The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-31
Kiss Rae Tanner, in State
ment, Tells Just How She
Met Mddle-Aged Lothario,
Who Wrecked Her Life"

SPECIAL TO Tho Washington fieraid.
New York. March S.-Rae Tanner tolC
United states District Attorney Marshal
yesterday that her suit again James w
Osborne was the result Of mistaken
identity. Nj. Osborne. she said, was moi
the Dear oliver who had promised tc
marry her. She insisted. however. tina
Dear oliver is a real personality. Mr.
Marshall declared her story to be ''un
believable.' In statement last night
Miss Tanser said:
THE Oliver Osborne I loved is moi
James w. Osborne, the well-known law
yer and prosecutor.
II did not realize that 1 had mistaken
one for the other until had brought
upon myself load of shame and dis
Grace which has nearly driven me crazy
Let me tell the whole story. The worit
has misunderstood nc
Il met a man who said he was Oliver
Osborne, and whose appearance was sc
nearly like that of James w. Osborne
that I continued on in the illusion unit
I found an abyss yawning before me.
believed absolutely that the man who
promised to marry me was the former
assistant district attorney until I saw
him in the light of the window of Com
missioner Houghton's chambers.
Her Senses Benumbcd.
AT the hearing when ] identified
James W. Osborne as Oliver Osborne
I was abGost paraIyzed with a nervous
dread which seemed to numb my senses
l did not know what ! was doing.
was said to be perfectly composed during
the proceedings. As a matter of fact
I was only an automaton. The thought
that all eyes We're riveted on me seemed
to freeze my blood.
II loved Oliver Osborne to despera-
ton. l became his sweetheart because
he promised to marry me. II ! had
remained only an affinity l might
still have enjoyed his favors. 1t was be-
cause / spurned the bribery of his jew
els and fine clothes and insisted upon
becoming his wife that all this disgrace
has been heaped upon me.
MY story is simple, although to
many 1t seems to have been the most
complicated kind of a mystery. ] first
met Oliver Osborne one Saturday after
noon, October II Of last year. 1 was
through work and strolling along the
Fifty-ninth street sidewalk of Central
Park. My sisters and myself at that
time lived In an apartment at 97 Aldus
street.
Didn't Wait, just Sat Down.
Opposite the F'ifty-ninth street entrance
Of the Plaza Hotel a gentleman passed
me who smiled pleasantly. He was a
man in his forties. dressed in gray suit
and overcoat, and the first impression he
gave me was that of a man OF wealth
and refinement. don't remember
whether 1 returned his smile. At any
rate I simply walked along toward Co.
lumbus Circle until l reached the Sixth
avenue entrance to Central Park. I
turned into the park. and after walking II
little way sat down on a park bench.
1t had been long walk. From Four
tenth street to Fifty-ninth street 1 had
taken no rest and found myself thorough
ly tired out.
81 had a pamphlet / had picked up in a
store, and I began to read it. The first
thing I noticed was the shadow of some
Dne passing slowly by. / looked up and
saw it was the same gentleman in gray
that had smiled at me opposite the Plaza
Hotel. He made no advances, except to
say. pleasantly:
why. you are the same little girl
saw before
II forgot my reply. ! only know that
The instant he looked at me he fascinated
me. had never had such an experience
before. Before I knew it he had taken
4 seat on the bench near me and We fell
10 talking.
han myself treasured me. II he had
been a younger man and holder
would naturally have repulsed him.
We talked for some time about books.
He noticed the pamphlet in my hand
md asked me if liked to read. and
his question naturally led on to
others Of a similar kind.
Dickens His Favorite.
He told me at the very beginning
hat he was extremely fond OF books.
Dickens, he said. was his favorite. He
asked me IL I knew some Of the char
lcters in the works OF Dickens. and
when I told him that I did he began
% quote long excerpts from various
books.
HE knew the Christmas Carol al
most by heart. and later he would fire.
,uently recite it from the beginning
.imost to the end. His manner was
hat of refinement and good breeding.
Finally ne asked me where / lived
and told him I was on my way home.
he said:
evening with me? You can go home
md get dressed and then meet me
lgain 1t the monument at Columbus
Circle
'.The proposition amused me at first.
wondered why nc SuOuso VIC mus
.sted IN q little girl like me. never
lreaming that he had any other mo-
i've than that Of pure friendship. As
Ne walked along the Park walk to-
yard the Maine monument At the
,olumbus Circle entrance Of the park
e repeated the Invitation. ana nnaiiy
,ecams 90 insistent that 1 said yes.
FINALLY It was agreed that We would
ave diner At Shanley's In IIonGacrs
,quare. / went home and dressed IN
NJ very best gown. We had dinner:
ae asked me to drink with him.
,oticed that he seemed to care for wine.
ma 8 ! DO not IKE the taste Of hquor
hardly touched It.
Aansts visit - Netel.
AFTER dinner Ne went to = moving
,lcturs shoN. Tnroushout the PERFORMS
nee NJ continual % tax Of himeeaf
q sal1 ~ Wa l1neIy in New fork end
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