St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-22
BALD AND GRAY HEADS
PRED0NfRA7E M JUSTICE sRaDLEY'S
COURT.
MISS POLLARD NOW RETIREs

And the Defense Makes a Denial
in Part and an Admission in
Part - Weakness of Human
Nature an Excuse-Madllin
Early Life Not All That 1t
Should Have Been.
WASHINGTON. March 21.-This was
field day for the colleagues of Repre-
sentative Breckenridge, of Kentucky.
Congress had taken recess. ostensiDly
to sail down the Potomac on all eXcur-
sion and witness the trial of some big
guns at Indian Head; but the trial pro-
crossing in the circuit court held greater
charms for many than the junket on
government gunboat. Gray heads and
bald heads were i'll majority in Judge
BTadley'S court, but the spectators were
disappointed by one of the least sensa-
tiOnal days of the trial. although they
heard the defense of Col. Breckenridge
outlined by his law partner and attor-
ney, Col. John J. Shelby. and the last
words of Madeline Pollard's story.
Then they siumbered through the read
ing of long deposition.
The defense will be partly denial and
partly explanatory: denial that Col.
Breckenridge Seduccd Madeline Pollard;
that she gave birth to child at the
Norwood convent; an explanation that
she trapped him into promise to marry
her on the mutual understanding that
the promise was only device by which
she was to withdraw from his life and
be able to break off her relations with
Mrs. Blackburn. The long-continued
Illicit relations between the two are ad-
United without excuse or palliatiOn, eX
cept reference to the inherent weak
ness of human nature: but the orator,
spokesman, represents that he was often
anxious to break them of, but was al
ways inveigled into continuance by
the young woman; that she followed
him; demanded money from him, and
compelled his promise to marry her I'M
der threats, several times repeated, and
emphasized by display OF pistols.
Moreover, it is promised to be shown
that Miss POllard's early life had not
tongued orator crossed her path. This,
in substance, is the defense. but it has
many branches and side issues.
Col. Breckenridge and his right-hand
man, Attorney Ben Butterworth. were
late in arriving in the circuit court, not
appearing until after the roll call of
jurors and until after Miss Pollard, with
har ia q 10 lint lt-
posed, had waited several minutes in
her seat. The two gray heads of the
defendant and his leading lawyer were
bent together in brief consultation as
Miss Pollard walked around to the wit
ness stand. Her face showed lines of
worry and sleepless night as she
faced the audience for the fourth day.
Then Mr.. Butterworth began by in
Quiring if Miss Pollard had the contract
with James Rbes, to which she re-
piled that the contract had been given
to Rhodes. There never had been
settlement, but in 1885 she had given
him a note for three times the amount
he had advanced for her schooling.
What was the fact about your adopt
Ing the name of Breckinridge?" asked
Mr.. Butterworth.
when | 1irSt used the name, Mr.
Breckenridge and ! talked it over He
said l might use the name and had my
card plate made with it in 1889 or
$780, was the anSwer,in explanation of
the statement in the newspaper article.
Il am very Weary this morning, and
hardly able 10 90 on"
Nevertheless the plaintiff continued
to be mistress Of the situation, for when
she had been asked about the trunks
she had at DIR. Streets, in Cincinnati.
during her first confinement, and Mr.
ButterwoTtb read from his manuscript.
she insisted he should give her un-
divided attention before she would con-
tinue. Great stress had been laid by
the defense upon the description of this
trunk. which seems to DE important 10
their case.
That's all, Miss Pollard > said MIR.
Butterworth. ~ the surprise OF the
court.
The plaintiff in black and Sister Ellis
disappeared through the side door, her
attorneys remarking they had no use for
her.
Then Mr.. Carlisle said: The plant
if rests her case here"
There was rustling in the Breckin-
ridge camp OF conversation and dOcu-
ments, after which Attorney Butter
worth asked for few moments for his
side for consultation, ana the defend
ant. his son DeslIa ana five attorneys
trOoped out through the door by which
Miss Pollard had made ner exit.
The Breckenridge forces were in re-
tirement twenty minutes. Then Col
John I. Shelby, The Lexington, KY,
law partner OF Col. Breckenridge, a
short. pale man, with light mustache.
partly bald head and Spectacles, faced
the jury 10 outline the defense.
Nv hlie the case is technically one
for breach OF promise" he said lit III
ciudes wider scope. l am authorized
10y the defendant to say" he said, Aud
IL will be corrOborated by his solemn
oath, that he did not seduce her: that
II was never made known to him that
she ever had any children by him until
the filing OF this suit last August, nor
did he ever under any circumstances
make any promise of marriage to her.
Further, he never knew till he heard
the testimony of DR.. Parsons in this
case that she had borne him child"
IhereupOn Attorney StOll, who has
been compared TO Bill Nye in facial
contour, started TO read the deposition
of Sister Agnes Regina Brown. After
the deposition was finished the court
adjourned.