Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-04-13
COMMODORE MAYO.

COMMODORE MAYO.
As heretofore stated Commodore
William K. Mayo, a retired officer OF
the United States navy, died in Wash
iugton Tuesday night, at the age OF II
years. After the death Of his first wife.
in 1892, and when he was 63 years OF
age, Commodore Mayo married Miss
J snnie Elton Stevens, at Waterbury,
Conn. Miss Stevens was only 26 years
of age.
At tNew York on thei. wedding trip,
the couple had serious disagreem ent,
and by the time they reached Was hing
ton Mrs. Mayo was compl etely prostra-
ted aud after an attempt to hold re.
ception to invited guests she was car
ried faintipg to her room.
She recams mentally unbalanced, and
was taken to the insane asylum at
Litchfisld, Conn.,, but was discharged
as cured year later, and went to her
home in Waterbury. She never again
lived with her husband.
In February 1894 Commodore Mayo
published q Dotlce 10 tradespeople that
ne woald not be responsible for any
debts incurred by his wife. When ask
ed about this he sad "On, that's me;
Tm no fool" He further accused his
wife OF having done all sorts OF bizarre
things at the reception, and OF trying
to Jump over the banisters to escape
him on later occasion. He also de-
clared she had made several attempts
to kill him.
Two years ago Commodore Mayo
went to North Dakota aud got q di.
vorce on the ground of desertion and
be soon afterward married Mrs. N. g.
Hall, of Washington.
A Waterbury, Conn.,, dispatch says
A secret supposed to hava died with
Com modore Mayo wss revealed by Miss
Jennie Elton Stevens, who asserts that
she was hypnotized into marrying the
commodore, who, in 1892, at the age OF
sixty.two years, won her for his second
wife. They separated on the evening
of their wedding reception and never
saw each other afterward.
The young wire was taken to pri-
yate asylum and for two years her rea'
son tottered. The commodore obtain
ed a divorce from her 10 q South Da'
kota court, and afterward married q
Mrs. Hall, his .housekeeper. Concern
ing the enlargement between Com
modore Mayo and bis second wife
Washington society and the world ct
large has been curious all these years.
Miss Stevens, for she resumed her
maiden name, has ever since her release
from the asylum been living here. Her
health has been restored.
She believes that Commodore Mayo
had remarkable occult power. She
had heard that he had somewhere 10
mis- travels In the far East, from Yogi
or from a Brahmiu, learned the secret
of exercising strange and irresistible
fascination over bis felIow-meD. She
and her parents were traveling 10 the
White mountains In 1891 when she hrst
met the commodore.
"His eyes seemed to possess some
strange power,n she said. "They were
great blue, fearless eyes, that seemed To
draw one to them. l never could ut :
derstaud whence came that influence
which completely took me captive.
Miss Stevens Osd never dreamed o.
marrying the commodore. She wat
only twenty-six years old. She feared
him and loved him by turns. When
she was away from him bis influence
over her waned, put in her presence
she was powerless.
He actually commanded her TO mar
~ him. che says, and she obeyed
Three times before the marriage cere
mopy she declared to him that tnel'
engagement was broken. He PAID nc
more attention to her than be would tt
the expression OF childish whim.
Only q few days before their mar
risge she told him that she dreaded
that he had some strange influence
over her. and said that she feared ht
would make her subject to his caprice
and will. He told her that he truly
loved her and that her fears were
groundless. -,
Then there was the wedding, with
| ts bridesmaids and roses and juoilatioI
of guests, and the drive to the railroad
station in q shower Of rice. lt al
| seemed to her a confused dream. Sne
could not understand why she had
married the old commodore, and she
now attributes the whole sffsir to hyp
nOeis.
Miss Stevens says she did not leav'
the commodore of her own free Will
hut that he drove her from him. Sn'
alleges that he seemed to tire OF he
and treated her cruelty. They went Il
Nav York on their wedding journe!
and then to Washington, where tn
wedding reception was held.
The Young wife was disinclined to re
ceive the guests and vainly begged Z
he excused. Commodore Mayo com
handed her to descend the staircase .
the psrlor aud she did 80. She oecam n
nj. and according to her story tne Vo% ~
modore grew tired Of her and sen' ~
her father to take her home .,,,
Miss Stevens AYERS that she woui'
Gladly have returned to her husnan'
after her release from the sanitariu@
where she was placed by her Is.ns; ';
but that her parents would not pe.M9'
| Sha ,atar ne O an q suit 10