these things. lie said: 1 am
Old enough to be her fathsr;- she Is
trlrty-one years y)unScr than L.
ION another occasion he said: Il saw
that you were greatly shocked at the
announcement; of my engagement re-
piled. IL seems to me a very poor re-
iurn for all the devotion OF your wife.
who has SO recently died. He replied,
1 will tel you what ! never expected
recently what Miss Pollard's feelings
honor. I considered Il my duty 20 ofsr
take a very high view of these things. "
Mrs. Blackburn a that subsequently,