Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-15
COL. BRECKENRIDGE.
MISS POLLARD INTRODUCED AS
THE CONGRESSMAN'S FINANCE
"Details Of the Great
Observation-Disclosures Suit Which
Sadly wrecks Southern Chivalry-
The Fair Plaintiff Piles UP Some
Very Damaging Evidence.

Washington, March 9.-Miss Made
line Ninton Pollard, the plaintiff in the
suit against Congressman ". c. P.
Breckenridge, avoided the crowd OF
sensatlon-seekerS about the court room
this morning by appearing long before
the court convened. Miss Pollard WIS
talking to Judge Wilson when the de
PENDANT entered and, glancing up to see
the newcomer, her eyes met those of
Col breckenridge. Without seeming to
see him, she went on talking to her
counsel and apparently gaZed into
space. Every person in the court room
watched the little incident. Miss
Pollards appearance was progresses
ing. A little woman, slightly built, but
not thin, with features piquant but not
regular. Her hair was wound in a thick
coil about the back Of her head A
little fiat, velvet bonnet, not very
stylish but in good taste, was held in
place by a ribbon caught beneath the
chin. Over her dark dress she wore a
blue blazer. A little thin spotted veil
covered her face but did not conceal
her features. She also wore black
gloves. Mr.. Carlisle opened the case
for the plaintiff, taking up the charges
and the answers seriatim.
Mr.. Carlisle read the complaint, and
Miss Pollard covered her eyes with her
handkerchief and began to tremble, and
1t looked for a minute as if there
would be a fainting scene. She how
ever succeeded in calming her agita.
ton. Mr.. Carlisle related how Miss
Pollard, while a seminary student,
wrote a letter of inquiry to Col Brock
inridge, whom she knew. He ans
Wered her letter in person, and took
her out driving. He came again on Il
hot night, and obtained permission to
take her driving again. She protested
against going in the closed carriage he
brought, but he said he had a throat
affection, and she consented. Then, by
WileS and articles and by other means,
one thing leading to another, the de-
PENDANT accomplished her ruin. The
story of alleged illicit relationship eX-
listing between the plaintiff and the de-
PENDANT was sketched briefly, and how
after his wife died Mr.. Breckenridge
made her promise of marriage, and re
iterated it before several witnesses;
and how he finally broke that promise
Louis.
In conclusion Mr.. Carlisle said that
under the law of the District of Column
bia, the plaintiff would get no damages
for her ruin; it was only for the broken
promise of marriage that she could Sc
cure redress.
Mrs. Blackburn, widow Of eX-Gov.
Luke Blackburn, of Kentucky, took the
stand and stated that Breckenridge in
her presence said he would marry Miss
Pollard. Mrs. Blackburn said she
lived in Louisville. She knew Col
Breckenridge and Miss Pollard. She
had seen them together in her own
apartment in this city ON Good Friday,
in 1898.
When she entered the room Col
Breckenridge said: Mrs. Blackburn, I
want to place this young lady under
your protection. expect to marry
her when a sufficient time has elapsed
after the death of my wife,
Col. Breckenridge had also talked
with the witness about the engage
ment at other times. At one time, he
spoke of the disparity between the
ages of Miss Pollard and himself, and
she agreed that such marriages were
foolish. Col. Breckenridge at another
time said to her: Mrs. Blackburn, you
appeared to be very much shocked
when 1 told you of my engagement"
Il was" she replied, Il think it a very
poor return for so much devotion from
your wife to become engaged so soon
after the death of your wife,
Then Col Breckenridge said: The
reason 1 have become engaged so soon
is that I thought I had discovered
Miss Pollard's feelings toward me, and
as an honorable man / thought 1
should ask her to marry me-
L said: You have certainly taken
an honorable view Of the matter, Col.
Breckenridge
Mrs. Blackburn told of al incident be-
tween Miss Pollard and Col. Breckin-
ridge at her apartments in Washington.
The two had called on her. and Miss
Pollard had knelt down beside Col.
Breckenridge and, putting her arms
about him, said: willie, will you name
the day before Mrs. Blackburn
II cannot do it now," said Col Brock
inridge, "but 1 will come back and tell
Mrs. Blackburn of the day / intend to
marry the young lady to whom [ am
engaged"
In 1892 Col. Breckenridge had called
upon witness, as he said, at Miss Pol
lard's request, to correct reports con-
corning Miss Pollard, and he then as
serted that there could be no scandal
attached to Miss Pollard since, for a
long time after coming to Washington,
she remained in a convent. Mrs. Fill
lettee, Mrs. Blackburn stated, had said
that Miss Pollard was forward saying
Miss Pollard invited Charles Dudley
Warner to her Mrs. Fillettee's) house
without permission. Attorney Thomp-
son proceeded to interrogate the wit
ness as to who had been present, &C
cording to Mrs Filliettee's story, dur
| ing the visit of Charles Dudley War
ner, whereupon Mr. Carlisle objected
and Judge Bradley said the eXamina-
ton was utterly immaterial.
Mrs Blackburn was cross-eXamined
! by Col. Thompson in the usual man
ner, and she became somewhat nervous
and excited. ''It is useless" she said,