The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-24
MRS. M'MURRAY A MYSTERY.
HER STRANGE CONDUCT STOPS PRO-
CEEDINGs IN HER BEHALF.

She Admits Writing the Letter
Which Was Used I'm the Petition
For Her Release From the Loretta
House and That 1t Indicated Her
Feelings at the Time, But Says She
Has Changed Her Mind-Her Com
Trajectory Statements in Regard
to Amdavits Concerning Her Com
duct.
The conduct Of Mrs. Patrick McMurray
is as much of a mystery as ever. The
present outlook is that there will be no
further steps taken in the case unless
McMurray or his wife should return to
Savannah.
A letter received by Col. J. L. Whatley
from Mr.. II. c. Smyth, the counsel en-
gagged for Mrs. McMurray in New York,
gives some further information concerning
Mrs. McMurray, but only adds to the
mystery of her conduct. In it Mr. smyth
says:
when Mr. Wrghts telegram came,
stating that Mrs. Prenty was dangerously
i'll, I Immediately sent the telegram to
Mrs. McMurray, at the Loretta house.
received from her the enclosed letter,
dated June 10, in reply thereto. From this
I surmised that she would start for Sa-
vannah. On Saturday a telephone mes
sage came to Mr.. Parsons, in my absence,
that Vicar General Kelley had telegraphed
Mrs. McMurray that Mrs. Prenty was not
i'll. This morning I received another let
ter from Mrs. McMurray, which I en-
close dated June 20. Mrs. McMurray, APP
parently, is in entire accord with her hus-
bands wishes, for the present, at least
When she appeared at this office in COM
pany with him and his lawyer, a Mr.. Far
gis. there was apparently perfect under
standing between them. She admitted
that the letter, which was included in the
petition for habeas corpus. had been writ
ten by her, and explained that at the
time she wrote 1t she felt exactly as the
letter indicated; that at that time her
friends were denied admittance to her
and she was not allowed to receive letters.
She stated, however, that since that time
her feelings had changed; that she was
not restrained of her liberty, but that she
was voluntarily residing at the Loretta
house. She admitted that three weeks
ago she signed an affidavit in the pres
ence of McMurray's lawyer reciting a lot
of alleged facts about her life, which re-
iected very discreditably upon her and
this affidavit is in the possession of her
husband. While Mrs. McMurray admit
ted she had signed such an affidavit, in
the next breath she denied that the con-
tents of the affidavit were true, and would
not give any satisfactory reason why she
har~ ole -
that we can never do anything with Mrs
McMurray apart from her husband Nc
Murray apparently is perfectly willing to
face any proceedings that are brought
against him, and his counsel requested
that he should be notified of any requisi-
ton papers that were sent here, and that
he would Immediately undertake to pro-
duce McMurray. l do not see what I can
do further in the matter until Mrs. Nc
Murray shows some disposition to accent
aid on her behalf from us"
The notes enclosed we're as follows:
New York. June 10, 1S97.-Mr. H. c.
Smyth: Kind Sir-I have just received your
note containing telegram and will tele-
graph Mr. McMurray to take me to Savan-
nah as quickly as possible. Respectfully,
Mrs. NJ. A. McMurray.
New York, June 90 1S97.-Mr. Smyth:
Kind Sir-My uncle. Mr.. Prenty, has
nothing to do with me. intend to follow
follow my husbands advice and the adj
vice of my pastor, and don't wish any
more law. Respectfully,
Mrs. P. McMurray.
There is some difference in the writing
of the two notes, the second not being as
neatly written as the first, but the differ
ence is not sufficient to base an opinion as
to whether or not they were written by the
same person.
Mr.. A. c. Wright who was associated
with Mr.. Whatley in this case says the
charges which had been brought against
McMurray We're sufficient to secure his re-
turn to Savannah. The first warrant sent
forward was only intended to secure his
arrest and detention, he said, but there
are now four warrants on which requisi-
tons have been secured in the hands of
the attorneys, who will hold the papers
to await further developments in the case.