The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-06-07
JOSIE MANSFIELD,
RecOllectiOns of = Once Noted We.
man.
From the new York star.

From the New York Star. v#e
Helen Josephine Mansfield was
6 racing the Pacific slope with her
maiden beauty when Frank Lawlor,
an actor, drifted into the blazeof her
wonderful eyes and felt the magic
arrow from Cupid's bow She was
at school then, and probably imbued
with all the romantic ideas which
boarding-scholl girls are wont to be
actuated by, she also fell in love. She
was q woman intended by nature to be
admired. Tall and stately, with just
sufficient tendency to embonpoint to
produce that generous curvature
claimed by more than one philosopher
to be a necessary element OF feminine
beauty, her hair was dark as midnight,
eyes always aglow with light Of love
lamps and dainty, coquettish man.
ner that would seem to have been
born OF q French demoiselle. She
eloped with Lawlor, and until she
went on wandering life with her ac-
tor husband and met Stokes in Phila-
delphia, their life was one OF bliss.
Then her love changed. She loved
Stokes, and made life miserable for
poor Lawlor, who gladly consented to
a decree OF separation, and then left
her for good. f-. .....
On tie very day the divorce was gran
ted, Stokes introduced her is Fisk, and
from that time up to the murder she
was partner in their financial opera
tions, and finally the cause Of their
disagreement and Fisk's death.
On Saturday morning, Janu ary 6,
1872, before Justice Bixby, OF the York
vile police court, was begun a suit
brought by Helen Josephine Mans
field against James Fisk, jr., the
charge being libel. Miss Mansfield
enjoyed the. confidence and protec-
tion of Fisk, and had been the recip-
lent of letters of a tender and conf
dental nature from him. Stokes had
been Fisk's friend and his partner in
certain business transactions, the most
prominent specuatian being the man.
agement OF an oil company at Hun
ters Point. The trio frequently din
ed at Miss Mansfield's house, and
here one night rupture occurred be-
tween the two men.
Then they fell out in business way
and Fisk had Stokes arrested on
charge of embezzlement. Then
Stokes had Fisk arrested on charge
of false imprisonment, Miss Mans
field sided with Stokes, and in order
to make her friendship for him bet
ter know, claimed that Fisk owed her
$4,000, and threatened to sue him if
he did not pay it,
Fisk sought to prove a black mail
operation, instigated by Miss Mans
field, who Immediately brought suit
for libel against Fisk, and hearing
in the case was called on the Satur-
day morning in January, 1872. The
testimony given on that particular
day is not of any special importance,
tanee, being at best but the public
washing OF some very. soiled linen.
Fisk was not present at the court dur
ing the hearing, and at 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, and great financial scheme were
daily born in her busy brain She was
a power behind the throne and the
princess Of that road.
She lived in luxury in an elegant
house on Twenty-third street, and pre-
sided at the charming suppers and
grand receptions that have had 70
equal in elegance and extravaganza
since "Jim aud Josie" separated
1t was Montone, the opera bouffe
singer, who first excited the jealousy
of Josie. Fisk was cultivated by the
fair Parisience and gave dinners in
her honor, at which after while Je-
sic refused to preside.
Women in Business.
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