The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-13
MRS. MUGFORD Is A A
As sUCH, SHE SAYS, SHE COULD NOT
CLEAN FLOORS.

she Could, However, Mutiints Carpets, Pat
Acid ON Furniturc, ana Destroy the
Property or Her stepdauEhtor - Another
Chapter OF the MuErord's Marital Woes.
Mrs. Mamie II. Mugford was convicted In the
County Court, In Brooklyn, yesterday Of mali.
cious mischief. In cutting up carpets, putting
grease upon handsome chairs, and scratching
furniture, the property of Mrs. Fanny ]. Hovey,
the daughter OF Henry L. Mugford by his first
wife.
The Mugfords have aired their troubles in the
various courts for a year. Mr.. Mugford is a re-
tired grocer. 65 years old. Ho is slim, with a
pinchod face, and wears u white goatee. Mrs.
Mugford appears TO be about 80 years old. wears
glasses, and was dressed yesterday in black silk.
The Mugfords were married on Nov. Is, 1895,
and the following month they separated. They
lived at s75 Putnam avenue.
When Mrs. Mugford ascertained that her hus.
band was not wealthy she began n suit for
separation, which she aftcrward abandoned in
order to institute n suit for tho annulment Of
the marriage on account OF the age Of her hus-
band. This suit is still pending. Mrs. Mugford
continued TO live in the Putnam avenue house,
but on April 8. 1896, was dispossessed by her
stcpdaughtor, Mrs. Hovoy. Mrs. Hovey then
caused her arrest for mutilating the furniture.
Mrs. Hovey testified yesterday that her step
mother cut the parlor carpets. spilled ink on the
floor, sprinkled acid on the furniture and bed
ding, and poured ashes on everything she had
not mutilatcd. Carpets. parlor chairs, and other
furniture were in the County Court yesterday as
exhibits.
Josephine HOFFMAN. who on former occasions
had testified In Mrs. Mugford's behalf, yesterday
said that. Mrs. Mugford sent her out to pur-
chase carbolic acid. which was sprinklcd on the
What did Mrs. Mugford say - asked Assist
ant District Attorney, Ward. ..
she said reSnOuUpI tho witppRH. that II
she couldn't get any good out of the furniture
and fittings no one else would"
Mrs; Mugford was all smiles when she took
the. witness stand. She denied being vicious.
aud said her husband used to bring men to the
house who misbehaved themselves. She also de-
nied destroying the furniture.
Why did you smile as your husband left tho
standl !" asked Mr., Ward.
=" didn't know that | smiled. said Mrs. Mug
FORD, " | might have had pleasant thoughts
10 you have pleasant thoughts when you see
Not always" she replied.
Did you throw kisses to Mr.. Mugford or Mrs.
Hove, when they were removing the furniture
from the houser
ford replied. and then she giggled.
yNmaye YOU npE love for MI. MngfSrdn now !,
when pressed for an answer replied:
secret"
Just before leaving tho stand Mrs. Mugford
said:
I'm a lady-that's why I did not clean up
Assistant District Attorney Ward, in sum.
ming, up for the prosecution, said.
There are a great many ladies in the land. l
her knees and clean the door. 1 admire the lady
who earns her own living. There are also ladies
who have no character, and who are vicious, l
work like cleaning the floors"
ve ThS iu n w SSilt Snt q Mr 4on ain ara tsc W, TGn be ssn a
fenced on Friday.