Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-03-13
The northumberland Case.


DR.. Tabor Johnson.
A female physician, Mary Parsons,
then testified that in 1888 she had at
tended Miss Pollard at the convent on
Massachusetts avenue and End street
southwest, in Washington. The lat
ter place had been secured by the wit
ness for Miss Pollard, and male child
had been born, which was placed In an
asylum. .,,o ob;,a : ~
ward 81 asked Mr.. Wilson.
81 did"
"Who was present ~
"The mother of the child
An exciting scene followed this an
swer. Every ear in the court heard a
muflled sobbing, which came from Miss
Pollard, and looking toward her, the
Young woman was seen with her head
almost bowed to her knees, shaking
convulsiyely. The two friends from
the House of Refuge, who have Eeen
her constant attendants, bent over her,
irving to calm her, but her emotion
could not be subdued. Finally they
were compelled to take her from the
room, half leading and Lalf carrying
her, while deep, sympathetic silence
was over the room.
Sust as she stepped through the door
way Miss Pollard fell forward, fainting,
and would have touched the floor had
not stalwart colored bailifl sprung
forward to grasp her in his strong arms.
Col. Breckenridge averted his face
and whispered with his attorneys.
AS the door of the courtroom closed
upon the fainting woman Mr.. Wilson
resumed his examination, asking what
became of the child.
"The child died." was the answer.
"Who communicated the news of its
death to the mother "a
II did"
"Was any communication made to
you by Miss Pollard as TO who was the
father of the child ?''
Colonel Breckenridge leaned forward,
breaking in eagerly, 81 object to that, y
and his attorneys chorused the objec-
ton.
estate the objection" said the Judge.
Mr.. Wilson said the question had
been carefully guarded. The objection
was admitted, and after more cross fire
DR.. Parsons said:
81 called upon Colonel Breckenridge
at his residence, on NJ street, with a
bill to Miss Pollard for my services.
He forwarded the payment of the bill
to me-
She had seen Colonel Breckenridge
and Miss Pollard together on the
street.
In response to cross examination the
doctor said that she told Col. Breckin-
ridge that she had had the bill for sew
erals weeks unpaid; had heard that he
was Miss Pollard's guardian and asked
him to pay it.
After the brief discrimination OF
this witness the legal controversy over
the dispositions was renewed. Mr..
Butterworth, for Colonel Breckirr ridge,
moved TO suppress deposition taken
for the plaintiff in Lexington March Z,
Notice, he said, had been served on Mr..
Shelby. who was then an attorney in
the case, having only appeared for the
defendant on one or two occasions,
when dispositions were taken under
special authority.
Afdavits by Colonel Breckenridge,
his son, Desha Breckenridge, and his
partner, Attorney Shelby, were read
at considerable length regarding the
defendants arrangements with counsel,
which did not seem altogether relevant
in parts, Judge Bradley once interrupt
ing to inquire, "What has that got to
do with this matter?'
The main point made was that notice
of the dispositions should have been
given to Colonel Breckinridge's lawyers
in Washington, Messrs. Thompson and
Mckinney. Mr.. Butterworth argued
at length.
Mr.. Johnson replied for the plaintiff,
referring rather sarcastically to what he
termed "the peculiar proceedings in
Kentucky" and the peculiar manner
of the connection Of the Kentucky at
torneys to the case, who had appeared
generally in the preliminary proceed
ings for the advantage of the defendant,
but whose connection in matters to his
disadvantage had secret qualifications.
In the taking of the fifty dispositions for
Colonel Breckenridge neither the de-
PENDANT nor Attorneys Totten, Thomp.
son and McKenney had appeared, but
always the Kentucky attorneys, Of
whom it was now said that they had
not been attorneys of record
Mr.. Johnson characterized the object
ion as peice Of cbicanery, insolence
and eflrontery.
When Mr.. johnson had finished his
argument Judge Bradley said court
would adjourn.
Mr.. Shelby, Of Kentucky, Of whom
Mr.. johnson had spoken sharply, jump
ed to his feet, saying, "Will your honor
allow me,"-but Judge Bradley ad-
journed court.
As soon as he had done so Colonel
Breckenridge stepped up before the
bench and addressed him about some
matter, but the Judge waved him aside,
with an expression of annoyance cross
ing his face.
Mr.. Shelby is a short, wiry man,
with bald head, around which there
is fringe of blonde hair. He wears q
blonde mustache and gold-rimmed
spectacles. He was exceedingly pale
and nervous of manner as he attempt
ed to secure hearing from the court,
and when Judge Bradley raped the
desk, declaring 81 have adjourned the
court" Mr.. Shelby remarked in an I'M
dertone, 81 know what l will do then"
II q fOOl- hic fro,,, Loo1~ ,.J