The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-05-26
PLATT WON; MAE WOODNJAIL
Suit Against United States Sena-
Tor Dismissed as Fraudulent.
Alleged Marriage Certificate, Dated
1901, Was Written on : Blank
Form Not Printed Until 1902.


Wood, who fol- four days had been
trying to convince Justice O'Gorman
that she was the legal wife of United
States Senator Thomas Collier Plat,
and therefore entitled to a decree Of
divorce because of the Senator's mar
riage to Mrs. Lillian Janeway in Oc-
tober, 1903, was placed under arrest
by order OF Justice O'Gorman and
committed to the City Prison, "The
Tombs," in default of $4,000 bail on
charge of perjury.
Miss Wood was taken to the Tombs
by Captain Lynch of the court squad
and locked in a cell
Justice O'Gorman had sent letter
to Acting District ATTORNEY Carl Mott
subsequent to the arrest of Mae Wood
in which he gave a brief outline OF
the case and informed the District At
torney's Office that he had acted as
a committing magistrate and had held
Mae G. Wood for, the Grand Jury.
Justice O'Gorman also pointed out
that none save Sunreme Court JUS
tice could accept bail
District Attorney Jerome, when he
heard of the DEVELOPMENTS in the
Wood Plat case. hurried to the Grim
inal Courts Building He announced
that the case would be presented to
the Grand Jury Immediately. and
added II think this is a case in
which there should be speedy action:
I shall force it to trial as quickly as
can"
The arrest of Mae G. Wood was the
climax of one of the most sensational
trials had in the civil court for many
years. The woman was absolutely
unperturbed. Although trife male,
she talked cheerfullv with her law
vers, Charles lie Barber and Joseph
Day Lee, and wrote note to the
manager of the Hotel Mani attain in
which she asked him to send her 4inen
to the Tombs. She signed this Mae
c. Wood-Platt"
On her way to the Tombs she
chatted with Captain Lynch, and told
him she had no fear of the result
that she had powerful friends. At no
time during the ordeal did she lo1e
her nerve.
The last crushing blow to Mae
Woods case was the submission Of
proof that the marriage certificate
which she submitted AS evidence, was
actually not engraved until the Feb
ruary following the date of the al
legged wedding. Then came the dra-
matte incident of the trial.
Mr.. lie Barber had made short
speech in opposition to a motion to
dismiss the complaint his client sit
ting beside him A few feet away
stood Captain Lynch, with q legal
document in his hand. 1t was Justice
O'Gorman's order committing her to
the Tombs.
Justice O'Gormau, after patiently
listening to what Mr. lie Barber had
to say suddenly Strengthened himself
up, and, looking Mae Wood in the
eye. said:
"The Court cannot credit the plain
tiff's evidence as to the alleged mar
riage; and the testimony in the case
imrresses the Court with the belief
that it is q most wicked design to sup
port fictitious claim by forgery and
perjury.
"The Court cannot believe from the
evidence that there ever was a mar
riage. On the merits of the case every
issue has resulted in the Courts i'm
preston that the plaintiff has com
mitted wilful perjury in this case.
Being impressed with the plain
tiff's guilt of perjury the Court COM
mits her to the City Prison unless she
furnishes bail in $4,000"
Captain Lynch touched the woman
on the shoulder. She uttered not a
word, her lips frightened and the color
came and went in her cheeks. WHIP
ing the moisture from her eyeglasses,
she held a hurried conference with
her lawyers, and then turned to Cap.
tain Lynch and said, 81 am ready tc
accompany vou.
John E. Stanchfield and the other
Platt lawyers seemed to- be as much
amazed as the Wood lawyers. They
were prepared to have the case dis,
missed, but that Justice O'Gorman
should take sterner view of the mat,
ter apparently had not been contem
plated.
With the case transferred to. the
criminal courts it is within the power
of Mae G.. Wood to call Senator Plat
to the witness stand again in her de
tense should Grand Jury indict her