The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-10

ION ANAI VI AAAC AAAob RNAoOhS w NANNN
the circuit court room tins
morning was Miss Madeline Pol
W lard the plaintiff in the suit
against Congressman W. p. g. Brock
inridge.
This was the first sight of the plain
tiff vouchsafed to the scandal lovers
who crowded the court, and for u
quarter Of an hour before the trial be-
gan she was the target OF all eyes and
the subject of many curious comments.
Miss Pollard is au attractive e-loOking
young woman, whose appearance would
indicate that she has attained 30 years,
with slender, girlish figure. which
was covered by long black ulster.
Her face was nearly colorless, with y
small, piQuant mouth, upturned nose.
flashing black eyes and heavy dark
brown hair. She wore q small black
bonnet.
Two ladies accompanied her and sat
beside her at the table with her coun-
gel, directly in front Of the judge. One
of them, an elderly lady dressed In
black, was one of the sisters of the Epis.
copalian House of Refuge. ia which Miss
Pollard is sheltered The other who
sat beside the plaintiff, was well
dressed lady of middle age, who figured
as friend OF Miss Pollard, but whose
identity every one vsinly endeavored
to discover. Miss PollSrds lawyers
were not communicative on the point,
and the lady's name remains a my
terry.
Miss Pollard seemed quite at her
ease. Her face was covered with a
thin veil, which in no way concealed
her features. She talked with her
lawyers most of the time prior to court
convening.
Mr. CARLISLE OPENS THE CASE.
The trial was really commenced
when Mr.. Calderon Carlisle faced the
Jury. leaning languidly against table
and in deliberate conversational tones
outlined the matters which the plaintiff
would endeavor to prove, He con-
trasted the positions of two PARTIES
one a man of family, of political
prominence, high in the councils of the
Pres byterian church, famous through
out the country as an orator; the othe r
trisndless young woman Some
thing was said about the legal aspects
of the case. Then he began to read the
declaration which was published in
full when the suit was brought, alleg.
ing how Colonel Breckinridge' had
taken advantage of Miss Pollard's youth
when che was a girl of 10 at the Yves.
leyan Female seminary, and then
further alleging that he was the father
of her three children; that he had in
the presence Of credible witnesses
promised to marry her, having prsvi.
ously made the promise to become her
husband when his wife should die; that
he had married instead 4 Miss Louise
Wing, of Louisville; that Miss Pollard
had endeavorsd to leave him and make
career for herself, but had been per-
suadsd to continue rs his mistress be- d.
cause OF her love for him.
THE PLAINTIFF AGITATED
During the reading Miss Pollard
flushed crimson. She trembled vio-
lsntly ond buried her face in hand
kerchief. Colonel Breckenridge chatted
in a matter Of fact way with his law
yers Attorney Calderon Carlisle is a
suave, polished gentleman, with a
high.b bred air. He spoke in manner
devoid of any courtroom embellish-
ments, so that his address was the more
effective, as he laid down the docu-
ment, concluding:
That, gentlemen. is the story Of my
client. She does not come here saving
that she is devoid Of fault or blame
but there is the promise Of marriage
and its breach, the issue of this case.
MRS. BLACKBURNs TESTIMONY.
Mrs Julia Blackburn. widow of Ek
Governor Luke Blackburn, Of Ken
tuck, was the first witness called. She
stated that Breckenridge in her pres
ence said he would marry Miss Pollard.
The testimony of Mrs. Blackburn
was interesting. She said she lived il
Louisville In answer to Mr.. Carlisl,
she said she knew Colonel BreckinridR.
and Miss Pollard. She had seen them
together in her own apartments in this
city OH Good Friday in 1893 Wher
she entered the room Colonel Breckin
ridge said: "MrS. Blackburn, | want tc
place this young lady under your pro.
lection, expect her to become nearer
to me, and she needs your mothsrI,
care. l expect to marry her when
sufficient time has elapsed after tn
death of my wife.
Colonel Breckenridge had also talked
with the witness about the engage
ment at other times. At one time h
spoke Of the disparity between the agel
of Miss Pollard and himself, and sh'
agreed that such marriages were fool