Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-23
SENSATIONAL SHOOTING.
A New York Broker Killed by Woman
Whom He Had Wronged

New YORK, November 22d.-A sensa-
tional shooting occurred this morning near
Fulton Ferry. Stephen L. Pettus, of the
brokerage firm of Pollard, Pettus e. Co.,
also Secretary and Treasurer Of the Brook
lyn Elevated Railroad Company, was shot
five times, thrice in the back and twice in
the neck, by Mrs. Hannah Southworth.
He died few minutes afterward without
speaking.
Mrs. Southworth approached within a
few feet of Pett1s unobserved, according to
one story as he left the Fulton Ferry to
walk to his brokerage Office on Broad
street, in this city, and took revolver
from her pocket and began firing imme-
diately. Another story is that she took
hold of his arm and spoke before shooting.
All accounts agree that she was waiting
his approach, armed, and was hardly four
feet distant when she began firing with a
long barreled five-chambered revolver. She
emptied every chamber into his body. He
staggered into a store, and she started to
follow, but, discovering that her revolver
was empty, contented herself with walking
up and down in front of the store where
he was dying, exclaiming, as she did so,
that Pettus had dishonored her, and the
only course left open for her was to kill
him.
Pettus lived in Brooklyn, where an en-
counter occurred between the couple pub
licly last May, she then breaking an UNI
brella on his head. She was then arrested
and bound over TO keep the peace.
When taken to the Jail this morning she
gave her age as 80. She said she shot Pettus
because he had dishonored her. Pettus
was aged about 80. The shooting was wit
messed by a great crowd of Wall-street
brokers and others, the street being
thronged.
Mrs Southworth has repeatedly threat
ened to shoot Pettus. She had suit brought
against him some time ago for 500 600,
alleging betrayal She is quite handsome,
brunette, widow, and accomplished.
She is of good family. Pettus talked freely
about her, and disparagingly, notwith-
standing her threat. Pettus was married,
but had no children.
A dispatch from Louisville, KY, says
Mrs. Southworth is the daughter of the
late E. ]. Morton, the well-known coffee
broker. She is about 80 years of age, and
has been widow ten years. She charged
Pettus, who was originally from Clarkes-
vile, Tenn, with having committed an
outrage on her four years ago for which a
suit for $25 ,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
msde her home with the one in the latter
city.
Mrs. Southworth appeared at the Coro-
ner's Office in the afternoon. She was af.
fected to great degree and her mind was
apparently in no condition to comprehend
what was going on. She could not answer
int o,,A hcr 10 toll
Aer to say nothing She was committed
for hearing next 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 hel
while they were out together and accom-.
plished her ruin. Later it was found neces-
sary to resort 10 malpractice as result OF
which her health was wrecked.
In order to avoid exposure at the time
of the wrong Pettus made profuse prom.
ises of substantial provision for her, an6
to save the name of her family, which is 6
highly respected one, she kept quiet.
Upon her recovery, however, he met hel
reminders of his obligation with derision
and finally, it is said, circulated a report
that Mrs. Southworth was q discarded
mistress who was trying to blackmail him
iuiS uIOFS ueI " uSSpcAddo4s anu 4oS
March she attacked Petlus on the street as
mentioned above She then applied tC
lawyers, not to obtain money damages, but
that the truth might be exploited.
The statute of limitations protected
Pettus from prosecution for the origina
outrage. and she began suit for SANDER anC
defamation of character with the same OBJ
ject in view.
This was the legal status Of the matte
up to to-day's shooting In the prison thi
afternoon Mrs. southworth said the Lao,
through whom she became acquainted witt
Pettus has also been ruined by him, and
under threats of exposing her, he obtainet
her aid in accomplishing the ruin OF Mrs
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