Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-03-19
T0-GAY'S TELEGRAPHlC NEWS
The Pollard-Brcckinridge Trial.

WASHINGTON, Mar. l9.-AS soon as
the court had been formally called to
order Miss Pollard took the stand.
There was some surprise when MIR.
Carlisle, her own attorney, began to
examine her, instead of Maj. Butter
worth.
"Miss Pollard, have you ever been
married ?" asked Mr.. Carlisle.
"No, Mr.. Carlisle"
In response to questions as to who
was the father of her child born in Gin
cinnati, and who was the cause of her
pregnancy in May, 1898, she replied,
"Mr. Breckenridge" Continuing she
said: 81 met Mr.. Breckenridge at the
public library to talk about the trouble
with Mr.. Rhodes. He said he would
take me to the house of a dear friend
of his, and he took me to the house of
Mrs. Rose, an designation house, and all
that day he tried to make me yield to
him, but did not. After leaving Mrs.
Roses house we walked about the
streets of Cincinnati; he fiattered me,
and told me of the wonderful future |
had he told me how much he thought
of me. He said the schools OF Licking
ton were much cheaper than those of
Cincinnati, and that if went there he
would arrange satisfactorily the trouble
with Mr.. Rhodes. / could not resist
him; l was completely in his power.
He said he wanted me to 60 to Lex
ington with him that evening and sug-
gested that he send telegram to the
principal of the college signed by my
mother and calling ME home. He sent
that telegram, and 1 left for Lexington
on the afternoon train and met him.
He took me.to the house of Sarah Cess" "
In reply to question she said she con-
tinued improper relations with Mr..
Breckenridge up to the 18th day of
May, 1898. This date was nearly a
month after Mr.. Breckinridge's secret
marriage to Mrs. Wing.
Mr.. Butterworth then took Miss Pol.
lard for cross-examination, inquiring
minutely into her early life. She said
in answer to these questions that she
was an Episcopalian. "Once an Epis-
copalian, always an Episcopalian," she
said. She had an ambition to be a
teacher; that she appreciated the value
of character and reputation, for, she
said, 81 do know what it means to have
reputation and then have it swept
away at one blow"
Mr.. Butterworth wanted Miss Pol
lard to 90 into details concerning her
life in Pittsburg where she visited her
aunt. She satd she never read any
thing while there that a pure-minded,
virtuous girl should not read; that she
never went out into company that was
not good for young girl, and that she
was too young to go out into society
while in Pittsburg.
Mr.. Butterworth read part of letter
sent by Miss Pollard when young girl
to her schoolmate, Bessie Brown, now
Mrs. Wesleyana Robinson, of Cincinnati
in which Miss Pollard gave an account
of how she met Mr.. Rhodes, who paid
for her education on condition that she
should marry him. Miss Pollard was
not satisfied with Mr.. Butterworth's
emphasis on parts Of this letter, and
she asked him TO have Mr.. Carlisle read
it.
Mr.. Butterworth read the Wessie
Brown letter in segments, asking the
witness for explanation on certain
points, and Miss Pollard explained
them quietly but with just suspicion
of a tremor in her voice. There were
tears in her eyes, too.
When Mr.. Butterworth read that pas
sage saying, Il do not love Russell al
all" he asked "How about that?"
''That is true said Miss Pollard.
Were you engaged to him?"
"Not at that time"
MIR. Butterworth read that part where
Miss Pollard spoke of "her blind sweet
heart-mv modern Barnabas," and that
she had finally settled down in "a flame
of pure love for Prof. Obinjer."
''Who was engaged at the time to my
friend Wessie Brown to whom wrote
the letter." interjected Miss Pollard.
s'Have you corrected all the errors in
this letter 2" asked Mr.. Butterworth
when he concluded the reading.
Miss Pollard shook her bowed head
and sighed. Her answer was not I'M
derstood.
Miss Pollard in the letter read made
frequent reference to the phrenologist,
"such handsome man" and how his
praise caused her aunt to dislike her.
twas that true?" he asked.
II don't-don't know" said the plain
tiff with an effort. Miss Pollard was
crying now and she had difficulty in an
swering.
Mr.. Butterworth persisted until
'tOh, Mr.. Butterworth, this is very hard
it brings up such flood of recollec-
tions," cried Miss Pollard.
Continuing on his lice of cross-exam-
ination, Mr.. Butterworth asked about
what Miss Pollard had read-referring
to her answers on this subject Saturday
and he wanted to know particularly
about whether she had read any impure
books.
Here Judge Wilson, of Miss Pollard's
counsel, interfered.
Major Butterworth said that as the
plaintiff has in every possible way put
ward the claim of the purity of her