The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-10
POLLARD VS.. BRECKENRIDGE.
Testimony Begun in the Suit Against
the Congressman.

ridge Said He Should Marry Miss Pol.
lard-An Impressive Scene in the Office
of a Police Officer-The Testimony of
the Widow of Governor Blackburn.
Washington, March 9.-Miss Madeline
Pollard, plaintiff in the suit against W.
C. P. Breckenridge, avoided the crowd of
sensation seekers about the court room
this morning by appearing long before
the court convened. Miss Pollard was
accompanied by her counsel, Judge Jere
Wilson and Calderon Carlisle, and she
entered the court room through rear
door reserved for witnesses and members
of the bar.
Mr. Carlisle opened the case for the
plaintiff, taking up the charges and the
answers in order.
| just as he began his remarks Miss
Pollard covered her eyes with her hand
kerchief and began to tremble, and it
| looked for minute as if there would be
a fainting scene. She however, succeed
ed in calming her agitation.
Mr.. Carlisle read the complaint. There
are three creditable witnesses" said Mr.
| Carlisle, ''who will testify that the prom
Use Ito marry was reiterated by the de-
PENDANT in the presence of the plaintiff
and at other times when she was not
present"
Mr. Carlisle then went on at some length
to tell of the relations of the plaintiff
and defendant
Mrs. Blackburn, widow of Ex-Governor
Blackburn of Kentucky, then took the
stand as the first witness, and stated that
Mr.. Breckenridge, in her presence, said
he would marry Miss Pollard. She had
!. ,,, lo,n rst-
ments in this city, on Good Friday, 1892.
When she entered the room, Colonel
Breckenridge said, ''Mrs. Blackburn,
want to place this young lady under your
protection. | expect her to become near
er to me, and she needs your motherly
care. / expect to marry her when suf-
ficient time has elapsed after the death
of my wife,"
| Colonel Breckenridge had also talked
with witness about the engagement at
other times. At one time he spoke of
the disparity between the ages of Miss
Pollard and himself. and witness agreed
that such marriages were foolish. Col
onel Breckenridge at another time said
to her: ''Mrs. Blackburn, you appeared
to be very much shocked when | told
you of my engagement.
~ was,'' replied; II think it very
poor return for SO much devotion from
your wife to become so soon engaged al
ter her DEATH
Then Colonel Breckenridge said "The
reason have become engaged so soon is
that I thought / had discovered Miss
Pollard's feelings to me, and as an hon.
orable man thought should ask her to
marry me-"
Mrs. Blackburn also told of how Col
onel Breckenridge had asked her to take
Miss Pollard to Europe with her, but she
was obliged to decline when rumors of
his engagement to Mrs. Wing, his pres
emit wife, were being circulated. Colonel
Breckenridge had denied to the witness
that there was any such relationship be-
tween Mrs. Wing and himself and beg
ged Mrs. Blackburn to contradict these
stories, which would, he said, injure him
with his family.
Mrs. Blackburn identified two tele-
grams received from Colonel Bre ckin-
ridge while she and Miss Pollard were in
New York. The first read:
"Washington, D. c.. April q Made
lines address East 31st street; wire her
there" The second was dated New
York, and said Miss Pollard would meet
Mrs. Blackburn at the station. Both
were signed by Colonel Breckenridge.
Miss Mary Deshea, sister of the first
Mrs. Breckenridge, was called for the
plaintiff, and testified that she met Miss
Pollard first in Lexington, in the sum-
mer of 1889, and also with Secretary and
Mrs. Carlisle during the Worlds Fair.
Mr. Carlisle produced a peculiar little
decorated basket, and Miss Deshea rec
ognized it as one that she had bought at
Nantucket and given her sister. She
recognized her sisters handwriting on
the label pasted on the basket.
Colonel w. G. Moore, superintendent
of police of Washington, said he knew
Colonel Breckenridge very pleasantly.
On May 10, 1893, Miss Pollard came to
his office, followed by Colonel Breckin-
ridge. Miss Pollard was greatly excited.
Colonel Breckenridge said that this lady
had threatened him with death, and he
wanted protection. Miss Pollard said
that Colonel Breckenridge had promised
to marry her, and she wanted the mar.
Breckenridge said he intended to make
her his wife on May 81. Miss Pollard
placed her hands affectionately on his
! shoulders, the tears coursing down her
I cheeks. Colonel Breckenridge showed
: no signs of trepidation or fear. The
, witness said he warned Miss Pollard
against making threats. When Colonel
Breckenridge told of his intention to
9 marry Miss Pollard he did so in an ear
! nest manner Colonel Moore produced
r the short hand notes he made Immediate
ly after the interview. On May II, 1898,
Colonel Breckinringe and Miss Pollard
came again to his office. Colonel Brock
inr1dge said that Miss Pollard would
leave for New York in the morning and
would soon become mother. Colonel
Breckenridge said when their child was
= born they would be married. He wished
, Colonel Moore to witness the under
standing.
: '"They clasped hands, said the wit
a ness, ''as if to bind the agreement II
was very impressive scene"
In reading the short hand notes of this
interview, Colonel Moore said that Miss
Pollard spoke of her jealousy, and drew
a revolver from her bosom, declaring hel
intention of using it on Colonel Breckin
e ridge and herself The pistol was hand
ed to the witness. Colonel Breckenridge
suggested that the pistol be returned tx
Miss Pollerd as a Christmas present. anC