The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-02
MRS. JoRDAN'S CONFESSION.
ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE LEFT
WITCH DIVORCE CASE.

and Gives the Public n Full Confess
Admits Her Relations with
Ieftvfcb. hut Denies That Jordan
Was InveigIed Into Marrying =.
Claims That He Knew She Loved
Leftvvich Before He Married Her.
Mrs. Jordan Attributes Her Sinful
Life to Her Great Love.
Atlanta. Ga. Sept. Another remark
able chapter in the Leftwich divorce case
was given to the public to-day, actuatng
the sensation produced by the first an
nouncement of the action, and Attorney
Leftwichs romantic efforts to Justify his
relations with Maud Ross Jordan, the fair
correspondent.
This time it is Mrs. Jordan who comes
before the public with an expose of her
life, which, together with that of Mr.
Leftwich makes the case, without doubt
one of the most remarkable on record.
Like the lawyer she confesses her
wrong-doing, but justfes herself and him
by the great love between them and ~
both for their children.
No description OF the unfortunate wo-
r4an's statement could possibly do IT JUS
tice, so her own words are given. The
statement was called forth by the insinna-
ton by Col. Robert Jordan, well-knoVn
lawyer, that Leftwich by posing as the
ward of Maud Ross, his inamorata, had
inveigled his nephew. J. W. Jordan, into
a marriage with her, his object in doing
so being to cover up his own relationship
with her.
Yesterday. after this charge by Col. Jor-
dan appeared in print, Mr. Leftwich' &C
companied by Mrs. Jordan, called at the
office of Lawyer Jordan According TO
the latter, there was a sensational scene,
Mrs. Jordan demanding that the lawyer
retract mis- accusation. while Leftwich
stood by supposedly with a pistol in his
pocket. When Lawyer Jordan declined to |
retract. Ii was reported that Mrs. Jordan |
angriIy declared she felt like killing him
OF course the publication of this scene
was calculated to efface the romantic
glanor with which Leftwich had tried to
the otherwise sordid and common liasion.
In order to controvert this effect Mrs.
Jordan made her statement to-day.
She was in Attorney Leftwich's office,
and when she handed over her statement
for publication, Mr.. Leftwich formally IN
troduced her as his wife.
In part, Mrs Jordan says: I appeal 10
q truth-loving public to listen to the state
ment I now make though they stood
around a sick bed or that of a dying wo-
man. I shall not live long, for God made
me sensitive, delicate and proud; proud |
not in those things that affect the worldly |
mind but proud in that true pride that |
suffers most when touched in the sacred |
relations of wife and mother.
Mr.. ]. W. Jordan had full knowledge |
of mt love for Mr.. Leftwich before my |
question if l loved Mr.. Leftwich. My an |
ewer was Yes" 1t is true that Mr.. |
Leftwich advised me to marry him, as he |
thought to save me from himself, know |
ing that he loved me and me alone, and
that his love was fully returned"
Mr.. Leftwich, as well as myself strpg-
gled with this love- and with the very
poor light we had and feeling ourselves
bound hand and foot we did the best we
could and, after all, il seems struggled in !
vain; for real love rules the world, as it |
rules beyond the stars and, though set |
aside to-day, must sooner or later assert |
its sacred rights. gathering intensity from |
Its very suppression and setting at naught |
every thing but loyalty to itself. 1 admit |
that l did wrong TO marry MIR. Jordan, |
although he knew all, but I sinned not
against him, but against myself
Mr.. Jordan did not leave me, but 1
was forced TO and did leave him on ac-
count of his conduct. l was married Sept
g. 1898, Sunday afternoon al the residence
of the minister named by Mr.. Jordan
and my first child was born July "A, 1894
Our love has been spiritual and pure and
always viii be- and we have been faithful
10 it, although we have made mis- axes
from which we have both suffered enough
TO cancel the debt of all sin In this world
I know that whatever has been, or what
ever may be, our aspirations have always
been of the highest order and now though
] am being dragged into public notice OF
the severest kind, and submitted TO the
severest trial that woman ever had TO
stand, ! still have those same aspira tons
and if God will spare my life, l will rear
my Two little boys in such way that the
world VIII feel that il is better for their
having lived in 1t. / am proud of my chill
dren and of my love for I am a better wo-
man for the lesson that love
has taught me and believe 1
can truthfuly say that my influence upon
the man I love in an humble way has
been for good. and that he knows more
about God and Is nearer a Christian than
ever before
''When I say that am proud of my love
ana my little children, l beg not to be mis-
understood / am also ashamed-possibiy
not in the way the world expects, for that
could not be, having the con-
seriousness that have done
my duty as best I could. True
humility is pride. l have The same sensi-
bslity and delicacy that any loving wo-
man or mother would feel a being brought
before the public and slandered. I sorrow
very ieeply that the world should have
called upon me to defend myself-the world
that has never done me a kindness or ever
helped me in any struggle L have ever
made, but has been cruel, harsh and I'M
just instead. And through all my sor-
row and through all my suffering there is
a sweet consolation that win steal in for
Christ with all his purity and goodness and
grandeur of character, was crucifed, and
because of his very purity and because his
life was carried out on a
different basis and on different
opinions from the world that
crucified him. And although he had all
the lovely qualities and virtues that God
intended every man really to have, has
best his noblest his sweetest virtue was
the sympathy and love he gave not to one
woman, but to all; for he well knew the