The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-09
BRECKENRIDGE ON TRIAL.
MSS PoLL<BD's BRE< cH OF PROMISE
SUIT CALLED IN COURT

| Distinguishes ARRAY OF Counsel On Hoth
| side.-Ths siIvsr-hsirea Defendant che
Centrs OF Intsrest - The Jury swor-
and the Ceurt Asiourped Uutu To-day.
WASHINGTON. March 8 -ConRressmsn will
liam O P. Brecklnridge OF Kentucky was
| placed on trial to-day In the suit brought by
Madeline Vinton Pollard. who accuses him Of
seduction and breach OF promise and claims
| 10000 damages The complaint charges the
| defendant with having accom- pllshed the ruin
| OF Miss Pollard when she was a schoolgirl Of
seventeen. and he. q distin Rushed public man.
| nearing the half century mark with being the
father Of several children born to her. and
| with making and breaking promise TO marry
| her. The alleged contract Of an engagement
| IL claimed BY Miss Pollard TO have been made
shortly after the death Of defendants wife. and
broken less than year later. when he married
Mrs. Louisa Wing OF 81 Louis.
| Col. Breckenridge in his answer. denies all
| the charges. Miss Pollard swore that when
che FIRST met Col. Breckenridge she was
| schoolgirl Of II. He claims that she was then
between 20 and % years OF age This was in
the spring Of 1894. SO that Miss Pollard's age
should now be "a. according to her own state
ment. and between 30 and 80 according to the
estimate OF Col Breckenridge. On this dis
puted question there will be evidence given at
the trial. and much interest is shown In Its
settleme emit as tending 20 establish whetho r the
plaintiff was OF a responsible age whom the al
legged offence was committed.
The trial IL being held In the largest court
room in the United States Court House here.
which Is known as tho City Hall. from the fact
that II was once the municipal building when
Washington had q municipal government 1t
is q quaint sedste old structure. painted
white and built on tho Southern manor house
plan OF the Revolutionary period. 1t has been
the scene Of many sensational trials. notably
that Of the assassin Guiteau. The spacious
court was packed.
Tho Hon. Jere Wilson. former member Of
Congress and one OF the ablest and best known
lawyers OF the country. 10 the principal coun-
sci for the plaintiff He IL tall man about 90
years OF age. his thin face accumulated BY
prominent Roman nose Beside him sat CAL
deron Carlisle. q younger man. who stands
high at the bar. He was counsel for the Brit
ish Government In the Behring Sea case in the
United states Supreme Court Col Enoch
Totten. the principal attorney for Col Brock
inridRo. Ii Ill In Florida. and will not DO back
In Washington for Q week. but Phil Thompson.
who was one OF Col. Brecklnridgs's colleagues
from Kentucky In the House and who Is called
to Alter ss c S. h SS
Thompson 10 . kentuckian all over. from his
accent to his high.arched insteps. and he has
Judge Wilson and Mr.. Carlisle, the plaintiffs
pear. They came some time before Col
Breckinridgs entered tho court room. He was
ro se m BENJAMIN BSsserPorts, his sSn
Msttingly q. q thi. city. who has also been re-
Il We: i0:lS o'slSck when Judge BRADLEY,
room. and. after the crisr had called the court court
sSsa Sa9 %. ;h Hs .s..
ssLyed for member OF the bar wsre Occupied.
mary TO the opening Of the case:
seem to show any ,trepidstion In being stared
b.Si sat T Ill., oPS f.es iF.m aaSi IL biz
siivsry beard and hair. showed some few
but otherwise there was nothing about hi:
appearance to show that he was man whose
Ts s,. was hanging In the balance. Miss
Mr.. Matt!ngly, opened the procsedinks with
IN the case AIKEN, in Kentucky and Ohio. which
bays not arrived. he said these dispositions
hS mt they So The sd
them and to cali syIdshes IN robutt.l TRsrs
end by Judge Bradley. who said that any OBJ
jection to tho dspositions that either side |
when the dispositions arrived. and considers |
ton and full legal effect would be given Il
A recess OF twenty minutes was taken at this |
point while the Clerk arranged the jury poll. |
All the counsel In the case had taken their |
The counsel for the defendant. was composed |
ismin Butterworth. John T. Shelby. and Charles |
II. stolL Miss Pollard was represented by Jere,
A. Wilson. CaldeIon Carlisle, and William 3
cousin Representative Clifton IL BreckInridgs |
OF Arkansas. He was the only Congressman |
present. Gen. SWAIN the suspended Judge |
Adyoeate-General OF the army was also In |
When the jury had been sworn Col. Thomp- |
son OF the defence told the Judge that q mass |
OF testimony In dispositions had Just arrived |
by mail and been delivered to him. aud after |
Q consultation with the counsel ON the other |
side they had agreed to a Dostponemen until |
stlons. Some Of the counsel on this side"
said Col Thompson. have lust been called
into the case on account OF others who are |
sick. Major Ben Bntterworth was only em-
a. and the trial facilitated By an adjournment TO
Mr.. Carlisle, for the plaintiff. said that In re-
gard TO the dispositions that was q matter that |
was equal on both sides The main reason
We are willing to he
and We deem 1t . matter OF courtesy to the
other side to extend the trial"
Judge Bradley asked some questions to sat
tsfy himself that Postponsmsnt was the most
The Jury was aceordipgly excused, and the
morning.