The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-04-05
A BOLD OLD SINNER
One Chapter of Colonel Brecken-
ridges Shameful Testimony.
THROWS IN A FEW JESTS
Talks of Places Where He Attended With
Miss Pollard as an Honored Guest
-Disgraceful Recital.


was told yesterday. 1t consumed the
whole session of court, and Is still in
complete. From the second meeting at
Lexington, at the house of assignation
kept by Sarah Goss in 1884, down to the
late spring of 1893, the recital wound
its way along path stormy with Pis-
tolls, illegitimate children. clandestine
interviews and secret marriages. There
was more intrigue than one would sup
nose could be contained in the life OF
such a mild-look;pg, elderly gentleman
as the one who leaned over the witness
box and told 1t all In matter OF TACT
way, occasionally dropping into jest
There is wealth of detail in defend
ants story. He binds 1t about him, with
many extraneous matters, and throws
an atmosphere of high life over 1t,
weaving in it illusions to many politi-
cal incidents, in which he has taken
part, schools he has addressed and BAN
Duets to which he has been called as an
honored guest.
The case was resumed with defendant
again on the stand. His examination
by Butterworth began by the exhibition
of work basket which belonged to his
wife. which Miss Pollard asserted he
gave her after his wife's death. Brock
inridge denied absolutely that no gave
it to her, or even knew that she had 1t
till the trial opened.
The circumstances of their first visit
to the house of Sarah Goss, the colored
designation house keeper In Lexington,
was then taken up. Witness said he
met her on the train to Lexington and
an arrangement was made to meet at
the house mentioned that evening.
They went there, but could not get in.
Finally it was arranged that she should
wait awhile for Sarah's return, while
Breckinridge should go home, returning
later, and If the keeper of the house
returned in a reasonable time he would
find plaintiff there. He returned after
taking supper with his family and found
her there. She made no resistance nor
protestation against what was done
there, carrying ont the arrangement
made on the train. He left her there
as she did not want to take the risk OF
being discovered coming out, with the
understanding that she would slip out
during the course of the day If favora
BILE opportunity offered. If not she
would be there next night. He returned
next night and found her still there
He remained until 10 p. m. Everything
in her appearance and conduct indicated
that she was a fully developed young
woman, experienced in relations of the
sexes. Nothing was ever said then Of
until the filing of the suit about his hav
ing seduced her, physically or other
wise. The meeting at Sarah Goss's wa'
on August 2, and he did not see he
again till next October at the Sayer In
stitute, Lexington. He declared tina
If she received any one in her room
there at night it was not he.
While Miss Pollard was absent from
Lexington in the spring of 1885, whel
she said her first child was born, wit
ness declared that he had no know
edge of her whereabouts and no com
munication with her. He further de
MED having written the alleged letter
tn Rhodes and Miss Pollard's mothe
about this time.
Breckenridge then, in response to ful
Their questions, detailed the story of hi
relations with plaintiff, declaring the
were frequently interrupted for month
at time, once for year, and OF tn
series of visits to the designation hous
in Cincinnati. At Sarah Goss' house
and elsewhere, he had paid the expense
and gave plaintiff money. The fir:
time he wa. ever informed by plainti
that she was pregnant by him was i
the summer of 1887; the next time b
ever heard of her pregnancy he Gale
her to Cincinnati in the fall of 1880
She afterwards said the pregnancy
1887 resulted in legitimate miscarr
age In her mothers house, with ht
mothers knowledge.
During this evidence Miss Pollard
friends had difficulty In keeping her
lent
He denied that 1t was on account
his opportunities that she came to Was
ington; he declared she came in spi
of his efforts to dissuade her, pointi
out the danger to both from such
course.
In reply to question as to the tru
of the statement by Miss Pollard til
he had on two occasions, after protest
lions of love, promised to marry hi
Breckenridge said; "There is not
scintilla of truth In that statement; I
a shred. Under no circumstances, at
time, was there such statement Pla
tin never alluded to the possibility
IL. Before the death of my wife the
was not solitary word that could
distorted into such a thing" He +
Their declared that she never told b
that she gave birth to living child.
she had 1t would have given him an
cuse for breaking of their relatio