The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-22
Mae Wood Declares Before She
Will Plead Guilty
To the Charge Of Perjury Stand.
ing Against Her.
STILL IN THE TOMBS.
Nobody Seems Moving to Secure
Her Release.
Says She Will Pursue the Platts
to the End,

New York, May 22.-Mae C, Wood,
the Omaha woman who yesterday was
sent to prison in default of S., 900 on a
charge of perjury after her complaint
against United States Senator Platt,
whom she had sued for divorce, had
been dismissed, was still in a cell to-
day. Apparently no effort had been
| made to procure bail. although Miss
Wood had said yesterday that she was
sure influential friends in Washington
would come to her assistance
This case is one of a very vicious
type not uncommon in this city," said
District Attorney Jerome "It will be
| presented to the grand jury as speed
lily as possible and if the woman is
indicted she will be placed on trial in
| hope that her conviction will furnish a
salutary result that such offenses can
not go unwhipped of Justice"
turbed.
I suppose shall have to swallow
any medicine they prescribe for me for
the present." said she. But you may
say TINS FOR me: AS long as I live
and there is Platt alive I shall fight
and fight hard, for my rights
DO you still claim you are Senator
Platt's wife?''
Il certainly do" she replied, land T
would have proved it if they had not
| robbed me of all my papers. / did not
expect to win. I feared that the suit
would be dismissed and 1 had counted
on being permitted to go my way.-I
would not have bothered old Platt after
that: L didn't expect this she added
| as she glanced around at the narrow
| cell
| DO you intend to plead guilty in
event of an indictment being found
against you?" she was asked.
"I'n rot first" she shouted, the smile
| disappearing and her lips coming to-
gether in a straight, tight line.
| What O'GOrman Said.
| While favorable outcome for Sena-
tor Platt had been looked for. it was
! not believed that Justice OGorman
would render an immediate decision.
He had been making up his mind as
the trial progressed. however. and dis
posed OF the case Immediately upon the
| conclusion of the brief argument of
| counsel With these stinging utter
ances from the bench. Justice O'Gor-
| man removed the stain of bigamy from
Senator Platt and consigned the wo-
| man to prison:
| II cannot credit the plaintiffs evil
dence as to the alleged marriage and
the testimony, as it impresses the
| court. is that this is a most wicked
design to support false and fictitious
! claim by forgery and perjury. The
| court cannot believe from the evidence
| that there ever was marriage. On
| the merits of the case every issue has
resulted in the courts impression that
the plaintiff has committed wilful per-
| jury in this case. Being impressed with
the plaintiffs guilt of perjury, the court
commits her to the city prison unless
she furnish bail in $5,00O.''
| Captain Lynch of the criminal
court squad of police was at hand
| with the order of commitment and
almost before the words Of the JUS
tice had ceased his hand had fallen
the most lightning like bolt Of the law
| ever witnessed by the court attend
ants.
Miss Wood sat looking into the
face of Justice O'Gorman like one
fascinated. She had not time to turn
around before Lynch had arrested
her. Then she sank back in her chair
stunned. Her black gloved hands
closed tightly and she looked into the
face Of Mr.. LeBarbier. her counsel
Mr.. Stanchfield went through some
formal motions on behalf Of Senator
Platt and Justice O'Gorman nodded
his assent, gathered his gown about
him and swiftly walked from the
room. He passed within two feet OF
Mae Wood, but she looked straight
ahead.
She Wrote a Note.
The news spread rapidly through
the courthouse. Clerks. witnesses
spectators and hangers-on flocked in
A group of gaudily dressed women
crowded about the prisoner. Mae
Wood; her nerves steeled for the
ordeal, smiled cheerful1y, and writing
something on slip of paper, handed
it to LeBarbier.
you had better go along now,'
he said II will take care of that
Every WELL" she replied In steady
tones.
She bowed to Lynch. He bowed
deferentially and took her arm A
court officer fell in on the other side
and the procession started from the
) room where the romance of a United
States senator had been written with
such dramatic force. She had no,
: been present the day before to witness
his pathetic appearance on the stand
and he was not there now to view hel
. downfall. But the crowd was.
There she is" mot much to lool
at" What did he see in herr" and
such comments were flung about. Ir
the years agone, PIatt himself had
been the center of such a mob-in the
heyday of his power when they want
j ed to catch the words of wisdom tha,
z fell from the lips of the "easy boss,
! but these now were crowding abou
to ''catch a look" at the plain nttl,
woman in black. admittedly the
: dearest May" whom he had admir-
eo, ana VINO was on ner way to Jail
Save when the crowd pressed close
I ly about her and she frowned her dis
4 approval. her face bore an easy, con
fdent smile, and she was still smilins
: when the front gate of the Tomb
= changed behind her. Moreover, sh,
> was still smiling when a reporter Wis
! ! tied her there an hour later. Matrol
. O'Brien had brewed cup of tea fo
: her and she sat slipping 1t and smilin,
out upon the greensward of the pris
/ on yard.
Assistant District Attorney Garyfl
said this afternoon that Miss Wood
case will be presented to the gran,