The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-18
COL. BRECKlNRIDGt'S DEFENSE
Outlined to a Reporter by a
Friend Of the Congressman.
He Expects to be Reelected to Congress
This Fali-rhe Defendant VIII Not
Speak In Hts Own Behalf-The Good
Character of the Plaintin VIII be I'm
Observation-Disclosures Against Her-The
Main Bulwark In the Defen e.
Copyright, 1891, by the United pressy

Copyright, 1894, by the United Press)
WASHINGTON, March II = Colonel
Breckenridge has declined to be inter
viewed for publication respecting the
future course of his Trial. But VIM. E.
Christian, OF New York, having asked
an intimate and we'll informed friend
of the defendant what the probable eff
feet OF the trial would be on Colonel
Breckinridge's political future, was
answered as follows:
HE is quito confident Of re cleo ton.
He has about $4,000 voters in his dis
trict OF which he received about &c, 600
the last election, majority OF some
5000. His election three times has
taken place during presidential years
and twice in off years.
"How long do you suppose .his trial
| will "a -
The witnesses 'oc She plaintiff
should be through by Monday night,
the colonel's evidence will be all in by
the following Wednesday night Then
there will be two shifts on each side
and 1t is not improbable that the case
will go TO the jury at the end OF next
week. 1t Is likely the speeches on
the colonel's side will be made by his
| comrade, Colonel Thompson, and his
warm personal friend, Major Butter.
worth.
"Will the colonel speak?"
"He says he expects to make the
effort of his life. which will consist in
| not speaking, for, says he, Il often fl nd
that my best speech is that which is
not spoken"
''Do you object to stating to me in
outline the plan OF deiense?"
Would Not Marry Such u Woman.
II suppose not. In the first place, NO
man under any circumstances can be
expected or required to marry woman
| who is not chaste. or course the de-
tense will submit evidence to impeaoh
| the good character OF the plaintiff
| There will be a deposition from Aleck
Julian, blind man in Kentucky, who
swore that he mot the plaintiff in $50,
two years before her meeting with the
defendant, and who went through q
mock marriage with her, plaintiff, &C
cording to his deposition, being then
under the influence of intoxicants.
Evidence will be introduced pre-
sumptive Of proper relations between
the plaintiff and James G. Rhodes, the
man who advanced her school money
under promise of marriage.
There will be a deposition from R.
X. Rossell also stating that in 1884 he
met this young woman who, he alIeges,
was deeply in love with him, and who
implored him as he was leaving her to
take her to Chicago with him
"As has been stated the colonel's
meeting with this young woman took
place in 1884, when she claimed to be q
shy girl Of IS with the experiences I
have mentioned behind her. It will be
proved by DR.. U. V. Williams, the phys
lcian attendant upon the birth OF her
sister, that at the time of the birch OF
tho youngest sister in 1865, tho plaintiff
was years old, which would put her
age at 81 instead of 1S when he met her.
as she alleges.
The Main Bulwark of the Defense.
"These facts, together with Others
which will be introduce will establish
the unchastity of the plaintiff but will
be used rather to bolster up the defense
than as the main buiwark. This main
bul%ark will consist in the fact that
the defendant has never at any time in
tended or made a contract to marry Miss
Pollard. and that she knew at all times
that he would never marry her."
How then, do you construe the con-
versation between the Colonel and Mrs.
BLACKBURN as testified to by her on tho
stand? Did he not ask Mrs. Blackburn
to project her on the ground that he was
to give her his name?
He did not. Why should Colonel
breckenridge ask Mrs. Blackburn to
protect young woman with whom she
had been already on terms of intimacy
Tor two years and who had participated
in her receptions? The fact that she
came under Mrs. Blackburn's lection
was one that antedates the conversation
you refer to.
In order to avoid public scandal If
possible and to save the girl, the
colonel took heroic measures and what
he said to Mrs. Blackburn was with
the agreement and for the purpose
that she might pass from the scene
without any prejudice to herself and
Mrs. Blackburn. She did go to New
York afterwards, but she was quickly
back again, and did everything to render
any efforts for her Ineffective"
Nov, may l take the liberty OF ask
ing you did the colonel make any prom.
Use OF marriage to Miss Pollard during
the life time of his late wife?
Never, in any form whatever. Any
statement to the contrary is absolutely
false in every particular"
MORE FIGHTING GOING ON.