The evening world., 1894-03-09
MISS POLLARD'S SIDE.
Ex-Gov. Blackburn's Widow the
First Witness Called.
Says Breckenridge Told Her He Was
to Marry the Girl.
All Eyes on the Fair Plaintiff ir
the $4,000 Suit.
(By Asociated Press.)

first persons to enter the Circuit Court
room this morning was Miss Madeline
Pollard. the plaintiff in the $4,000 breach
of promise suit against Congressman w.
c. =. Breckenridge.
This was the first sight of the plaintiff
vouchsafed to the scandal lovers who
crowded the court, and for a quarter of
an hour before the trial began she was
the target Of all eyes and the subject OF
many curious comments. Miss Pollard
Is an attractive woman. apparently OF
about thirty years. Her slender, ONE
what ,girlish figure was covered by a
long black ulster. Her face Is nearly
moptb. up Shs has nose a small piqMn a ut
eyes and heavy dark brown hair. She
wore a small black bonnet this morning.
Two ladies accompanied her n sat
beside her at the table with her counsel
them, an elderly lady, dressed in black,
was one of the Sisters OF the Episco-
palian House of Refuge in which Miss
P $S'ided tie Is sP Piain5ifr, T Tns S a selly gae ssi
lady of middle age, who figured as a
friend of Miss Pollard. but whose
IDENTITY every one vainly e~ndeavored to
Miss Pollard seemed quite at her ease.
Her race was covered with a thin veil,
which In no a concealed her features.
~ nv WIN ItI dWytIS HlOsl VI Tie
time prior to the opening of court.
Col: Breckenridge was late in putting
IN m,tb MS appenrance; Finally he came
S Mi.R arm a sm ns s . fres OF ia documents smmtnn , on
was accompanied by his son, Desha
EieCkinridge. a stalwart young man with
,.lack hair and beard. The number OF
rows Of tables-the front line devoted to
the Pollard forces, the second row occu-
ped by the Breckinridge party, so that
dysctly back Of his young antagonist.
The trial was really commenced when
Calderon Carlisle. facing the jury, lean
,ng lansuidiy gains a table. and IN de
matters which the plaintiff would en-
aHaNor to to Proye; He eontrasted the pof,
the councils of the Presbyterian Church.
famous Throughout the country as an or
ator, the other a friendless young woman.
Something was said about the legal
read the declaration which was published
IN full when the suit was brought: how
Col Brenckinridge had taken advantage
girl of seventeen at the Wesleyan Female
seminary. and then further alleging that
he was the father of her three children,
Witnesses. promised to marry her. hav.
ing previously made the promise to be-
come her husband when his wife should
Vie, lHdl ne ndu IHdTTltu instead u NlTS.
Louise, Wing, Of Louisville; that Miss
Pollard had ~endeavored to leave him and
make n career for herself, but had been
over-persuaded because of her low for
him.
During the reading Miss Pollard flush
ed crimson. She trembled violently and
buried her face in a handkerchief. Col,
way with his lawyers.
Next Mr.. Carlisle read the defendants
answer denying all the material allega-
tlons; asserting that Miss Pollard had
met him on a train, introducing herself
as Madeline Breckinridge Pollard, de-
claring, that her father had given her
the middle name because of his ad,
that she had afterwards written him
to come and see her in the seminary
because she was IN trouble.
Sketching briefly what, should be
Miss Pollard as the daughter OF a sad
dler, brilliant and always endea yoring
to rise above her station. He said that
Rhodes. a man of means. but not of
hi"h position, was attracted by her
charms, and Offered to educate her If
country girl, had signed an agreement,
promising If Rhodes would educate her
that she would marry him or pay back
with the sanction Of an unwise mother
Afterwards. when Miss Pollard was In
trouble. because Rhodes was pressing her
TO fultl her promise, and because she,
a country girl, believed he, could invoke
me law to his aid, she had written Mr..
breckenridge, asking his advice. a letter
which was answered In person.
Col. Breckenridge said they could not
talk freely at the school, and suggested
that they SHOULD feign relationship, 50
they could walk out together, a sugges-
ton which Miss Pollard said was not
necessary. as she could obtain permission
readily. Afterwards he called In A closed
carriage one evening, to which she Oh.
tGcted, but met the plausible excuse tina
mis- throat was delicate.
Then began the girls ruin. From that
hour began n secret life between the two.
The articles resorted TO were touched
to the death OF Col. Breckinridge's wife,
when, said Mr.. Carlisle. the defendant
promised to. marry, the young woman he
had wronged, to take the only, step which
he could take to blot out the sin and
shame in the eyes of the world, and a
step which he alone could take.
He had introduced her as his prom
Used wife into the first families Of the
city. Under the law OF the District there
could be no claim for damages on aC-
Gun of such action. but the remedy, OF
rather what reparation could be made
for a broken promise of marriage, the
law guaranteed. Mr.. Carlisle, in con.
c~lusiOn. asked only that the jury be
not blinded TO the truth by the flashes
OF eloQucnce which would come from the
other side.
Attorney Phil Thompson announced
tndt tne uclellldnl Op'IlnB SldltlltIl
would be reserved until the conclusion
OF the plaintiffs testimony.
The Attorney Wilson, for the plain
tif. complained that certain books which
had figured in the a~tidavits, and wer'
important to the case, had been takei
by the defendants counsel, and aske'
that they be returned to the plaintiff.
Mr.. Butterworth read a notice which
had been served on the defendant To-
%ingtonthe production OF four volumes q
Washington Irving, given to Attorney
more definite description OF the book
should be gievn.
Just as Mr.. Carlisle was rising TO re
ply, Miss Pollard broke out hystert
caliy to her counsel, sobbinC n max
ing inarticulate EXPLANATIONS. while th'
Sister OF Charity and her attorneys en-
deavored TO calm her.
'They know what those books are
said Mr. Wilson emphatically,I land A