The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1894-03-17
Congressman Breckenridge Lavish
With His Promises.
MOST SENSATIONAL SUIT
Mrs. Julia Breckenridge. Widow of Gen
eral Breckenridge. Testifies In Miss
Pollard's Favor.

of the Pollard .Breckinbridge suit was
resumed in the district court yesterday |
morning. Miss Pollard was one of the |
first to appear, accompanied by two
elderly ladies', and though subjected to
the constant scrutiny of the throng
which filed the courtroom, she seemed
perfectly at ease. Colonel Breckin-
bridge came late, but was fresh and
smiling.
The case opened with the statement
of Lawyer Calderon Carlisle to the
jury, reciting the contrast in the posi-
tions of the parties in the suit; rehears-
ing how Breckinbridge took advantage
of Miss Pollard's Youth when she was
schoolgirl of II; that under the promise
of marriage after the death of his then
living wife, made before creditable
witnesses, he became the father of her
three children; how he failed to keep
his promise and married another
woman; how she had endeavored to
leave him then, but had been persuaded
to continue his mistress because of her
love for him. During the address the
plaintiff flushed crimson, trembled
violently and buried her face in her
handkerchief Breckenridge chatted
unconcernedly with his attorneys.
Carlisle said his client did not claim TO
be devoid of fault or blame, but there
was breach of promise, which was the
issue.
He then sketched her life. A brill
liant girl of common parentage, anx-
ious to rise. AS country girl, unedu-
Gated, she met ]. G. Rhodes, man of
means, not of high relation, who be-
came enamored of her and promised to
educate her If she would marry him.
She signed an agreement to that effect.
Afterward, when he was pressing her
for fulhllment of the agreement, she
asked Breckinridge's counsel. He came,
and at once began to take advantage of
her yonth and lack of knowledge of the
world, accomplishing his purpose under
promise of marriage after his wife's
death, and had introduced her as his
promised wife into the first families of
the city.
Attorney Phil Thompson announced
that the defense would reserve its open
ing statement till the conclusion of
plaintiffs testimony. Attorney Wilson
demanded that certain books, one con-
tanning Christmas card given plaintiff
by defendant, taken by counsel for the
defense, be returned. Defense asked
that the book be more accurately de-
scribed The court held the description
sufficient. During the colloquy plain
tiff broke into historical and inarticu-
late sobs and ordinations.
Mrs. Julia c. Blackburn, widow of the
late Governor Blackburn of Kentucky,
was the first witness. She testified
that in the spring of 1898, in Washing
ton, Colonel Breckenridge brought Miss
Pollard TO her and asked her kind care
and protection for the young lady, ad-
ding that as soon as sufficient time had
elapsed after the death of his wife he
intended TO marry her, in spite of the
fact that he was old enough to be her
father, being 81 years her senior. AT
another time he told Mrs. Blackburn,
when she chided him for the devotion
of his former wife, that he had discov-
cred that Miss Pollard was in love with
him, and as a man of honor felt bound
to marry her. AT another time he
asked witness to allay Miss Pollard's
jealousy. Mrs. Blackburn asked him If
he had given her cause and he declared
on his honor he had not This was
when he was paying attention 10 Mrs.
Wing of Louisville, whom he subse-
que=tly married. Mrs. Blackburn re-
lated how ouce Miss Pollard, in her
presence, urged Breckenridge TO fix the
day, but ne put her of, saying he would
FIX it later.
On cross-examination Mrs. Blackburn
said Miss Pollard, on social occasions.
bore herself like lady. Asto her feel
ings toward Miss Pollard, she sid she
felt sorrow for any woman compelled to
fight her own battles, adding, as she
turned her flashing eyes on Brecken-
ridge, "just the sorrow feel at being
compelled TO appear here, when, if
had the defense of my husband, it would
never have been necessary" In 1892
Rreckenridge called unon witness he