The San Francisco call., 1897-12-13

that be is incapable of making any de-
tense.
But in almost every instance where a
tootpad has been worsted-and the in
s ances are as numerous as the reverse
the citizen has saved his valua bles, and
perhaps himself from a beating by a
prompt snow OF resistance, upon which
the obber was glad to make his escap pc
without attempting to overpower his op-
ponent.
With the approach of every winter the
tootpad industry begins anew. Winter
storms drive the criminal element that
scatters over the country during the sum-
mer months, into the larger cities, and
the timld citizen, detained by business
until late hour, or, more FREQ lently, the
careless roysterer seeking his home is
sudd eniy confronted with a huge revolver
accompanied by the gruff order to "throw
up your hands"
This winter is no worse than any other,
and, IN fact has not been as bad so far as
some years, but the number OF cases re-
| ported TO the police show that footpads
are with us, and it behooves the respect
able element to prepare himself for an
| emergency. Within the past four weeks
no less than twelve cases of this character
| have been reported to the authorities and
several arrests of suspicious characters
have been made.
Since the 5th of December seven vic
10 the police, as follows; Decem ber 5, Carl
| Bettner, held up on Ninth street Deem
Der ., David Fleming. held up on Fifth
| street, and Charles Bryan, held up on
Minna street. December IL, Mrs. J. P.
| Lucas, robbed in broad daylight in front
OF her residence, 945 Howard street
Thomas Tufts, held up at the corner of
Eighth and Harrison streets, ami L. +.
Fillmore, waYiaid Rt McAlllster and Gou h
streets. December H. r. L. Dougherty,
held up on the water front.
Notwithstanding this record, Chief OF
Police Lees, W hen asked yesterday afte r
noon whether a citizen ought to show
fight when ordered 10 throw up his
hands or submit quietly to the footpad' s
demands, refused 10 answer the question
on the ground that to discuss it would be
a tacit admission that such crimes were
prevalent in San Francisco, which, he
declared, was not the case, At that mo-
ment mis- subordlnates were working on
three cases that had occurred in less than
twelve hours.
Captain SpiIlane of the Southern dis
trict, however. had no hesitancy In
answering the question, and his advice
was TO reslsl-anu ylgorousiy-lf the Cit
izen attacked was capable of offering any
| resistance or was armed.
! I'm most cases of this kind said Cap
tain Spiilane, "the victim selected is more
or less incapable of making a fight, but
occasionally q footpad makesa mistake,
and If the man attacked keeps his pres,
ence OF mind he can vanquish bis assail.
ant without running any risk.
The instant the robber comes up TIE
other should close in and grasp him
around the waist, or better still, the hips
and lift him off his feet. The footpad M ay
have gun-he probably has-but if be
had one in each hand they would be use
less, for with his feet off he ground, hi:
arms would be ~winging like pendaIums
with never a chance to use his weapons
A quick twist, and you have Mr.. FootpaC
lying on his back as helpless as a ba be
As you throw him, let your own body fall
on top OF him, which will com pletely
knock the breath out of him. Do not at
tempt to run, tor if the footpad has any
inclination TO shoot, you will only Offer
him a good target to fire at. / do no
believe that the average footpad cares tC
take chances on committing murder, anC
if his intended victim makes show o
resistance, he will make every effort t
escape rather than fight"