The San Francisco call., 1897-09-09
URGED ITS SUIT
With A KNIFE
Fowler LabOrer Under
Arrest for Assault
to Murder.
Com peIs Another'S Wife tc
Choose Between Death
and DiShonor.
BY Promising to Elope With Him
She Escapes and Seeks the
Laws Protection.

FRESNO, CAL, Sept. S.-Constable al
Mason to-day arrested Alfred Todd in
Fowler on charge of.assault to commit
murder. The complainant was Mrs.
Charles Treece, who says that Todd held
q knife over her head and threatened to
kill her If she would not elope with him.
Being forced to do so under the circum-
stances she promised that she would, but
at the first opportunity she managed to
get away from him and sought the pro-
lection OF the authorities.
The case is remarkable one, and it will
be aired in Justice Galloway's court at
Oleander next Saturday aftern oon, when
the prisoners examination will be held.
He was brought to the County Jail in this
city by the constable this afternoon.
Mr.. and Mrs. Treece live about three
miles west of Fowler, and Todd. who
arrived from Los Angeles about two
months ago, has been stopping with them.
Treece works at a neigh boring ranch,
and of late mis- wife has been cutting fruit
at an orchard where Todd was employed
This was about "a mile distant from the
home of the freezes, and tine wife and
Todd drove together to and from work.
1t seems tn at the laborer became infatu-
ated with Mrs. Treece on these pleasant
rides and while they worked together. He
saws she reciprocated his attentions.
At any rate Todd decided upon positive
action this morning. Treece had Just left
10 go to work, and his wife and Todd were
preparing to go to their employment. The
woman was alone with the man, and he
took advantage OF the situation.
He came into the house from the yard,
where he had hltched the horse and cart,
and bluntly asked Mrs. Treece to elope
with him. The wife was astonished. and
when, in great surprise, she answered
No" Todd seized her.
He held her with one arm, and with the
other took a grape-plcking knife from his
pocket.
"If you will not run away with me, you
have only one hour 10 live" he an
nounced, and he waved the knife in the
face of the woman.
Mrs Treece implored him not to kill
her, but said she could not agree to elope
win him. Todd continued holding the
woman, brandishing a vicious knife GLADE
before her eyes.
"If you are going to kill me shoot me
with that shotgun" c.iei the woman,
pointing to the firearm which was stand
ing in the corner. Don't cut me with
the knife" she begged.
your mind" Todd threatened, land if you
do not say yes by that time l will XII /
YOU"
Mrs. Treece retained her self-possessionl
by an effort and realized that she must
resort to strategy to free herself from the
man. She said 1t wou be impossible for
her to go with him at once. but If
he would wait until Saturday, she would
run away with him as he desired. This
satisfied Todd, and he let the woman from
his grasp
They proceeded to their work together,
and on the way Mrs. Treece assured her
fierce lover that she would elope with
him.
AT the orchard the woman managed to
ge. out oil Todd's sight for few minutes
and she m ade the best OF the opportunity.
She borro wed a mule and cart and set out
for the ranch where her husband was at
work.
Is was not long until Todd noticed her
absence and he suspected at once where
she had zone. He imm ediately hitched
up his horse, and left the place with the
animal on the run in pursuit of the wo-
man.
Mrs. Treece managed to reach her hus-
band, and her pursuer. having failed to
catch her before she arrived at the ranch,
did not venture near the husband.
Treece and his wife started at once for