Evening star., 1898-08-24
MRS. MACkEY IN DURESS
Second Wife of Former Washingtonian Says
He Restraints Her.
More Matrimonial Difficulties for
Judge Thomas Jefferson Mackey
Effort to Get Divorce.
From the New York Herald Today.

From the New York Herald Today.
Another chapter has teen added to the
history of the matrimonial difficulties,
which are reported to have been many, Of
Thomas Jefferson Mackey, formerly a mem
ber of the supreme court Of the stats of
South Carolina.
Judge Mackey has been living recently in
furnished rooms in the house Of Mrs. Daisy
Catherine, at 23d street and 7th avenua
Accompanying him was a beautiful young
woman, whom he introduced to those in the
house Mrs. Mackey. In Charlestown. w.
Va, the young woman was well known as
the daughter of Col George A. Porterfield,
prominent resident of that place. and the
interest of the situation lies in the fact that
at the time of her marriage to Judge Mack
ey, on July 10, the judge had already con-
tracted a marriage, which he now seeks to
who was said to be living in this city at
No. 206 West 114th street, though she could
not be found there last night.
Shortly after the arrival of thu couple at
her house Mrs. Catherine began to have
suspicious that all was not right She no
ticed that Mrs. Mackey was apparently a
prisoner in the room occupied by the judge
and herself on thu second floor. An alcohol
stove served to cook the meals of the
couple, and Mrs. Mackey did not leave the
house from the moment of her arrival.
The Door Was Locked.
When the landlady went to the room on
Saturday to deliver a pitcher of ice water
she found the door locked, and Mrs. Mack
ey, who was within, said that she was un-
able to open it, her husband having locked
her in when he want out The young wo-
man said that she was most unhappy, and
intimated that she was kept close pris-
oner, unable to communicate with her rela-
tiveS or friends.
When 1 called at the house yesterday
was received by Judge Mackey, tall. dig
nified southerner, of aristocratic appearance
and apparently about sixty years old. He
Indignantly denied that his wife was being
restrained of her liberty, but appeared to
be under great excitement and to fear that
he might be placed under arrest
Il came to New York. he said, ito push
my case for separation from woman to
whom 1 was married in 1891. Her name
when 1 married her was Sarah Leonore
Curtis, and have since ascertained that
the marriage was invalid. / regard my
marriage to Miss Porterfield, my present
wife, as perfectly legal. 1t is absurd to
city had not been assured that was act
ing In perfectly legal manner"
Judge Mackey then showed me the fol-
lowing letter, which he said he was about
to send to Col. Porterfeld, and which he
said would fully explain his position:
New York, August % 1898.
''Col. George A. Porterfield:
Sir have just read your letter of the
18th instant, addressed to my wife, in
which you give the assurance that no
prosecution shall be instituted against me
tor sixty days in order that l may be free
to prosecute an action in the supreme court
or this city which shall establish the le-
gality of my marriage with your daughter
Relying upon that assurance, l will begin
such action within the next four days to
annul the marriage entered into by me
with one Sarah Curtis in 1891.
What action, of course, should have pre-
ceoed my marriage to your daughter, and
L so intended, but the peculiar circum-
stances that surrounded me at the date of
my marriage to her had the effect of tenn
porarily clouding my judgment, and my
devotion to her led me to run the terrible
risk of mourning a prosecution for the al
legged crime Of bigamy and suffering also
public odium and disgrace rather than
abandon her to situation that she deem
ed intolerable. 1 never for an instant
doubted, however, that my marriage of
1891 was not lawful marriage. and that 1
was legally free to marry your daughter
That l shall establish by legal evidence in
the courts without delay.
THOMAS JEFFERSON MACKEY."
His Wife's Declaration.
AS evidence Of his sincerity, Judge Mac
key then called in his wife who when ask
ed whether she knew that the judge had a
wife living at the time of her marriage to
him, said that she was aware of the fact
She seemed to be nervous and under some
restraint, but corroborated every statement
made by the judge, and even produced a
typewriter copy of letter which she said
she had sent to her father for the purpose
of placing before him the judges version of
his matrimonial troubles.
Judge Mackey then left the room and the
moment the door had closed behind him his
wife's manner changed, and she declared
with vehemence that she had no knowledge
OF his previous marriage at the time she
married him
Judge Mackey," she said, came to live
In the same house in Washington where 1
was staying, and paid me every attention.
He was most devoted suitor l did not
accept MIN at first, and he then wrote to
my father. He accompanied me to my
home in Charleston and stayed two weeks
My mother said that he must either leave
the mouse or we must get married l never
IoVed MIN. put ne won me by perseverance.
FINALLY L broke my engagement with Alex
ander Spottsford of Virginia and consented
to marry Judge Mackey. We went from
Washington to New York, and after we
key confessed to me that he had an impor-
tant secret to reveal to me- After urging
me to be brave and have every confidence
In him, ne told me that there was woman
In New York to whom he had been married
in 1891 That was the first time I had
heard of the other marriage. After that
we went to Pittsburg, Chicago and Phila-
delphia, and then returned here Nv father
does not know where l am"
When asked her whether it was true
tnat she had been held prisoner by her
husband she said that it was not exactly
that, but he never permitted her to 70 out
without him.
Just then the judge returned and hur-
riedly ordered his wife to pack her trunk
as he had a cab waiting at the door, A few
minutes later the couple drove off toward
the I'D street ferry.
Hobson Sails for Santiago.