Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-23

10 mind u few days ago by the return
to America of Read, the husband Of
Josie Mansfield, one Of the women in
that famous tragedy. Read wants
divorce from the woman, and the
matter is Of interest here because his
father was once one Of the heaviest
property holders in Minneapolis. Re
viewing the tragedy, the New York
Press says:
The two women who played such
significant roles in the famous Fisk
Stokes tragedy Of 70 years ago are
living today, each in her own way.
Edward S. Stokes alone survives Of
the leading mon; his part has been Ivy
some described rs that Of the hero,
by others as that Of the villain. The
widow Of his victim, James Fisk, Jr.,
lives in poverty in BOSTON. 81"
thinks Stokes was the villain. To
Josephine Mansfield Iawlor Read. liv-
ing in dissolute affiucnce in Paris,
Stokes has always been the hero.
The fact that the Erie Railway com
pany has within few months gone
into the hands Of receivers could not
fail to bring up in the minds Of all
veteran New Workers, rs well as,
more vaguely, to the younger genera
ton, who were no more than child
rem 20 years ago, the wonderful rom
ancc and stern battles, the unparallel-
ed audacity Of maneuvcr. the squand-
cred gold and purchased beauty that
made the first Erie receiVcrShip IL gid
ed stain upon the financial history OF
the United States.
The destruction Of the New York
hotel, in which the widow Of James
after his death at Il rate of eXppndi-
allure considered enormous even i'll
that proiligatc day, made the few who
knew Of it think once more Of the
romance connecting her name with
that of Frank RiSlcy. the proprietor
at that time, who went into bank
ruptcy soon aftrrwIrd, owing her
notes for more than S2JO,000. her
friends all believe, not one of which
was ever paid. The appearance of
Thomas c. Shcarman'S name in the
newspapers rs an advocate of the i'll
come tax and other supposed reforms
in our political economy brings back
the memorable scenes through all Of
which he WAS the counsel and adviser
Of Jay Gould, that wonderful million
aire, who has now, rs II Christian sect
says, passed into SCIENCE and who
therefore knows even more now than
he did here below.
The appearance on Broadway occa-
81 p.,n m 81 nurI
and sagacious counsellor III whose
bosom still repoSc SO many secrets
IL Fisk and Stokes and Gould and
Josie Mansfield, suggests to the few
who know him that it was Mr.. Ball
himself who prevented the publication
Of the famous, or, if you chose, in
famous. kilograms which passed be
tween James Fisk and William NJ.
Tweed in those perilous times. The
sight Of that typically successful New
Yorker. Edward S. Stokes, at the horse
show, lends some additional glamour
10 these counterfeit prcscntmcnts of
his physical demcanor 20 years ago.
While last and most refreshing of
all to the recollection IS the arrival
in this city of Mr.. Read once Il man
about town and favorite frequcntcr of
New York'S clubs and more recently
the husband in Paris of Josephine
Mansfield herself. The abandonment
OF Josie Mansfield by the latest hus
band should not surprise any one now,
but her picture shows 1T least what
!. striking looking woman she was 20
years ago.
She was Il native of Boston where
the widow, one of the victims of her
lawlcsS passion for Fisk and Stokes,
IS residing in her old age. She was
born there. III only child, in 1910, and
IS now, therefore, IS years Of age.
Her parents removed to Stockton, Cal
in 1852. Her father was shot dead in
4 duel by John Tabor, a rival editor.
Her mother married again, and Josie.
lust budding into Il remarkably huxom
beauty, fell in love with Frank Law
Tor. an actor Ill Maguire's Opera House
company. and in less than ten days she
cIoped with and married Lawlor She
became 1 matinee flirt, aud carried
her tiirtationS to the verge of criminal
ity Among her admirers was u. w.
Of Judge David S. Terry. who killed
senator David c. Broderick in 4 duel.
Perley was wealthy. and for him
Helen Josephine showed Il marked
preference over all other admirers.
About one month after this acquaint-
ance had been formed Perley was
visiting at the house of Mrs. Warren
He was in the parlor with Mrs. Law
Tor 1T O'clock in the afternoon. The
door was locked. Suddenly Il loud
knocking was heard at the door Be
fore the inmates of the room had time
and Lawlor and Warren rushed into
the room. Each had a cooked revolver
in his hand. Lawlor quickly advanced
10 Perley and placed the revolver tC
his head Warren stood guard at the
door, while Mrs. Lawlor pretended tC
faint. Lawlor said to Perley:
You internal scoundrel. you have
been tampering with the affections OF
my wife. If you do not instantly sigr
check for $4,000 1 will blow your
brains out
Lawlor then produced a check al
ready filled up for the amount OF
tQhn Shines bank. only lacking the
s;@H3sTre of Perley Perley said that
h;s visit was only one of friendship
and denied that he meditated evil
Iaulor told him that he had no time
- marley. and Perley signed the check
+I,au Dlaced his DiStol to pay.