The Washington times., 1894-03-19

not number themselves among his friends
must view with taint Of suspicion, however
unwilling the attempt at the refutation Of
almost innumerable witnesses by simple
statement that they will be refuted. 1t Is Ia
this uncertain and undesirable frame OF
mind that the common people are waiting Tor
the trial to proceed.
Meanwhile, of course, other stories and
rrmors must circulate and other comment
must be agitated. Some one wants to know
why certain Rev. DR.. Paxton, of large repu-
tation in New York, should have made him.
self liable to arrest by not recording that
secret marriage in all these months, when
the law is explicit in requiring it done within
ten days. Certainly if this marriage really
did occur as stated large amount OF trouble
and suffering on Miss Pollard's part might
have been prevented by such compliance.
One sample gauZy rumor, people have been
known to insinuate that the colonel had other
fears than those OF an assault from Miss Pol
lard during all this troublesome time of theirs;
that in fact. being a gay gentleman, he had
fixed himself between two locked horns OF o
bad dilemma. and that his subsequent course,
resulting In this trial, was his choice of per-
haps the lesser of the two evils. People even
point out that Miss Pollard didn't have any
Wing certainly had.
People point out this and point out other
things. rather maliciously, perhaps, and seem
to take delight in doing 1t. You can hardly
story as far as told, and as caunot be told in
the evidence, but must be inferred. The trial
cannot bring out in nearly their true colors
the calculating GOODNESS, the absence OF pns-
sion as a motive, the moral force, if not the
physical force that the man used, his cruelty
when he had accomplished his purpose. that
are parts of the story. But people will think
OF the them, nevertheless, and rather hope
that MIR. Carlisle or some other one OF Miss
Po!lards lawyers may be sufficiently eloquent
in expressing the lot that they feel ought to
be said.
The mystery of the defense will undoubt-
edly be solved in a few days. 1t is said that
it is the present intention to place Col. Breck-
inridge on the witness stand as the first and
most important witness on his own behalf.
That his recital will be long one was fore
told by one of his attorneys yesterday, when
he said that the defendant would doubtless
be on the stand three days. This attorney
prophesied that the trial will continue for
two weeks or more longer. That part Of
Washington which enjoys a sensation, and it
is a large part, is anticipating eagerly the
cross-examination of the silver-haired de-
fendant by Attorneys Carlisle and Wilson.
Colonel Breckenridge will be made to say
intensely interesting things, even more than
he can possibly say for himself and against
Miss Pollard. Another point to watch for
perhaps in his direct testimony, perhaps in
confessions that may be wrested from his I'M
willing breast, is the way he speaks of Mrs.
Blackburn. Mrs. Wing has relatives and
friends with unsafe firearms, and Mrs. Black
burn would undoubtedly command the en-
thusiastic championship of an even greater
number of warm-blooded Kentuckians If a
word was said by Col. Breckinridge that they
did not fully acquiesce in.