Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-04-02
POLAR DIR ECkINRlDGE TRIAL.

the Circuit Court met this morning Col.
Breckenridge took the stand and began
his third day testimony. Maj. Butter
worth began by quoting the testimony
of Miss Pollard with reference to the
alleged proposal OF marriage in August,
1892, which the plaintiff claims took
place in carriage in this city. Col.
Breckenridge said he did not see her
in August. 1892, and did not know she
was in Washington at the time. In an
swer to questions by Maj. Butterworth
he said Il never in any way mention
ed TO her the name of my wife; l never
knew she had given birth to living
child never asked her to give it up;
| did not see the plaintiff at the Hotf-
man House on the evening of April 80,
because was not there Z; none OF her
statements are true.
What took place in your first visit
10 Major Moore in reference to your
promise TO marry the plaintiff asked
Msi. Butterworih.
Il think my opening sentence was,
a '
woman or myself into your custody; |
might lose my life by her. She said to
me during our talk that she would not
xii! me if would marry her that month.
replied I will marry you on the last
day Of the month if God does not inter.
pose. then said l was going to tell
The whole matter, but she demonstrated
about my telling. | asked her if she
would do what wanted if | did not
tell. She said she would. l turned to
Mai. Moore and said i think We can
settle this matter between Us.
Now tell what happened after you
took the pistol away from her in the
house of Mrs. Thomas after she had at
tempted to take your life p
Il left her. She tainted or pretended
fainting The next morning she sent
UP her card at the Riggs House, and |
went down to see her. She regretted
he scene she had created at Mrs.
Thomas and told me she was willing TO
20 away from Washington, and sub
United to me a schedule of things she
needed money for. We parted with
expressions Of regret-regret on her
part that she had acted so badly-regret
oo mine that she was pregnant by me.
The next night Was in my room at
the Riggs House entertaining some
Kentucky friends when she came again
aud seemed very nervous and excited.
She laid she was going to spend the
night at Mrs. Black burns, and took
her there.
Col. Breckinridge told Of cobversa-
ton with Mrs. Black burn the same
week in which Mrs. Blackburn demand
ed the explanation which Col. Breckin-
ridge had failed to give in New York,
OF how Miss Pollard and the witness
came to be stopping at the Holman
House together. Col. Breckenridge
said he declined to give any cXplana-
ton, saying it was not for him to eX-
plain, and Mrs. Blackburn said she
washed her hands Of the whole bust
ness, and did not want anything to do
with people who behaved so badly and
abused her confidence in such way.
Miss Pollard afterwards said to witness
she was glad it had ended that way,
that they had nothing more to fear
from Mrs Blackburn and she would &C
to New York and drop out of his life
without explanation to anybody. Ar
engagements TO send the plaintifl'to New
York and to be cared for during her
confinement by physician who had
been an intimate friend Of the defend
ant in the Confederate army, were also
told of
Col. Bro ckinrdge related, in great
detail, a long conversation which re-
suited in all agreement between Miss
Pollard and himself to see Major Moore
again in reference to their first inter
view with him. During this talk Col.
Breckenridge said, Miss Pollard dis
played pistol which she had in her
breast. II said TO her." said the wit
ness, "You are too near to use that y
She said she did not intend to use tiff
she used ii at all it would be on her.
self"
Concerning other statements at the
interview with Major Moore, Colonel
Breckinridge said Miss Pollard was
anxious for him to tell Major Moore that
no otherman had had any improper rela-
lations with her. but he would not do
so, and said "You know that the first
night l met you | took liberties with
your person and slept with you the
next night with your full consent"
Reference to other matters which
happened about this time and which
were covered in Colonel Breckinridge's
testimony of Friday were told over
again. She had agreed to go to New
York, he said, to remain there during
her coming confinement, and she again
submitted to him a schedule Of things
she needed. He furnished her the
money for these things and, said the
witness, ~ offered her more than the
sum she wanted, but as | remember it
she said she did not want to get to
New York with more than some small
change and ten-dollar bill, for she was
afraid she could not resist the tempta
ton to return to Washington if she had
plenty of money" The witness was
obliged to go away about this time on
a speaking tour through Virginia and
Kentucky and he and the plaintiff
parted on the best of terms, she agree
ing to leave Washington and remain
away and not trouble him any more.
Il considered the matter between
the plaintiff and myself" said Colonel
Breckenridge, $50 far as Washington
was concerned, so far as Mrs. Black
burn was concerned, and so far as our
sexual relations were concerned as en-
tirely ended. What was left open was