The sun., 1908-05-22
PLATT WINS; MAR WOOD MJAL
SUIT AGAINST SENATOR DFS.
MISSED AS FRAUDULENT.

|
Blank Form Nos Printed Untai leOz--
Judge Commits tho wsman fer Perjury.
From the County Court House % plaintin
and aoouser to the Tombs a. prisoner and
accused Mae Catherine Wood. who FOR
fve years has proclaimed hereelS 10 bs
the wife of United States Senator pIate.
walked up Lafayette street yesterday
committed for perjury by Justice 0'Gor-
man. who had listened to her testimony
| in the Supreme Court in her suit for q d.
vorce based on the Senator's marriage
to Lillian Janewsy.
This termination of her suit came with
dramatic sGddenness. The taking Of svi-
dence over. Justice O'Gorman had esksd
her few questions concerning her claims
and had then listened to short address
| by her counsel Charles Z. LIE Barber, ID
opposition to a motion to dismiss the suis
on the pleadings and evidence. The laws
yer's somewhat apologetio argument ended.
Justice O'Gorman leaned forward In his
chair. dangled pencil little and then
delivered himself of this short but positive
! opinion:
4The Court cannot credit the plaintiffs
evidence as to the alleged marriage. and
the testimony in the case impresses the
Court with the belief that ii is a most wicked
design to support a fictitious claim By
] forgery and perjury.
"The Court cannot believe from The evi-
| Alnk
On the merits OF the case every issue han
resulted in the Courts impression that
the plaintiff has committed wilful perjury
| in this case.
| Being impressed with plaintiffs guilt
OF perjury, the Court commits her to the
city prison unless she furnishes bail in
| S5,OOO.'
The plaintiff finohsd less than her lasf.
| yers as the blow fell. Something Of what
was coming had been suspected by on
lockers for almost half an hour when Capt,
Lynch Of the court Officers squad had
stalked into the court room shortly after
recess and taken place an arms length
| or so from Mrs. Wood. Mr.. Le BARRIER
glanced at Lynch out Of the corner Of his
eye and turned to Joseph Day Lee. the
woman's attorney of record. to whisper
a few words. When what they had feared
became an actuality the two lawyers turned
and faced the woman.
Her lips frightened, and the color caSne
and went in her cheeks. Capt. Lynch
| moved closer and drew from his pocket .
paper which he showed her. She glanced
at It and turned away. The paper wes y
! commitment in which she was charged
with perjury by James A. O'Gorman, q
Justice OF the Supreme Court, sitting as
committing magistrate. Its production by
Lynch at this stage showed that Justics
O'Gorman had made up his mind at the
recess hour IL not earlier.
| PROGRESS TO THE roMBs.
Apprised by Lynch that he was ready b
| escort her to the Tombs, the woman reached
for pencil and sheet Of paper that lay
on the lAwyers' table in front Of her. Muir
muring few words to Mr.. LIE Barber. whose
face was blank and pale. she began writing
hurriedly. The note she scribbled was
directed to the room clerk Of the Hotel Man-
haitian and requested him TO see that SONS
Of her effects were sent down at once to ths
Tonbs. To this she signed herself MAO
Catherine Wood Platt'
| A anall rabble followed her and Lynce
to the Tombs. Neither Of her couns&
accompanied her. and when she had Isft
the court room Mr.. I,e Barber. asked com
cerning the probability Of her getting ball
before nightfall. said that his connsotiou,
| with the case had ended as soon 40 the JuD~
| tice had rendered his decision.
And let me not be misunderstood
added the lawyer. 'in saying that I fssS
| quite satisfied with the Courts decisicn
] and do not dispute for moment that the
Court acted entirely within its rishts IN In
disposition Of the case
The walk to the Tombs was devoid 0fin.
| cident, and Mrs. Wood had little b say 90
she took It. Once she made sorne resfia1lE
concerning Justice O'Gorman. to which
Lynch replied that he thought the Justkce
| an eminently fair man. To this Mrs. Wcod
replied:
Il suppose he Ia. guess he waz a tatr
| to me as any other Judge would hsve hesn
under the circumstances
| At the Tombs Lynch handed the oosnnnit-
ment and his prisoner over to MAtsUn
O'Brien. in charge Of the female dividon
| Of the Tombs. Mrs. Wood was searched
| and her pedigree was taken. Then she was
taken to q cell In the lower or ground tier.
SPEEDY TRIAL INFECTED.
Shortly after hcr commitment Assistaus
District Attorney Mott. who was acting
District Attorney in the absence Of Mr..
| Jerome, received from Justice O'GcrmAn
written communication In which thu
Justice informed the District Attorney a.
the action taken and instructed Mr.. N6ts
| further, that bail in the case could be 90
ceptad by Supreme Court Justice onlx.
MIR. Jerome himself appeared In O littIe
while and took charge Of the case. He
| said he would bring the case before the
Grand Jury as soon as possible, It may be
to-day. II she is indicted. Mr.. jerome
said. her trial will be speedy. a. he believed
that such indictments for perjury by the
plaintiff In civil suit should be heard and
determined without loss Of time,
THE FnsIsHINo BLOW. ~
The finishing blow to the plaintiffs osss
was given yesterday when it was shown
that the marriage ossrtt..sa.SSsssss' producsd
| by her and dated November o. 1901, had been
x,rr;ttay, "a, n hIon Form, MT y,ca sytstaA