New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-23
DEAD BY A WOMAN'S HAND
STEPHEN PETTUS, THE BRIDGE TRUSTEE,
SHOT DOWN IN THE STREET.
FIVE BULLETS FIRED INTO HIS BODY AS HE
WAS LEAVING A FERRY-HIS MURDERER
CROSSED THE RIVER ON THE SAME
BoAT-HER GOODNESS AND DELHI.
ERAU oN-SHE DECLARES SHE
HAD BEEN wRONGED.

ERAU oN-SHE DECLARES SHE
HAD BEEN wRoYGED.
womans hatred led TO the deliberate murder
OF Stephen Pettus in Fulton-st., near the ferry
yesterday. Mr. Pettus was man in the prime Of
life, vigorous, wealthy and influential. lie was
secretary of the Brooklyn Union Elevated Rail
road Company, member of the New-Yorl Cotton
hNchnge and a tobacco commission merchant at
NO % Broad-st. His home was at No. 40 Eighth
ave, Brooklyn. He had no children and his wife
Is an invalid. He on his way from Brooklyn
TO his place Of business in this city when he was
shot down by Mrs Hannah B. Southworth, a
widow, who asserted that he had wrOnged her
The murder was marked by unusual ferocity and
deliberation
Mr.. Pettus crossed the Fulton Ferry about 10
q. M Mrs Southworth was on the same ferry
boat with him. Among the persons who also
crossed the river on the same boat was one man
who afterward said Mr.. Pettus exchanged some
bitter words with the woman before reaching the
New-York shore Others said that Mr. Pettus
must have walked of the boat in ignorance of her
presence. She followed him as he left the ferry
house and walked across South-st to the sidewalk
On the south side of Fulton-st
FIRING INTO HIS BACK.
Pettus had not taken many more steps when
Mrs. Southworth carried out her murderous de-
signs. She close behind him as he walked
past Sweets restaurant, at No. FultOn-st., and
there she took from her dress pocket self-cocl-
ing Smith * WeSson revolver Of large calibre
Pointing the weapon at her victims back she
fired four shots into il in rapid succession. One
bullet passed through him and smashed the gold
watch in his waistcoat pocket lie feeby tried
TO turn around and face his assailant, nstlnctivey
raising his left hand. They were still close to-
gether, but he was powerless against the vindict-
i've woman's attack. She fired the last shot from
her revolver the bullet piercing the wrist Of his
raised arm. He staggered against the door Of
Benefits tea store, at No. Fulton-st The door
opened under his weight and he fell the floor
inside the store. He was dead almost soon as
he touched the floor
A man who had seen the shooting caught
hold Of the womans arm, but he released her
in a moment when Policeman Goodwin ran
from Fulton Ferry, where he had been on duty,
and arrested her. Mrs. Southworth held the
empty revolver in her hand. The policeman took
the weapon away from her and led her into
Benefits store. They almost trod on the corpse
Of her victim. The woman was calm and resOlute.
" Is that your husband?7 inquired one of the
clerks in the store.
"No,n she replied. Il" That man betrayed me
and ruined my family. I shot him 1 have
nothing 10 live for, and nothing to fear"
THE WOMAN UNDER ARREST.
A crowd of several hundred persons hnd col
lected in Fulton-st., and the men foremost in
the throng were pushing eagerly against the
dOors of the tea store. Policeman Goodwin led
Lis prisoner through the crowd, and took her TO
the police station in Old Slip. She angrly OBJ
! jected TO being held by the arm, but she walked
along rpidy when Goodwin let go his hold
and kept by her side.
At the police station she told her name and
said she was thirty years old She refused 10
give her address, except to say that she lived IN
| Brooklyn. She wore a sealslla coat over brown
dress and her appearance was that of young and
| well-bred woman. Her dark and handsome face
flushed and palcd alternately, but she showed
| her emotion in no other way when she was before
the sergeants desk. / want to see my counsel,
Howe n Hummel, before l answer any ques-
tions' she said.
When she was locked up in cell she began
TO sob, and at times she seemed ready 10 break
down, but after a season OF weeping and moaning
she would recover her compOsure with strong
| effort.
Mr.. Pettuss body was carried to the police
station. Coroner Levy saw 1t there. and gave
an order for its removal TO an undertakers shop
in the Bowcry. In the pockets Of the clothing
were found the broken watch, pair OF eye
glasses, SOL several bridge and ferry tickets, and
a number of letters and business papers, which
were placed in the keeping Of the Coroner,
He FEARED THE WOMAN.
Reporters carriH the first information of the
murder TO the Office of Pollard, Pettus ~ Co., at
No. "a Broad-st. Mr. Pollard, the murdered
mans partner, and George Pettus, "a younger
brother, were in the Office Mr.. Pollard listened
10 a bref account OF the crime, and said: lie
was afraid for some time that that woman
| would be the death of HIM"
George PcttuS grew pale as he listened to the
/ story, and his voice broke with grief as he eA-
claimed For Gods sake, don't tell his VIE
that he was shot by woman
The brother and partner Of the dead man
FASTENED TO the police station and made arrahg =
ments to have the body prepared Tor burial
George Pettus said he had been living IN Ten
nessee, aud he had arrived IN TINS city recently
| lie knew nothing about the woman "no hdA
| killed his brother
! About o'clock Mrs Southworth was taken to
! the CorOner's Office. l.. b. Allen. OF the nrih
OF Howe n Hummel her counsel appeared IN her
| behalf Captain Mclaughlin and Olhoer GOol-
| win accompanied the prisoner. Inc procedures -
did not last long. The woman acting On H ,no
advice OF her lawyer, made no statement, hot'
indeed. did she seem to be IN nj condluoh
OF mind 10 do so. She was eXclted ana Hervous- >.
| almost hvsterical-and walked up and down the
room while the examination of Oflcer GOODWIN
the only witness asked 10 testify, was going On
THE PoIICEMAN's TESTIMONY.
Goodwin said that he found Mrs. Southworth
standing in front of No. 10 Fulton-st., grasplng
smoking revolver, and that she informed him
that she had shot man who had ruined and
dishonorcd her. and who was now " IN that store =
| The officer went into No. TO- ana saw Af. Tellus
| al the point OF death. . -
Mr. Allen said that his clients full name was
| Hannah b Southworth; that her age was thirty
and thai her home was in Brooklyn put that sht
s,as :" too dazed to tell the address,
W" She Is more in need OF physician than of a
/ LAWYER now no added
a. that Mrs Southworth whispered 10 him
] A. IN him what he did 10 me. Tell HIM MhAl