The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-10
A WOMAN HELD Up
BY A FOOTPAD
Mrs. John Pettee Robbed
and Beaten in the
Street.
The Outrage Committed Within
a Few Rods Of Her Own
Home.
She Was Supposed to Have Been Col.
lecting for the Proposed Emer.
g,ncy Home.

Mrs. John Pettee was assaulted and
robbed by footpad last evening within q
hundred yards OF her own home at Fran
cisco and Leavenworth streets.
The assault was one of the boldest and
most dastardly that has figured in the
lists OF such outrages for some time.
Mrs. Pettee is one of the most promi-
nent and active workers in the Society for
tie Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
She has been for some time actively. en-
gagged in an effort to found and establish
an emergency home for women and
children.
In this effort she has been for some days
soliciting cash subscriptions among the
charitably disposed of the City, and has
often gone home with a we'll lied purse.
1t is supposed that his fact became
known and served as the temptation for
the assault. Fortunately Mrs. Pettee was
yesterday otherwise engaged, and the
purse that was taken from her contained
only few dollars.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Pettee visited
the City Jail, where a woman is confined
for no other cause than that she is penni-
less She mad become interested in the
case and spent the late hours of the day
in trying 10 secure her Judgment else
where, where her two children, taken
from her by the authorities, might be re-
turned to her.
Mrs. Pettee left the Hyde-street cars at
the corner of Chestnut street. She walked
down the steep incline to Francisco street
and was about to turn into that thorough
fare when she noticed a nan hurrying to-
ward her from the darkness of a vacant lot
at the corner.
The butler of the Pettee family usually
meets Mrs. Pettee at The corner when she
remains out after dark, and thinking it
was he she called TO the man by name.
In an instant she saw her mistake. The
footpad sprang down into the road In
front of her. II have been watching for
you for two days." he said with an oath.
II know you; 1 know where you live.
Don't utter word or I'll choke you to a
finish. / want your money!"
Paralyzed with fear Mrs. Pettee still
found voice 10 say: You can't have it,"
at the same time thrustlng her hand hold
ing purse back of her under her heavy
fur coat.
"Wen see if / can't" said the ruffian
81 haven't been waiting here for fun
At the same time he struck the fright
ened woman three quick blows on the
back of the neck that nearly robbed her of
consciousness.
Her wide-brimmed hat and the thick
standing collar of her coat, she thinks,
saved her from severe injury, Tor she Is
sure the fellow used slungshot or weapon
of some kind. She wonders how it was
she did not fall.
The fellow grabbed her wrist and twist
ed it until the other hand with the purse
came from its hiding. He snatched the
book. ratified the coin in her face and said:
Have you any morep"
She said she had not. "Then go; and
if hear word from you I'll choke you,"
he said.
Mrs. Pettee staggered down the road,
the footpsd following her until within
few yards of her home on the corner of
Leavenworth street. When almost st the
gate the voice OF another man, who seemed
to be hiding near there, frightened her
almost into insensibility. She succeeded,
however, in reaching her door, and it being
opened 10 her she fell on the floor in a
spasm of Mysteries. A physician was sum-
moned and the mem bers of the household
gave the alarm.
No arrests have been made. The shock
to Mrs. Pettee will probably confine her to
her home for some DAYS.
The locality OF the Pettee residence is at
night quite lonesome. the neighborhood
not being thickiy built up. Several suspi-
cious characters have been noticed about
the vicinity during the past few days.
Mrs. Pettee says she is sure she could
identity the footpad if he is caught. He
is tall and slim and dressed shabp1ly. after
the fashion of the conventional tramp.