Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-05
THE POLLARD SUIT
Indications That There Will Be No
Postponement.
A CASE AGAINST MR.. BRECKENRIDGE
A Long Trial Looked for in Judge
BradIey's Court.
COL. TOTTEN'S ABSENC

Thursday next, before Judge Bradley, in
Circuit Court, No. 1. what promises to be
one of the most interesting, if not sensa-
uODal, cases ever tried in the courts of the
District will be called, when the case OF Miss
Madeline '. Pollard agt. Congressman VIM.
c. +. Breckenridge of Kentucky is reached.
The case was last month peremptorily set
by Judge Bradley for the Sth of this mon tn,
and, as far as can now be learned, 1t
Will then be taken up. There are however,
several cases on the calendar Of the court
which have the right of way, and which
possibly may not be disposed of between
now and Thursday. but should these inter
venng cases be disposed of by that time,
and that they will be seems probable now,
II Is understood neither side will ask for q
continuance, even though the eloquent
kentuckian viii then be forced to proce ed
to trial during the abse ice of Col. Enoch
Totten, one of his counsel, ana upon whom
he greatly relies. Col Totten is now in
Florida, where he was forced to go last
month in search of health. 1t is under
stood that he will not return before the
18TH if at that time.
Mr.. Breckinridge may, of course again
ASK the court to continue the case until
the return of Col Totten, as he did last
month. but, as Judge Bradley at that
time time remarked, in setting the case for
Thursday next, the defendant not only has
other able counsel. but is him self, II Is said,
lawyer of more than ordinary ability.
Hence it is believed that unless Mr. Breck-
tinuance on other grounds the court would
hardly grant it,
The Case to be Tried.
1t was on the 18th of August last when
Miss Pollard startled the country by enter
ing suit in the District Supreme Court on
the law side of the court against the Ken
lucky Congressman, claiming damages to
the amount OF $4,000, alleging that not only
had she been seduced by the silver-tongued
orator and politician, but also alleging that
he had broken his promise. solemnly made
to her more than once, to make her his
wife. 1t was alleged. by the fair plaintiff.
that the seduction had occurred several
years ago. when she was an inexperienced
school girl, yet in her teens. at a time when
the ConSressman's first wife lived, and that
the unlawful intimacy was continued up to
the time of the defendants second mar
riage, few months ago, several children
resulting from her alleged intimacy with
him.
On the 21st of last September the defend
ant demurred to the plaintiffs declaration,
claiming that II was faulty, because II al
legged more than one promise. The matter
was argued before Judge Cox, the court
overruling the demurrer. and two days later
issues were Joined and the case was placed
on the trial calendar of the court, the case
being numbered 956 Expecting that at the
commencement of the January term of the
court the call of cases would be taken up
not where call ceased during the previous
term, but with the first case on the caien-
dar, it was believed that the case would rot
be reached within year or more. But the
court decided to take up the calendar where
the call ceased at the close of the pre-
ceding term. Hence, the early hearing of
the case.
a Long Trial Expected.
Both sides have. during the past few
weeks, been busily engaged in taking the
depositions of parties in different parts Of
the country, and it is expected that these
depositions will form quite an important
feature of the trial of the suit It is
thought, however, that many of them will
be ruled out by the court on the ground
that they are immaterial The trial, it is
believed, will be a long one, and both sides
are represented ready to make a des-
perately bitter fight. The city hall officials
expect that there will be a tremen ious
pressure for admittance to the court room,
but it was stated today that, owing to the
small accommoda tions of the room, Judge
Bradley may decide to exclude every one
not directly connected with the trial