The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-03-20
A WONDERFUL WOMAN.
Miss Pollard Proves an Admira-
BILE Witness.
TELLING SHOTS AT BRECKENRIDGE.

The Plaintiff Indirectly Scores Her Ad-
versnry in the Case at Every Oppor-
tunity, and Does 1t Very Cleverly-she |
Charges Forgery of a Letter.
WASHINGTON, March 2O.-Madeline Pol
lard faced her opponents on the witness
stand yesterday under a continuous fire Of
oross-questions, and the trial was like a |
play in which one actor is starred to the
exclusion and belittlement of all acces-
sories Major Ben Butterworth, the ex-
congressman from Ohio, played a minor
part as the questioner, all the interest
centering about the slender black robed
plaintiff in the case.
1t was the most interesting day of the
sensational trial, and it was made more so
by the masterful display of intellectual
resources, of quick perception and of tell
ing replies which flashed forth at every
turn of the plot as the lawyers followed
up every possible trail which might lead
to admissions casting any sort of shadow
on the life of the woman apart from those
passages of it which had been identified
with the career of the Kentucky congress
man. Miss Pollard has shown herself
wonderful woman. Whatever other opin-
ions may have been held regarding her by
some standing in the community, who sat
| listening all day as though to the revela-
tion of fascinating story rather than
womans recital of sorrow and disgrace,
all of them were constrained to admit
| their admiration of her intelligence, her
quick perception and her effective com
mand of words. Seldom does a witness
manage to give replies so telling in sup
port of her own case and keep within the
| limits of the court room regulations, and
| several times the plaintiffs attorneys ad-
monished her to confine her statements to
answers to the questions which were put.
The silver headed congressman played a
silent part all day, giving much attention
| to his correspondence, only rarely inter
| posing to suggest a question to his coun-
sci, and looking seldom at the woman who
| scored him often, although sitting within
line of her eyes The friends along his
table were increased by the presence of
Representative Elijah A. Morse, of Massa-
chusetts, member conspicuous in local
religious work, who was engaged in con
versation with Desha Breckenridge much
of the time.
Mr.. Breckinridge's lawyers failed to get
a single admission from the plaintiff to in.
dcate that her relations had ever been in
innate with any other than Mr.. Breclln-
ridge. In reply to the question by Major
Butterworth: Did you know Colonel
Breckenridge was a family mani" She
promptly responded He told me So"
When it was asked whether she was
member of a church she explained that
she had been confirmed in the Episcopal
church.
Are you a member now?n was asked.
"Once IA member Of the Episcopal church
always member, came the epigrammatic
reply.
Her early ambition had been to write,
Miss Pollard declared, and Colonel Breck-
inridge had told her that she had wonder
full talent in that line. She had also de-
sired to teach
"Do you know the value of character for
a teachery" Mr.. Butterworth asked.
"Most assuredly l do. Never so much
as today came the prompt reply, "but
all this was swept away by one act"
Further on she explained that she under
stood the requirements for good character
in woman were the same as in man.
There was some interesting sparring
when Mr.. Butterworth produced the high
flown schoolgirl letter to "Wessie" Brown,
daughter of the principal of Wesleyan
seminary, and used it as a basis of cross
q examination. The plaintiff admitted that it
had been overdrawn and was exaggerated
in her pride at that time. 1t contained
references to a blind lover, for whom she
had entertained the greatest affection, ac-
cording to the illusions.
There were a number Of these school
girl letters read, and Mr.. Butterworth
: again referred to the letter which Miss
Pollard averred on Friday was not written
by herself. She asked him to show it to
her again. saying that while the express
e sions Of some of them seemed familiar the
handwriting did not; but she did not wish
to disciaim any letter she had ever written.
There was a silence while the plaintiff
read the letter.
81 did not write that letter. never did
/ pronounce it a forged letter" she ex-
claimed, with great emphasis
"Then you are sure you did not write
g itY"
81 never wrote such things as are in
that, and no one knows it better than the
man who sits beside you. An expert might
have done it, and did"
In answer to a question as to Brecl1in,
ridges first visit to the seminary Miss
Pollard said: He said that he had come
to see me, and he overshadowed me with
glance"
/ She had known Of Colonel Breckinridge
having often heard her uncle, vino had
fought in Breckinridge's brigade, speak OF
him, and, parenthetically, she remarked
b after Mr.. Butterworth had asked whether
\ she knew much about him: 81 dom think
anybody knew very much about Colone
4 Breckenridge until lately"
4 nrelerring to an affidavit by Mr.. Rosell
. who was a pupil in the seminary with her
= Mr., Butterworth inquired if the conduct
of MIR. Rosell toward her had been that oi
a lover.
She replied; 81 am very glad you asked
u me that. We never received men excep
e in the presence of the teachers, and ther,
would have been no opportunity for hin
80 much as to press my hand. Once h,
r. kissed me in passing from one room to an
\ other, and as he left for Chicago he EsseC
= me good-by in the presence of a teacher
The statements in his affidavit would no
n have been made except for internal reye