Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-10

WAsHINGTON, ID. c., March o.
One Of the first persons to enter the
Circuit Court room this morning was
Miss Madeline Pollard, the plaintiff in
the suit against Congressman w. c. p.
Breckinridge. Miss Pollard is an at
tractive looking young woman whose
appearance would indicate that she was
thirty years OLD, with a slender, girlish
figure which was enveloped In a long
Hack ulster. Her face was nearly col
orless with a small piQuant mouth, up
turned nose, flashing black eyes aud
heavy dark brown hair. She wore a
small dark bonnet. Two ladies accom-
panied her and sat beside her at the
table with her counsel directly In front
OF the Judge.
Miss Pollard seemed quite at her ease.
She talked 90 her lawyers most OF the
time prior TO court COnvening.
Col. Breckenridge was late in putting
in his appearance. Finally he came
TO- with a small satchel Of documents on
his arm, fresh and smiling. accompanied
BY his son Desha BrecHnridRe. The
trial was really commenced when Mr.
Caldron Carlisle faced the jury, leaning
languidlY against a table, and in delib-
crate conversational style outlined the
matters which the plaintiff would en-
deavOr 20 prove. He cOntrasted the pO-
sitious of the two parties, one a man Of
family, Of political prominence, high
I'm the councils OF the Pres
byterian church, famous throughout
the country as an orator, the other a
friendless young woman. Something
was said about the legal aspects, Then
he began 20 read the declaration which
was published in full when the suit
was brought: how Col Breckenridge
had taken advantage of Miss Pollard's
youth, when she was girl OF ~ years,
at the rs cyan Female Seminary, and
then fur alleging that be vas the
father OF ler three children, that he had
in the presence of creditable witnesses
promised 90 marry her, having pre-
viously made the promise 20 become her
husband when his wife should die.
That he had married, instead, Mrs.
Louise Wing, of louisville; that Miss
Pollard had endeavOred 90 leave him
ard make a career for herself, but had
been persuaded 90 continue as mistress
because of her love for him. During
this reading Miss Pollard flushed Grim
son. She trembled violently and buried
her face % a handkerchief. COL Breck-
enriG chatted in a matter OF fact way
with his lawyers.
"That, gentlemen, " Mr.. Carlisle said,
isis the story Of my client She does
r3t come here saying she is devoid of
fault or blame, but there is a promise
of marriage and It's breach is the Issue
of this ease"
Next SIR. Carlisle read the defendants
answer, denying all the material allega-
tions in the complaint S6etching
briefly what would be proven in the
Gaze. Mr.. Carlisle spoke of Miss Pollard
as the daughter Of a saddier, brilliant
and alwavs endeayOring 90 rise above
her station. He said that when she
was Young girl John c. Rhodes,
man of means out not OF high position,
was attracted by her charms offered 20
educate her,f she would marry MIN and
she. simple country girl, had signed an
agreement 90 that effect Aiterward
when Miss Pollard was In trouble be-
cause Rhodes was pressing her Co iulill
her prom se she, country girl be-
lieving he could invoke the law in his
aid. had written Mr.. Breckenridge
asking his advice, letter which was
answered in person.
Then, according 90 Mr. Carlisle, be-
gan deliberately laid scheme 90 work
the ruin Of the girl under promise that
when his wife died he would make her
his wife. He bad introduced her as
his promised wife into the first families
OF the city. Under the law OF the Dis
trict there could be no claim for dam
ages on account OF seduction, but the
remedy. or rather what reparation
could be made for broken promise OF
marriage the law guaranteed.
Attorney Phil Thompson announced
that the defendants opening statement
would be reserved until the conclusion
of the plaintiffs testimony. Then At
tornev Wilson, for the plaintiff COM
plained that Certain books which had
figured in the afidav.ts and we're im-
nortant 10 the case had been taken by
the defendants counsel and asked that
thew be returned 90 the plaintiff. Mr..
Rntterworth read a notice which had
beeu served Oh the defendant for the
r,roduction of four volumes OF Wash
ineton Irving, given 90 Attorney StOll
az Cincinnati, and insisted that a more
definite description Of the books should
be given.
Just as Mr.. Carlisle was rising TO re-
nlv Miss Pollard broke Historically 20
her counsel. s0bbinR and making iuar-
ticulate exclamatious, while the Sister
Of Charity, who accompanied her, aud
her attorneys, endeavOred 60 cain her.
"Tbey know what those books are,
said Mr.. Wilson emphaticaiiy; "and If
thew want closer description I viii say
that they are the FIRST volumes given
them by the Sister Augustine, from one
which they took aChrStmas card which
the defendant had placed in evidence. p
Judge Bradley declared that If only
four volumes had been taken from the
Sisters, the demand for a closer identi-
fratiOu must be unteBaOie.
Mrs. Julia @. Blackburn, widow Of
the late Gov. Luke Blackburn, of Ken
tucky. was the frst witness called. She
testified that on Good Friday (1S93), in
the Portland fats in Washington, Col.
Rrsckinr'dge and Miss Pollard had
called on her and had persisted 90 send
irq for her three times when she had
pleaded WEAKNESS. She was Induced