Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-03-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Most Interesting Gossip from the Beau.
tiful City.
Trial of Celebrated Case in Historical
Court Room.
From Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March II, '94.

Washington possesses general inter-
est for every citizen, and an individual
character of its own. 1t is the seat of
Government; it is the head of all polit-
ical information in the country; it is a
beautiful city.
l took seat in a Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. cable car, and gentleman beside
me asked: "Will these cars take me to
the war Officer"
Yes" will point out to you the
building when we reach it,"
THANK you." he said. IL come here
occasionally and always admire and
wonder at Washington. 1t belongs to
the whole country, and l am a part of
the country True" l responded,
1--WE all own it," pointed out the
cable power house, which just then
we were passing. "A great building!'
he added. "There, said, indicating
the Treasury of the United States, lis
a still greater one" How substan
tial!'' was his admiring remark. Next,
with our back to the White House,
we looked out upon Lafayette Square.
Beautiful" was his single word of
comment.
Nov, this is the War Department.
where you wish to get out, Il said, BE
hind il, is the Navy, behind that, the
State Department, all under one roof. "
The stranger rose to get off. II am
somewhat confused, he said, could
you tell me how to find the office of the
Secretary?" "Go to that front door, "
| directed, thanked on each side by
those brass guns captured from the
enemies of the United States-and ask
the messenger to show you the Secre-
tary's apartments. "Thank you.p and
my fellow citizen left the car. This or
something like it, occurs every day on
Pennsylvania avenue.
l left the cars myself at Washington
Circle. The birds were twittering
around the Father of his Country sit
ting astride his bronze horse. One wee
bird actually rested upon his sword.
The well kept crocus beds, at the base,
with their colors of white, yellow, red
and blue, were charming. 1t seemed
to be pity to be hurried through the
little square, on a common place err
rand, but 80 it was.
returned to the Department of JUS
tice. How great and extensive is this
business of iustice! From this office, it
is administered from ocean to ocean.
My errand was simply to request the
taking of testimony in a suit against
the United States, thousand miles
off; it was granted. A mile away was
the District Court house, my next stop
ping place. Madaline Pollard against
Congressman w. G. P. Breckenridge, for
breach of promise to marry, was testi-
flying. | was SO seated as not to be
able to see her face, but could heal
every word uttered. The tones, shall
never forget, for the impression they
made upon me. They we're low and
gentle, yet clear and distinct. 1t was
an awful story to tell before that crowd
ed houseful of men, with only one Other
woman present. That the witness was
uttering the truth, l think nobody in
the room doubted saw one of the
jurymen watching intensely the face
OF the defendant, Beckenridge, who sal
by his counsel with great red splotchet
under his eyes,a white headed man
more than thirty years the senior of the
yellow haired girl testifying. Soloe
times the words of the witness woulC
come slow, very slow, as if they were
sitting her, then the final word woulC
be sharply hammered down and rims
out like blow ON an anvil. Two day
| before, she had thrown her head int,
her hands, upon the table before her
and groaned: "Oh, my God, have pit,
upon mel" saw spider weaving hi
web in one corner of the ceiling, net
ting fly. / rememb bered, that the con
spirators against the life of Abraham
Lincoln, the gentle, had been tried il
this room; and passed to scaffeld o
their own building. The savage, snarl
ing Guiteau, the assassin of Garfield
also was tried here and handed over +
the executioner. 1t was relief to ge
out of the room into the sunshine an
into the sweet air.
The newsboys were crying, "Ne'
York paperslo with Admiral Benham
dispatches from Rio Janeiro. Brave
patriotic Benhaml no hauling down
the stars and the stripes as at Honolul
when you are aboard of ship. Th
humblest United States Schooner sha
land her cargoes at the waryes of con
merce, and no piratical, monarchi;
ship, shall interfere with it, under hai
ard of being sent to the bottom by you
shotted guns!
Death removed this week and frol
this city, the avenger of the first bloc
of the rebellion, Lieut.. Frank Edwi
Brownwel, who killed jackson
Alexandria, Va, after Col. Ellswori
had been shot by Jackson for removin
the rebel flag from Jackson's 8 hous
The coffin was draped with an Amer
can flag and covered with flower
Rev. DR.. Shipen, of All Souls churc
conducted the services, and in olosiT
A n.