From Chapter Six:

In 1902, John Talbot met Leona Mason, a beautiful but unhappy woman desperate for a divorce from her husband.  The two were “mis-mated,” she claimed, and she didn’t have much to pay for Talbot’s services.  However, John took a great interest in Mrs. Mason, and secured the divorce.  He then proceeded to cultivate her friendship, buying her gifts, taking her out to dinner and the theatre.  Mrs. Mason later recalled how she was enticed into a relationship.

“This slick devil sympathized with me; helped me out of my difficulty, got my confidence, threw his charm about me (like a spider or a snake gets its victims), lied to me about himself, about his wife, and about his family relations; deceived me into believing that he was about to obtain a divorce, said he lived very unhappy and longed for a companion who was agreeable; made arduous love to me; spent his money freely to show me a good time and took me to the theatre and to many others places of amusement.  I had never until then had such attentions shown me… I was dazed by their charms and I was blinded by their glitter.”[1]

Initially, Mrs. Mason was entranced by the attention, the affection, and the glamour of sharing his extravagant lifestyle.  They travelled the country, with Mrs. Mason often introduced by Talbot as his wife.  He trusted her, and introduced her to his closest associates.  She was aware that he was married, but he told her that he had separated from his wife, and that a divorce was imminent.  She believed him.

Soon, however, the situation took a turn for the worse.  Mrs. Mason reported that after a trip to Chicago where she gave in completely to his advances, he blackmailed and threatened to kill her if she didn’t do everything he wanted.  His behavior towards her devolved.  There were beatings and drunken rages, resulting in bruises and broken bones.  He attacked her sister, strangling her with a scarf (for which he faced assault charges).  Drunk and raving, he broke twenty-nine windows out of her house, although he claimed to know nothing about it when confronted.  He was implicated when his horse was found tied outside the next morning.  John  often choked Mrs. Mason to the point of unconsciousness, and that was not the worst.