Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-28
A VILLAIN JUSTLY TREATED
A New York High Flyer Shot Dead
in the Street.
Defames a Woman'S Character After
Being Her Ruin.
Driven to Desperation, She Shoots
Him iii Broad Day.

New YORK, Nov. pat 10 o'clock
this morning Hannah Southworth shot
and killed Stephen Pettus, trustee of the
Brooklyn bridge, IN front of No. 10 Full
ton street.
Pettus was secretary and treasurer of the
Brooklyn Elevated railroad. The weapon
used by the woman was 3S-calibre
Smith & Wesson revolver. Pettus lived
at 40 Eighth avenue, Brooklyn and was
member of the firm of Pollard Pettus &
Co., of 81 Broad street. this city.
He crossed each day by the Fulton
ferry and reached his place of business
at about 10 clock every morning This
morning he had just left the ferry
and was passing by No Fulton street
when the woman stepped up behind him,
and drawing the revolver from her breast,
began shooting. Three shots entered his
back before he could possibly turn, such
was the rapidity with which the desperate
woman handled the revolver. With the
third shot Mr. Pettus turned and facing
his assailant, who by this time was within
three feet of him, received another bullet
In the neck. The fifth and last shot fred
entered the right side of the face. PettuS
staggered and fell backward into Bennett's
tea store, dying Immediately.
The woman was placed under arrest and
| taken to the Old Slip station crying He
ruined me! He dishonored me!' Last
May Hannah D. Southwortb assaulted
Maj. Pettus, on Sands street, Brooklyn,
breaking an umbrella over his head She
was arrested May Is and ON June In a
police court In that city was fined $50 and
placed under bonds to keep the peace,
which bonds still hold good.
A brother of Mr.. Pettus from Tennessee
came to the station house at IL o'clock
He broke completely down when told of
the tragedy, tore his hair and begged that
his brothers wife should not be told that
his brother was killed by woman The
dead man left no children.
The woman put five bullets into Pettus'
body She had instituted legal proceed
ings against Pettus for breach of promise
and betrayal, and the suit is now pending.
A dispatch from Louisville says that
Mrs. Southworth is daughter of the late
Z. j. Martin, we'll known coffee broker.
She is about so years of age and has been
widow for ten years. She charged Pet
tus, who was originally from GAINESVILLE,
Tenn, with having committed an outrage
on her person, four years ago, for which a
suit for S25, 900 was brought against him
several months ago Several of her
brothers are prominent business men in
New York San Francisco and Brooklyn.
For some time she has made her home in
the latter city, with them.
New YORK, Nov 22-Mrs Southworth
appeared at the coroner's office in the
afternoon. She was affected to a great
degree and her mind apparently in no con-
dition to comprehend what was going on.
She could not answer questions intelli
gently, and her lawyer told her to say
nothing. She was committed for hearing
next Tuesday. According to the story
told by her friends she be-
came acquainted with Mr.. Pettus
through mutual friend number of
years ago and one day he succeeded in
dragging her while they were out together
and accomplished her ruin. Later it was
found necessary to resort to malpractice,
as result of which her
health was wrecked. In order to
avoid exposure at the time of the
wrong Pettus made profuse promises of
substantial provision for her, and to save
the name of the family, which is a highly
respected one, she kept quiet. Upon her
recovery, however, he met her reminders
of his obligation with derision and finally,
it is said, circulated a report that Mrs.
Southworth was a discarded mistress who
drove her to desperation and last
March she attacked Pettus on
the street, as mentioned above. She
then applied to lawyers, not to obtain
money or damages but that the truth
might be explained The statute limita-
tions protected Pettus from prosecution
for original outrage and she began suit
for SANDER and defamation of char
acter with the same object in view
This was the legal status of
the matter up to today's shooting. In
prison this afternoon Mrs Southworth
said that the lady through whom she be-
came acquainted with Pettus had also been
ruined by him, and under threat of expos
ing her he obtained her aid in accomplish
ing the ruin OF Mrs Southworth.