The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-23
SHOT By HIS VICTIM
A Young Woman Kills a Rich
New York Hbertine.
he DRuecED AND RUINED HER.
Not saved By tho Statute OF ximisasions
--she smiled a. he wrished In
Death Agony.

NEW YoRK, Nov 2k--Stsphen I. Petsus
secretary and treasurer Of the Brooklyn
Union Elevated railroad and member OF
the firm Of Pollard, F'ettns & Co. 81 Broad
street, in this city. was shot dead here
this morning in Fulton street. by Mrs.
Hannah Southwo<th, who refused 70 give
her address to the police when arrested.
Just before 10 o'clock, while Fulton
street was crowded with people who had
just landed from the ferry. q young woman
wearing sealskin Baeque trimmed with
long black fur, was seen hurTying along
behind q well dresser man. When in front
of No. 40 Fulton street she pulled large
revolver from beneath her dress and tired
I'VE shots in quick succession at the man
in front Of her, although ne fell at the nrsi
shot.
As the victim writhed and tossed in
agony on the sidewalk. the woman. looking
calm and self possessed. actually smiled
with apparent satisfaction. In short
time great crowd had gathered, attracted
to the spot by the repeated pistol firing .
AS an officer arrested her, raising herself
70 her full height and assuming dramatic
position, she, Missed between her teeth,
pointing to the lifeless body on the side
walk: THAT man betrayed me and !
have shot him. He ruined me and my
family"
The woman was taken TO the police sta
ton and locked up She remained calm
and dignified. She gave the name of Ham
nah Southworth. but refused to give her
residence All five halls took effect in the
body of the victim The woman attacked
Pettus in public year ago.
A dispatch from Louisville, KY, says:
Mrs. Southworth Is the daughter of the
late e. j. Martin, 9 well-known coffee
broker. She Is about 30 years of age, and
has been q widow ten years. She
charged Petfus, who was orig
inally from Clarksvilie, Tenn, with having
committed an outrage upon her person
four years ago, for which 4 suit for $4,000
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 with one in ths latter city.
Mrs. Southworth appeared ct the cor
oner's office in tho afternoon. She was
affected to great degree, and her mind
was apparently in no condition to COM
prehend what was going on. She could not
answer questions intelIigently, and her
lawyer told her TO say nothing. She was
committed for hearing nexs Tuesday.
According TO the story told by her
friends. she became acquainted with Pettus
through mutual friend number OF years
ago, and one day he succeeded in drugging
her while they were out together and ac-
complished her ruin. Later il was found
necessary to resort to malpractice, IS q
result of which her health was wrecked.
In order TO avert exposure at the time of
wrong doing he made profuse promises OF
making provision for her. and 20 save the
name Of her family, which was highly re-
spectsd one. she kept quiet. Upon her re-
covery, however, he met her, and reminded
of his obligation sneered with derision, and
finally circulated report that Mrs. South
worth was discarded mistress trying TO
blackmail him.
This drove her Ia desperation, and last
March she attacked Pettus on the street as
mentioned above. sine then applied TO
lawyers, not 10 obtain money damages, but
that the truth might be explained. The
statute of limitatations protected Pettus
from prosecution for the original outrage
and she began seit for Islander and defama-
ton Of character, with the same object in
view. This mas the legal status Of matters
up to date.
In an interview III prison this afternoon
Mrs. Southworth said the lady through
whom she became acquainted with Pettus
had also been ruined by him and kept
silent under threat of exposing her as an
accompiice IN the ruin OF Mrs. southworth.