The Washington times., 1894-04-01
WHAT WILL THE VERDICT Be
The Pollard Breckenridge Trial Has
Consumed Three Weeks.
PRINCIPALS AS WITNESSES
Lawyers Think That Miss Pollard is Supe-
rior to Mr.. Breckinridge in the Giving Of
Testimony-Rumors About the Plaintiffs
Financial Backing.

The fourth week of the Pollard -Breckin-
ridge trial commences tomorrow. The past
week has been occupied by the defense in at
tempting to break down certain testimony
heretofore adduced by plaintiffs witnesses.
A sensation was expected, but it didn't come.
Spectators ut the courthouse have been
waiting from day to day for Col. Breckin-
ridge to attempt to impeach the testimony OF
Mrs. Luke Blackburn. There is no doubt but
that the defendant did at one time seriously
contemplate such movement, but the ex-
elusive story touching that feature of the
case, printed In The TIMES Of last Monday,
may have had something to do with chang
ing the eagle-eyed orators mind.
1t is expected that all of the testimony will
be in before the end of the present week, and
that within ten days the case will be closed
and given to the jury. There is, OF course, a
wide diversity of opinion as to the ultimate
that when his case in its entirety is given to
the court, it will satisfy the public that he has
been thewors maligned man that ever came
In contact with petticoat
On the contrary, Miss Pollard's friends as
sert that she has the best of it so far, and
that she will win the suit. And it already
does look that way. Samson had his Delilah,
Antony his Cleopatra and Parnell his Kitty
| Shea, and it would now seem that the Ken
lucky colonel will go down into history with
| a Pollard collar around him US large as a rain
bow.
Col Breckinridge's testimony last week was
i fn ba mr. ad
reader. Lawyers think that he made poor
witness. He did not display near the amount
| of tact and wisdom in rendering his state
ment as did Miss Pollard.
| Very few Of his answers have been briefly
''yes" or no." but, on the contrary, have
been many times even more wordy than those
| of Miss Pollard, but while she seldom way
cred from the main point in her verbosIty. his
style is rather that of a space writer on a
newspaper than of the man who is paid for
the brightest idea expressed in the most
pithy form. Asked, for instance. when he
| reached. Washington at certain time, he
will, instead of giving the date 1T once. tell
when he left Lexington, at what places he
stopped on the way andifor what reason, and
finally will give the time of his arrival. This
| plan may be in accordance with his desire to
| omit nothing which might bear upon his case
but it consumes much time and may proiong
| his appearance ON the stand to a couple Of
days longer.
Again, the questions are comparatively few.
and his story is only interrupted apparently
to recall him TO the point which he is discuss
ing or to lead him in another direction.
Upon cross-examinatlon he is likely to be
called upon to answer many more questions
as Judge Wilson has taken very copious
notes. in addition to those made by Miss
| Pollard. as diversion or to aid her counsel.
Col. Breckenridge announced yesterday that
his conduct on the stand was regulated by his
knowledge as lawyer of proceedings in a
court room, but it is pretty certain that in the
hands of Judge Wilson he will have to sum-
mon all his skill and acumen as legal strate-
gist, for the judge has considerable reputa-
tlon for minuteness and variegation in cross
examination.
This trial has demonstrated. though, that
he will hereafter have to share his laurels
with the long. sharp-featured Kentuckian,
Mr.. Stoll. with whom he has had several tits
and has not always come of as victor In
deed. he has at times displayed irritation at
the imperturbility and blandness of his op-
posing brother, who has shown quickness
at repartee and resourceful strategy seldom
exhibited iu this city.
A telegram has been received in this city
to the effect that there has been discovered in
Cincinnati evidence that will go far toward
proving Miss Pollards story that she was an
immature girl when she first became ac-
of Wesleyan college for the fall term, 1888.
could not be at first found, but it seems it
was discovered yesterday hidden away in an
old sideboard. In that register on page 90,
is set down the following entry:
''Name of pupil. Pollard Madeline Vivian;
entered November 20, aged 16: name of
parent or guardian. Mrs. J. d. Pollard; resi-
dence, Frankfort, KY; studies. French,
Latin. rhetoric. arithmetic. elocution.''
Mrs. Brown cannot remember what class
Miss Pollard entered, but she thinks that the
girl went as an irregular sophomore She
says that there was nothing to distinguish
Miss Pollard from other girls OF her age except
that she was unusually studious and appar-
emily very ambitious in serious way
Finally Mrs. Brown had word TO say
about Rozell's farewell of Miss Pollard He
was permitted 10 kiss her. but it was done in
the presence of the teacher 1t is very prob
able that Mrs. Brown will be asked to come
to Washington to testify and it is said she
will comply.
Miss Pollard nersists in keeping the pub
lie in ignorance as to the source from which
she gets her money TO prosecute her case.
1t has been rumored that the colonel in
CURED the ennity of an influential body OF
Kentuckians who were interested in the
whisky trust by being prominent in legisia-
ton adverse to this combination and that
they in revenge had resolved TO ruin him DO
hticiiiiy. IL Possioic. anu HLu WIKI lniS eNu IN
view supplied Miss Pollard with money to
push the prosecution.
Another one is to the effect that those who
are seeking revenge against Col. Breckinridge
are we'll organized body OF women promi-
nent in social affairs at the Capital Their
grievance is that during Miss Pollard's num-
erous visits to Washington she was introduced
right and left by her erstwtile protector in
MANY of the best houses OF the diplomatic set
to which he had entire. In retaliation these
ladies' it is reliably stated. have all contributed
to a fund TO be turned over to the plaintiff
that she may be able to ''down" the legislator
who could be guilty of such an abuse of social
privilege.