The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-10
THE FORMER HUSBAND OF JOSEPHINE
MANSFIELD INTERVIEWED.
How Frank Lawlor Came to Marry Her.
From the ChlcapO Ttmesl

reporter OF Inc Times interviewed Mr.. Frank
Lawlor, popular ana talented actor OF TINS city,
with regard to very cruel Islander which has been
published. We saw the article on Its rounds; but
knowing Mr.. Lawlor to be no such man as 1t repre-:
sented relralned from publishing ". The writer OF
this boarded for several months at the Krkwood
House, washington, with Mr.. Lawlor and his then
being relative OF the writer's wife's family.
We frequently sat at the same table with them.
statement with regard to his character, and
to Josephine Mansfield at that time. 1hey were
people, and Miss Mansfield was not only without re-
prOach morally, but when we subsequently heard OF
her connection with FISK, we could not believe 1t
possible for we had previously looked upon her as
not only a strictly vlrruOuS character, but an ex.
ceedin9ly retiring ana modest woman, as respected
her manner aud disposition.
REPoRTER-Aave you any objection, Mr.. Lawlor
to give the Times statement or your California ex
perience for publlcatlonp
MIR. LAwLoR-NOne IN the least now that l have
been so shamefully slahdered and sttgmalized as
backmailer. had Intended to say nothing abo 1t
It, and have refused several newspaper men before,
as did not want my name mixed up with the Fisk
affair, and wanted TO say nothing 10 lnjuie JOSE
own character now that 1t has been assailed, and
shall do SO In q court OF justice.
REPORTER-Tne story OF your elOpement with
Josephine was not trues
Mr.. LAwLoR--No sir. In the first place l was
never san ios9 wSese s en g Is san 10
1868. she was young. pleasing ana attractive, ana
at that time good. linked her very WELL but mad no
engagement with her. and no desire to marry.
Some time In 1854 went over to Virginia City,
Nevada, to play an engagement and 1t was while
was there that Warren and MS wife undertook the
bacKmailing operation on the man Perey. was
IN the state OF California at that time and can
Ire to know hun. When / returned to San Fran.
cisco Josie told me all about IT, and SAID
she relied on me for protection; That she
did not know her stepfather ana mother would try
to make money Of Perley by using her. l told her I
didn't know how was going to protect her without
sisted, and finally did marry her 10 save her from
the evil influences OF her own parents.
REPoRTER-Then you did not reside with her
MIR. LAwLoR-No. From that day to this have
never spoken TO WarreI nor did allow Josie to, and
that was just before sue lett California Tor New
York. tried TO keep her good and pure, and for
two years. | will say this In her behalf, no wife
ever conducted herself more properly toward her
husband than she did to me. Before we married
i told ner that she might lind some one ricner
| than me, and, indeed, she might have married
| almost whom sne pleased IN San Francisco at that
time but sne declared she had rather live IN a cot
| tage with me Than In u palace with any one else.
was iond OF her, but never cared for her so much
out that could give her up easily wnen found she
was decentralization onS as.-sy was tnatY
| Mr.. LAwLOR.-lJ was alter we had arrived ana
were living in New YORK; mad some reason to sus
pecJ ner, anu told her one day II sne did wrong I
snould have nothing more to do with her; saw that
| not stay with her longer without becoming the
laughing stock for everybody that knew us, so 1
KEpoRrER.-when was thats
| Mr.. LAwLOR.-Some time in 1868.
| RECONCILIATION iOnS ulu you I'VE apart DelOre
| you were divorced
Mr.. LAwLoR-Several months After left her I
continued 10 send her $50 week Tor her support,
until mad positive proof that she had gone astray,
| anu then stopped. told her as long as she would
| live virtu0us lie would send her money Tor her
| support and should have been doing SO until now,
| probably, II she mad behaved herself.
| REPORTER-have you seen ner since your d.
mir. LAwLoR-I have not, ana have always wanted
10 forget her and not have my name connected with
hers any longer IL was the mistake OF my life mar.
| rylnQ hers but any person might have Done the
| same But have no i'll feelings towards her, aud
| DO not wish TO say anything That would injure her
| more than she Il hurt already.
| KEPoRTER-Have you been Interviewed concern
ing this matter bef0reS
| Mr. LAwLoR--Never before. At the time OF the
| Black Friday the HERALD sent man 10 Albany TO
interview me. but ! knew nothing about IT, and
told MN 30. since Fisk was assassinated tue AS
| sOcated Press wished to interview me. They re.
ceived orders from New YORK to That effect, but
did not wish my name connected win hers and
have tried oil could to keep out VI the affair.
REpORTER--Onc question more, Mr.. Lawor; con-
| corning your leaving California
| Mr.. LAwLoR-Yes, IL - published that Perley Or
dered me out OF the state within thirty DAYS, on
penalty OF death, and that Mr.. Mcguire discharged
inc from MS company Both Of these are the oasest
| faIsehoods. AS SAID, never saw Perley 10 know
| him and never knew that ne ordered me out OF the
state, II he did As to Mr.. Maaulre, II Is sufficient
| denial OF the statement tnat he discharged me 10
say that he rendered me his opera house. just before
| started for a benefit, and mat all his company
| volunteered their assistance. Then to be branded
| as a black mailer, II Is too mucn. l believe Josie
| was entirely innocent OF the matchmaking AFFAIR.
Ii ad not believed so sDonld moi nave married