The sun., 1894-03-17
MISS POLLARD'S LIFE STORY.
TOLD ON THE WITNESS STAND IN
HER BREACH OF PROMISE sUIE


tract with B.rto Psy for Her Edsest,su 80
Conditio, that sho wouid Pay Hir- Bass
or Marry Hin, How Col Rr.ok,.riss.
Cn.s Into Her Liret How she Fsssea
for Nine Years =. . Pore ..s I.ueee-t
GIRL OF the Alleged rropossi. OF N.r-
,i,s. Aner the Death Of MIS-. Br.eki--
ridge, and OF Her ReIstiens with n. De-
ne.d.nt-H.r Bright VIE shev- .. rss-
srge. with M,jor Buttsrwerth .. the
ros.-ex...irntiou-Ths Certias.t. er
Marriage OF Col. BreekinridEs a.a Ms.
wise, Filed In This CITY. Shows th.t
They Were Married By Dr. Paxte.
at His Residenos April 80. Issa.
WASHINGTON. March 16-This was an im-
portant day In the trial OF Col. Breckenridge
for breach Of promise OF marriage. and the
developments were both interesting and sens
satlonaL In the first place. the plaintiff.
Madeline Pollard. took the witness stand TO
tell the story Of her llfc. and while she was in
the midst Of the remarkable tale kilograms
were handed to the lawyers. on both sides OF
the case. announcing the discovery OF the fact
that Col. Breckirrldge was secretly married
to his present wife. Mrs. Wing. at DIR. Paxton's
house. In New York city. on April 20 1893.
This announcement did not come altogether
as surprise. for those who have watched the
that the defence was prepared to prove the
fact OF the secret MARRIAGE They did
not intend to make 1t public at this
time. however. because for some reason they
appear to believe that It has very direct bear
ing upon the question Of whether their client
10 legally guilty Of breaking his promise Of
marriage. The point OF tho lawyers has been
that man who has wife cannot legally make
q marriage contract with another. The point
IN ho ppt wo taGa In vfa 10
the fact that In ono part OF her testimony Mrs.
Blackburn said that it was on Good Friday.
1893. which was March 81. that Col Brsckin-
ridge first told hor OF his intention to marry
Mics Pollard The most dramatic part OF Mrs
Blackburn's testimon was the recital Of
the visit mado to her by Col Breckin-
ridge. In company with Miss Pollard.
In May. 1893. when he asked her to
chaperon her. as she was soon to be
his wife. The interest IN this picturesque fea-
ture Of her testimony has served to draw the
attention OF the public from the fact that she
also testified that Col BreckinrldRe said on
March 81. 1893. that he intended to marry
Miss Pollard. But whether the point made by
the lawyers for the defence Is we'll taken or
not the fact Of the secret marriage has added
to the interest OF the trial aud introduced an
other romantic and sensational feature into
the already remarkable story.
Miss Pollard's conduct In the witness chair
to-day was astonishing for q person placed in
the terrible position in which she lnds her
self. Her mind was clear as q bell and she
seemed to have entire control OF her mental
faculties and physical strength. notwithstand-
ing the fact that every drop OF blood had ap-
parently left her veins. leaving her face ~
cold and white as marble. She told the story
Of her life from her early childhood to the
present day. and never hositated at Q quss-
tion. She did not remember the exact
date OF her BIRTH and tho cross-ex-
animation OF tho attorneys for the de-
fence threw light on this point The
tale shs told was apparently STRAIGHTFORWARD
and in strict agreement with the deposltions
and the testimony OF other witnesses. On one
point she was persisteptly emphatic. and that
was with regard to her moral conduct The
most acute cross-questioning Of Col Breckin-
ridges lawyers failed to shake her statements
that. while for ten years almost she had lived
with him his mistress and borne him sew
eral children. she had never at any time In her
life had improper relations with any other
man. In view OF her testimony to-day. IL
seems impossible that tho attorneys for
the defence will attempt TO break down
her statements. Should they succeed In
doing So they would be able to claim
that. as she was a lewd woman. the defendant
was under no obligation to keep his promise
OF marriage to her. II tho defendants counsel
are deprived OF the privilege OF making this
claim. and are also confronted by the testi-
m ony that their client stated his intention to
marry Miss Pollard before the time when he
was married to Mrs. Wing. they would be
compelled TO fall back on some other line OF
defence and lawyers who have watched tho
case think they know what this line will be.
They say that Col. Breckenridge is prepared to
show that he promised to marry Miss Pollard
In order to prevent her from making good her
threats OF shooting herself aud him II he did
not do so
During all the time that Miss Pollard was on
the stand to-day she faced Col Breckinridgs
and showed no more concern than at any other
time during tho trial. Every word that she
uttered convicted him OF the grosssst Inn
morality. but he never WINGED. but sat and
watched tho case and ehattsd With his counsel
and acted generally the part OF a man uncon-
cerned In the testimony and careless OF the
Miss POllard's manner on the stand Was
the witness box and repeat questions with .
surprised air that would have heen faseinat-
was was II the best O and nd she showed that she Wass
good conyersationaIist sopetimes her sem
managed TO carry them through without con-
fusion Of ideas. As ona spectator expressed
ABOUT ABOUT her tssti@ony. @ am and hat Was her l1oiS.
Helped help % her any eOnsiaersbI. in this by not Sstins
any questions about how her ruin was accom-
pIshed. Once he requested her to repeat .
Conversation with Col. Brsokinridge about
snd Miss Pea1s @ %pisia!vsly % b:sasd Si%
not to make her tell what had been
many men. Miss Pollard pronouneed "girl,'
~ the southern style, and she also said
shAwnt and cAWnt. ana showed her Ae-
quaintance with conyen.ional soeisty Eng
llsh, Mas Pollard said her father was .
sRddlsr at Crab Orchard KY. where she was
born. She said abe rsmemb bsred about her
fathers death how all the Odd Fellows and
Masons In Kentucky sent delegates to attend
his funeral. very impressive Anair and how
she had gone to Pittsburgh to visit an aunt be-
fore her father died. These statements were
made with theatrical Attem Ut al distihctnsss.
and were delivered TO the Jury sometimes
Miss pollaTd's voice rose too high. aud 1t
other times il became ysrT low and soft. Her
rising Injection al the end OF sentence WAS
marked.
~ Mr. Carlisle Q-How old we're you when your
fathrr dirdf Al thought I va. ~ year. old;
and ~ AlMaEl .GL MLal ] IeLurna4