The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-03-17
MISS POLLARb'S STORY
Testimony of the Plaintiff in the
Great Scandal Case.
MR. BREOKINRIDGE's MARRIAGE.

WASHINGTON, March 17.-Two distinct
sensations were furnished yesterday in
the Pollard Breckenridge breach of
promise trial The foremost was the
appearance Of the slender plaintiff on the
stand as a witness in her own behalf, but
the one of greatest interest in legal circles
was the oorroboration Of the rumor which
has been for several days afloat that
Colonel Breckenridge was secretly married
to Mrs. Louise Wing in New York last
April, three months before the public
ceremony in Cincinnati When Colonel
Breckinridge was shownithe despatch from
New York he refused to admit its truth
or to contradict it. His counsel and law
partner, Colonel Shelby, however, con-
irmed the report, as did Attorney Stoll.
The latter said, when inquiry was made
whether the defense would be based on this
earlier marriage: ut would not be proper
to forecast our case at this stage, but / will
say that Colonel Breckinridge is to take
the stand very soon, and it will all be made
known. Until then neither Colonel Breck-
inridge nor his counsel would be wise to
discuss the case. As for the marriage GER
tifieate filed by DR.. Paxton, of course that
speaks for itself"
Judge Jere Wilson, of Miss Pollard's
counsel, seemed much pleased by the re-
port from New York. "That helps our
case decidedly" he said. 81 hope they
will bring that matter into the trial. 1t
furnishes no defense whatever against the
breach Of promise. All the authorities
agree upon that"
1t is probable, on a review of testimony,
that this secret marriage will constitute
a new legal factor in the case, for while it
occurred on the Goth of April, the presen-
tations which Colonel Breckenridge made
to Mrs. Blackburn that Miss Pollard was
his fiance were made prior to the secret
marriage, the promises made in the pres
ence of Major Moore, the chief of police,
being those which were subsequent to the
secret ceremony.
As for the testimony of Miss Madeline
| Pollard, which was stretched through the
entire day, and will be continued on Mon
day, it speaks for itself as given in detail,
better than any attempt Mt review could
describe it, The young woman was de
c'dedly nervous at first, but notwithstand-
| ing the strain under which she labored
was remarkably self possessed and careful
| in her choice of words. She looked di-
rectly toward Colonel Breckiuridge, sell
dom lifting her eyes from his face as he
sat in front of the witness stand about
fifteen feet away. While she sat in the
witness stand her companion, Mrs. Ellis,
from the house of refuge, occupied "a chair
but an arms length away, keeping a
watchul eye upon her charge.
The white haired congressman shifted
uneasily in his chair at certain stages of
the testimony and sunk his head on his
breast, shading his eyes with one hand,
while the other fumbled aimlessly among
the paraphernalia on the table in front of
him.
"My father was a saddler," said she,
coolly, among her first replies. He died
in 1876"
Did anything impress his death upon
your miudy" inquired Mr. Carlisle.
My father was an odd Fellow and u
Mason. Members of the grand lodges of
the state attended his funeral. He left no
estate, she continued. "Iwo of my sis
ters were taken to live in the odd Fellows
home. My nanny said was born on
the 3Oth OF November, 1866"
"When did Mr.. Breckinridge meet you
in lS92Y asked Mr.. Carlisle. "In one of
the last days of August, 1892, he met me at
the Baltimore and Ohio depot in Washing
ton. He put both arms around me, kissed
me, drew his arm through mine and led me
to a carriage He told me that all his
children had grown up, that he had deter
mined TO marry me, and l said l would
marry him"
Miss Pollard said that once on lectur
ing tour to New England she had ac
, companied Mr.. Breckinridge During heI
stay at Mrs. Thomas, at 1918 street
Washington in 1892 and 1898, she had seer
Colonel Breckenridge always once day
sometimes twice a day and often in the
evening.
The visit to Mrs Blackburn was alsC
r. rehearsed by Miss Pollard, who declared
that Colonel Breckenridge had introduced
her to Mrs Blackburn with these words
81 want to place this young lady unde
e your protection, for | intend to make he
my wife. She is "A great deal TO me now
and will be great deal more"
t "Will you relate the history of your re
8 lations with James q. Rhodes" said Mr.
Carlisle.
Miss Pollard thereupon told how sh
= had met Mr. Rhodes and become inter
, ested in him because he had been soldie
with her uncle. He wanted to marry he
/ then and there but she was not ready I,
? marry any one, because her education ha,
not been completed, nor to marry him a
all.
j He offered to pay the expenses OF school
T. ing if she would marry him afterwards
She and her mother had signed pape
promising that witness either would MARI
e Rhodes or pay back the money with inter
est. Often after that he had visited he
and she had written to him. His letter
o to her had been destroyed
i She then told how Rhodes had threat
ened to compel her to marry him, and hoy
she went TO Breckenridge for advice. Mis-
Pollard was still on the stand when couI
adjourned until Monday,
NEW YORK, March l7.-Upon athoroug
n examination of the marriage certiicat
O. stating that w. c. p. Brecllinridge Ia
welded Louis Il. S. Wing Register Nagl
G found that not only had it not been file
g IN time, but was not correctly made ou
., The certificate was filed on Thursday wit
the health board and according TO it I'll
o marriage took place in this city, befoi
4 DR.. John r. Paxton ON April 29, 1879
The penalty to which Dr. Paxton is lab
Is $40. The health board on Wednesda
will take action in the case,
e PITTsBURG, March 17.-The statemeI