The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-03-10

Washington, March 9--The hearing
of the Pollard Brechnridge suit was
resumed in the district court this morn
: ing.
Miss Pollard was one of the first to
appear, accompanied by two elderly la
dies. Though subjected to constant
scrutiny of the throng which filed the
court room, she seemed perfectly at
ease.
Colonel Breckenridge came later.
fresh and smiling.
The case opened with a statement of
! Lawyer Calderon Carlisle to the jury,
reciting the contract and the positions
of the parties to the suit; he rehearsed
how Breckenridge took advantage of
Miss Pollard's youth, when she was
school girl of seventeen; that Under
promise of marriage after the death OF
the then living wife, made before cred
ible witnesses, he became tie father
of her three children; how he failed to
keep his promise and married another
woman; how she endeavored to leave
him them but had been persuaded to
continue his mistress, because of love
for him.
/ During the address plaintiff flushed
crimson, trembled violently, and buried
| her face in her handkerchief. Breckin-
ridge chatted unconcernedly With his
attorneys
Carlisle said his client did not claim
to be devoid of fault or blame, but
there was a breach of promise, which
was the issue. He then s;1etched her
life. She was a brilliant eirl of COM
mon parentage and was anxious to
rise AS a country girl she was unedu-
Gated. She met j. c. Rhodes, man
of means, though not of high station
who became enamored of her and pro-
missed to educate her if she would mar
ry him. She signed an agreement to
that effect. Afterwards when he was
pressing her for fulfillment of the
agreement, she asked Brecknridge's
counsel. He came and at once began
! to take advantage of her youth and
lack of knowledge of the word, accom-
plishing his purpose under promise of
marriage after his wife's death, and
had introduced her as his promised
wife into the first families of the city.
Then Attorney Phil Thompson an
nounced that the defense would re-
serve the opening statement till the
conclusion of PLAINTIFFS testimony. At
torney Wilson demanded that certain
books, one containing Christmas
card given to plaintiff by the defend
ant and taken by counsel for the de-
Tense, be returned. The defense asked
that the books be more accurately de-
scribed The court held the descrip-
ton sufficient.
During the colloquy plaintiff broke
into hysterical and inarticulate sobs
and EXPLANATIONS.
Mrs: Julia. c. Blackburn, widow of
the late Governor Blackburn of
na fret t1,o
testified that in the spring of 1898, in
Washington, Colonel Rreckinridge
brought Miss Pollard to her, and asked
her kind care and protection for a
young lady, adding that as soon as
sufficient time had elapsed after the
death of his wife he intended to marry
her in spite Of the fact that he was old
enough to be her father, being thirty
one years her senior. AT another time
. he told Mrs. Blackburn, when she
chided him for forgetting his devotion
to his former wife, that he had dis
covered that Miss Pollard was in love
with him and as a man of honor felt
bound to marry her. At another time
he asked witness to allay Miss Pol
lard's jealousy. Mrs. Blackburn asked
him If he had given her any cause and
he declared on his honor that he had
not. This was when he was paying
: attention to Mrs. Wing, of Louisville,
blackburn related how Miss Pollard
once in her presence urged Rreckin-
ridge to fix the day but he put her off
saying he would fix it later.
On cross-examination Mrs Black.
burn said Miss Pollard on every occa,
; sion bore herself as a lady. AS to hel
FEELING toward Miss Pollard. she sale
!, she felt sorrow for any woman who
was compelled to fight her owr
battles, adding, as she turned hel
flashing eyes on Breckinridge:
, Just the sorrow feel being compelled
to appear here, when, if l had the de-
tense of a husband, it would never
have been necessary
Mrs. Blackburn, speaking of 1892
said Breckenridge called upon the wit.
ness; he said, at Miss Pollard's request
to correct the reports concerning the
latter. and he asserted there could be
no scandal attached to Miss Pollard's
. name, since for long time after com.
ing to Washington she had remained
in convent. Mrs. Fillette, the wit
ness stated, had said Miss Pollard was
; forward, taking undue liberties in the
houses Of her friends, saying Miss Pol
lard had invited Charles Dudley Warn
er to her (MrS. Fillette'S) house with
out her permission. When Miss Pol
lard came to tell her of Colonel Brock
: inridge's attentions TO Mrs. Wing Mrs
Blackburn advised her, II she had any
self-respect, to drop him. On his mex
visit. Colonel Breckenridge declared
+ sternly, emphatically, and frequently
that the story of his attentions Il
other women was the work of misera bl,
gossips. Mrs. Blackburn extended Mis-
Pollard more protection than she other
wise would because Breckenridge hac
asked her to do SO, and she believed
him to be a gentleman.
After the noon recess, Miss Pollard
was decidedly cheerful, smiling as sh,
talked with her lawyers.
Miss Mary Desha, sister of the de
PENDANTS first wife, testified to having
2 known Miss Pollard, but her evidenc
{ was of little account.
2 mo cross-examina ton for her; sh,
may stand aside" said Colonel Breck
: linridge with a wave of his hand
Major Moore, chief of police of thu
: district of Columbia, took the stand
r He first met Miss Pollard, accompan
! led by Breckenridge. in his office or
May IS, 1893. He said: THE door wa:
: suddenly thrown open Colonel Brock
inridge came in followed by a lady
He said he might have to ask my pro
2 lection. as the lady threatened his life
She demanded that he should promise