Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-22
THE DEFENCE
Opened in the Pollard -Breck-
inridge Sensation.
Defendant Denies That He Ever Made
a Promise Of Marriage.


Yesterday afternoon when she entered the
court room this morning. Col. Breckin-
ridge was not as smiling and debonair -
| he has been, and his features had q trace
of gravity strange to them.
At word from Carlisle Miss Pollard
took the stand. She was cool, but not 90
strong 40 yesterday morning, when she be-
| gan the ordeal that ended with such q series
of sensational scenes Maj. Butterworth's
| first question was whether Miss Pollard had
the contract with Rodes by which he agreed
| to pay for her education on condition she
should marry him or pay him back.
"No, haven't, gave it to Mr.. Rodes." "
1.-The contract was settled, then?" asked
Butterworth.
.sOh, no, sir, it was never settled. Mr..
| Rodes did not pay nearly 90 much money
| for me as he said he would pay, but what
he did pay, about $1,000, was never able
to pay back
"Did you pay bio, any of it?"
"No, cir, I never did have any money to
pay anybody anything" said Miss Pollard
in a voice of plaintive detection.
The meekuess of the witness vanished
with the nsxt question and she showed
some of her old time vivacity in the an
swer.
"Mrs. Logan, formerly DR.. Mary Street,
of Cincinnati, did not recognize you when
her deposition was taken, did she, Miss
Pollard?" was the question.
"Not when l was introduced to her" said
Miss Pollard, s.but she would have done so
if she had had an opportunity in redirect
examination and she certsinly was ready to
say that the picture of Col. Breckinridge
was the picture of the man who called to
see me in 1885 at her house and
.sHold on Miss Pollard" cried Butter
" worth and Judge Wilson at once. "YOu
must not tell anything but what ask you, :"
Butterwor.h added.
II truly beg your pardon, Mr.. Butter
worth, but my mind is 30 full of things l
want to tell you, I can't help breaking in"
81 want to be perfectly fair with you.
Miss Pollard"
II appreciate that, Mr.. Butterworth, and
truly thank you."
Butterworth asked a few unimportant
gan's house, and then wanted to know what
were the facts about her adoption of the
name of Breckinridge.
"Mr. Breckenridge told me to adopt the
name. We talked it over together while I
1888 and had the cards engraved as he
suggested, Madeline Breckinridge Pollard, y
said the witness.
"But you used the initials m. V. B. T. ,
in writing to Rodes?"
81 told you about that" meaning that the
girls at the college gave her that name
after her meeting with Col. Breckenridge.
"a few more Insignificant questions were
~
lard in 1887, aud then Butterworth created
q surprise by saying abruptly, "Thats all,
Miss Pollard"
Miss Pollard looked astonished and
started to leave the stand, but was called
back by Carlisle. He did not ask her any
questions, however, but caused another sur
prise by saying: eff you please, your
honor, the plaintiff rests her case here"
Tho sentence was hardly ended before
Miss Pollard and Miss Ellis had disappeared
through the jurors door. Major Butter
| worth asked for q few minutes to confer
and he, Breckenridge, Shelby, Stoll and
Thompson fled out of the court room.
The conference lasted over 20 minutes
and when the defendant and his attorneys
re turned, Msjor Shelby. Breckinridge's law
partner, began the opening statement Of the
defence to the jury, which had been reser-
we'd when the trial opened.
"While this case technically rests" said
Major Shelby, "on the charge or breach of
promise of marriage, other considerations
enter into it and affect it strongly" Then
he told of the complaint and the defendants
answer and said II am authorized by
the defendant to say and it will be sup
ported by his testimony on the witness
stand under solemn oath, that he did not
seduce her and that he never knew, until it
was testified to by DIR. Parsons on the
stand, that any living child had been born
to her; and furthermore, that the plaintiff
never did have any idea that the defendant
would marry her; that he never intended to
make or carry out such contract with her.
The defendant does not desire to condone
any offense of which he may be guilty but
he does wish to be judged by the facts and
not through other things"
Shelby then told what he said was the
truth of the meeting between Miss Pollard
and Breckinridge. The defendant saw Miss
Pollard on a train when he was looking for
his overcoat preparatory to leaving. "Good
morning, Colonel Breckinridge," said she
Colonel Breckinridge supposed it was some
person he had met but he could not place
her 90 he said, II suppose ought to know
Won, but l don't" Then she introduced
herself, saying that her father was great
admirer of John C. Breckinridga and be
had put Breckinridge in her name. After
few more words they separated.
Several months later, in 1884, the defend
ant received letter from the plaintiff, ask
ing him to come to Cincinnati and assist her
by his advice, and we propose to chow by
this letter second letter, in which she
urged him to come TO the Wesleyan college
to zee her.
"Hold on said Judge Wilson, "don't
read that letter."
Il won't read il" said Shelby. Then he
went on to sketch the other poiuts in the
defence.
In this second letter, Miss Pollsrd hid
told him the nature of her business with
him, in reply to one from him saying he
could not come at that time. Dat 9bout 10
days later he had business IN C6tington
with Gov. Stevenson, and while there he