The San Francisco call., 1896-02-03
Shot and Killed a Stage.Driver
and Left Her BondSmen in
the Lurch..
SACRAMENTO UNION EXTRACTS
She Was Wealthy and Beautiful
Woman With Penchant for
Gambling.

SACRAM ENTO, CAL, Feb. &C. c.
Brown, who went from this city to New
Orleans a short time ago to claim the es-
tate left by his deceased sister, has found
several other claimants who will contend
with him for it. He has therefore written
to Justice Henry, stating that his sister
shot man in Sacramento in the early
fifties, asking him to interview several old
citizens and get what information he can
concerning the matter, as ne thinks it will
form corroborating link in the evidence
which is necessary to establish his claim
by proving the womans identity.
The shooting to which Brown refers did
actually take place. In those days Sacra-
mento was a lively place and sensational
episodes were of daily and nightly occur
renee. The city was then great stage
center and stage-drivers were very impor-
tant personages and much in evidence.
One of this class, Albert Putnam, went one
night to Second street house in company
with some friends and became involved in
an alteration with Fanny Smith, and she
shot him. The particulars of the affair
are given in the Union of December 81,
1852, as follows:
ABOUT y D CLOCK on Lne evening OI the 2Utn,
Albert Putnam, who was stagedriver on the
Auburn road, in company with some friends
went to the Palace, on Second street, between
and J, as he had often done, being in the
habit OF taking parcels there. The house is
kept by Fannie Smith, as she is known. She
was somewhat intoxicated and is known to be-
when in that condition, a desperate woman.
She demanded that Putnam buy bottle OF
wine and he refused. They had quarrel and
during it he told her TO ''dry up'' and threat
ened her If she did not do so.
She ordered him to leave the house and he
refused to do so unless his friends approved of
it. She went to the back part of the house and
one of his friends, who was acquainted with
her violent disposition, advised him to leave
AS he had just stepped outside of the door she
returned with Colts fve-shooter and fired at
his back, the ball striking him just under the
shoulder blade and passing through his body
lodging just under the skin in front. He was
taken to the City Exchange, on Second street,
by his friends.
She ran out on the street in the meantime
and inquired for policeman and the Marshal
met her and took her TO the station house.
Crowds began to gather almost Immediately
on the streets, and, the opinion was freely ex-
pressed that she ought to be hanged. The SEN
timent gained ground and the continually aug
mented crowd moved down toward the station
house.
AS it was evident that their intention was to
lynch her several citizens fastened to the sta.
tion-house in advance of the mob and warned
Captain Mace, who was in charge He had
boat ready for the emergency and took Fanny
out and deposited her in the prison brig in the
river.
The Marshal then addressed the angry crowd.
telling them that she was securely in custody.
pledged his reputation for her safe keeping,
loft idaro hi Init
in calming them down in spite of inflamma-
tory addresses by others, and after many
threats they departed
The inmates of the house. meantime, fearing
the mob, had packed up their belongings,
ready to leave, but strong force of police was
stationed there and in an hour or two all was
quiet.
The Union of December % speaks OF
"Fanny Seymour, alias Smith," as being
tall and graceful, beautiful woman, with
a fair complexion and light-gray eyes,
strongly marked and expressing in an
eminent degree the possession of strong
passions and implacable animosities.
Another issue gives the statement of gen.
tleman who said that he had seen the
photographs of her two children, who
were at that time in a, convent in Louisi-
ana, and had read letter to their mother
from the superior.
The paper, in one of the articles quoted,
also states that she was considered, at the
time of the shooting, to be worth about
LOCO. and that she was evidently pos
sessed Of marked business ability. She was
also reckless gambler.
She was intimate at the time with Reub
Raines, one of the most prominent gam
blers in the city, who ran the Ell Dorado
gambling saloon and an old citizen says
she would often mount bench near the
gambling tables and throw over $40
piece, with direction where to place it.
1t was generally known in the city at
that time she was the sister of Mrs. Nc
Cormack, who was also a sister of Brown,
and who left him her property. She was
admitted to bail, deposlting $4,000, Raines
being one of her bondsmen, but jumped
her bail and managed to escape from the
State, and her bondsmen paid the money.