The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-03-27
MADELElNE'S NOTE.
Not a Forgery, Despite Her
Assertion to the
Contrary.
AN EXPERTS TESTIMONY
The Christmas Card Incident
Major Moore's Shorthand
References.

WASHINGTON, March 81, 1894.-Hardly
fifty people were present in the Circuit Court
room this morning when the Pollard
Breckenridge case was called and the big,
bare court room looked cherries in compari-
son with its aspect on former days in the
trial The court was somewhat late in as
sembling, and then there was another long
wait while Colonel Breckinridge sent for
Major Butterworth But Major Butter
worth had not appeared at 1915 SO Judge
Bradley said he could not wait longer.
'sThen tell Major Moore to come around"
said Major Shelby, and as the Chief of Police
took the stand, Major Butterworth entered
the court room.
Mr.. Shelby conducted the examination of
Major Moore, who had already testified in
tions from Mr. Shelby, Major Moore denied
statements made by Miss Pollard on the
stand with reference to what had been said
at interviews had between Colonel Breckin-
ridge and Miss Pollard and the witness. he
denied that Colonel Breckenridge had said, as
testified by Miss Pollard. this is one of life's
tragedies adding that 'sthis young woman
had borne him two children and that there
was a third in prospect" to which, according
to Miss Pollard's testimony, she replied,
Eyes, Major Moore, gave myself to him."
Some other minor things testified to by
Miss Pollard in reference to the conversation
in Major Moores Office, were also denied by
Major Moore. This concluded his direct ex-
animation, and he was turned over for cross
examination to Judge Wilson.
MOORE CROSS-EXAMINED.
Major Moore said, in answer to Judge
Wilson, that his recollection of the conversa-
tions in his Office between the plaintiff. the
Jofan md ON
and on May II, was based
almost entirely on shorthand notes,
which he had made Immediately after the
interviews He would hardly have remem-
bered much about the two interviews if it
were not for the shorthand notes. Judge
Wilson wanted particularly to know whether
there was anything said by Miss Pollard in
the direction of or suggesting that this was
a sham and q deception that was being
practiced on Major Moore.
Major Butterworth objected to this ques-
tion and tilt ensued over allowing it to
stand. Judge Bradley decided in favor OF
Judge Wilson, and Major Moore answered,
ssThere was not"
Major Moore said he made the notes almost
immediately after the interviews ended, and
his memory was largely dependent on them.
He also admitted that many things said at
the interview might have passed entirely out
of his mind.
--u4Ehat was his Colonel BreckinridgesJ
manner when he made these declarations to
you about marrying Miss PollardF' was
Judge Wilson's next question.
ssOuiet,n said Major Moore after an OBJ
lection to the question had been overruled
81 want to know whether on that occasion
her manner did not indicate satisfaction and
ratification over the promise of marriagew
"Oh we object to that too, said Col. Phil
THOMPSON but the question was allowed,
and Major Moore said s'her manner in
dicated satisfaction and qualification"
On redirect examination by Mr.. Shelby
Major Moore was questioned with reference
to statements that had been made by him
when previously on the stand, and to these
Judge Wilson objected on the ground that
they had all been gone over before, and he
was sustained in several instances. Excep-
tions were noted by defense. This concluded
Major Moore's testimony.
EXPERT IN HANDWRITING.
Mr. E. B. Hay, prominent lawyer of
Washington, who was called major" by
Major Butterworth through courtesy to the
Kentucky element in the trial. was next
summoned, but he did not appear, and Dr.
G. B. Schaeffer, deputy coroner of the Dis
trict of Columbia, was put on the stand in
his place as an expert in handwriting to ex-
anime the letter which Colonel Breckenridge
says he received from Miss Pollard in 1884 and
which caused him to call on her at the Wes-
leyan College in Cincinnati the week their
intimate relations began. Miss Pollard read
this letter on the stand and pronounced it a
forgery; "and no one knows better than that
man there" she said, indicating Colonel
Breckinridge that it was not written by
me.n This letter has never been made
public.
DR.. Schaefer was asked many questions
as to his practice in detecting forgeries and
in running down anonymous letter writers.
He had been called as an expert in hand
I, .,-;1 trio olc do
voted from two to six hours day to the
study
Judge Wilson examined him carefully as
to his expertness and wanted to know par
ticularly as to the services OF the witness in
the Army Medical Museum. DR.. Schaeffer
continually reverted to his study OF hand
writing, when Judge Wilson asked HIM
about examining "hghts and livers and
lungs and there were many amusing
answers exchanged.
After examining DR.. Schaeffer for nearly
an hour, as to his knowledge of handwrit-
ing, Judge Wilson said he was satisfied that
Dr.. Schaeffer did not have the necessary
qualifications of an expert, but Judge Brad
ley thought otherwise and allowed the wit
ness to remain on the stand.
NOT FORGERY.
Major Butterworth handed DIR. Schaeffer
the letter purporting to be to Colonel Breck-
inridge from Miss Pollard which she claims
Is a forgery. HIobutf lcotoI olSucu w :. -. L
B., and bundle of Miss Pollards letters to
old man Rodes. DR.. Schaeffer said he had
examined all Of these yesterday.
"Now Doctor" said Major Butterworth,
"having compared these carefully as you
state, can you say whether this letter here
lone of Miss Pollard's acknowledged epistle)
was written by the same person as this?'
the letter claimed to be forged)
ssYes, sir; they were written in the same
handwriting
s.Now, Doctor, hand you Christmas
card, which was taken from work of Wash
ington Irvings. Can you state whether the
writing on it, Compliments of W. s. D.. has
been written more than five years"
This is the card which the defence claims
Miss Pollard slipped into volume of Irving
at st. Josephs Founding Asylum while she
was there getting up evidence last Decem-
asylum in 1885 and gave birth to a baby
there.
Judge Wilson objected to Major Butter
worth's question, and 1t was modified. DR.
Schaeffer being asked how long ago the
writing had been done, the witness answered
that it looked to have been written not more
than three or four years ago. That was the
utmost limit, and it might have been
written within three or four months DR..
| SchaeRer entered into o. technical explana-7
tion as to how ink is affected by exposure to
the air to prove his assertions and he was
then turned over for crossexamination to
Judge Wilson.
EXPERTS FEES.
What are your charges per day in giving
| testimony as an expert ~ was Judge Wilson'S
| first question. DR., Schaeffer was wary and
answered the question by asking another as
49,