The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1902-04-17
JOSIE MANSFIELD.
Widely Known Woman Suddenly Aban-
d0ns Paris.

Widely Known Woman Suddenly Aban-
dOns Paris.
The mysterious Disappearance from
Paris Of Josie Mansfield has caused
much comment, especially in the Amer,
ican colony. She had been living
there from the time OF the Fisk Stokes
tragedy years ago, until about three
months ago, when suddenly she was
missed. Her house there has just been
sold, together with its handsome fur
nishings. Nobody seems to know what
has become of her, but the prevailing
belief is that she has gone back to
America incognito, intending to make
her home here hereafter. Josie Mans
field is close to sixty years old. Since
1872, when she fled to Paris after ED"
Stokes had killed "Jim" Fisk on her
account, she has been but name in
America-a name, it is true, that at one
time at least served to set all the New
York exclusives by the ears, but never
theless an exile, who, il report be true,
hankered continually after the scene
of her former triumphs. 1t was at six
teen that Josie Mansfield-or Warren,
her real name-tirst stepped on the
stake Of life in San Francisco in 1859, as
far as the public is concerned. She
was then the wife of Frank Lawler, the
actor. He married her, it Was said, to
save her from the parents, who prOpos-
ed to sacrifice her. A year later the
youthful bride disappeared, and for
some time was lost sight Of. 1t has
been stated that she spent that period
in Boston under the protection of dis
tinguished man. However that may be,
she emerged in 1867, got divorce from
Lawler and sought fame as an actress.
Failing in that, she was almost at the
end Of her resources when chance threw
in her way Col. James Fisk, jr., whose
interests in Fisk's opera house, the Erie
railway, and Sound steamers made him
a notable figure in the world of specu.
lation and politics. Josie Mansfield
was then at the zenith of her beauty.
1t was bold, brilliant type. Her dark
hair framed face lit up by a wonder
full pair of gray eyes. The color in hel
cheeks deepened with every emotion.
Her figure and carriage were superb.
Fisk won her and placed her in asplen-
did establishment. He introduced te
her his friend, Edward Stokes, who be,
came infatuated with her, and jealous
ly drove Fisk almost to desperation. A
suit was followed by counter-suit
! Then came threat to publish Fisk'l
letters, betraying his Erie deals. III
got an injunction restraining the plot
ters from this final step. One Januar.
day Stokes met Fisk at the Grand Cen
trail hotel and killed him. Josie Mans
field went TO Boston, but that city turn
ed a cold shoulder to her, and the wo
\ man who had dszzled New York will
! her toilets crossed the sea. to seek il
. the French capital new life. In 1891
by her marriage to Robert l.. Reado,
rich lawyer of NewYork, allied to Mrs
Levi p. Morton, whose family he'll
foremost place in London society, JOSH
: Mansfield again shook metropolital cir
) cles from center to circumference. Thi
union endured two years, when tn
\ husband sought release. Since the
\ reports of her doings have occasionall
reached her former acquaintances, bu
for two or three years she has practi
Z cally dropped out of sight.