The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-27
SHE AVENGED HER WRONG.
a KENTUCKY BELLIES FATAL SHOTS.
stephen b. Pertus, One of New York's Big
Business Men, Saot Down in the Street
BY Woman He Had Outraged
Sensational History ofthe Case.

NEW YORK, NOV. ZZ.-otepD6n Iettus'
secretary and treasurer OF the Brooklyn
elevated railroad, commission merchant
and member Of the cotton exchange, was
shot down in Fulton-st this morning
about 10 o'clock by Hannah Southworth,
who emptied the five chambers of
3S-caliber revolver into Pettus' head and
body. Fulton-st. was full of people, whose
number was swelled by the crowd just
coming from the Fulton ferry-boats. A
man who saw the shooting said that he
had noticed the woman acting strangely
On the boat, as though laboring under
great excitement AS Pettus was walking
up Fulton-st. she suddenly sprang for
ward until close behind him, so near
that she might have struck him with
her hand. Then she fired five
shots from new silver-plated
revolver, each shot taking effect.
Pettus staggered and tried to run into the
nearest doorway. But the self-cocking
pistol of the infuriated woman was too
quick for him. Covered with blood, he fell
against the door, which swung open with
his weight The dying man ran inside,
rushed behind the counter, out again and
fell dead in a bloody heap at the foot of
the stairway leading to the next floor. OH
Ger Goodwin made a rush for the woman,
who stood motionless, making attempt
70 escape. She alternated between great
excitement and periods of utter GOODNESS.
She was taken to the Old Slip station
house. The body was taken to the station
and laid on the floor A scrap OF coarse
eacking covered the dead mans face.
On raising it, one could see frlghtiul
little hole over the left eye. The features
were distorted and clothed with blood.
Lifting the left hand, a bullet hole APP
reared in the left wrist. The dead mans
watch was broken and an indentation in
The case seemed to have been made by
ball which had passed clean through the
body Among the papers found on the
person of the dead man was a letter with
put an envelope 1t began: MY dear
friend" and expressed great gratitude for
services rendered the writer In cOnclu-
zion, it said: 81 cannot tell you how fond
and grateful am for the little home you
have given me. The fiat Is perfect and l
hone Won will come down on Tuesday"
The letter was signed simply &C." The
handwriting was evidently a woman's.
Pettus' SLAYER is an attractive looking
woman, and was considered respectable
BY many persons in Brooklyn. Within
an hour after reaching the police station
LAWYER called and was conducted to the
captains room, where she sat. He told
her that he represented Howe d Hummel,
the criminal lawyers. 'Oh, then, tell Mr..
Hummell not to be angry with me" the
woman cried; 'Tei him not to desert me
now" She was very much excited and
begged for a little chlorofOrm. Only
little" she said; ''my doctor lets me have
it to quiet my nerves. Let me have some
now" Her request was not granted.
When the lawyer rose to leave, she said:
"Don't 20; don't leave me alone with that
policeman. Don't! You don't know what
harm he may do to me- She was greatly
moved and her brain seemed hanging on
lhe brink of lunacy. When Mrs. South
worth appeared IN the commissioner office
in the afternoon she WIS affected to de-
gree that was fearful to witness, her mind
being apparently in no condition TO think
or comprehend what was going on about
Der. She was very well dressed and Is
very pretty. She wore dark and light
brown dress, with a cloak of sealskin.
trimmed with darker fur, and pair OF
brown over-gaiters covering her shoes.
Her hair is of a reddish brown and her
ewes large and liquid. She looked abont
her as If she was expecting something to
happen to her, and painted as II she could
not catch her breath. Coroner Levy asked
her name and she gave 1t as Hannah B.
Southworth in low voice. When she
was asked where she lived she
shook her head and said: "AIr. Hummell
knows" Mr.. Steinhart, who represented
Howe & Hummel, answered for her
that she could not remember her residence,
that it was not intentional, but that she
was incapable of thought. 81 suppose you
have no statement TO make" Coroner
Levy asked. "She is in no condition to
make one" Mr.. Steinhart answered. 81
see that, said the coroner kindly. "Tell
him." began the prisoner, leaning over and
touching Steinhart on the shoulder. 'tell
him -"
''Hush; don't say anything" whispered
"Teii him." she persisted, what he did
TO me-"
Flush; not now" whispered the lawyer
Ii Mrs. Southworth was acting, it was
very good and painful acting. She stood
up suddenly as if she was entirely alone
and began to pace up and down the
room with her arms folded behind
her. Officer Goodwin, who arrested her,
came over and placed his burly form in
front of the open window. but the young
woman did not notice him do it. Some
one DTOuGub ntI Eidco VI N1bCiY anu nhc
was spoken 20 twice before she looked at
1t. Then she shook her head. When the
coroner said he would commit her to the
rity prison until Tuesday at 10 O'clock
when she should be given a hearing, she
leaned over to her lawyer and whispered.
BE said: ooh, yes. they'll be kind to
you" Then he called Goodwin over and
Mrs. Southworth looked at him and
said THAT is the same man, l re-
member; he was kind to me, Pm
glad il is that man." She allowed them to
lead her down stairs without any words or
any show of feeling, and was driven to
prison. When in prison Mrs. Southworth
was very nervous and worked herself into
a high state of excitement. She was given
an anodyne for relief She stated that a
lady, warm personal friend OF hers in
former years, had befriended Pettus when
he was in straitened circumstances. He
took advantage Of this woman's kindness
by seducing her. Then, under threat of
exposing her ruin, he obtained the aid OF
this woman in accomplishing Mrs. South
worth's ruin.
Dfrs. Southworih and Her Story.
Mrs Hannah Southworth is native of
Louisville Her fathers name was Mar
tin, and, during the war, being a member
Of family of active southern sympathy.