The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-17
THE PLAINTIFF SPEAKS.
Miss Pollard Tells of Her Relations
with Colonel DrecISinridEe.

WASHINGTON, March 16. = Those who
managed to run the gauntlet of doorkeep-
ers of the Circuit Court this morning were
unusually numerous and distinguished in
appearance. They were able to get an
early sight Of the principals in the case for
Miss Pollard and Colonel Breckenridge ap-
peared earlier than had been their custom.
The plaintiff looked somewhat worn by
the strain of the trial. The Congressman
beamed with his perennial freshness, and
shook hands with the array of lawyers
and relatives around the tables of the de-
fense, while his slender antagonist busted
herself with her morning mail, which
seemed to include a great variety Of
epistles, the Importance and sources of
which can only be conjectured, though
most of them appeared to be written in
feminine hands. once Miss Pollard turned
to flash a quick glance from her black eyes
in the direction Of the Kentucky statesman,
but did not catch his attention, for ne was
absorbed in the comments or the morning
papers upon his case After the lawyers
had rustled their papers for a quarter Of
an hour there was a ripple of great sur
prise, for no less a parsonage than the
plaintiff herself walked around to the wit
ness stand, took seat directly facing Col.
Breckenridge and the whole room full of
My father was a saddler" said Miss
Pollard coolly. in response to an interroga-
ton. He died in 1916"
did anything impress his death upon
your mind?' inquired Mr.. Carlisle.
My father was an Odd Fellow and
Of the State attended his funeral. He left
no estate" she continued. Two of my
sisters were taken TO live IN the Odd Eel
lows Home My mamma said l was born
on the Goth of November, 1856" Miss Pol
lard had always supposed that to be the
date of her birth and had attached it to
all N ha ica
Bureau. Mr.. Breckenridge indorsed all
those papers," she said, gazing directly at
when did Mr. Breckenridge meet you
in 1922" asked Mr.. Carlisle.
PROMISED TO MARRY HER.
'In one of the last days of August. 1892. He
met me at the Baltimore & Ohio depot in
Washington. He put both arms around me,
kissed me, drew my arm through his and
led me to a carriage. He told me that all
his children had grown up; that he had
determined to marry me, an 1 said 1 would
marry him.
Continuing Miss Pollard said she had
stopped at No. p Lafayette square for a
few days during that visit, had seen Mr.
Breckenridge every day End added: He
said that he had married his second wife
fourteen months after the death of his
first wife. and year after the death of
his second wife would net be too soon to
marry me- i told him we ought not TO
marry for two years, and proposed TO go
with Miss Willard on a school trip tor
young ladies in Europe. He said L must
not go and leave him living in rooms, d
thing he had not done for thirty years
He put it on the ground that L would be
selfish 10 go, and / did not"
A letter dated Gray Gables, BuzZards
Bay, Mass, in October, lS91 from Miss
Catherine Willard. and which referred TO
the proposal that Miss Pollard join the
European party. was read TO the jury.
Colonel Breckenridge had paid the expenses
OF Miss Pollard on her New York visit in
the fall of 1852. When the Colonel was in
Washington she saw him every few days.
The question OF marriage was resumed
at this time. and although no date was
fixed. the Colonel always insisted that a
year after his wife's death, which would
be in the spring of 1893, would be the time
most suitable 10 him Miss Pollard said
tnat once on lecturing trip 20 New Eng
land she had accompanied Alr. Breckin-
ridge. During her stay at Mrs. Thomas 3
at No. 1918 " street. Washington IN 1872
and 1893 she had seen Colonel Rreckin-
ridge always once a day, sometimes twice
n day. and often in the evening. She had
spoken of the engagement TO Mrs. Thomas,
and she repeated the circumstances re-
lated by witness Claude De La Roche
Francis. pronouncing the name Frawacis,
as did the young man. Colonel Breckin-
ridge expressed regret that she had met
Francis because he knew many kentuck-
ians and the engagement would be spread
all over Kentucky before they were ready
to have II known.
The visit tc Mrs. Blackburn was also