The Washington herald., 1908-05-22

New York. May 21.-From the county
courthouse as plaintiff and accuser to the
Tombs as prisoner and accused, Mae c.
Wood. who for five years has acclaimed
herself as the secret wife Of United States
Senator Platt. walked up Lafayette street
to-day, charged by Justice o'Gorman, who
had listened 20 her testimony in her suit
for a divorce from the Senator. based on
his marriage to Mrs. Lillian Janeway,
with deliberate perjury.
This unexpected termination Of her suit
came with dramatic suddenness.
The taking of evidence over. Justice
O'GoTman had asked her a few questions
concerning her claims, and had then lis
tened to short address by her counsel
Charles E. lie Barber, in opposition 10 a
motion to dismiss the suit on the plead
ings and evidence The lawyers some
what apologetie argument ended. Justice
O'Gorman leaned forward in his chair,
dangled a pencil a couple of times. and
then delivered himself OF this short but
positive opinion:
'The court cannot credit the plaintiffs
testimony as to the alleged marriage, and
the testimony in the case impresses the
court with the belisf that it is most
wicked design TO support a fictitious claim
by forgery and perjury.
Court Cannot Believe story.
The court cannot believe from the evil
dence that there ever was a marriage.
On the merits Of the case, every issue
has resulted in the courts impression
that the plaintiff has committed willful
perjury in this case.
Being Impressed with plaintiffs guilt
Of perjury, the court commits her 10 the
city prison, unless she furnishes bail in
the sum OF $500"
Delivered with all the impressveness
that goes with black silk gown. these
words fell like thunderbolts on the Wood
camp. The woman's counsel had inti-
mated in a veiled way, both publicly and
privately, that they were not overconf-
dent of the outcome Of the suit, and
feared the power and money Of the other
side
But il had never occurred TO them that
Justice OGoTman would dismiss their
clients pretensions in such an off-handed
way, and certainly they had made no pro-
vision for bailing her out of jail
The Wood woman finched less than her
lawyers. Something Of what was coming
had been suspected by onlookers for al
most half an hour, when Capt Lynch, of
the court squad. had stalked into the
courtroom shortly after recess and taken
a place an arms length or so from Mae
Wood.
Chances at Her Counsel.
Mr.. lie Barber glanced at Lynch out
of the corner Of his eye and turned 10
Joseph D. Lee, the woman's attorney of
record, to whisper a few words. Lees
pallid face turned almost white as he
listened, but not word was said by
either TO Miss Wood Then, when what
they had feared became an actuality, the
two lawyers faced the woman with scared
Countenances.
She said little. Her lips frightened. the
color came and went in her cheeks. and
her bosom palpitated visibly But beyond
that. a casual spectator might have in
ferred that the prOnOuncement Of the
court branding her as a felOn who would
stoop to perjury 10 accomplish her black
mailing ends related not to her but TO
some person In whom she took little or no
interest.
Capt. Lynch moved closer and drew
from his pocket a paper, which he showed
her She glanced at IL and turned away.
The paper was a commitment, in which
she was charged by James a. O'Gorman,
a justice of the Supreme Court. sitting
as a committing magistrate, with perjury.
It's production by Lynch at this stage
showed that Justice O'GoTman had made
up his mind during the recess hour that
the solitude OF a cell rather than the lib
erty of an open courtroom was more
suited TO Miss Woods deserts.
Sends Note for Effects.
Apprised by Lynch that he was ready
to escort her to the Tombs, the woman
reached for a pencil and sheet of paper
that lay on the lawyers table in front
Of her. Murmuring a few words to Mr..
lie Barber, she began writing hurrledly.
The note she scrfbbled was directed 20
the room clerk OF the Hotel Manhattan,
where she has been stopping since the
trial began on Monday, and requested
him TO see that some OF her effects were
sent down at once to the Tornbs.
Then, whether to affirm her repeated
statements or simply to confirm with her
registered name, she boldly signed her
self: Mae Catherine Wood-Platt."
A small raDble Of reporters, errand boys
and hangers-on of the courthouse follow
ed her and Lynch TO the Tombs. Neither
Of her counsel accompanied her and when
she had left the courtroom. Mr.. lie Bar
bier asked concerning the probability of
her getting bail before nightfan, mutter
ed that his connection with the case had
ended as soon as the justice had rendered
his decision.
"And let me not be misunderstood.
added the lawyer, ''in saying that I feel
quite satisfied with the courts decision.
and do not dispute for a moment that the
court acted entirely within its rights in
its disposition Of the case"
The walk to the Tombs was devoid OF
incident, and Miss Wood had little 10