Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-22

there He did not go to the Hoffman
House until noon Of Monday, the 1st day
OF May. tie then ascertained that this
woman. the plaintiff. had been there; had
registered as his daughter, and secured
a room communicating with his. He went
to his room, and as he entered she ad-
yanced into the room from the COM
municating room. with a pistol. and at
tempted 10 shoot him. He slammed the
door In her face, locked 1t, and rang
the bell.
He threatened to have her arrested.
She told him she would shoot through
the door. In response TO his threats to
have her arrested. she consented to put
the pistol down on the floor and so into
her own ROOM She lid this, and he went
in and got the pistol. 1t was the snme pis-
tol he had taken from her on the former
occasion. and which he had carried in
his travelling-bag. she had gone into his
room and taken II from his bag. When
the bell-boy came he was dismissed with
a request to get a pitcher Of water or
something of that sort. Then Mr.. Breck-
inridge had an interview with Miss Pol
lard. in which she made many protesta-
tions. and they finally agreed TO carry
out the arrangement they had entered
into. Mrs. Backbura was then In New
York. and Mr.. Breckenridge saw her there
I'm relation TO a suit lat law, about which
Mrs. Blackburn wanted advice. Then 1t
was that Mrs. blackburn spoke to him
about following Mas Pollard TO New
York, and he told her that he would at
future time explain II to her.
Mr. Shelby then gave an account OF an
interview Miss Pollard sought with Colonel
NreckInrIdge on the 18th OF May, when
she forced her way into the presence OF
Colonel Rreckinridge' and his wife. He
took her then upon the street and talked
with her. He made up his mind there
and then TO put an lend TO the matter.
II was then he took her to Major Moore's
Office IL was his intention, and he
started to tell Major Moore the whoie
story. but in response TO her entreaues
he again made a mistake and went away
without telling Major Moore all the iacts'
Then. at a later interview III Mrs;
Thomas's house. she went upstairs '-lu
returned with a pistol, and again at
temnted his life. but he succeeded In dis
orminp her. 1t is strange, but he stlil
thought IL might be possible TO induce
no., 10 carry out her agreement ana go
g. W, work. so he still did not let the
runture come. Then II was nat trey
had the other interview with Major Moore
and Mrs. Blackburn.
r,ben under her renewed promises TO
Leave him he was induced to admit 10
N,a,or nfoore the pretence OF an engage
mont she claimed at that time to be
I'm a delicate condition, and she went 10
Dr lincoln. Colonel Breckinrldge ieit
Washington on the nth OF May. lie trled
10 make what arrangements ne coulu lor
the plaintiffs comfort unuer her cia'iii
that she was. on his account about 10
ho confined. II was his purpose to pro-
,ide for her. He attempted, and In good
faIth to carry out his part OF the ar
rongement 10 provide for her. The plain
,ief did go TO New York as she had
agreed 70. but Immediately returned.
,>,>-o1-NCEA1ENT OF ENGAGEMENT.
T, view Of his engagements elsewhere
ha uos unable TO be here. but he wrote
ard entreated her, as the jury had heaiu'
NOT IN do what would make II impossiDie
IN do what he had agreed 10 40 Tie
warned her that II she came 10 LeAlis-
ton It would result In preclpitatihs
sca,dal and prevent his carrying out
- Intended for her good. Miss Pol
- ,ber I'm order TO force a marriage
,,,i,b ber adopted herself the course OF
onnouncine her engagement to him III
,ba nevvspapers. Then, when a denial or
tbts vas published, she adopted the last
r.so,rca of threatening him 10 make the
whole thing public. To this ne maze no
,esnonse. hut the public marriage Win
his present wife followed
Mr. shelby said he attempted no con-
cealment. and I'm the testimony there
would be no concealment
In an action OF this sort the plain
tiff necessarily puts her character III 1t
not orly by implication put IN th's caSe
ebe exnressly does that BY alleging that
che was not only. .wr0hSed- by Colonel
Preckinridge, hut was without lault OF
imnuritv except in her relations with him.
Thev desired therefore to go into the
matter OF the character OF this plaln-
tiff He had already indicated that Wheh
Colonel Breckir lge met her nrst she
Vas a mature woman OF twenty or TWEEN
tv-on.. Testimony would be introduced
as TO her character There Wouiu pe
testimony as To the mock harriase
talked about with Mr. Alex. Julian' MT.
I,,I,an's deposition would be read, and
also the deposition or Ar. Rosehe as W
his relations with her. There would be
testimony also that the ,plaintin had
been seen. before her meeting with Col
onel Breckinridge, at evil houses. Inc
letter TO Wessie Brown showed that she
had some relations with MT. hoseie'
Mr. Rhodes and Mr.. ONerman
The testimony they would offer, he said,
would leave little room for doubt that at
tho time Colonel Breckenridge met her
she was a matured woman, ana not III
nocent so far as concerned her relations
with other men. The testimony t"eS
r,o,,Id ofer would enable the jury TO
t,d,. of her credibility. In the latter
nart of 1854. according to her own state
ment she was connected with Rhodes
h,, ttte alternative contract or marriage
- tho same time she was under a posi-
tive engagement OF marriage 10 hoseHe,
In vieyc of the contradictions tilat "ouiu
onnear I'm the testimony, ne peheNeu IL
rl,,e- for him TO call attention TO the
iIain,ief's motive I'm bringing this SUIT
- ',,,,i,,e she announced-whch was not
IN obtain money representation pu. "
ureak her vengeance upon this u,u
ant of breaking him down. OF rul''ilis ,, ;
him and his famil", OF destroy b..
ioner,o 40 force him into a marriage Win
49, Tho defense asked the jury IN weisn-
~, ~ - ,est,,nony TO bear In mind thls
announced motive.
NO CONTRACT OF MARRiAoE'
,,,.-o Was he said, no contract Oh
r,srriape. 1t was necessary 10 i,'an' .
S'ch a contract that there shouiu oe q
mutual intention. ,.,,, that
Here Mr. Wilson oDJecteo' S"'"o -,
NJ shelby was going of into an arsu-
Int ON the law. and not making s'd'e-
pent of facts, and ne thousn. NC
making an error in statihS lhe Jaw. -
Mr. shelby said he suppc/ed he nan
,i,,bt 10 state not only the facts' puI 'ie
law as applied TO tie facts.
Iudge Bradlcy said he could state wha'
he claimed TO be the law
Mr.. Shelby, going on, said that a irere
form could not constitute contract.
Nere words did not constitute a contract
81 marriage when the parties themselves
,,ders,ood there was TO be no marriage
II was the mere semblance OF contract.
rbere never was, he asserted, In point
fact a contract OF marriage between these
narties. but merely the semblance OF an
engagement TO enable Miss Pollard 10 go
away and enter upon new life, ana 10
relieve Mrs. Blackburn OF her unfortunate
impression. Upon that statement OF lacts
they would present the case to the .iry.
Mr. Wilson. rising. said he thought II
nroner here TO state what the piainun
would show in response TO statements the
defence had made For instance, he said.
as TO the statement that the plaintin had
been seen In evil houses.
Mir Butterworth here interrupted. Mr.,
Rutterworth's eyes were big with sur
prise.