The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-22
MRS.. MAYOSMITH IN
PORTIA ROLE LOSES
Acts as Her Own lawyer and
Ex-Butlcr Gets $500 Yer
diet in $4,000 Action.
ENLIvENS COURT ROOM

When the case Of Jacques B%ofYerding
against Mrs. Mabel Mayosmith. widow
OF Prof. Mayosmith Of Columbia, who
was killed by a fall from a window In
his home In 1901, and a sister Of the late
Paul Leicester Ford. novelist. was called
in Part VIII. Of the Trial Term Supreme
Cour yesterday morning Foster 4 Gun
ninsham appeared for the plaintiff. but
no lawyer was forthcoming on the other
side.
where Is the defendants COUNSEL"
inquired the clerk before starting to call
"A jury.
Mrs. Mayosmith arose, removed a
voluminous fur coat, raised her veil.
produced "a pair OF gold rimme1 lor-
Inet,es and stepped forward. closely fol-
lowed by Miss Amabel Mayosmith, her
daughter.
81 will try my own case" announced
Mrs. Mayosmith determinedly.
What Is that asked Justice Dele
hanty. surprised.
Mrs. M~aynsmith repeated her asser.
ton. The Justice took the papers In
the case. which shove that BofYerding,
once butler Ia the Mayosmith household.
was suing the defendant for s25. 900
dainases. alleging false arrest.
But. madame said the Justice, per-
haI- you do not quite comprehend. This
Is an action against you for n large sun
OF money. II would he far better for
YOU TO have a lawyer to protect your
interests. II will be most unusual for
you TO attempt to do The"
Truth will prevail" declared Mrs.
Mayosmith. II need no counsel"
Very well. madame the Justice com.
mented and the clerk was ordered to call
the jury.
Admits Ignorance Of Trials.
Thu defendant admitted at the start
that she did not know anything about
jury trials or juries. When the right
Of challenge was explained to her the
defendant said that she had no par
ticular challenges. only she did not want
ANY Jews On the jury.
what aueried the Justice rather
sharply. what de you mean by that:
! have always found them very good
Jurynien.'
Mn. May said that she had no
racial or other objections L. Jews, orly
she had noticed that they always de-
c,ded in favor OF men.
When She knew what il meant to open
her sid of the ease MIR. Mayosmiti
Ieaii"u against q table and talked about
10" ia ~" words "a minute. 1t developed
that BoNsrding and his wife, Marie, who
conn. from Luxembourg. were hired in
November. 1914. ~ cook and butler re-
sI"ctlNciy for the Nayosmith home at
"b' West S.vent seventh street. They
remained there about hive weeks and
ended their employment Ia resume Il
aoou, the middl. of December. The
trouble which started the suit and al
various times employed city Magis-
,rites, Municipal Court Justices and
OF tua. month.
Boif.rdiug's counsel said his client ief.
because his wife had been discharged
on the .sth and declined TO accept a
check FOR $40 IA payment of A months
services. the joint wages fN which were
to have been $65. When he obtained "a
Municipal cour, and returned
on December 20 to serve them he was
arrested on a charge Of arson, which
wts changed 10 dlsorderiy conduct.
whereby ". was held in the night court
a. u prisoner. was compelled TO furnish
hail and had to hire a lawyer. only to be
and 10 be hunorabiy discharged.
Mrs. Mayosmith declared in her al
dress TO the jury that she would show
that Roferding Oh the .Sth. after the
trouble. went into the ba se N. nj and she
followed him, meeting him 81 the stairs
as h" returned. She went into the cellar
ami discovered a blaz. In q wuodbin. She
stamped that out.