Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-03-30
In HIS OWN BEHALF
Breckenridge Goes Into the
Witness Box.
HUMAN NATURE HIS SOLE DEFENSE,

Judge Bradley Admits the Disputed Black
Bordered Letter and the Defendant
Tells Story That Goes Back Several
Thousand Years for a Parallei-"The
Woman Tempted Me and i Did Fat
Some Impeachment Testimony offered.
WASHINGTON, March 30-W c. p. Breck-
inridge has begun to tell his story in the
great breach-of-promise case, and rs he
talks the plaintiff as he inval iably -als
her IN his testimony, sits and listens, hav-
ing been sent for by her attorneys as soon
as Willie" reached the part OF his MARIA
tive where she comes upon the scene. Be
lore breckenridge was called the defense
consented that two witnesses from LeXing-
ton, n.y., he allowed to testify regarding
facts stated i'll the Kaufman and Brandt
dispositions. Their testimony was that
there never was between the years 1882 and
1857 Il woman living in the locality sworn
to named Lena Singleton. The assigna-
ton houses We're there. however.
The Colonel Takes the stand.
The defense then introduced the testi-
mony OF Mrs. William j. Miller of Mem
phis, deposing that she and Madeline Pol
lard had been inmates of Lena Singleton 5
house III Lexington. Next, the event of
the day-it may be the event of the trial.
especially on cross-eXamination. The
counsel for the defense were tender with
Miss Pollard; counsel for the prosecution
viii not be tender with Breckenridge.
.Jere Wilson Is one OF the most noted
cross-eXaminers in the country and Breck-
Inridge is fully his match. Nv hen Greek
| meets Greek which is somewhat Of a
depression, for just about this hme But
terwurJh said:
Colonel breckenridge, will You take
the stand?'
First Meeting with Madeline.
The colonel would That's what he was
| there for. He told brief history of his
| life first; of his education, his TWO mar
riages previous to meeting Miss Pollard
and other points that to the lay mind had
| nothing to do with the case" But the
Tragedy of his life was reached at last
and he told where he first met Madeline.
| 1t WAS on train between Lexington and
! Frankfort in the spring OF ISL. He was
| passing down the aisle when the plaintiff
! spoke to him in perfectly proper way,
| introduced herself us Madeline Breckin-
| ridge Pollard; said she was going To see
! The colonel thought she was some young
| person whom he had known but forgot
! ten, expressed his sympathy and
! passed on.
| Lets in the Disputed Letter.
lie did not remember when he next met
! the plaintiff, bnt he received letter in
! which he was requested to visit her ut the
| college on business of great importance
! to her, to which he replied that IL visit Il
J her would be incOnvenieIit, and inviting
| her TO call on him when she was in Lex
! ington. Then he received the black
| bordered" letter, which was repudated by
| Miss Pollard. He said when it was handed
| To him that he was familiar with it. He
| was proceeding to tell what had occurred
! when he saw Madeline ut the college when
! the letter was offered in evidence and q
| fight took place TO keep it out. 1t was
ended by the judge saying it could go H.
| The jury could give it all the weight j;
merited along with the other evidence