Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-08-31
HER CAREER ENDING.
Josie Mansfield, Once Brilliant and
Notorious, Now a Helpless Par
alytic,

\ ltue while ago all London went
20 a he.ett To Lydia Thompson, On
whose stage Josie Mansdelas charms
Shope in this country,
Now Josie Mansfield is at her sisters
house il Philadelphia, there probably
10 eud hNr life n life ,ha; has known
both rNcriy and the nrilliauoc u
douottG prosperity,
Miss Mansfield wuo has lived in hos
ton for three wears under the name oC
Mrs, Josie Wel,on, has been an invalid
nearly all the time, suffering her frs,
stroke shortly after her arrival
Strangely enough, paralysis has No;
atmmed the intensely keen and senst-
dive brain, Her eyes are as observan,
and Sympathe;iG rs or old, She under
stands wha; is said just as readily as
she ever did Mental disturbance is
evidenced, however, in her tendency
toward mauilin laughter or u half
childish oNulta ion over trivial things,
Hour after hour She HUNS over
sNatches ot The operas or the songs OF
Parts, Today she presents ono OF the
most Affecting SpcCtaCleS one rould look
upon.
Josie MauSHcld'S pedigree appears 10
hc hidden in n veil of mystery, Ros-
ton is credited with her birth, and she
was won't to declare that her name was
Helen Josephine Mansfield, although
others claimed that Warren was her
family namc and her folks were very
decent people This was denied some
wears ago by Frank lawley. the actor.
who claimed that she appealed to him
to save her from being used Ivy her par
ents for purposes OF hlackmail,
She was Just lG, possessed OF q
! strange, ,ark beauty, and Lawler
married her in san Francisco In 1899
| This union lasted for one year. The
actor did his meagor best to reform
her, but this modern Mana having seen
| LAWYER go BROKE over her eNtrava-
gancc disappeared out OF his lifc
From 1860 to 1867 her location has
never been satisfactorily explained
| Ignorant and unpublished as LAWYERS
wife she appeared again before the cal.
cium of public gaze and was seen IN the
company Of Annie Woods, an actress
who knew good lions and mon who
went the pace. Among the latler
was Col, Jim" Fisk, Jr.
Josie Mansfield she had dropped the
Lawler through the medium Of an easy
divorce soon had Fisk under her
CirCe-like cnchantment.
The beautiful, uncut, unpublished gem
,, of 1859 was now, by attrItion, bril-
liant flashing, polished woman of the
world. when she met Fisk her last
dollar was gone and she was arrayed
in her last gown.
She occupied whole house In 1868
had servants. jewels and equlpages
and Fisk was credited with paying the
oils.
At this time those who baskcd under
her smiles described her ms OF fair
skin. lustroCs as an Easter lily. with
broad white hrows covered by masses
of silky black hair. like clusters OF
rich grapes, fruit OF the vine from the
garden Of Bacchus. Long gold hoops
ypsyllke, hung from her tiny pink
tinted, shell~like cars. Small, plumn
hands, with absolutely faultless nails
and figure Of ravshng curves
finished by tiny foot. completed her
ensemble, and with the exception ot
her eyes Gray eyes they were. full OF
sorcery, ntful as n tropical sea, with
phosphorcsccnt glcams.
This was the queen that rcigncd IN
the "brownstopc front" at 800 West
Twcnty-thlrd street. New York city
where Jim Fisk and his friends had
fcasts nj for I.ucnllus, and poker game
| filled In the nights,
II was nj one Of these foass that
Fisk, boastng of his power, his con.
troi OF the city or state, declared:
g! have his city or state in the hol-
low OF my hand. think I'll have an
act of the legislature passed changing
tho name " the city to Flskvillo."
with carmine lips close to his ear
and with softly sweet voice JOSIE
| Mansfled-Lawler whispered:
why not name New York after
mc?"
"By II" he exclaimed, you're beau.
tiful enough to have this town wea,
your name Bat what should II be.
Josie Is not quite dlRnihcd enough, Il
IT. Oh. to be sure, Helen, You're as
fair as Helen OF Troy, I'll bet u rail
road J might have New York called
Helena
Sitting at the table at the line was n
young man, dark haired with the ok
ton OF a snow white lock. like feath-
er, with dark eyes. classic features.
fierce mouth, and sinewy build. He
was Edward s. Stokes,
At this time the ladies' wore the
Mansfield bonnet, the Mansfield wrap,
or had their hair braided in the Mans
field couture At the zenith OF her
fame, Fisk supplied with information
from detectives. threw aside the wo-
man he had raised to this eminence.
Her gray eyes flashed. She had let
Faru frpn M m and nrnnarod IN unItf