The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-02
Col. Breckenridge TestifiesAs
Today.
His Revelations are as Revolving
as Ever:
Gen. ButterwOrth Finishes His
Cross Examination.
The Court Then Takes a. Short
Recess.

WAsH1xeToS. April 2.-The carriage
ride of August, 1892. when Miss Pollard
had said Col Breckinridge had made the
first formal proposal of marriage to her.
was the first subject to which Col. Breck-
inridye addressed himself when he took
the stand in the court room today
He denied with his customary reitera-
tion that any such ride had taken place,
or that he had made any proposal, or that
he had talked over family matters.
Then continuing he said: II never
asked the plaintiff TO give up any child;
/ never knew plaintiff had any living
child; l never at any time spoke OF mar
riage 10 the plaintiff before the death of
my late wife"
Denying the conversation which Miss
Pollard said took place at the Hoffman
house to the effect company had been
formed by Whitney and FairchiId, which
he was to represent, he said he had not
seen the plaintiff on the Both of April;
that he had not been absent for moment
from the side of his wife that day, as he
had not been married forty y-eight hours.
He never had any business arrangement
with the gentlemen mentioned, never
contemplated visit to Europe; never
spoke of intending marriage. Then
Mr.. Butterworth called his attention
again to the interview in the office of
M ajor Moore.
"My recollection is that 1t was much
shorter visit than Major Moore has said"
he continued. at was rapid and excited:
the young woman did most of the talk
ing.
This statement Mr.. Breckinridge de-
cides to make to correct an impression
Major, Moore had given that the conver-
sation had lasted a much longer time.
He went over the conversation hereto
fore given in this interview, and which
included the statement to the plaintiff
that 81 Will marry YOU the last of the
month if God don't interpose" There
was no attempt he said, to keep the mat
ter of the interview secret from the news
papers.
MIR. Butterworth asked the witness
what interviews he had with Miss Pol
lard prior to the interview of the 18th
with N Majors Moore. The witness then
relai ed in detail the interviews that oc-
CURED and the Substance Of the CONVEX
sations as he remem bered them.
These included the interview with Mrs.
Thomas the afternoon of the 10th of
May when he left Miss Pollard in a real
or simulated fainting condition. On the
next day, Sunday, while at the Riggs
House, il answer to a card sent 10 his
room, he saw her in the ladies parlor and
had an amiable and friendly conversa-
tion with the plaintiff.
AT this time the latter expressed regret
at what had occurred along the street and
in Major Moore's office. Plaintiff gave
him a schedule of what she would want
in the way of underwear and other
clothes prior to the trip to New York.
They parted with evidence of good
feeling and sincerity on the part of the
plaintiff to carry out the agreement be-
tween them whereby she was to go to
New York. That evening a boy came to
the hotel and said Miss Pollard wanted
10 see him with message requesting
that he take her to Mrs. Black burn .
where she wanted TO stay all night
He took her to Mrs. Black burns house.
Monday she came back again to the
hotel and presented him with another
schedule for clothing. She wanted a lit
tie more money to make preparations to
go away. The next day she sent him
note and they took lunch at the Shore
ham,
They talked again of the trip TO New
\ Tork, and she told him the name of the
physician in whose care she had put her
self, and the witness told her that this
. doctor was comrade of his in the war
The next day after this the plaintiff
came to see him again, and on the night
of Monday they saw bIrs. Black burn
who, after hearing the explanation, said
she would wash her hands of the whole
matter.
Mrs Blackburn approved the agree
ment for the plaintiff to go
TO New York. The following day
the plaintiff again came to the hotel and
conversation ensued between them as
70 further conference which it was
proposed should be held with Major
Moore prior to her going away.
As he described how he had waived
her of, Col Breckenridge gesti culated
very impressively with both hands. and
explained the whole interview in panto-
mine. There was a tragic infection to
MS tone as he closed the account of the
visit to Mrs Thomas with ssthen l left
ner. There was a constant reiteration
In the defendants denials.
he would frame them in every posi-
bic form of negation of time, place and
manner.
There was no further exclamation to
give could give further explana-
tion, and Mrs. Blackburn said she would
wash her hands of US: would wash her
hands of people who engaged and
acted in that way and could give no ex-
PLANTATION of it, was one of the charac-
teristic sentences
Continuing the description of the Sec
ond visit TO the major he said: 1--WE
agreed to say that she was going to New
York to have a child; that |
was the author of her pregnancy.
We agreed on all but one point She in
sisted, crying several times. that I
should tell Major Moore l was the only
man who had ever been intimate with
her 1 declined TO do that / said had
Put myself in the power of her and