The San Francisco call., 1896-05-01
The Victim Thrown Down in a
Deserted Alley and Sc.
verely Used.
POLICEMAN ROBES CAPTURE.
Heard the Struggle in the Dark and
Succeeded in Arresting the
Offender.

Another supposed stranger is behind
the bars OF the City Prison. and unlike
those who have preceded him he is in a
measure self-confessed and was also caught
in the very act of throttling woman OF
the half world in a dark and deserted
alley off Montgomery street, near Wash
ington.
It-was at an early hour this morning
when the crime was committed, and at
that time, the electric lights being out it
was dark as pitch.
Officer F. Robl, who patrols Mont
gomery street, was walking along his
beat when he was startled upon reach
ing Merchant alley, to hear the gurg-
ling sound of a strangling human being.
His mind being full of the recent out
rageous murders. he quickly arrived at the
conclusion that another helpless woman
was being assassinated and rushed up the
alley. Just as he reached the center of the
block he heard mans voice cry out: 'If
you cry, 1 will strangle you to death as l
did the other notorious women of your
Glass;
This spurred him on in his search and
finally he spied a large man with his
fingers clutched around the throat of
"Olndh WIZ Was PIOStldlc Ol Tie pave
menI.
The would-be assassin and the officer
saw each other at the same time and the
former released his hold on his victim and
sprang as if to escape, but Robl was too
quick for him and soon had him safely
ironed. s.t 81 So o.
The woman then got up and both were
started for the California-street Police
Station. On reaching the light it was OBJ
served that the victim OF the assault was a
young colored woman. T..
When they reached the station mes
senger was dispatched for Detective Ben
Bohen and in the meantime the man was
charged with battery. He gave the name
of John Lewis and said that he was an
iron-molder by occupation He failed,
however, to explain the motive which led
him to assault and nearly murder the
young colored woman. ae.s ssess''
When Detective Bohen arrived the girl
told her story. She said her name is
Isabella Morris and that she lives in
Hinckley alley. II was going through
Merchant street, she said. sin order to
buy some medicine at a drugstore on
Montgomery street, near Clay. As I
reached the center of the block the prisoner
jumped on me and threw me to the
ground. He grasped my throat with one
hand and placed the other over my mouth
to prevent me from making an outcry.
''To add to my terror he kept cautioning
me not to make an outcry. as he said that
in event l diu he would strangle me to
death as he had strangled several other
girls OF nv class during the last five
months. This failed to silence me, how
ever, but could make no outcry and only
a agurgling sound came from my lips when
l tried to scream.
Finally he released his hold and l i'm
mediately saw that it was a policeman
who had turned the tide in my favor. |
honestly believe that if he had not been
interrupted in his work would have been
strangled 10 death"
While she was telling her story the
prisoner stood by but never offered to
contradict her statements. When she had
finished he was led back into his cell
mum bling incoherent sentences as be
ked.
Detective Bohen, although he is not sure
that Lewis is responsible for the recen,
murders, is not certain tina: he is not; and
ne will be held pending lengthy inyes-
tieatlon. In any event he will be convicted
OF assault and battery, and while he is
serving his sentence the detectives will
have ample time 60 look up his record.