The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-21
A DRAMATIC INCIDENT
Miss Pollard Breaks Down While
Reciting a Pathetic Story,
And Court AdjOurns While She Is Sob
bing and the Spectators, Jurors and
Counsel Trying to Hide Tears.
COL. BRECKENRIDGE SMILES
But 1t Is with Effort, and He
Leaves the Room in a Hurry.
Madeline Relates the Most Tragic Epi-
sOde of Her Unhappy Life, After
Flood of Cross-Questions.

WASHINGTON, March 20. - When the
shrill voice Of the bailiff cried adjournment
in the old Circuit Court this afternoon the
yelled face of Madeline Pollard was buried
in her arms upon the rough board top of
the witness box, behind which she had sat
for three days. The only sound which had
broken such silence as seldom falls on a
court room was sobbing that seemed to
come from the heart. Three Jurors were
fumbling in an uncertain way with their
handkercheifs. the judge was staring to-
ward the ceiling abstractedly and even
the lawyer whose cross-examination had
led up to this passage wore a look of un-
wonted gravity on his fatherly, benevolent
face, with something remarkably like mois-
ture about his eyes. If there was a man
among the curious hundred In the court
room unmoved he was inconspicuous in the
majority of sympathetic faces. Madeline
Pollard had been telling the most tragic
episode Of her unhappy life. Tomorrow
the cross-examination of the plaintiff will
be completed early, and public expectation,
which here in Washington is raised TO
white heat, turns to the forthcoming YER
u.
When court opened this morning Miss
Pollard was promptly on hand. She was
accompanied by Miss Ellis, of the House of
Refuge, and her counsel. Judge Bradley
ascended to the desk. but none of the at
torneys for the defense appeared until the
roll of jurors was called, nor did the white
haired defendant walk in until the very
last. The bailiffs could be heard outside
ur.ey a.
citizens determined to catch a glimpse of
the plaintiff herself as Miss Pollard walked
around to the stand. pale, but sef-pos-
sessed, to begin the third day of her or
deal.
Miss Pollard. when did you first meet
Mrs. Blackburn" was the first question
asked by ex-Congressman Benjamin But
terworth of the plaintiff Miss Pollard said
she had met the widow of the Ex-Governor
Of Kentucky in the winter of 1890 when she
Miss Pollard was stopping in Washing
ton with Mrs. Fillette. Mrs. Blackburn had
called at the house and the hostess had
presented them.
LETTERS TO MIR. RHODES.
A letter was next handed 10 the plaintiff
which she said had been written by her TO
her protector, Mr.. Rhodes. After looking
at it she inquired why the heading had been
torn off, Mr.. Butterworth replying that he
did not know, and her lawyers cantioning
her that IL was not her place to ask ques-
tions. Mr. Butterworth read the letter to
the jury. 1t was dated Lexington. Nov.
Miss Hoyt has just asked me for the mon-
ey for my board" the letter said. please,
Dear. get me that $40 before Saturday,
without fail. l know any one with as many
friends as you can get 1t. You can come
saturday evening at o'clock and stay un-
til $50. Be careful in talking and can
have q pleasant time. Put the money in
an envelope and hand ii to me at the door
as you CO." The signature was, Yours
truly Madeline" There was reference In
the letter to people who lived across the
street, and whom she did not want to know
or be made known to-
Another letter was presented to the plaint-
iff, scrutinized by her lawyers and read to
the jury. 1t was dated Nov. q. and adj
dressed to Dear Mr.. Rhodes" 1t said:
81 am so worried and disappointed that
hardly know what to do. L felt certain that
you could get that tonight | was
sure a man with as many rich friends as
you could get it. and especially so near
pay day. You can come at O'clock Sat
urday afternoon and no one will be here,
though the girls may come at any time.
Be sure and come in the afternoon, Miss
Bellies friend may come i'm the evening.
Yours truly Madeline" There was
also a reference TO her pleasure at receiv-
ing so fine a birthday present and prom
ise to remember him on his birthday with
explanations that the boarding house was
not like a school, as they could not afford
TO wait. that they owed coal bill for
which they were being dunned.
Other letters were Identified and read.
One dated Bridgeport, KY, Dec 30, 1854,
trifing household matters, the weather,
skating and said: 81 never before had to
fuss at you for long letter" She prom
ised to write and tell him what evening to
call and was signed yours, with love.
one dated Feb. 10, 1888. spoke of her dis
appointment at not having received another
i'm Cof - Qy-
pect him tomorrow night, could never get
over il if she did not hear from him with
what she asked for, as she had been expect
ing ii SO long and needed ii so much; told
him not to come unless he brought it, and
said she could not understand the delay as
nav day was two days past. This was Just
birth of her first child
Among the letters were two dated al
New Orleans and Pqstm5afked mar er,te Tooies ted
Rhodes of her arrival in New Orleanst OF
the weather and other inconsequentla
things other letters, some dated at Cincin-
natl and others at Lexington asked Rhodes
for money, the sums varying from slO to
S''' SHE DECEIVED RHODES.
Mr.. Butterworth devoted his questioning
principally to the New Orleans letter. and
the plaintiff frankly admitted that she had
never been in that city. ''Mr. Breckin-
ridge knows very well where L was at that
time" she added.
but was not asking Mr.. Breclzinridge,' .
Mr.. Butterworth demonstrated
Her explanation, when again asked. was
ALWAYS when there was the slightest sus
picion or questioning L took the first op-
portunity to cover 1t up. Each one OF these
letters bears the square mark of that Mr.
Breckenridge would have given me money
If he had dared, but l had to seem to bC
in neeC of money.
And YOU got money from Mr.. Rhodes? p
There would have been no use in seeming
10 neeC money and then not take it,
"Did Mr.. Rhodes pay you the $40 you de-
manded in the letter of March 26|'
'I presume very likely he did, although
do not recollect'
did he pay you the several sums yoU
asked for in these letters?"
II have no recollection of il. He may have
done So Things were pretty well mixed VI
then, because my one idea was not TO have
Mr. Rhodes ask any questions that ! cOulC
not answer. Mr.. Breckenridge planned i
all"
'sDid he dictate those letters?'
"He did the ones dated at New Orleans
I was never in New Orleans, and | did no
know there was such place as the Fish
market"
They were all written with a purpose
They are what YOU have spoken of as blinC
or wooden letters?'
yes, they were. as were all my letters
written 10 Mr. Rhodes because there was
great deception behind them"
Ibid your mother know where you wer,
when you wrote those lettersY
''Mr. Breckenridge planned them all: die
tated them TO Some OF them he wrote
on the typewriter when l was Ill at th,