Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-13

nave to 80 up stairs to the library 10 see
Colonel breckenridge. who wants to see
me on business" Witness saw Colonel
Dreckinridge In the library. Witness mad
heard conversations between them on
many occasions. His manner was always
extremely paternal and very kind-affee-
tionate. also. Miss Pollard's manner was
one OF Difference. respect. and affection.
AS TO MARRIAGE.
Mr.. Wilson asked IL he had heard
conversation between them respecting
marriage.
Mr.. Francis said on one particular oc-
casion when he went 10 the house witness
stepped into the drawingroom while MS
coming was announced to Mrs. Thomp-
son. on that occasion he met Miss Pol-
lard and Colonel Breckenridge In the
drawing-room Witness had started IN,
and as he entered saw Colonel Breckin-
ridge and Miss Pollard. Colonel Breck-
inridge was holding Miss PoIlard's hand,
and seemed about to be leaving. The
witness here explained that he had
previously met Colonel Breckinridge with
Mrs. Wing. the lady he afterwards mar
ried, at Madame Covarrubias'S, OF the
Mexican legation. AS he entered the
drawlng-room. he said he saw them,
and. believing that ne was intruding,
said: "Oh excuse me-" and was about
To withdraw, when Miss Pollard said:
"Not at all. come and Yet me introduce
you to Colonel Breckenridge" Miss Pol
lard then presented witness who said he
had had the pleasure OF meeting Colonel
Breckenridge at the Mexican legation.
Fearing that he was interrupting the
conversation witness turned from the
drawing-room. and stepped into the entry
and was there two or three minutes.
while waiting for the servant. While
there he had overheard a conversation.
He could not help hearing what was said
by Colonel Breckenridge and Miss Pol
lard. 1t was impossible, ne said. To recall
all the words OF the conversation.
IMPRESSION ON HIS MIND.
"The impression left upon my mind
was" he was beginning, when Mr.. But
terworth interrupted, saying:
Give the language"
"Give the substance" said Mr.. Wilson.
Give the substance" said the Court.
Colonel Breckinridge asked Miss Pol
lard" said the witness. who / was, and
she replied. Mr.. de La Roche Francis
lie asked If | was I'm the habit OF calling
there. and she said that / called upon Mrs.
Thompson and her nieces. Then he asked
If | called upon her. and she said / did
not He expressed himself as regretful
that | met her. because | might be led
To mention his attentions 10 Miss Pollard
to those ladies | have mentioned, Mrs.
Wing and Madame Coverrubias. which he
did not then desire on account OF the
recent death Of his wife. He asked Miss
Pollard II | knew OF the engagement, and
Miss Pollard told him that I did. Colonel
Breckinridge seemed quite perturhed about
1t. Some days after that" the witness
went on. Miss Pollard repeated the con-
Versation to witness, and the witnesses
Impressions Of the conversation might
have been obtained In part from that
statement by Miss Pollard"
CROSS EXAMINATION.
Mr.. Francis was cross-examined by Mr.
Butterworth, and explained that he first
met Miss Pollard at the home of Mr..
Thomas In February. 1893. Never met her
anywhere else. 1t was two or three days
later when she recited the conversation
which he had overheard between her and
Mr.. Breckenridge. She repeated It at the
personal request Of Mr.. Brecknridge. Mr.
Francis said that he told Mrs. Thomas of
the matter shortly afterward. Miss Pol
lard told him that It was Colonel Breck-
inridge's desire that he should say nothing
about the engagement. il was barely pos
sible, explained Mr.. Francis. that what he
had testified as being the conversation
he had overheard might have arisen In
part from what he heard and also from
what Miss Pollard repeated to him. Colo
mel Breckenridge had never spoken to him
about the matter. The witness was going
on in a delightfully."- gossipy manner, and
so there was laugh when Mr.. Butter
worth asked. "What Is your business?"
and ne replied II am studying Law, sir.
Mr.. Francis stated that Miss Pollard
had asked him to testify but he had come
on a subpoena Miss Pollard had asked
him last spring If he knew that she and
MIR. Breckenridge were engaged. She then
asked If he knew that ne was said to be
engaged TO Mrs. Wing. and remarked that
she feared that he would not keep his en-
gagement with her Miss PollarD. and
said IL he did not she would kill herself.
She burst into tears, but was pacified by
the witness and Mrs. Thomas. He was
under the impression that this conversa-
tion occurred about the third week In last
May. She asked them not TO believe any
thing derogatory Of her. and repeated her
to shoot herself If Mr.
Breckenridge did not marry her, stating
that she had the pistol at her bedside
Mr.. Francis also stated that Miss Pollard
asked him to testify TO the overheard
conversation IL it should ever be neces-
sary
did she designate how It might become
necessary for you to SO testify?" asked
Mr.. Butterworth.
OTHER FISH IN THE SEA.
"No. sir she did not" replied Mr.. Fran
els. And then he convulsed the court
room by remarking that he endeavored TO
console her by telling her that there were
other good and distinguished men in the
world besides Mr.. Breckinridge. inti-
mating that there were as good fish in
the sea as had ever been caught.
Miss Pollard explained that Mr. Breck-
inrldge had been particularly good and
kind to her and had shown her devoted
attention. She said she loved him as she
feared she could love no other man, ana
reiterated her intention to shoot herself
If he failed to marry her. She was in a
very excited. nervous state. and Mrs.
Thomas remarked subsequently that she
feared that unless she removed the pistol
She would do as she had threatened.
Whether Mrs. Thomas did remove 1t,
witness did not know.
The cr0ss-examination OF Mr.. Francis
was concluded at noon. and upon Mr.
Carlisle explaining that they had no other
witness present recess was taken until
O'clock in order to give counsel for de-
fence time TO prepare the afIidavits prom
ised regarding the taking Of depositions in
Lexington.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
When Judge Bradley ascended to the
bench for the afternoon session OF the
trial neither party to the suit was in the
room, and there was a delay OF a few
minutes waiting for them. Miss Pollard
came In first, and upon the arrival OF the
plaintiff Mr.. Carlisle asked the indulgence
of the court while they placed Dr. John
son on the stand at this point, as his
time was very much occupied. Then there
was lul in the proceedings while the
lawyers for the defence held a brief con-
sultation.
When the trial was resumed there was
goodly crowd OF spectators present. but
IL was only a small detachment of those
who had clamored for admission at the
doors The rule Of the court excluding
all but those who have some reasonable
right 10 be in attendance is rigidly lived
up TO with the result that there were
fewer people in the courtroom than would
be the case in any trial of even ordinary
importance. The order of the court for
bidding admission TO ladies kept out all
of the female sex. and the only ladies'
who were present were the two who are
in attendance with Miss Pollard.
BY the side OF the courtroom is n light
well, 10 or Is feet wide. and windows
from the main corridor of the court-hopse
look into this well and give a restricted
view into the court where the Pollard
Breckinridge case is being tried. Some
,l. LII 20