Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-03-23
BreckInridge-Pollard.


At this time the public mind is some
what diverted from the affairs Of the ma
lion and is attracted in the direction Of
Washington city, where there is going
on the trial of case more notorious and
scandaious than ever the Beecher--Tilden
scandal of days not far remote Col.
Pc. Breckenridge, member Of Con
gress from Kentucky, is charged with
having broken faith in his promise to
marry a Miss Pollard Of his State, and
she is prosecuting suit against him for
damages in the sun of $4,000. Thus
far the plaintiffs side of the case has
alone been heard, but enough is known
10 justify the statement that she has made
out her case, and proven Col. Breekia-
ridge the vilsst of wretches, who for
bad purpose has ever practiccd upon
the credullity Of trusting -conhding
woman. Holding a high place in Off
sial life. ranking among the first in the
social world, bearing a name honored and
respected wherever heart beats in sym
patty for the defenders of 1.-THE lost
,ause." Col Breckenridge, with the
low and vile instincts of a merciless
brute, Uilfully and deliberately set to
work to destroy the peace of soul,
and wreck the happiness of "a bright
young school girl. and he accomplished
his fell design The sick bed of dying
wife even proved no barrier to check his
wicked purpose. The vow he made at
the altar of God to love and cherish the
woman who was bound to him as bis
welded wife, as BY him regarded as
never made, that he might debauch the
virginitY of trusting little girl. While
his wife was yet living, be promised
upon her death 10 marry Miss Pollard;
after her death he renewed his promise
and upon his repeated promises famil-
lar intercourse continued between them,
ranging over a course of more than nine
years. and when firing of his
paramour he forsook Der and married
another woman.
During their intimacy three children
were born to them. all Of whom, perish
ed through his unsparing cruelty for
want of a mothers care. And now this
poor ruined woman is turned out upon
the cold and unforgiving world to spend
the remaining days of her life in misery
and regret, finding comfort alone in tears
of sorrow over her ruined life.
But this is not the only
wrong done. Society suffers even
greater than this poor creature. =
The evil resulting therefrom
cannot be measured. Human
nature is prone to evil anyhow
it is said, and the curious pub
lie has natural propensity to gather il
sensational reading. especially wher
deeply tinged with scandalous coloring
TIE young and Uniformed mind, the ig
norant and even the older and bette
informed. of lrreligious tendencie
will drink in the evil doings of so great
man, condone his wrongful asts becaus
Of the political and social rank of tn
wrong doer, and perhaps in an hour 0
weakness be led astray in a similar man
ner, and seek to justify their misfortun
by citations of the previous conduct o
another in better standing before tn,
world
1t were better had Col. Breckin
ridge "tied mill stone around his necl
and drowned himself in the middle of th
ocean, /" than to have been guilty of sucl
perfdy His fellow-me because of hi
near relationship to another who bore
similar name honored him with theircohfi
dence and support, & because of his supe
rior talents. made him their foremost ex
ponent of pure aud upright thought an,
their defendrr oi virtue and morality =
But like Miss Pollard they hav
been deceived. A jury of hi
fellow-countrymen will no doub
in few days endeavor to measure il
dollars and cents the dana e done so ia
as money can go % requite tn,
Injured woman, but thu
scandal and bad example OF hi
misdeeds cannot soon be wiped away.