New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-12
EXCULPATING THE WOMAN.
ALL THE BLAME CAST ON POTTER.
srn. nlcpY, rar ARTIST. EXPLAINS MORE FULL,

Mr. RIGBY, TRE ARTIST EXPLAINS MoRE FOLLi
THK ALLEGED PLAN TO BLAcKMAtL HIM.
The alleged Matchmaking scheme of which Bernhan
Rieby, the artist, OF Union Square and sxtecp'nsI,
says he narrowly escaped being the VICTIM turns OUT
BY Mr. Rgby's admission TO be rather onc-Siaeu
STAIR AS was published in The Tribune yesterday
the artist caused the arrest Of James 81 Potter
soliciting agent for the crayon artist firm OF Risby
Granger on q charge Of cmbezzement and forgery
and incidentally also accused Potter OF attempting
backmail, with the assistance of his wife. Potter
Is now after hearing before Justice White, lOcKcd
ND in jefferson Market Prison tho charge first men
Toned The story of blackmail as told by Mr.. Reby
originally. undoubtedly implicated Mrs. Potter, but
the artist now denies any intention of accusing the
A Tribune reporter yesterday afternoon found Mrs.
Potter at her boarding house, No. 155 West Fifteenth
st. She Is a tall, handsome. well formed woman OF
twenty.eght, md greatly surprised when she saw
an article charging her with having planned MI
Rgby's ruin in completely with her husband She
had not heard Of that part OF the story. Thereupon
she told the following history of the case. have
been married TO Mr. Potter just fifteen months l
met him ono night In a Sixth-ave. restaurant.
By wccks OF entreay and by representing himself to
be the wealthy partner OF the straw hat manufacturers
Gears Potter then of Fortyseventh-st he prevailed
upon me to marry him. We were married one after
noon IN March, 1887, In the Church of the Holy
TRANSPORTATION, by Dr. Houghton.
Tho day ater wont to Sears & Pottcr's place OF
business and found that though James D. Potter
was a brother of a meniber of the firm no had not
cent Of interest in It and had been discharged for
drunkenness from position as order clerk Since
then have spent 5000 for his board alone and he has
caused me much other expense. Later he went to
work for Rigby Granger. as solicitor but INDUCED
in Of his drunken Sprecs. He left me for weeks
at limo and frequently called on Mr.. lugby to dis
with him my husbands worthless life. 'On Sim
day nj 10
work. He talked to me moment and then ex-
cused himself in order as he said. to wash his hands
remained IN the studio, and after few minutes the
door opened and confronted by Mr. Rigby, my
husband and an officer Mr.. Rigby said to Mr. Potter:
'IIcrc ls your wife. Now say TO her what you want
to- My husband had nothing to say, but went down
stairs"
Mrs. Potter. after telling her story, invited tho
reporter accompany her to Mr.. Riebys studio.
Upon arrival there Mr. Rigby cheerully acknowledged
that Mrs. Potter innocent of any completely in
tho llackmail. He stated that he now
UNDERSTOOD that Potter followed his wife
the studlo only by peculiar coincidence.
ogcer Lang had in the building accidentally. and
under an Impulse Rigby had asked him to stay around.
While he, Rlgby was washing his hands there was
a knock at the door and when the rap responded
TO the artist found 1t was Potter. The latter first
asked forgiveness. but ended by asking Rgby whether
he knew where Mrs. Potter was. Rigby called
the officer and asked him to open the studio door,
disclosing Mis-. Potter. Then the surprise came.
Potter made accusations then and there but went
away Mrs. Potter left the place after. and the
arrest made until Potter sent up letter by the
Waterman Of the building. The letter read:
Mr.. Rigby long suspected you and my wife
doubted the fidelity Of wife for long time, but now
j know she has been untrue TO me. She Acknowledged
it herself only last Thursday night will 60 to court
and expose you 10th unless you do something. You
have runod me- and driven 10 hell Goa curse you
both. JAMES b. POTTER
Rigby at once sent Officer Lang after Potter. who
had JUS left the door and started Union Square
After short chase, the arrest made. Mr. Rigby
ended his story before Mrs Potter by saying that he
believed that Potter Knowing his wife in the
stulio, improved the opportunity to Try blackmail
James r. Potter Is well connected, and besides the
hot r In the firm OF Sears Potter has brothers In
business In Philadelphia.