The San Francisco call., 1899-11-17
MRS. J, j, GROOM
ON THE WARPATH
FOR HER SPOUSE
Creates an Exciting
Street Scene.
HAVOC WITH AN UMBRELLA
hrs. HETHERINGToN NURSING
HER WOUNDS.
The Angry Wife Savagely Assaults
Her Husbands Companion, Deies
Arrest and Is Removed by
a Police Officer.
hrs. HETEERINGToN NURSING
HER WOUNDS.

The war Of The Grooms reached the dan
ger point Wednesday afternoon. and re
suited in a head-on collision between the
irate wife and her husband. 1t appears
from the testimony Of the residents OF
North Beach that Mrs. Groom has been
keeping a very close watch on her gay
husband for the last few weeks through
the medium OF corps Of messenger boys.
Wednesday she followed her spouse and a
woman known as Mrs. Hetherington 10
the salt water baths at North Beach.
Here Mrs. Groom saw the couple Just as
they We're leaving the baths. The injured
wife rushed upon the pair and sashed
right and left with her umbrella. Groom,
in order 10 protect his companion. met
the impending blow with upraised arm,
but the metal-handled weapon glanced
upward and struck Mrs. Hetherington a
severe blow. cutting a deep cash in her
forehead. \ crowd soon gathered. which
attracted the attention OF a passing po-
liceman. who separated the angry couple
and rushed Mrs. Hetherington into a gro
cery store and allowed her 10 make her
escape through a back door.
The affairs OF the Groom family have
attracted more or less attention for the
last I'VE or SIX years, and many unpleas-
ant things have been said and published
regarClng their domestic infelicity. IL hav-
ing been well known all these years that
household. Mrs. Groom has often accused
her husband OF paying attentions 10 other
women.
Wednesday afternon ]. J. Groom was
seen TO emerge from the bathhouse ac-
COmpanied by q woman. AS they started
Up the street Mrs. Groom rushed from a
doorway where she had been concealed
and struck a vicious blow at either her
husband or Mrs. HetheringtOn, IL was not
possible 10 tell which. AT any rate Groom
was the first TO realize the danger, and
D Nr.HrH knH.
weapon used by Mrs. Groom was a heavy
handled umbrella. and as II struck tho
arm OF her husband II glanced upward
and struck Mrs. Hetherngton on the
forehead, cutting an ugly cash. The cries
OF the injured woman soon brought q
crowd 10 the scene OF action.
Mrs. Groom was expressing her opinion
OF her husband in no very mild tones
while her husband. although he made no
direct reply 10 her reprOaches, tried in
every reasonable way t0 quiet the infuri-
ated woman. He was much handicapped
on account OF his companion, who re-
quired his constant protection, but by
careful tactics he managed To keep him
self between his angry wife and Mrs.
hetherington until a policeman appeared
on the scene.
The officer. who setmed 10 understand
the situation. used the best OF judgment
when ne removed the cause OF al the
trouble in the person Of Mrs. Hethering-
ton This gave the husband q chance 10
reason with his wife. He told her how
foolish she was 10 make such a scene on
d public street. and how much better IL
would be II they were 10 defer the matter
until they could converse in private. BY
this time the policeman had returned 10
the battlefield and demanded 10 know
what all the trouble was about and who
had been guilty Of the assault on Mrs.
HetheringtOn.
This seemed TO anger the wronged
wife anew. i did it," she exclaimed. u
am Mrs. J. J. Groom: this man is my
husband. You know who I am. now why
don't you arrest me? l want TO be ar
rested. Now why don't you arrest me-
l want the world 10 know Just what kind
Of man my husband IS"
Through the diplomacy OF the officer
and Groom the lady was at last induced
70 leave the place and return 10 her
home. Nobody was able 20 tell what be-
came OF Mrs HetheringtOn. except that
she made her escape through the back
door OF the grocery.