Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-23
THE NEW YORK TRAGEDY.
Story of Hannah Southworth, Who Shot
and Killed Her Betrayer.

Hannah Southworth, who shot Stephen L.
Pettus, secretary and treasurer of the Brooklyn
elevated railroad and member of the firm Of
Pollock, Pettus 4 Co., tobacco and cotton
brokers at 81 Broad street, a man OF wealth and
influence, IN the streets of New York yester-
day, was born in Louisville, KY, in 1859. Her
father, L. j. Martin. was a man of wealth and
standing coffee broker for most of his life.
Her mother was a Miss BARLEY of the WELL
known Kentucky family Of that name. Hannah
was sent to the Convent Villa Marie, in Mon
treal, where she graduated with high honors.
She married Frederick Southworth, the son
of Geneva banker, who died several
years ago. After the death Of her
father she and her mother went to Brooklyn,
where one of her brothers, William Il. Martin,
lived. Mrs. Martin and her daughter went to
live at the Pierrepont house. Mrs. Martin had
money enough TO pay the expenses OF both and
they were able TO dress in good style, but not
TO live extravagantly. She was introduced to
Pettus by an acquaintance, who had been led
astray by him and had placed herself so IN his
power that at his bidding she was compelled to
bring Mrs. Southworth to him and to assist
him IN numbering her also among his victims.
AwIoKKD PLOT.
The plot, according TO Mrs. Southworth,
reached climax some three or four years ago,
when, through the representations of this
woman she accompanied Mr.. Pettus to a matinee,
and. being left alone with him after 1t was
over, was induced to 60 to private house near
by on the pretext that he wished to take her TO
call upon a lady who was friend of his. They
were ushered into parlOr, where, to Mrs.
Southworths surprise, they were met by col
ored man with the air of waiter, from whom
Mr.. Pettus ordered a bottle of wine. Mrs.
Southworth being frightened at her surround
ings, demanded an explanation and was reas-
sured by Mr.. Pettus. In the meantime she was
urged to take glass OF champagne, which she
did having been accustomed from childhood
TO the use OF wine upon proper occasions. In
a Few moments she lost consciousness and knew
nothing more of her surroundings until the fol-
lowing morning, when she walked up finding
herself in bed In this strange house, with no
one about her, with no one within call whom
she had ever known. She soon discovered that
she had been abandoned to make her way home
upon recovering consciousness as best she
could.
HIDING THE SCANDAL.
Overwhelmed with shame she returned home
and, giving some excuse as best she could to
her family for her absence, she attempted to
conceal her disgrace by keeping it secret. In
the course of few weeks, however, she dis
covered that some one must be taken into her
confidence. She says that she appealed to
Pettus to assist her. and that at his suggestion
she left the city and went to small town where
by his procurement an operation was per-
formed that left her permanently injured.
After her return to this city she says she in
sisted that Pettus should provide means for her
to live in retirement away from her family,
whom she had disgraced. He refused to do
SO, and finally. becoming tired of her impor-
tunities, tried to get rid Of her by telling mutual
friends that she was trying to blackmail him.
In desperation she besought him at his Office
and on the street to help her. Last spring she
was arrested for assaulting Pettus on the street
with her umbrella The woman has brooded
on her wrongs until she is nearly a maniac.
The dead man was married, but had no chill
dren. His wife. who was a Miss Pollard, is an
invalid. The assassination was all the talk at
the cotton exchange and among the tobacco
dealers this morning. The news became known
at once in the exchange and caused great ex-
citement. Mr.. Pettus was always prominent
figure on the floor and his transactions and
those of his firm were customarily large. He
was one Of the most energetic of the traders,
and was well known by ali the members, many
OF whom expressed great sorrow at his I'M
timely taking off.
A Louisville, KY, dispatch says: Mrs. South
worth, as one of her relatives expressed t, was
always "a little giddy." For this reason, per-
haps, in spite of her excellent family connec-
five brothers, who supported her. Edward is
general freight agent OF the Southern Pacific
railroad at San Francisco; BARLEY is a member
of the firm of Lee Il Martin, builders and con-
tractors In Brooklyn; George Is a prominent
New York business man, and Charles and Aris-
ted are wealthy ranchmen in California. Pet
tus had just finished building a SIS, 200 resi-
dence at Gainesville, and intended TO live
there portion of his time hereafter.