The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-27
MAN ASSAlLANT, OR WOMAN? ?
TWO VERSIONS OF SCRAP IN MRS.
SHAKESPEARE'S FLAT.
Also Two Letters. One From Her and One
Prom Roderick W. Richardson. Whom
She IL Suing for SIS 900 Damages
for Assault-A Strenuous Evening.

She Is Suing for SIS 900 Damages
for Assault-A Strenuous Evening.
Roderick W. Richardson a broker liv-
ing in Breton Hail. at Broadway and
Eighty-sixth street, appeared yesterday
before Supreme Court Justice White and
a jury. to defend suit brought against
him by Mrs. Natalie w. Shakespeare to
recover $4,000 damages for assault. Mrs.
Shakespeare was the wife Of James H.
Shakespeare, a lawyer OF Philadelphia,
when she was associated with "Sir Henry
Onequi. the palmist, whom the London
police afterward sent to Jail. Shakespeare
died in sanitarium.
After Onequi's disaster Mrs. Shake
speare established herself on Sixty-fifth
street, and 1t was In her apartment there
that the alleged assault occurred. Rich
arclson was then living at the Hotel Endi-
colt, and according to the story he told
yesterday. he met the woman on the street
one afternoon in the spring Of 1901 and
made her acquaintance. The night Of July
l. 1902. he testified. while he was playing
billiards in the Endicott, Mrs Shakespeare
called him repeatedly on the telephone,
and he finally went over to the fiat at her
request. They had something to drink
and. as Richardson testified. she started
at me for not answering her calls and let
ters made for the door. but she seized
my hat and tore it to ribbons and then
grabbed my collar and pulled it off the
shirt.
Thinking her mad. threw her on the
bed and held her down till she got quiet,
but when started to leave again she took
4 / ..-l. al..~ Il
me over the head. grabbed her again.
and then she walloped me with a hand
mirror. bring ing me to my knees.
Il got fresh hold on her, however, and
knocked her down with my fist Then when
she seemed quiet again let her up. Her
first dash was for bureau drawer. from
which she got razor, and back she came
at me. flourishing it,
Il managed to seize her arm. however.
and threw her down on the bed again.
holding her there till she fell into a ner,,
vous sort of sleep. ! lay on the sofa until
morning and then got out.
On cross-examination Richardson adj
mtted that he had been infatuated with the
woman and had agreed to marry her: They
had a failing out week or so before the
night Of the row. and then the agreement
been drinking heavily on the night Of the
fight He had written Mrs, Shakespeare
many letters and had received many from
her. few were read in court. One of
them ram
MY SWEET LITTLE wrrK TO BE: Yop don :
when can call you my little wife to all the
world. and work for and protect yoI.
wiz be the proudest man In the world and
My only aim will be- to make my little Natalie
happy and conte1'ed ar and III, to III make ,, her "a
rall ma her own | love YOU, dearest, with
my whole heart, soul and life, and We VIII
be. oh, so happy and have dear old Dad come
little girl, be true and brave and keep all
your promises and | will never leave or
forget You for one monemi D, 10y" owe sx Non
little girl Natalie, With lots OF kisses,
am yours till death, kohERl'R'
One of her letters to him, written after
quarrel. read in part
So this is the way you intend to treat me
after ali your promises of the last few days.
is il? SO YOU are at The Navarro. are you!
Well IL you don't come to zee me som" time
and come to the Navarro Tomorrow and regis
ter as your wife Twin do This If i /, the las.
act OF my life, and VIII make 'h'hes livery
there, ! promise that,
At the opening Of the case, Mrs. Shake
speare told her version Of the tumultuous
happenings on that July night. She was
dressed in blue summer suit, with white
shirt waist, white gloves and white hat.
She sa!a that Richardson called that night
and told her that he had heard sine Vas
entertaining some other man and that
she did not intend to keep her promise TO
marry him.. c,,.
speare went on. so that ! never could
marry anybody else. and he came near
doing It. He threw me down on the floor,
blacked both my eyes. and beat me so
that ! was laid up for days and
had to have the doctor. He was very in
toTicated, I should judge, and he kicked
nv door open when refused to let him
in" IT, a.,n..
II really don't know" she answered.
on me that knew nothing more till I came
10 and found myself alone.
The trial will go Oh to-day.