The herald., 1894-03-30
WEAK HUMAN NATURE,
Colonel Breckinridge Tells
His Story.
The Star of Kentucky on the
Witness Stand.
How He INDUCED in the Delights of
Illicit Love.
His Meeting with Miss Pollard, His
Visit to Her at the Wesleyan
College and the Con-
sequences.
BY the Associated Press.


BY the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, MARCH, 29.-In the Pol
lard rd-Breckinridge case today. after some
evidence of minor Importance, counsel
for the defense read the deposition of
Mrs. w. J. Miller of Memphis, claiming
she and Miss Pollard were inmates of
Lena Singleton's assignation house in
Lexington.
At the afternoon session, Breckinridge
himself took the stand on bis own be-
half. After detailing facts of his life, in
answer to questions, he testified that he
met Mas Pollard fTst il the spring OF
1884 on train between Lexington and
Frankfort. Miss Pollard accosted him
in perfectly proper way, he supposing
her to be some young person who had
grown out of his knowledge. She gave
him her name, told OF ner fathers admi-
ration for his father, and that he had
named her after him-Madeline Breck-
inridge Pollard. Later he received
letter from her asking him to call at the
college on business of Importance to her.
He replied it was inconvenient to call,
but if she would call on him in Lexing-
ton he would be glad to give her advice.
Later he received another letter, and
Butterworth, handing up a black
bordered epistle, asked If that was it.
He identified it as the letter in ques-
ton.
A few days later he called at the COL
lege and was received by Miss Pollard
Here Butterworth offered the letter in
evidence Plaintiffs attorneys objected
on the ground that the letter was not
Miss Pollard's, and arguments as to its
admissibility began.
Judge Bradley, at the conclusion of
the arguments decided te admit the
letter to be shown the jury, on the
ground that az there appeared to be a
denial Of it's authorship by the plaintiff
the defendant declared ne received it in
the due course OF his mail and alter
wards, when he called at the college
talked with the plaintiff about its con-
tente, she remarking he was probably
surprised at receiving such a missive
from school girl. the jury could exer-
else their powers OF observation on it,
comparing it with admitted specimens
OF plaintiffs handwriting. Moreover,
the matter was important, as the letter
was already published and probably
read by the jury. Its publication, how
ever, in advance of its presentation to
the jury was contempt of court, though
probably unintended contempt. The
letter was then read.
This being finished. Colonel Breckin-
ridge rose again and desribed what had
become of the letters. He had kept
three files, one at his house, at his
Office and one partnership file. 1t was
his recollection two had been placed on
the file in his Office.
Returning to his visit to the Wesleyan
seminary, the defendant explained it
had been made while on business trip
to Covington, on Friday. the let OF
August. There being no hotel accom-
mediation in Covingtion, he had gone to
Cincinnati to stay over night. After
dinner, remembering the letter OF Miss
Pollard, he strolled up to the college.
II sent nay name up" he said, Twas
invited into a room, and in few mo-
ments the plaintiff came down. We
shook hands. She said she supposed
she had astoniehed me by the substance
of her letter; that it was worse than a
divorce case. We took seats, she on a
| divar, on chair, in the reading room.
| She narrated the circumstances under
which she had made the agreement with
Mr.. Rhodes. Until then l had not
known who her mother was. | had
known her father but not who he had
married. AS soon az che told me she
was living with her aunt, Mrs. York
Keene, [ knew who her mother was, be-
/ har nlo ho1
in my brothers. regiment. Because her
father had died in straitened circum-
stances and her life with her aunt had
not been pleasant she wanted to leave.
Mr.. Rhodes had fallen in love with her
she had respected him as an older man,
but had not loved him. She wanted to
know whether he could compel her to
marry him. | treated the matter with
some leyity said there was no law by
which she could be compelled to a spe-
cific performance of the contract if she
did not like it. She looked ae though
she felt like crying; took out her hand
kerchlef, put it to her face,
and / got up and walked the
room. asked her if her mother was
alive. had not seen her mother. l
never have in fact, but she said her
mother had not approved of the con-
tract, and had made unpleasantness in
in the family. l spoke OF her grand
father. l knew her grandpa and her
uncles. We had ceased to walk the
room. She WAS sitting on the divan and
was standing beside her. started to
leave alter some expressions OF sympa-
thy, but she detained me. She said
1T is much worse than that; he insisted
On marrying me. did not want to be
like Aunt Lou with house full of kids
and unable to educate them She put
her handkerchief TO her face"
Here Colonel Brckinridge spoke very
slowly and reproduced the mournful
tones which q young woman might use
III making such a confession. 'She
said 4 have here higher proof than
the contract Then | said she ought to
marry him anyway. She said: | can
not; have grown away from him.