Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-10
THE WINERIES SCANDAL.
What the Husband says About ths
C0se.

reporter this morning. TO prosecute the suit for
divorce which some time ago contemplated insti-
tuttng against my WIFE But you can Judge nom /
the published statements, which are In the main /
correct why have hesitated TO do IL thought /
that IL would be better 70 wait until next August
when, under the law, can begin q suit on the /
ground OF desertion. There Is no doubt that the /
other charge could be sustained In court had /
ample testimony nled with the case. which with
drew, proving the truth OF the allegations made |
sayory expose, and for this reason preferred 70
obtain the divorce in Quieter way, Invested OF /
"The recent publications In the newspaper he |
continued has brought TO light many OF the facts |
and now my friends urge that my reasons for re- /
longer exist They want me 20 relieve myself OF |
the load which have been carrying 50 long and |
tunateiy Connected me with this Woman who T !.
now my wife. But, as I said before wish 70
avoid all notorie,y, and get out OF this difculty
Mr.. Mitherbee SAID that he did not know exactly
where his wife was living now, but concluded
from what he had read In the newspapers that
she was In the far West
sAcKKr AND MRS wrrBkRsrH
Among lawyers about the Court House the con.
nection OF Mr.. T. J. Mackey with the scandal re-
sulting from Mrs Witherbees conduct is a matter
OF considerable talk. Mr.. Mackey or Judge
Mackey, as he Is called, FIRST became known here
After the Inauguration OF President Hayes. lie
came here from south Carolina claiming To repre-
sent the Hampton government In the political
negotiations then going on. He was suave and
voluble talker and appears TO have been selected
for this diplomatic I?ission ON account OF his
He is a Slender and pony man. somewhere in the
neighborhood OF ffty.nve or sixty years OF age
His face is pallid, his nose large and constructed
hair and big moustache inky black, so black as TO
suggest the use OF artificial means TO preserve q
seemed especiaiiy fond Of its lowest tones Which,
he rolled out with much impressiveness In CONVEX
sation or In forensic efforts. After his political
mission here was over he remained and became q
familiar ngure about the halls OF Congress- the
Departments and the court rooms He practiced
law, and was connected at different times with a
late Gen. VIM. b. Hazen, In the court-martial pro-
ceedings against that officer He resided with his
family on Capitol HILL
IN TIE rolls
Mackey and Mrs witherbee returned 70 this
city last spring. and at that time Mrs witherbee
laid her grievances against MacEey before a law
yer here. with the view TO bringing the judge TO
terms When Mackey nrst fell in with Mrs
business was purely legitimate, so far as Mackey
was concerned. She wanted TO see lawyer, was
sent to him, and called on him His relations
afterward, according TO the charges made by Mr.
witherpee in the bin OF divorce frst preferred
appear TO have gone beyond the limits OF legiu-
spring and appears 10 have made an EFFORT to
break his relations with his fascinating client and
to return 70 his family. she followed him here
she made was one that he had filled out a check
OF hers for $1,000 and drawn the money
when she had authorized him 10 nh
or a small sum about that amount. The lawyer
consulted was about to institute proceedings
when Mackey and MIS- Witherbee left the city.
and have not since been seen here. The lawyers
opinion is that Mrs Withsrbee pursued him here
because she was angry that be had leIt her 70 re-
turn 10 his family. Her purpose was TO set him
aud not her money, and she tnumphed.
Uncle and Niece.
JUDGE MAcKEY AND MRS. wTTHERBEE IN BISMARCK.
A telegram TO the New York Herald from Bis
marck, Dak., January g. says: Judge Mackey, Mrs
witherbee and servant arrived in Bismarck Sun
day, october 10, and registered as follows:
ct. J. Mackey, Chester, S. c.
"Mrs. N. A. witherbee and servant, OF New
York."
They did not introduce themselves IN Bismarck
as husband and wife, but as uncle and niece, the
Judge stating that he came TO Dakota for his
niece's health. Regular boarders at the Sheridan
House were displaced so that his request that they
should have suite OF rooms, with door opening
between, could be complied with. The judge gave
as his reason for this request that his niece
poor In health and that she might be taken seri
ously Ill at any moment This statement, with
parties threw on ali suspicion that the proprietor
might have had, and the happy pair enjoyed un-
disturbed serenity while at The hotel But they
soon tired OF the confinement OF the hotel and
rented one OF the largest and handsomest resi-
dences In the city.
AN ENTERTAINING MAN.
The Judge IL loQuacious man, but his strangely
uneven anecdotes OF the war were entertaining,
and within q week from the time OF his arrival he
had become acquainted with every man OF promi-
nence In this city. His personal experience as
off1cer In the rebel army made him doubly enter
tanning, and, as be never lost an opportunity 70
flatter the Union soldiers and bette the Confed-
crate leaders he won numerous friends among the
intense Northerners. Mrs. Witherbee was no less
entertaining to the ladies. Her display OF dia-
mnndS G1lNprWnrp "A
gossip among the fashionable women OF the city.
No brilliant social event was considered complete
without her presence.
SUSPICION AROUSED.
The first suspicion was aroused by the fact that
the Judge paid no bills All checks and drafts
were signed by Mrs. witherbee. The Judge &C
counted for this by very eloquent grafton on the
financial question: stating that his bank account
was in Memphis, and that Memphis drafts were
voice won her fame, and the lovers OF music went
into ecstases when she sang. Sue was not only
admitted into the homes OF the best families, but
was invited to sing in the churches. The people
were congratulating thems Ives upon the addition
OF so talented lady 10 their society. Women who
have been prominent in all social reforms In the
city were her nearest friends ana the social lights
Wed with each other for her favor. Many brilliant
parties and luncheons were given at the ''Mackey
mansion" and the reception on Christmas night
made ali other attempts at welcome pale into In
Significance. on that night MIS-. WiJherbee was
dressed like a queen, and was surrounded by the
ambitious social leaders OF the city.
SERVANT GIRLS TONGUE.
A few admirers dropped from the ranks several
weeks ago, when Jane Murdoch the housekeeper,
who accompanied them from the East, LEFT and
sued for wages. The judge refused TO pay her. on
the ground that she had broken dishes and wasted
provisions In excess OF her wages. Jane Is PLAIN
spoken scotch girl, and, while looking for work,
told some racy stories concerning the uncle and
niece. She said that they lived as man and wife,
and that after the Judge engaged her he desired
that she should tell the people that she came from
the south and had been with them for two years.
This she refused TO do as she INST met them In st.
Paul while they were route 70 Bismarck The
Judge and Mrs. Witherbee had so completely won
many OF the society people that they refused 70
believe the girl, and denounced her as slanderer.
STRUCK BIZ SOCIAL CYCLONE.
The girls stories were soon smothered and all
was running smoothly until II was learned through
the banks that MIA Witherbees account In
Chicago had been attached. This caused some
comment, which was soon followed by the sensa-
ton caused BY the article exposing the conduct OF
the pair before their arrival In Bismarck. on the
day before its publication here the judge engaged
rooms at the hotel, giving as his reason that keep
ing house without good help was too much
trouble To say that the article struck society like
cyclone Is drawing it very mild Many OF the
quickly made friends OF Mrs Witherbee denounce
the report as the malicious work OF her husband,
from whom she Is seeking divorce. This Is the
theory advanced by Mrs. Wftherbee and the judge.
and tonight they are preparing an answer for
niece.
Local Notes.
e...o tr.f m racn M