The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-31
Breekinridge Gives His Explanation
Of the Agreement to Marry
Madeline Pollard
Was Made 20 Prevent Her From
Shooting Him or Making
a Scene.
lie Went with Her 20 Mrs.
BIackburns House.

houas Of Sarah Goss, OF Lexington, we're
then taken up. The witness said no had
met her on the train 10 Lexington, and the
At anRsmont was made 10 meet at the
house mentioned that evening. They went
there, but could not GET in. Finally IL Was
arranged that she should wait awhile for
sarah's return. while BtsokinridRs should
90 home. returning later. and If the keeper
Of the house returned in q reasonable time
she would find the plaintiff there.
lie returned, after taking supper with his
family. and found her there. She made no
resistancs or protsstation against what was
done there. carrying Out the arrangement
made on the train. He returned the next
night and found her still there. lie re-
msined till 10 p. m. Everything in her
appearance and conduct indicated that she
was q fully developed young woman. sxpsr-
fenced in the relations of the sexes. Moth
ing aas ever said then until the filing
Of the suit about his having seduoed her,
physically OF otherwise.
The meeting at Sarah Goss' Was on Aus.
/ ,, and he did not see her again until the
next at October at the sayre inssituts. LoI-
| ington. lie declared that II she received
any one in her room there a. night u was
not he. While Miss Pollard was absent
from Lexington in the spring OF 1885. when
declare Re had no knowledge OF her where
abouts and no communication With her.
He denied that IL was on account Of
his impoTtuBities that she came TO Wash
ington; declared she came In spite Of his
Efforts to dissuade her. rointing out the
danger to both from such course.
BreekinTidRe then. in response 60 further
questions, detniled the story Of his relations
with plaintiff. declaring they we're ffe-
qusntly interrupted for months at a time,
once for year; of a ssries of visits to
questionable house in Cincinnati. AZ Sarah
Goss' house. and elsewhere, he paid eK-
psnses. aud gave plaintiff money.
In reply 10 q question as 20 the truth of
the statement by Miss Pollard that he had
on two occasions. after protestatious OF
love, promised to msTrJ her. BreokinridRe
said;
''Thsrs ia not a seintilla Of truth In that
statement not a shred. Under no 0ircum-
stances. al no time. was there such a state
msnt. Plaintiff never alluded 90 she pos
siblitY OF IL. Before the death Of my wife
there was no solitary word that could be
distorted into such tainR."
From November. 1886. 90 July, 1887, there
we're NO imprOper relations between them.
They we're resumed aftes that. during the
time she was in She Academy OF Visitation
be paid her eKpsnsea, even when not auI-
tanning relations, reeogniz ing the danger OF
scandal. Ia view Of her temper and disposi-
tion.
Breokinridge declared; "soms Of our In
tsfVisws we're more excessively unpleasant
than any words can describe. She would
come to me al the capitol In my COMMITTEES
room, declare that she was not going 30
leave. that she was going 20 have the sup
port owing 20 her. l suppose, at times.
l becsme excessively AnRy, said things
hard and bitter. j knew the only alternA-
tive was submission or the destruction OF
those whose lives depended ON me- and let
10 90 on, hoping that tomorrow would
bring a solution TO the problem. Her man
Ger often times was extremely disagresa-
ble"
Then the two applications by plaintiff
for position in the civil service al Wash
ington, endorsed by defendant who
vouehed for her good morals, character
and reputation, were Identified by witness.
In refutstion OF Miss Pollard's statement
that at his request she returned from New
York 10 Washington. IN August, ls93. that
he met her 40 the depot. kissed her. took
her In = car iaRo. promised to marry her.
he declared he was not in Washington NJ
tha, time. and she was not there either as
far as he knew. No such occurrence hap-
pened. he saw her in New York. Sept. 20,
for the hrst time during ths summer. She
said she had an opportunity 10 90 abroad
aud study with young ladies of good family
II BreckinridRe would represent that she
was engaged to be married TO him in two
years.
This was the first time the subject OF
marriage had been bToached." He con
tinued. Il said l hsd not enough money.
but would not let that stand IN the way;
that under 70 Circumstances would con-
sent 30 any representations OF a marriage
engagement. She said she could go
abroad, study modern languages. and eoms
back IN two years fitted TO be my wife. !
said that could never be. that ] was not
open 10 negotiations of that sort"
On several occasions. witness said. plain
tif had declared her intentions Of com
hitting suicide. She said 10 witness 10 he
did not help her out In ths matter she did
not intend 30 ALLOW him 90 live.-thHt she
did not intend 10 bear the disgrace alone.
lie had told her thofe would he no difficulty
about 10 II she would leave Washington as
shs had promised. and that he would pay
her expenses wherever she went. In one
OF these conversations. when She was ar
PAR ntly consolsd. abe got mp ana went into
the library and came back shortly and
pointed a pistol at him. threatening Go Kill
him. by strategy he had bssn enabled 90
take 10 away from her before she could do
any harm. lie kept the pistol. and u was
the same she had taken from his vslise
and With which she had attempted his life
, In New York.
In March. 1888 he met plaintiff in Gin
cinnau In response 70 a telegram. She told
him she had been obliged. under Mira
baekburn'a discrimination. TO repre-
sent tha. she was engaged TO him. Rstnrn-
ceived a call fiOm Mas Pollard. lie said:
Il then agreed that II she wonld 20 away
would put myself In tho power Of plaintid
aud Mis-. blackburn. aud y etsnd there was
an engagement said; You have put me
Nheie there 10 no alternative, hut put
myself In your power and must trust you
OF submit 90 a scene In a hotel ofliss o.
street, perhaps an attempt on nv hfe.'"
Nay l interpose nt this point" sug-
ge0ted Mr.. Wilson. sud he said there had
been no plea Of coercion put IN By defense
he reply by Mr.. Butterworth vas that
the 9 had been no agTeemsnt. but only ths
ssmbiance OF one. 20 preserve which waa
of moe value than life. under compulaion
a. snsctual ne a loaded pistol. lie dii not
! care what tho duress OF coercion was called.
Legal aparfiuE became Very warm. Nj.
Wilson declaring thsy miGht show. ~ thsT
could, that 40 agreement was made under
dufeas.
IL said there must be no misunderstand-
ing between us," continued Col. Hrtckin-
iilge. when the lawyers had snbs dod. Il
ieminded her that from the q 80 had said
there could be no marriage. but anything
she thought oould DO 30 save those who