The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-02
PIETRE Is INNOCENT.
Search Being Made for the Dark
Man in the Case.

One branch Of the investigation into the
peculiar circumstances of the death of Ida
Shaddock, soon after leaving the train at
Benicia, on Tuesday, was commenced in
this city yesterday. Early in the day Chief
Crowley received a communication from the
Benicia authorities, asking whether he de-
sired James Petre detained in connection
with the charge that the young fellow was
connected in some way with the alleged
malpractice that caused Miss Shaddock' )
death. The chief replied by wire that he
had no desire to have Pietre held, as there
is no evidence to show that he was in any
way responsible for the death.
The story told by Pietre as to how he
came to'be with the young woman on the
Southern Pacific train that left the Oakland
mole at 1880 o'clock on Tuesday morning
has been verified in every detail. In brief
his statement was, that when be entered
the train at the Oakland mole he gave up his
seat TO Miss ShaddOck. who was accompanied
by tall, darl-complexiOnrd, well-dressed
man; that her escort prevailed upon him to
sit beside her, and left the train, and that
she appeared very sick, and soon tainted.
NOT THAT KIND OF A Roy.
PieTe is only II years of age, but has the
appearance of being six or seven years
older. For nearly year, and up to a month
ago, he was employed as a doOr-keepeT at
the Wigwam Theater, where he was well
liked and made many friends. By his
friends he was called Bert" and they
said yesterday that he was not the sort of a
youth to involve himself in such an affair
as the Benicia authorities accused him of.
At the request Of his mother, who lives at
317 Mason street, he started to visit q
brother at Suisun.
Among those who were in the car whom
Miss Shaddock ard her escort entered was
Labor Commissioner Waltz. " do not be-
lieve that young Pietre is in any way ac-
countable for Miss Shaddock's DEATH" said
he to q CALL reporter yesterday. was
sitting IN the car when tall man and a
pale-lO0king woman entered. They passed
through the car and then returned to where
Pietre was sitting, few rows in front of
ME. The man placed the woman in the
seat beside Pietre and left. Unfortunately
l did not observe the mans face, but | re-
member that he was tall and wore a drab
overcOat. When Miss Shaddock tainted
We did all we could for her, and DR.. Riley
gave her few drops of whisky | was one
Of those who assisted the woman from the
train and into the hack IN which she died. ."
THE DARK MAN IN THE CASE.
81. Waterman, travelling agent for the
German DemOkrat, was also in the car, and
thinks he could identify the dark man with
the black mustache who escorted the woman
on the train. He went on to Sacramento,
and will not return TO this city for several
days.
The officers detailed by Chief Crowley to
make an investigation made vigorous
search for the missing escort yesterday, but
owing to the meager description of him little
progress was made. Ii is supposed that he
was the cause of the wOman's trouble. II
he is captured the next step will be to locate
any physician who may have had some
connection with the alleged malpractice.
The Chief is of the opinion that il the per-
son who performed the operation is found
there would bs very little likelihood of Sc
curing conviction. No steps were taken
to trace Miss Shaddoek'S movements in this
city. Information was awaited from her
parents, as it was believed they knew all
about her doingS here.