The Portland daily press., 1894-04-04
MY DEAR SISTER LOUISE.
Mrs. Lowell Tells Of Copying a Let
ter Beginning That Way.
MISS POLLARD TELLS HOW THE
COLONEL'S LETTERS CAME,

AID machine SulC-ln6 new 1estl-
mony Was Admitted Only After Siren
uous Opposition by the Defendants
Counsel-other Incidents of the Day
Washington. April 3.-The mystery of
the alleged letter beginning "My Dear
Sister Louise" pervaded everything
about the circuit court this morning,
when the trial of the Pollard Breckin-
ridge case began. When the court adj
journed yesterday afternoon, Judge Will
son, Miss Pollard's attorney, was trying
to make Colonel Breckenridge admit that
in 1886 he had taken to be copied by a
typewriter in the Capitol letter begins
ming my Dear Sister Louise" Colonel
Breckenridge denied all knowledge of
such a letter, and he also said he had no
sDear Sister Louise" Judge Wilson
further asked him if he had not taken to
this same typewriter bundle of enve-
lopes to be addressed to Miss Pollard, rs
North Upper street, Lexington, KY, and
Colonel Breckenridge denied this also.
The period in which the alleged letter is
supposed to have been written was COW
cred in the statement Of Colonel Breckin-
ridge that he had no relations aud no
correspondence with Miss Pollard in
1885, - Additional interest was given to
the name Louise in the alleged letter,
because Miss Pollard claims that Louise
Wilson was her assumed name when in
Cincinnati, in 1885. Judge Wilson said
that the name of the typewriter who
copied the letter, which, however, he
was unable to produce, was Mrs. Louise
Lowell, and this morning, when court
convened, Mrs. Lowell, who is now a
clerk in the treasury, was present with
friend. They sat next to Miss Pollard
and Miss Ellis.
Major Butterworth asked Judge Brad
Iley to decide whether the evidence about
the Sister Louise letter was competent.
Mr.. Wilson said he proposed to put
the witness. Louise Lowell, on the stand,
on the ground that the plaintiff was not
in possession of the knowledge she now
had at the time of her testimony in
chief. It was not the purpose Of the
plaintiff, he said to play any tricks or to
take the defence by surprise, and the de-
PENDANT would be given ample opportu-
nifty to make any explanation he chose
concerning the letter.
Mr. Carlisle said he did not learn the
name of the witness and did not see her
until Sunday morning.
Mr.. Butterworth said he was not criti-
cising counsel, but he thought the alleg-
ed contents of an alleged letter should
| not be placed in evidence until it was
known what the plaintiff expected to
prove by it.
Judge Bradley in rendering his decis-
| ion. said he found authority for the in
| teriection of proof concerning the exis-
| tence of adocument that might be lost or
DESTROYED. He therefore decided that
| proof tending to prove that such letter
as that beginning .'My dear sister Lou
| ise'' had been written, might be intro
duced.
Judge Wilson called Mrs. Lowell to
tile stand. She had known Col. Brock
| inridge since February, 1886, when she
| had small office in the Capitol where
| she did stenography and type-writing.
| She had done work for Col. Breckenridge
and was acquainted with his handwrit-
| ing. In answer to Judge Wilson, Mrs.
! Lowell said the defendant had brought
| to her at the time indicated letter to be
copied. The manuscript was in the de-
fendant's handwriting. The witness
| said she returned to Col. Breckenridge
the manuscript and the copy of the let
ter in question. She also did other work
| for the defendant, such as addressing en-
velopes.
"Ahr' SAID Judge Wilson, 'what did
you put on those envelopes?"
miss Pollard, SO North Upper street,
Lexington, KY" was the answer, d.
rect contradiction of the testimony given
by the defendant Miss Pollard smiled
and there was buzz of interest through
out the room. Col Breckenridge busted
| himself writing.
s'Now," said Judge Wilson, Estate
whether you made memorandum of
| the work done by you for Col. Breckin-
ridge?"
produced little blank book and read
out of it the address given.
ssWhy did you put that name DOWN.
said Judge Wilson.
Feeling sure that I should hear more
of Miss Pollard and not being willing to
trust to my memory, put it down."
''Now tell what those envelopes looked
like?'
''Ehey were small envelopes, not such
that business man would use, and vel
| low with age"
GLOW was the first communication he
brought to you addressed?'
my Dear Sister Louise
| said the witness.
| Messrs. Butterworth and Shelby made
| strenuous ELECTIONS to the admission
of testimony concerning the contents Of
the letter. Mr.. Shelby contended that the
| letter should be produced"
ave haven't it; it was given to the
defendant to be mailed to the plaintiff
said Mr.. Wilson.
eff mailed the letter to the plaintiff
how can l produce the letter." sale
Col. Breckenridge.
*You and l will have little CONVEX
sation about that after awhile" re-
turned Mr.. Wilson.
Judge Bradley ruled out testimony a
to the contents of the letter.
Judge Wilson then asked the witness
to tell by her memorandum book how
many times she had done type writing
lor the defendant and she said that hel
record showed that she had done work
for Col. Breckenridge fifteen or sixteen
times but that really did not represent
the whole number of times she had
| written letters for him.
On cross examination, Mrs. Lowell said
she had written Miss Pollard's name
and address on the fy-leaf of her little
H.. I1z II Ian aeyi,<n i, L,