New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-24
MRS. MORDA UNIT IN THE TONES.
ATTEMPTING TO SHOOT HER HUSBANI

ATTEMPTING SHOOl HLh l1OSDH-N'
A CHARGE WHICH SHE DENIEs-HER VERSION oF
THE DIFFICULTY.
Tho case of Frank Mordaunt, the actor, charged
by his wife, Fanny, with abandonment, was DroughV
to nm abrupt termination IN the I0mOs fohce Nour'
Yesterday and soon after Mrs Mordaunt was 'ahen
bstore Iudge Power charged with felonous assault
IN attemp ing her husbands life She dehled INC
charge but was held IN @ooo oai W a""'' WV
action of tho Grand Jury.
Conns.llor Stlner stated to the Court that he
,enYesented MI Mordaunt, who desired to waive ex-
animation in the abandonment proceedings ana
furnish bond of $500 with the Commissioners OF
Charities and Correction as guarantee That hirs'
Mordaunt should rot become a charge upon the
county, The complainant was not In ATTENDANCE
INT her LAWYER Samuel H. Barnard strenuousiy OPP
nosed tho proposed action. stating that ne lntenued
that his client should give testimony as 10 the IN
coms of her husband, to one-third OF winch Dc
. claimed she was entitled. The magistrate ruled In
favor of the defendants attorney, holding that 'ho
fling of the bond was all that was necessary IL
hs;oo secn-ty for the payment to Mrs. MOrdaunt OF
81 DER week, which su :icient to prevent her
beinp burden on the community Frank Evans.
M actor living at No. TO Eignth-ave., was offered
IA pondsnan. While the bond was being drawn
nm Mrs Mordaunt entered the court. accompanied
by her daughter. She was informed OF the al
Indication and Immediately left, remarking as she
deparred That settles IL" Her counsel gave notice
that he intended to appeal from 'udge Powers
decision
Mr. Mordaunt thon left the court, but returning
in about ten minutes informed Justice POWER that
hi. wife had drawn a pistol on him. An affidavit
charging the woman with felonicus assault wac
prepared aud q warrant was issued for Mrs MOT
daunts arrest 1t was placed in the hands OF Court
Officer Gardner, who tound Mrs. Mordaunt IN the
office of her lawyer at Centre ana Chaiubers sts
N hen the policeman entered she was seated oesloo
her daughter crying bitterly. lie told her that she
must come with him. at the same time displaying
the warrant and explaining the charge; Sne
seemed utterly dumbfOunded. and On regalnlne ner
composure declared III the most emphatic terms
that the allegations were absolutely gionh9Iess
She said d" hen went to him held these gloves
in INV hand showing a pair of kid gloves. She
Submitted TO arrest quietly and was accompanied 10
the Tombs Court by her lawyer =, .....s.,
When the case called, Mr.. Mordaunt teetlneu
that he was crossing Centre-st. in company with
Mt Evans and he was startled by hearin g shout
WheelinC around he found hlmset lace 10 race
with his wife who sald a" Have drink with me-
He had presentment OF danger, she having olten
threatened his life. anu nstinoIlvely he shlzeu heI
hand She had lust before placed something IN her
garments Satisfying himself that sue held no
weapon he thrust hei from HIM. she walked down
Centre-st., hastily. Then young man tOld Tue
witness that 1t was he who halIooed and Dire" ms
attention 20 the Woman she, he sald' held Plstol
in her hand pointed directly at Mordaunts back
He coniectured that she had pulled the trigger once
and VA on the point of recockng 1T when he called
to the witness: Previous 10 this, ana when ne was
in the yestibule CT the IOmbs he had refused de-
mand made by his wife to pay her something ana
49, settle the difficulty between them
Samuel A. Stevenson, OF No. ia Last Eighteenth
ST testified that he was emplo, ed by b. T. Learned,
a banker at No. IL Wall-st He did not know
either Mr.. or MIS- Mordaunt lie was mai ii,,
along Centre-st. when he saw the woman walking
rapidly toward the Dan whom he subsequently as
certaned M Mordauni When she was close
to him he her point pistol al the mans PACK
He desc ribed the weapon small one. lie
thought it had black enamelled barrel. NJ. ~.
During the giving OF tn's sroniinS the bo,
and occasionally gave vent to a deep sigh. and NUT
tered Its not true. she was attlred as on Prev.
ous occasions in q long sealskn sacque, anu a nat
trimmed with "a prOfuSUn OF feathers, over which
was heavy Grape veil when bit % over her face
She was rail- upon make her statement, ana the
veil being thrown aside her eyes were soen to 10
wet with tears She showed great nervousness.
81 met my husband IN the Nestlbnle. said t me
woman after the case had been disposed OF. He
was speaking with two gentlemen. approached
him. whereupOn his friends withdrew aud sad.
Frank can't you give me something anu settle TINS
aflairf' continued appealing To him to 90 some
thing for me, but cannot recoilect the WORDS used
He roughly answered, No. maan ana walked OH.
He and Sir Evans started for drinking saloon,
and hoping TO gain an interview With him and
amcably adjust the difficulty, followed. Besides
this wished sDne help. have not broken my fast
to-day; the landlady has elected me from my home
Justice Power remarked that that had no bearing
on the case before him.
Did Won have pistoH" the magistrate in
quired
aNo. sir did not, nor did ever carry one.
bad my gloves IN my band.
Iu denial Of the actors allegation tDat o saw ner
hastily conceal something IN her garments, she
threw open her cloak and revealed an old black sIk
skirt, torn in many places, and cheap waist OF
coarse colored material. She showed that she ouig
had sinallwatcn poe et on the inside OF her coat
too SIN all to hold pistol. The only other pocket
she had was she declared, so low down IN her drers
that il could not be easily reached. 49,
:" Did you invite your husband to Drink with
yOui" -. A..
better thau Frank / never entertained any desire
against his life. always thought too mneh oil him
helping him, as / did, to biaekmaiI the cOnrnu-
nity." .c -, j.
Frank Evans, MordauDt's bondsman. testified that
when on the way to the liquor store 10 have
drink be being very nervous. he SAID 10 Mordaunt
Don't ak too close TO me; she may snOOt me. ho
made no explanation Of what called forth the re-
mark He did not know whether he saw pistol III
the hand OF the woman when she approached nor
husband. lie said that be was 80 scared tnat he
could not say. 49, -
Joseph H. Connolly, of No. 40 West Twenty
seventh st., said that he saw Mrs. M0rdauut walk
ing at a rapid pace toward her husband and when
she got near him. she raised her hand She held some
thing in her hand. but the witness could not see
what il was. .,
Justice Power denied a motion made to dismiss
the complaint and held Mrs. Mordannt for the action
of the Grand jury defanlt OF 5000 bail. she
was taken into tue sergeaDts room. where she was
seized with an attack of hemorhage from the lungs
after which she became hystercal. she was assisted
by two officers into the prison ana placed ia oeu
In a cell of the womens prison. she tore her mar
and acted 80 violently that four women were pIacea
To watch her, that she might do no injury 10 neseI.
She had several hemorrhages in the cell, ana when
not suffering from these rayed and acted IKE an
insane woman. She frequently exclaimed FRANK
Frank: In prison at last"
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