The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-07
MAYNE rs A LETTER. WRITER
The Man Who Debauched the
Shipton Girls
lie VIRTUALLY CONFESSES
The Remarkable Epistle He Wrote to
Mrs. Wright
What Clifton Mayne's ex-Wife and the Mother
Of His Youthful Victims Say-Sudden
Change Of Heart

Filed away in the archives OF the dis
trict attorneys Office is q budget of cor
respondence in the famous Mayne rape
case that may go tar towards proving this
mans guilt and upsetting his claim that
it is persecution on the part of
enemies of his and those whose secrets
he claims to possess that keeps him in
jail.
A very remarkable epistle is that re-
ceived BY tho Wrights from the former
wife OF Mayne, whom it is claimed is now
trying to assist him in freeing himself
from the clutches of the law. 1t is most
remarkable from the fact that when
Mayne's arrest was caused the former
Mrs. Mayne made public declaration to
stick by her husband and see him
through his difficulty, but after few
days delibeartion commenced suit for
divorce; also the fact that M1rphy, the
attorney from San Diego, who is work
ing 80 assidously in Maynes' behalf and
trying to compromise the case by forcing
a marriage with this old mans cid est
victim, was the same attorney who testi-
fed in the San Diego courts in the for
mer Mrs. Mavne's behalf, stating that
Mayne was ''cruel and unfit husband.
Following is copy of Mrs. Mayne's let
ter:
SAN DIEGO, July II, 1895.
My Dear Mrs. Wright: I thank you from
the bottom of my heart for the attitude
you and your husband have taken in this
matter. But for you this affair would
have eliminated in something still worse
(if that were possible) for Elsie. My own
misery is swallowed up in sorrow for that
~, Of fol c1n
watch that she may escape now at least.
He has written to her several times since
he has been here, but up to day before
yesterday had received no answer.
have a strong suspicion that he heard
from her yesterday. but it ia only sus-
he will count upon the revival OF his in
tiuencs, and she, who is only child,
cannot resist it. If he finds no means of
developing a plan by which he may lead
her into com municating with him, with
out your knowledge, she will be practi-
Jury strengthens his influence over her:
Deila's youth saved her, thank God. l
think il would be better for the poor
child to have her understand that know
everything, and that 1 have no blame
for her any more than l would have
in the same way. have heard how you
reproached Mr.. NJ. for his treatment of
me, when you first heard about this ter
rlble thing some weeks ago and it is
upon that knowledge that yollr sympa-
thies are with both myself and Elsie tnat
Elsie is most noble. Her mother is no
protection for her, and Heaven will re-
ward you for one of the pest acts a good
woman ever did. wish I could see and
talk with you. Perhaps you will write
me line at any rate. You may be able
LNIasA haA ffnn IN h i'm
and to stop anything more, as well as
keep his letters from her. l feel it
sacred duty to leave no stone unturned
to protect this poor injured child from
any further outrage. Again. Mrs. Wright,
from tn depths of my soul I THANK you.
MRS. ZILLA MAYNE.
rhe next letter Of any importance is one
from the weakened mother of the girls,
thanking the Wrights for their kindness
to her children, threats OF vengeance to
Mayne and beseeching Mrs. Wright to
befr;end her child, extracts from which
are as follows:
Mrs. J. H. Wright:
Dear Madam:-I received your letter
ard was glad to hear you took such an
interest III the girl. Elsie san stay with
you as long as she wants, and please
don't let her get in his clutches again If
ne gets free. -. suppose | did
wrong 10 trust MIN; ne salo ne would ex-
ms nSR Elsie nsS i''F Mayne, if T''sV ever oHss Isy
hands or eyes on him, he will die. l will
shoot him if I hang next minute.
] am dumDfounded, crazy, mad. My
God 1t is more than can stand. If any
thing happens me. please watch over
All Of this, in the face of her attempt
to now shield Mayne. shows very marked
weakness and the influence Mayne's
agents have brought to bear on this poor,
helpless woman.
Bat the most remarkable document of
all is a letter from Mayne to Mrs. Wright.
This letter was corralled by Mr.. Wright.
his wife being ill. and he did not pro-
pose to burden her with "swash." as he
termed it, and although unarSwered.
would have been Wright's reply had he
seen fit to answer Mayne.
Mayne's letter is as follows, the mar
ginal notes being omitted:
Septem ber I'D.
Mrs. Wright Without the knowledge
and against the advise and counsel of
my friends and attorneys, write this let
ter to you, and as shall say nothing in
it that in any way can be objected by
your side, trust to your feelings It hon
or to consider it confidential. 1t has been
my desire from the very start to see you.
l have never for a moment changed in
what ! said positively at the start. that
you we're actuated by what you believed
to be right. but that you are laboring
under wrong impression of me and my
intentions. I do not believe you realize
the far-reaching effects OF your intended
vengeance, if successful. II was to be
the only sufferer, Mrs. Wright, 1 believe
you will at least agree with me that
have the courage to meet it, but 1 will
be the least one of the sufferers. Elsle's
life can never be the happier for it. When
the excitement of the present wears off,
she would have the picture constantly
before her. for she did love me Mrs.
Wright, and 1 was ever kind to her.
There were agreements and understand
ings between us. for the future. that she
can never get out of her mind. You
know me pretty well. you know l am ca
pable of great deal of good. When the
milestone was finally taken from my
neck, l became free man, freed from
the thing that made my life bitter and
clouded the better thoughts of my La-
ture. If the trial takes pl,ce Elsie can
never in the world be free from the stain.
But one mans name in the world can
cover her and that man loves her better
IT,