The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-05
JOSIE MANSFIELD.
Recollections of a Once Noted
Woman.
Her Early Marriage to an Actor and
Subsequent Relations With
Jim Fisk.
From the New York Star.

From the New York Star.
Helen Josephine Mansfield was gracine tho
Pacific slope with her maiden beauty when Frank
Lawlor an actor drifted into the blaze of her won.
derful eyes and felt the magic arrow from Cupid's
bow. She was at school then, and probably inn
bued with all the romantic ideas which boarding.
school girls are wont to be actuated by she also fell
IN love. She was woman intended by nature to
be admired.
TALL AND STATELY,
with just sufficient tendency to embonpoint to pro@
duee that generous curvature claimed by more than
one philosopher to be necessary element of femis
nine beauty, her hair was dark as midnight, eyeS
always aglow with light of the love-lamp and q
dainty. coquettish manner that would seem to have
been born of French demoiselle
SHE ELoPED WITH LAwLoR,
ana unti she went on wandering life with he's
actor husband and mot Stokes IN Philadelphia theft
life was one of bliss Then the current of her Iowa
changed. She loved Stokes, and she made life mis.
cradle for poor LAwlor, who gladly consented to d
decree OF separation, and left her for good.
On the very day the divorce was granted
STOKES INTRODUCED HER TO FISK,
ana from that time up to the murder she was a
partner in their financial operations and finally
cause of their disagreement and Fisk's DEATH
On Saturday morning, January G, 1872, before
Justice BiXby of the Yorkyille police court was beg
gun suit brought by Helen Josephine Mansfield
against James Fisk Jr,, the charge being libel MiA
Mansfield enjoyed the confidence and protection OF
Fisk, and had been the recipient ofeters ola tens
der and confidential nature from him.
STOKES HAD BEEN FIsK's FRIEND.
ana his partner in certain business transactions
the most prominent speculation being the maag&
nlent of an oil company at Hunters Point. Tho
rio frequently dined ut Miss Mansheld's house and
here one night a rupture occurred between the two
men.
Then they fell out in a business way, and Fish
had Stokes arrested on charge of embezzlemenk
Then Stokes had Fisk arrested on charge of falsS
Imprisonment Miss
MANSFIELD SIDED WITH STOKES,
and in order to make her friendship for him better
known, claimed that Fisk owed her 100000 and
threatened to sue him If he did not pay It, She
held his notes and produced them.
Fisk sought TO prove n black mail operation instfs
gated by Miss Mansfield, who Immediately brought
suit for libel against Fisk and hearing in the casa
was called on the Saturday morning IN January
1872 The testimony given on that particular (uy "A
notSof any special Importance being at best but the
public washing OF some very soiled linen. Fisk waA
not present at the court during the hearing and al
four O'Clock in the afternoon he
MET HIS DEATH
in the Grand Central hotel.
There is no question that Josie Mansfield exerted
great power In the affairs of the Erie railroad
through Fisk, aud great financial schemes wera
daily born in her busy brain. She was power be-
hind the throne and the princess of that road
She lived in luxury In an elegant house on Tween.
ty-third street. and presided ut the charming SUBJ
pers and grand receptions that have had no equal
in elegance and extravaganza since Jim and JOSEF
separated.
1t was Montaline, the opera boulle singer who
first excited the Jealousy of Josie. Fisk was captis
yated by the fair Parisien and gave dinners IN
her honor at which after while josie refused To
preside.