The New York herald., 1878-10-28
MRS. THOMAS c. FIELDS.
SAD STORY THAT RECALLS TO MIND THE
TAMMANY DAYS OF 1S71-THE SAD STORY
oF A uporcr0 ANN pEAuTrEIrr WOMAN

SAD STORY THAT RECALLS TO MIND THE
OF wRoNGED AND BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.
PoUGHKEEPsIE Oct. 81, 1875
The sudden insanity OF Mary L. Fields, wife Of
"Tom Fields." Of Tammany Ring notoriey. Is sur
rounded with particulars OF the most mysterious
character. Mrs Fields has q little boy about seven
years age. She to this city about the time OF
tho expose the Tammany Ring, and took up quarters
with a family named Dickinson, In quiet part OF The
town. ana lived secluded sort OF nto being occa-
sonally visited by her sister, Mra orvlie Todd. OF
Hyde Park. She remained with the Dickinson family
about year aud hall, and then took up her abode
with tho family OF ex.Aderm Sidney Fowler, with
whom she renamed about SIX months From there
she movad TO Victory Purdy's family. and lived
with them in a room and bedroom In
secluded part OF tho house All this time sho was
very reticent her personal affairs, and always
showed great anxiety in regard to her child fearing
he would bo Kidnapped and spirited away from her.
SO great hor foars in regard TO this particular
point that from time time educated him to run
to his homo every time he saw strange man APP
proach him, tho little fellow, under her careful
training, learned TO be always on the alert All this
time too she frequently received letters containing
money but whether tho letters were from Tom Fields
or not Is not positively known. Alter awhile
the letter arrivals became less frequent and she be-
came pressed Tor support herself and child
and she pccamo painfully reduced financially. Then,
little by little, valuable trinkos woro disposed Of,
and last spring she gave up her rooms IN the Purdy
family and moved up town with q family named Cole
ton. Suddenly her income from abroad commenced
to increase and 1t is reported that It came through
her New York counsel, Mr.. Charles oConor. and she
commenced 70 1.-Two pleasantly again except that her
anxiety the safety VI her chtd Increased
WHAT SET HER CRAZY.
A week ago last Monday arrange and elegantly
ntiired called aL the Coiletons' and Inquired
ior Mrs. Fields, who had gone out When 30 In
formed the said she would wait ana did wait
two hours, when, Mrs. Fields not appearing The
mysterious woman took her departure When Mrs.
Fields did return she Vas toli about tho
caller and the woman was described 10 her.
She turned palo and seemed laDoring under
great entail anxiety. day two after sho called
upon tue Purdy family, ia6oring under great excite.
mont, and SAID, 81 am much excited, but have got
something tell you" Just tnen some ono entercd
the room aid cut her story Short From there she
went uptown and called upon another family with
wnom cquainied and said tno Same thing, out
there were Interruptions there to tho conversation
uiso and she dd get an opportunity TO tell her
story. On Tuesday last she again called upon the
Purdy family and then 1t was first noticed Inas she
was in partially bcwiidered state OF mind. She
SAID she had important business with her lawyer
IN Now York, aud urged lazy IN inc house 20 @ ac.
they arrived in Tho metropolis, instead Of going 10
her lawyers led her iady companion 10 the resi-
dencs OF DR.. MdSweeLey VINO was formerly pastor
Of ST. Petcr's Church, IN Poughkeepso, and oi which
church Mrs. Fields was devout member. Dr.. Nc
|
formed she said 10 her lady friend, We wIi 70 buck
home" Tno latter suid. ...Wny. Thought you were
gong 10 your iawyer' She replied IN tho mega
tive, say ing she had Lo business with him.
CHLD's FATE.
When they reached Pough keepsic again she wanted
her lady friend TO go homo ana stay au nignt WIN
hor desired to place her oweiry IN her xoeping
but the lady did not so. On Friday last Mrs. Fields
The family was much alarmed, ana sho had her
little boy with her snc was asked 70 stay all night,
aLc she diu. During the night she became raviug
maniac. and Saturday morning endcavorcd TO 20 out
In the deshabilLe and smashed plate glass
winuow in attempting 10 40 SO. She was finally
dressed and then went out. On her way up town
sue stopped INTO several stores, where she In
habit trading and charged different persons with
attempting 70 XII her BY po'soL; She was finally
,oe sSo anG insane When her ssSdan,s were
leaving her she told them whore they could
mud her diamond earrings, ,i.na aiamond rings.
Indicated, but none o the property was found. Her
watch was aitcrward iound, however, Ia another
place, II Is probable while insane sne placed tho
rest OF her Jewelry aud diamonds IN out of the way
places. II is known that sho mad diamond neck
dressed lady who called her " Colieton's was
the mistress Of "rom Fields" VINO was confidential
her calm moments MRS. Fields said ner sister, Mrs
Todd, told her that the strange woman hao been to
her and also told her somo things which seemed
| to greatly worry her.
Las. evening Mrs. Fields sister came hero from
Hyde Park alter the little boy. There was con-
suitation the Purdy family ABOUT H. aud they de-
cided 70 give HIM up but to-day they regret having
done SO, tearing that the sister WIZ haud the child
the Keeping OF Tom Fclds' mistress, and that
that womans mysterious visit was for the purpose Of
obtaining possession OF the boy She ID expected
mere again tomorrow, when, prooaby. some action
will be- taken the Supreme Court
Mrs. Fields Is niece OF Tom Fields, who had her
educated IN convent anu lavshcd upon her all that
his ABUNDANT means could command lie induced
young Iauy 10 marry him alter hcr education had
boer completed She was well known IN Albany IN
the days when Tweed ruled the Legislature
and Tom Fields the leader Of the lower house.
Fields seemed TO be very fond OF her, and every one
who IN contact with her learned TO respect and
aamire her. She was apparently OF very retiring
disposition, and, ai.nouHn Tom frequently gave
charming ite suppers TO his friends, at tho elegant
house near the CAPITOL where nc ived whiic IN
his beautiful wife. she shrank from social contact
with thu class OF mon that her husband's posiuon
compelled him TO invite 10 his house, and thef g
Is old Tammany politician living TO day who
considered s.onc OF tho gang" at Albany, 10
1871, who does remember Mrs. Fields and the il-
disguised disgust with which she regarded her hus-
INN Is mol icuIf endR