Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-15
ENDED IN A FIST FIGHT.
Counsel in the Famous Scandal
Case Comes to Blows.

morning was MISS Madeline Pollard, tho
plaintiff in the breach Of promise suit
against Congressman w. p. Z. Bfeckin-
ridge, and she was the target of all eyes.
The trial commenced when Mr.Calderon
Carlisle addressed the jury and outlined
the matters which the plaintiff would
endeayor to prove, and read her deClarn-
ton OF her wrongs nj the defendants hands.
During this reading Miss Pollard flushed
crimson,She trembled violently and buried
her face in her handkerchief. Colonel
Breckenridge chatted in matter-of-fact
way with his lawyers. In concluding, MIR,
Carlisle said:
THAT, gentlemen, is the story Of my
client. She docs not come here saying
that she is devoid of fault or blame, but
there is the promise of marriage and its
breach, the issue of this case" He sud
he only asked that the jury be not blinded
to the truth by the ilashes of eloquence
which would come from the other side
Then Attorney Wilson for the plaintiff
complained that certain books which hpd
figured in the atlidavits and were impOrt-
ant to the case had been taken by the de-
PENDANTS counsel and asked that they be
returned to the plaintiff. MIR. Butterworth
read notice which had been served on the
plaintiff for the production offour volumes
of Washington Irving given TO Attorney
Stoll at Cincinnati and insisted that more
given.
Just as Mr.. Carlisle was about to reply,
Miss Pollard broke out historically to her
counsel. sobbing ard making inarticulnte
EXPLANATIONS while the Sister of Charity
and her attorneys endeavored to calm her
They know what those books are, " said
Mr. Wilson emphatically, land if they
want closer description will say that they
are the four volumes given them by Sister
Augustine, from one of which they took u
Christmas card which the defendant had
placed in evidence.
Mrs. Blackburn spoke firmly and con-
tinued ."Colunel Breckinridge said: Il
have brought this young lady to ask for
her your kind care and protection, for
great deal to me. AS soon as a sufficient
time after the death of my wife has elapsed
l intend to marry her."
The cross-examinQtlon of Mrs. Black
burn secured no contradictions of her di-
rect statements. Although she could not
remember dates; she was mistaken on the
details of conversation.
WASHINGTON, March 12.-Refreshed
by two days of consultation and plan
ming, the Pollard Breckinridge legal
forces bristled with law books and pre-
tentious looking documents this morn
ing as they arrayed themselves along
the two rows of desks in the criminal
courtroom. Jurors, too, were smiling
with just provocation, for directly
across the courtroom and facing them
sat group of fashionable young
women, backed by row of solemn
matrons, all guided by that fountain of
curiosity which springs eternal in the
female breast.
Judge Bradley leaned his hands and
head back in his padded leather chair,
the roll of jurors was called and was no
sooner finished than theu Judge re-
marked: "Mr. Marshal, l wish you
would request these ladies to vacate the
seats unless they are witnesses in the
case"
Thereupon Marshal Wilson's portly
form doomed up before the women wav-
ing them out They went with clouds
of disappointment over their faces and
such a babbling of anger that the judge
was Obliged to rap for order.
The discussion continued at some
length, and finally Mr.. Shelby said that
if there was to be any question OF fact
the defendant would like opportunity
to file alfidavits concerning it. There
upon the matter was for the time de-
ferred and witness for Miss Pollard
was called, who gave his name as Mr..
Claude de Ia Roche Francis, first
cousin of Mr. Ward MacAllister and
nephew of the Marquis de la Roche,
chamberlain to the Pope, announcing
that his residence was in New York,
but that most of his time was spent in
Europe.
He had known Miss Pollard, he said,
in Washington in 1898, when she lived
at No. 25 Lafayette Square and No. 1919
H street. He had been visitor at the
latter place two or three times week,
always seeing Miss Pollard there and
frequently Col. Breckenridge with her
in the drawing room.
"What was Colonel Breckinridge's
manner toward Miss Pollard ?" asked
Attorney Wilson.
"Always extremely paternal and very
kind, very atfectionate Also"
"What was Miss Pollards's manner
toward him ?"
VERY respectful and affectionate."
Hiss Pollard had introduced the wit
ness to Colonel Breckenridge once in the
drawing room. AS the witness entered
he found Colonel Breckenridge holding
Miss Pollard's hand as though about to
leave. As he stood in the hall, heard
Colonel Breckenridge ask Miss Pollard
who he was, whether he came to see
her, and seemed fearful that he might
inform mutual friend, Mrs. Corruvias,
of the Mexican Legation, of his Colonel
Breckinridge's) attentions to Miss Pol
lard and also heard Colonel Breckin-
ridge inquire if he knew of their en-
gagemont, seeming apprehensive that he
might speak of that. Recess until /
O'Clock.
WAsHINeToN, March 12.-At the close
of to-day's session of the Pollard
Breckenridge case counsel INDUCED in a
warm discussion over some dispositions,
during which Mr.. johnson, of counsel
for Breckenridge, alluded to the objec-
tions of the other side as "a piece Of
chicanery, insolence and effrontery."
This angcred Lawyer Shelby, and as
Mr.. johnson left the room Mr.. Shelby
darted after him and accosted him in
the hallway. Mr.. johnson is broad
shouldered, black .moustached, cool and
handsome; Mr.. Shelby is short and OK.
citable. Said Mr.. Shelby, facing his taller
opponent: you have insulted me, sir,
and mus. have satisfaction, sir"
swell, sir?" responded Mr.. johnson,
interrogativcly and calmly, as he after
ward said, expecting that Mr. Shelby
would denominate the sort of satisfac-
ton he expected.
Thereupon MIR. Shelby's right fist
shot outward and upward, grazing Mr..
Johnson's left check AID drawing a
slight blush. As he threw up his arm
in the defensive, the dignitied form of