The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-17
His Children Were Placed in
the Youths Directory by
the Mother.
Foss TOOK ONE BY FORCE.
On Being Pursued He Strikes the
Priest, and in Consequence Is
Badly Thrashed.

II y
Rev. Father D. o. Crowley, secretary and
general manager of the Youths Directory,
on Valencia street, between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth delivered to B. R. Foss, ex-
School Superintendent of Plumas County,
the soundest thrashing in all probability
he ever had in all his life.
The deed was done in defense of little
Percy Foss, the 6-year-old son of the man
that received the trouncing. 1t is not often,
perhaps, that member of the clergy finds
it necessary to enter the arena of pugilism,
and the genial-mannered Father Crowley
is the last man, to all appearances, that
would do so, but while he was at it the
muscular priest executed the task in a
manner that would have gladdened the
heart of Professor Robert Fitzsimmons, as
Foss, countenance well attests.
In 1894 Foss was Superintendent of
Schools in Plumas County. While occupy
ing this office he EN- be Zzled certain school
funds and fed TO Honolulu. His where
abouts were discovered, and the proper
eZtradition papers having been issued, he
was brought back, tried and convicted and
sentenced to two years penal servitude.
After serving from June to October he was
pardoned, and went TO Honolulu to rejoin
his wife.
About four months ago, according to the
tale told by his children, his wife LETT him
and returned to California on account OF
the way in which Foss treated her and the
children. The little elbows in question,
Willie, Wilson and Percy, aged respect
lively II 10 and 8 years, were taken to the
Youths Directory by the mother. They
have been attending the Marshall Pri-
mary School on Mission street, between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth.
About 1:15 P NJ yesterday Willie the
eldest, came rushing to Father Crowley at
the directory, stating that his father had
come and taken Percy, the Youngest,
away against his will. Mrs. Walker, the
principal, he said, wished him to come at
once.
Father Crowley hurried after Foss and
overlook him on Valencia street, between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth. Little Percy
was crying bitterly as his father led him
along. The priest at once demanded bv
what authority Foss thus took the child
away by force.
Because be is my child" was the
answer, land don't want him under the
care of any - Roman Catholic priest"
Father Crowley cautioned Foss against
using such language on the street, when
the irate parent poured forth torrent of
abuse and vile epithets and struck the
priest in the face.
Although he had remained perfect
~ quiet under the abuse this blow
was the "last straw" and Father Crowley,
in fit of righteous indignation, sailed in
with MS fists. When Foss' countenence
became the prototype OF raw beefsteak
he Justify yelled, Enough! enough p and
his conqueror desisted from any further
pummeling.
By this time an immense crowd had
gathered and the excitement was at fever
heat Patrolman Folsom was attracted
by the size of the assem- blage and, run
ming up, took the com batants accom-
70 har
station. The priest there related his story
and was promptly released. As he refused
TO prefer any charge against Foss the
latter was released also, and little Percy
was sent back to the Marshall Primary.
Lieutenant Burke WAS very reticent as
regarIs the matter and refused to make
any statement of the facts, referring the
interrogation to Father Crowley at the
Youths Directory.
You don't know how sorry am this
occurred said Father Crowley, tas it
places me in very awkward predicament
to be obliged to pose before the public in
bellicose role.
But there is one matter I wish to ex-
plain. When a child is placed here, it
makes no difference whether by the
father or the mother, that person is re-
garded by US as the child's custodian, and
the other parent is not allowed to inter
fere with 1t unless the courts decide that
such parent is the proper guardian
1--WE take good care of the little one, the
religion OF It's parents cutting no figure in
the matter. When the parent that places
it wishes to remove it, well and good.
81 was not surprised at what occurred
to-day, as heard few days ago that Foss
had declared his intention of blowing both
mother and children out of existence
Before he struck me to-day he threatened
to use arms on me, and l watched him
carefully, but at the police station he was
found 10 be unarmed. The man was per-
fectly sober"
The children were here sent for and cor
roborated Father Crowley's story in full.
They also said that in Honolulu their
father used to beat and otherwise abuse
them and once threw lighted lamp at
their mother.
L put water in the whisky he used to
drink" piped little Wilson, ''and when
Papa discovered it he threw it all over me. -
Mrs. Walker, the principal of the Mar
shall Primary School, states that when
she demonstrated with Foss he said he
was shortly going to teach school in Ala
media County, and, as he was an A. P A.,