The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-30
BRECKENRIDGE TESTIFIES.
HE BEGINS THE STORY OF Frs RE-
LhTIoNS WITH MISS PoLIlRn

for the Day with story or the C.rri.r.
Ride from wssieyas College Totally DIG
ferent from that Given by Miss rou.rs.
WASHINGTON. March 2n--Col Breckinrldr.
took the witness stand In the Criminal Court
to-day and began the recital OF the long story
OF his relationship to Madeline Pollard since
| the day. In the spring Of 1884. when he first met
her on the cars between Lsxing ton and Frank
fort, Nv. Col. Breckinridge's testimony was
| the most important feature Of the days pro-
| ceedings In court, and his story, as far as he
had proceeded with 1t when the court ad-
| journed at o'clock. was remarkable narra-
| tive.
| The morning session Of the court was occu-
pied In hearing the testimony and deposit
tons OF persons called by the prosecution or
the defence to break down or. substantiats
the charges made against the moral character
OF Miss Pollard prior to the time she became
acquainted with Col Breckenridge. The report
that the defendant would take the stand In his
own behalf to-day caused public curiosity to
| De excited to the utmost degree. and the de-
| mand for admission to the court room was
very great Many persons OF prominence were
present, but nearly all Of them became weary
| OF the tediousness OF the mornings pro-
ceedings and went away under the Impression
| That tool BreckinridRe would not te called until
tomorrow. Soon after the afternoon session
| began. however. Major Butterworth quietly
| said: Call Col Breckenridge" aud the de-
| PENDANT In this suit took the little Bible In
his hand and swore to tell the truth. Miss
Pollard was not in court when Col Breckin-
| ridge began his testimony. but she was imme-
| diately sent for to the Office OF her counsel
| across the street. and the defendant had been
| talking but a few nom ents when she arrived,
accompanied by Mrs. Ellis. and took her 40
customed seat directly In front OF tho witness.
Miss Pollard fastened her eyes upon Col
Breckinridge. and very seldom. II ever, during
the remainder Of the long afternoon did her
glance fall elsewhere than on the face of the
man In the witness box
Col Breckinridge's com posure was remark
able. and his testimony was delivered In q
| straightforward emphatic. unhesltatipg man
ner. and with that peculiarly soft. m usical and
almost oily voice that has given him the name
OF the silver-tongued orator OF Kentucky"
COL Breckenridge stood while giving mis- testi-
mony. and as he leaned against the Judges
desk. bending toward the jury and the law
yers. he had the appearance OF a minister de-
lverinR sermon to an eager congregation.
He spoke at all times slowly and deliberately.
and had no hesitation whatever with regard to
any statements that he made or any answer
given In reply to the Questionings Of Major
Butterworth.
As Col BreckinridRe stood there. the target
OF all eyes In the room. and particularly of
that pair OF bright ones belonging to his ac-
cuser. he mate striking picture. His square,
shouldered. solid. burly form was clad in q
Ioose-ntting. well-worn suit OF black. with
frock coat. low-cut vest. and little black, self
tied cravat His white beard and moustachs
were neatly trimmed. and occasionally he
would run his fingers through his thick.
soft white hair and toss II back from his FORE
head just as he always does when warmed
up by his eloquence during q speech
In the House OF Representatives His clear.
rudy complexion never looked so rosy as it
did to-day. and never did his childllks blue
eyes look SO blue. BrsckinrIdge 10 . handsome
man. and his tongue Is indeed . silvery one.
The only flaw In his handsome features 10 the
hatteninR OF the bridge OF the nose which, but
Tor this defect. which may have been the re-
suit OF accident. would be true Roman In its
outline. The index finger Of Col Breckin-
ridges left hand was still covered to-day with
the piece OF white cloth that has been so no.
ticeable since the trial began. During all his
testimony he never once spoke OF Miss Pollard
By name. but referred to her always as
She or the plaintiff" 1t was particu-
larry noticeable. however. that whenever Col
Breckinridge had occasion to speak OF Miss
Pollard. he looked directly into her face with
out the slightest sign OF embarrassms nt or Of
any feeling whatsoever. His eyes sought her
face time and tlme again. and on each occa-
sion he found her looking as straight at him
as he did at her Once or twice Miss Pollard
whispered to Mr. Carlisle. who sat By her side.
but otherwise she remained impassiys. During
the closing portions Of Col Breckinridgss tes-
tlmony his brother. Gen Joseph c. Breckin-
ridge. Inspector General OF the army. sat In
the court room within the space reserved for
members OF the bar.
Shortly after Col Breckenridge had taken the
stand long discussion took place between
the opposing counsel as to the admissibility
OF the letter alleged to have been written by
Miss Pollard asking him to call upon her az
Wesleyan College. The letter in itself Is not
important except As . link in the chain OF evil
dence intended to show that Col Brsckin-
ridges relationship with Miss Pollard was due
altogether to her advances and consent
After the arguments the Judge deeld-
ed that the letter should go 10 the jury,
and In giving this decision turned aside TO Wig
orously rebuks the newspaper reporters fec
having published the contents OF the lstsss
while it was still In the possession OF the Court
and withheld from the records The Judges
rebuks seemed TO be undessrvsd. In view Of
the fact that there Is no charge that the letter
was obtained by improper means. On the COM
Irary, 1t could have been published only By the
consent Of those persons the attorneys or
others. who had II In charge.
1t 10 not known how long Col BreekInridgs
will require to tell his story and to reply to the
of the plaintiffs lawyers.
'ut judging from the character OF his tsstI-
nony to-day 1t is probable that he will give a.
and eireumstantial account Of his
lie since the day he met Miss Pollard. and
hat he will deny point blank every
tatsment that she has made in suDDsrs
4 her claim that he ssdueed her iAto hold
NC improper relations with him Indeed
was demonstrated to-day that this IL
that Col. Breckenridge means to do. Hia
sstmony this afternoon related to his hrst
melting with Miss Pollard on the cars hlS call
pom her at Ws4lsyan College. his carriage
ne with her on the night Of the dAy that as
he city Of Lexington. II WAS = dramatic re-
ltal and a clever sloeutionAry exhibition
he sensation Of the days testimony came
Ihen Col brsekinIidRe suAvsly told II the
IoWery language Of which he Is master the
trail htfOrWaTd tale Of the carriage ride With
iisS Pollard on the night Oh IuS i 1SsSI