Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-03-28
POLLARD-BR EGkINRIDGE TRIAL.

idea that il was q studied imitation
The lower loops OF both letters exhibit
ed the same characteristics, the ''vou:s'
We're the same. and the capitals exhib
tied variety OF styles not found il
forgeries. [ pom blackboard. which
vas hung beside him, Mr. Hay proceed
cd 10 give an exposition. and was abou,
to exhibit the letter to the jury. whcr
I Mr.. Wilson objected that the letter haC
not been placed in evidence. and wa:
sustained by Judge Bradley, Mr. Shell
( By protesting that it was customary tc
show disputed letters 10 the Jurors in
the first instance, and permit them to
Judge for themselves. Judge Bradley
ended the controversy by saying that
letters were not submitted until there
had been sufficient evidence bearing
! out the genuineness OF the document TO
Justify it. 3Ir. Hay talked ike a
writing master before his class, hand
ling the different specimens Of Miss
Pollard 5 writing. and explaining how
they had been made at different times.
with different pens, and with pens
held in different positions.
Mr.. Hay gave it a his opinion that
handwriting could not be successfully
initiated in long letter, and when Mr.
, "il5on ... asked 1im -l.3@r7a2@ W.,
Sc K \. ....... ~
wrote the contested letter had
not given himself away by a too
free use of the pen in the word
July" Mr.. Hay denied that such
was the case. Miss Pollard's was
a very difficult handwriting to initiate,
if not an impossible one. Imitators in
some places must show nervousness,
but in the letter before him there were
no traces of it. Mr.. Hay said that De-
sha Breckenridge, son of the defendant,
had brought him the letters, but young
Breckenridge would not permit to be
explained to witness what was expected
10 be proven until witness had made
lis investigation, although lie had sur
missed it. he declared that no person
could have the nerve successfully to
initiate anothers handwriting through
long letter, declaration that involv-
ed sparring over the moral and phyaica!
aspects of the word NERVE" After
this was ended Mr.. Hay bowed him
self from the stand, and the court adj
journed.
TO.DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
The Notwithstanding trial began
to-day with more expert testimony as
to the letter dated July 20, 1881, signed
with Miss Pollard's name and which
she claims is forgery. This is the let
ter in which Col. Breckenridge is in
yited 10 call on Miss Pollard at Yves
leyan College, and in which the al
legged writer says the defendant has
such nice face, and in which she also
makes this significant remark Il think
have prepared you for divorce case,
but, listen; it is worse than that"
Mr.. f. B. Hay was recalled and his
cross examination as an expert in hand
writing was continued by Judge VIII
son, who wanted to show that Mr.. Hay
had given an opinion before the con-
gressional investigating committee,
which was appointed to determine
whether a letter written TO Mr..
Springer was genuine or forged, which
was directly opposite TO that given by
Mr.. Hay in this court.
Mr.. Hay was subjected to close
cross-examination by Judge Wilson,
during which the latter called the
experts attention to several alleged
mistakes which had been made in re-
gard to the spuriousness or genulneness
of written documents.
AIr. Worthington, private secretary
to Col. Breckenridge, was the next wit
ness. He said he resiled in Lexington
and prior to coming to Washington, in
December last, he had been acting as
stenographer in the office of Breckin-
ridge and Shelby. Maj. Shelby, who
cross examined the witness, showed
him the alleged forged letter and asked
him to tell where and when he first saw
it. Mr.. Worthington testified that he
found the letter in bunch OF CORE
spondence in an old file case in Col.
Brcckinridge's office. The bundle was
on top Of desk which had be used by
Col. breckenridge. The pile had the
appearance Of having been on top OF
the desk for long while. He found
no other letters purporting to be writ
ten by Hiss Pollard. The search for
the letter was made during the first or
second week in September last, after
the breach of promise suit had been
filed. The search, said Mr.. Worthing-
ton, extended over three or four days.
judge Wilson cross-eXamlned the
witness carefully, bat he stuck to his
testimony.
The witness said he did not know
whether or not Col. eBreckinridge's
personal correspondence was contained
in the file where the package was
found. His recollection was that 'lSSl
appeared on the wrapper which enclos.
Ell the bundle containing the dlsputcc
letter.
The defense introduced veritablt
surprise. almost a sensation. when il
called Rankin Il. Resell rs the neXt
witness. He is the young man who
said in his deposition that Miss Pollard
wanted him to take her to Chicago wheI
they were engaged. Miss Pollard ad
mittcd the engagement.
Mr.. Resell said he was 81 years old
and lived in Nicholsville, Ky. He wa.
superintendent of the schools of hi
county and deputy county clerk, anc
also held offices in Masonic circles, Mr.
Resell said he resided in Cincinnati il
1885 and was employed as clerk in {
large dry goods house. He knew Mis-
Pollard and became acquainted witt
her in October or November, 1885.
Miss Pollard came in just at thi
-.;.l, l,o, f,-;o,J Miss Ellis onf