Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-13
MAY MANsFIEnD's ROMANCE.
Born in Poverty, Resred In Luxury, and
InheritiDg n Fortune.
Fronl tie Nelo YORK sun.


NEW HAVEN, Jan. 9.-One of the best
known ladies in Hartford of late was Miss
May Mansfield, a handsome brunette. She
was accomplished, and had all the life and
vlvacity OF a Southern belle. A chapter
of her history has come to light in this
city to-day. She was the daughter OF a
couple who died In poverty in Worcester,
Mass, while she was an infant. A sister
OF her father was very wealthy, and lived
in Lexington, Ky. She came on to at
tend the funeral OF her brother, who sur
vived his wife d few weeks only.
her brother, having married a poor girl,
had been disinherited by bis father, who
was rich Southern planter. Little May
was taken to Lexington, and had there
after all the advantages that wealth could
procure. At the age of Is she was left the
pole heir to a large fortune. She after
Fward resolved to come North, and in the
spring Of 1888 arrived in Worcester. AT
ter engaging comfortable quarters at the
hotel she went to the cemetery, where she
spent some time at the graves Of her par
ents. There she met and conversed with
lady, to whom she related her history.
When they parted the lady invited her
to visit her at her home in Hartford. The
Hartford lady was the wife of one of the
wealthiest and best known of the insur-
ance men of that city. A close intimacy
grew up between the ladies. and Miss
Mansfield finally set up an establishment
Of her own in the city. While guest at
the house of her friend she was introduced
to a wealthy Hartford man. she was
pleased with his appearance, and he fell
in love with her. lie was constant in mis-
attentions, and in few months he asked
Miss Mansfield to become his wife. She
consented. Nearly year later, while on
a Western trip, he became infatuated
with and married Il lady there
Wien Miss Mansfield heard of this her
grief, modification and anger mpletely
overeame her. An attack of brain fever
followed, which brought her nearly to
deaths door. She declined the invitation
Of the lady who had taken such an inter-
est in her TO visit the seashore during the
summer, and remained at home with no
company except her coachman, William
Wbittesey. He was a good servant, but
a very ordinary man. One day, in fit OF
desperation, she summoned hun to her
room and told him that she would marry
him if he was willing. Completely
astounded and hardly able TO articulate
an acquiescence, the man obeyed the
command of his mistress to drive her in a
close carriage to the Registrar Of Vital
Statistics and procure marriage license.
They then went to the residence Of q we'll
| known clergyman
When the clergyman pronounced the
+ twain husband and wife the bride realized
/ for the FIRST time the full meaning OF the
! step she bad taken and tainted away.
! Then began q period of remOrse and
shame. She did not love her husband; in
| fact, could not tolerate his presence, and
only allowed him to remain by her side
! long enough to charge him that he must
on no account mention the fact of their
marriage. Six months OF this life passed,
and then the unhappy wife told her hus-
band that If he wished to engage in bust
ness she would furnish money to' pIr-
chase q livery stable in New Haven.
! About two weeks ago WhIttlesey came
! TO this city and purchased the stable be-
/ longing TO Williams Il Culbert on Temple
| street A few days after the purchase
! he brought his wife TO this city. She
was elegantly dressed, and was nOticea-
/ bic for her distinguished appearance,
which was in such striking contrast TO
her husbands that it attracted attention
/ After remaining in this city a few daVs
Mrs, Whittasey summoned her husband
to her side and told him that she did not
! love him, and that she had married him
in a tit OF jealous rage. She requested
him to procure a divorce from her, offer
ing to pay him a good round sum, but he,
with Yankee shrewdness, laughed at
her. This angered her, aud she visited a
well-known lawyer, who told her that
there was no escape from the legal knot
she had tied about herself. That night
she fed from the city, going to Lexington,
1t is supposed. Whittlesey is also miss
ing, and has, it ia said, gone in search OF