The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-23

PASSING OF JOSIE MANSFIELD.
She WAS the Cause Of the Famous
Fisk-StOkes Tragedy.


Boston Letter in Philadelphia Times
Her right side paralyzed ana unable to
utter a single word. Josie Mansfield the
cause of the killing of Jim Fisk by Ned
Stokes has left her little home here for
Philadelphia, where II is hoped by her
friends that medical aid will restore some
of her shattered powers. She goes there,
it is said, as the guest Of her sister, the
wife of a wealthy merchant. Miss Mans
field who has been living here for three
years under the name of Mrs. Josie Wei
ton has been an invalid nearly all the
time, suffering her first stroke shortly ar-
ter her arrival
Strangely enough, paralysis has not
dimmed the intensely keen and sensitive
brain. Her eyes are as obserVant and
sympathetic as of old. She understands
what is said just as readily as she ever
did. Mental disturbance IS evidenced, how
ever. in her tendency toward maud.in
laughter or a half-childish eXultatiou over
trivial things. Hour after hour she huns
over snatches of the operas or songs ot
Paris. To-day she presents one of the
most affecting spectacles one could look
upon.
Josie Mansfeld's pedigree appears to be
II
credited as the place of her birth and she
was wont to declare that her name was
Helen Josephine Mansfield, although 9th
ers claimed that Warren was her family
name and her folks were very decent
peop.e. This was denied some years ago
by Frank LAWYER, the actor who claimed
that she appealed to him to save her from
being used by her parents for purposes
of blackmail
She was just IS, possessed a strange,
dark beauty and Lawler married her in
San Francisco in 1859 This union lasted
for one year. The actor did his meager
best to reform her, but this modern Mana,
having seen LAWYER go broke" over her
extravaganza disappeared out of his life.
From 1860 20 1867 her locationt has never
been satisfactorily explained. Ignorant
and unpublished as LAWYERS wife. she app
peared again before the calcium of pubic
gaze and was seen IN the company of An
NE Woods an actress who knew good
livers ana men who went the pace"
Among The latter was Col. Jim" Fisk Jr.
Josie Mansfield. she had dropped the
LAWYER through the medium Of an easy
divorce soon had Fisk under her Gree
ike enchantment.
The beautiful, uncut, Unpublished gem of
1859 was now. by attruon, a brilliant,
flashing, polished woman Of the world
When she met Fisk her last dollar was
gown.
She occupied whole house In 1868 had
servants, jewe.s and equippages and Fisk
was credited with paying the bills
AT this time these who basked under her
smiles, described her as a far skin, lus-
trous as an Easter lily with broad white
brow covered by masses Of silky black
hair, like clusters Of rich grapes fruit OF
the vine from the garden Of Bacchus Long
gold hoops. gypsy like hung from her tiny
pink tinted shell-like ears. Small, plump
hands, with absolutely faultiess nails, and
figure of raVishing curves, finished by
tiny foot, competed her ensemble with
the exception of the eyes Grays eyes, they
were, fun Of sorcery. htful as a tropical
sea, with phosphOrescent CLEANS.
This was the queen that reigned in the
browns one front at 329 West Twenty
third street New York city. where Jim
Fisk and his friends had feasts At for
Lucullus, ana poker games filled in the
nights.
1t was al one Of these feasts that Fisk
Boosting OF his power his control of the
city or state. declared:
81 have his city or state in the hollow
OF my hand. / think I'll have an act Of the
legislature passed changing the name Of
this city to Fiskyille."
with carmne lips close to his ear. and
with softly sweet voice Josie Manifold
LaWler whispered
why not name New YORK after me?'
by ~" ne exclaimed, you're beautiful
enough TO have this town wear your name
But what should It be? Josie is moi quite
dignificd enough, d. it.? on, 10 be sure
Helen. You're as fair as Helen of Troy IN
bet railroad ! might have New York
called Helena
Sitting at the table at the time was a
yourg men, dark haired with the excep-
ton Of one snoW-Whife lock, Ike a feather
with dark eyes classic textures. fierce
mouth and slnewy buid. lie wa Edward
s. Stokes.
Al this time ladies' wore the Mansfield
bonnet the Mansfield wrap or had their
hair braided In the Mansfield cOiffure. At
/ the zenith OF her fame Fisk. supplied with
Information from detectives, threw aside
the woman he had raised to this euiin-
ence.
Her gray eyes flashed. shs had letters
from him, and prepared 20 spit him be-
fore the public Fisk secured an iniunc-
ticn against their publication and ia this
year 1871, legal battles ragged between the
two.
Fisk also pitted his millions against
Stokes $4,000. in order TO ruin the man
whom he accused OF transoIauuug him IN
the heart or Whims Of Josie Mansfield
! Fisk had remarked:
Stokes wants a fight with me. / tell
you my touch is cold and clammy"
Fisk crushed Josie Mansfield in the
courts. stokes was there and saw Il. saw,
100, that his adversary was strong enough
10 crush hlm as he had the woman.
1t at last came to the only finish that
could pe foresceH. IL was on the after
noon Of Jan. 8. 1872. The two men met On
the Stairs OF the Grand Central Eolel. A