Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-03-28
LEGAL PYROT[CHN|CS
INDUCED In in the BreCk-
inridge Case.
WILL DEFENDANT TESTIFY2
The Famous Letter Which Defense Is
Trying to Get Before the Jury.

WASHINGTON, March 2S.-For the first
time yesterday the keen eross-examina-
tion power of Judge Jere Wilson, whose
work has been awaited with interest by
his fellow-workers, was brought into play
In the Pollard -Breckinridge case.
Ii was first exercised on Major Moore,
the chief of police, who was called back
TO dispute some Of Miss Pollard's state
ments regarding the two Interviews In
his Office, during which Colonel Breckin-
ridge repeated his promise TO marry her,
and aftsrward Mr.. Wilson stirred up such
a cloud Of verbal dust around the expert
testimony of DIR. Schaeffer, that the
spectators hardly knew whether the let
ter came from the plaintiff 10 the de-
fendant. or the reverse.
Two witnesses, well known In Washing
ton-Dr. Schaefer, deputy coroner OF the
District of Columbia, and 4. B Hay
appeared for the Kentucky congress-
man, and their statements were directed
to the support OF the contention that the
hand of Madeline Pollard penned the
black bordered letter written in 1884,
which she has most emphatically dis
avowed twice over on the witness stand.
Great stress is laid by the defense upon
the authenticity of this letter, not be-
cause it runs counter TO the testimony Of
the plaintiff that Colonel Breckenridge
first called upon her at the Wesleyan
academy of her own volition, but because
they think II she can be proven false on
one important detail the whole statement
will be impeached
The signature to the letter also goes 70
support the opening statement OF the de-
"A,
Pollard had adopted at that time the
middle name of Breckinridge This
letter, which has figured so conspicuously
in the case, and hich the defense will
fight TO get before the Jury, Is rs follows
Tho Bone Of Contention.
WESLEYAN COLLEGE, July "a, 1884
Dear Colonel Breckenridge:
Your letter came TO me Saturday. am
glad you told me IL would be inconvenient 20
come out here to the college. for IL you had gone
TO ever such little troubls TO listen to what
sometimes overburdens "a schoolgirls mind,
you might be inclined TO be provoked with
yourself. preachers opinion of any little
affairs Of mine, would cause premature gray
hairs, whore your opinion might clear away
all doubts and fears, and let me be quite free
hearted again.
think have prepared you for a divorce
case, but listen, II Is worse than that. III "A
tuition here at school for three years, under
the promise that marry him, at the expira-
tion Of the time. could he do anything IL
would not marry him, but teach and refund all
he had advancedf know you think, why the
deception2 But on no other terms will he
agree
When girl wants nothing but a good edu-
cation and means 10 obtain, are denied,
what is she To do but take the only chance
she Is ever likely 10 have / liked your face,
and am sure | would like you, and II at any
future time you are in tho city and would care
TO come around, remember that home faces
are always welcome. | am very respectfully
yours, MADELINE Is. POLLARD.
To-Day bids fair to he the great day Of
the trial, for unless the cross-examination
of two intervening witnesses is too long
drawn-out, the silver-tongued defendant
himself will mount rostrum of kind
I'm which he has not figured before, and
will begin his version OF the long in-
triRue