The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-19
He Wasn't Afraid Of Miss Pollard
He Was Only ApprehensiVe.
HE EXPECTS TO BE ACQUITTED
AND REELECTED.

Washington, March 17.-While Col.
Breckenridge has declined to be inter-
viewed for publication respecting the
future course of his trial, the United
Press can state auJhoritatively, from
sources which are thoroughly reliable,
that the plans and views of the Defend
ant have been practically determined up
on as outlined below.
Mr.. William f. Christian of New York,
having asked an intimate and well in
formed friend of the defen dant what the
probable effect of the trial would be on
Colonel Breckinridge's political future,
was answered as follows:
HE is quite confident of reelection.
He has about 35, 900 votes in his district,
of which he received about 10000 the
last election, majority of some 5000.
His election three times has taken place
during Presidential years, and twice In
off years. In the off years he has had no
opponent, the vote having been only
some 5000 or 1000 all told. This being an
off year, there will be no opposition, ex-
cept in his own. party and that only as
to his nomination..
1.-TWO gentlemen who are striving for
nomination are Mr.. e. E. Settle and
William G. Owens. Mr.. Settle is from the
celebrated county of Owen, representing
1000 votes. Mr.. Owens is from the county
of Scott, representing some 1900 votes.
Thus far there has been only one
primary in which adherence to him
could be tested. This was that on the
9th day of March, in Frankfort, where
three distinctly and personally Breckin-
ridge men were nominated.
Congressional nominations take place
in August. and as it is the, custom in
this district to give the sitting member
a chance for canvassing, after the close
back to Kentucky and speak in every
precinct. 1t is firmly believed that he
will be returned by his constituents.
"Will the Colonel speak atsthe trial?n
"He says he expects to make the effort
of his life, which will consist in not
speaking 'for,' says he.. I often find
that my best speech issthat which is not
spoken.'" I"
@Do you object to stating to me in
outline the plan of defense?"
"I suppose not. In the first place, no
man under any circufns Sances can be ex-
pected or required to marry woman
who is not chaste. OF course, the defense
will submit evidence to impeach the
good character of the plaintiff"
dispositions intended to prove that the
plaintiff had had criminal relations with
other men before meeting Col. Breckin-
ridge, and had visited disreputable
houses.
"These facts together with others
which will be introduced, Will establish
the unchastity of the plaintiff, but will
than as the main bulwark., This main
bulwark will consist in the fact that the
defendant has never sat any time in
tended or made cortrac$ to marry Miss
Pollard, and that she Knew at all times
that he would never marry her."
"How, then, do you constIue the con-
versation between the Colonel and Mrs.
Blackburn as testified to by her on the
stand? Did he, not ask Mrs. Blackburn
to protect her on the ground that he was
to give her his name?"
"He did not. Why should Colonel
Breckenridge ask Mrs. Black burn to pro-
tect young woman with whom she had
been already on terms of intimacy for
two years and who had participated in
her receptions? The fact that she came
under Mrs. Black burns protection was
one that antedates the conversation you
refer to.
"You will rememp Der, moreover, that
Mrs. Blackburn threatened to Withdraw
her protection unless the Colonel agreed
to this or that condition. Why should
these conditions have arisen in Mrs.
been telling Mrs. Blackburn stories about
the plaintiff which had, no doutbt,
weakened her in the estimation cf Mrs.
ain order to avoid public scandal, if
possible, and to save the girl, the
Colonel took heroic measures, and what
he said to Mrs. Black burn was with the
agreement and fol-. the purpose that she
might pass from the scene without any
nreiudice to herself, and without in
yoiving Mrs. Blackburn. She did 60 to
New York afterward, but she was quick
Iv hack again, and did everything to
re nder any efforts for her Ineffective"
"In the scene which was enacted in
the Office of Chief of Police Moore, what
construction would you put upon thag!
Will it be said in the defendants evil
dence that he acted under compulsion?"
"No. he will not. He will not say that
he was afraid / think you might say
thatshe was apprehensive, rather than
afraid. Yes, that would express it, for
now it comes to pass that there are two
more pistols which the plaintiff
threatened to use, besides that one e&,
hibited in court. But when the Colonel
takessthe stand he will tell the whole
truth and face thesmusic like a man.
"Whatever q may have happend in
Major Moore's Office, the plaintiff never
dreamed for one instant that the Colonel
would marry her nor had she claimed
that he b ad wronged her, for, do you not
remember, in the evidence of Major
Moor the Colonel said to him, in her
presence, that he did not wrong her, to
which she made no reply whatever to
him, thus acquiescing in his statement.
Returning for moment to the pro-
lection theory upon which Mrs. Black
burn claims to have acted, had the
Colonel wished protection did he not
have his brother here with his family,
and also cousin with whom he had the
sweetest relations? He could have taken
her to them had he been seeking protec-
tion for her"
"Now, may I take the liberty of ask
ing you did the Colonel make any
promise of marriage to Miss Pollard
during the lifetime of his late wife?"
"Neyer, in any form whatever. Any
statement to the contrary is absolutely
false in every particular"
"Do you believe that the Colonel was
the father of three children mentioned in
this matter?"
81 do not. He was not aware until he
heard the evidence in court the other
day that any of the children had been
harn alive"