The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-08
'HUGGING JACK"
FINDS VICTIMS
Walks Along Main Street, Embracing
Women in Daylight Before Crowds.
CAUGHT BY A POLICEMAN
OFFICER SAVES HIM FROM AN
ANGRY HUSBAND.

r OUR women were lovingly en-
braced one after the other on the
street in broad daylight late yes
terday afternoon by Homer j. Coombs
of Carson City, New. This Jack the
Hugger." or "Hugging Jack carried on
his airtations at Main and Second
South streets in the midst OF crowds
He approached several other women,
but they slipped away from him. The
excitement attracted the attention OF
Police officer Frank Brown who ar
rested him. He is charged with as
sault
What a dear you are he remarked
to a young girl whom he met going
down Main street The young woman,
startled at his holiness stepped to one
side. Then he followed her, but she
ran into the street and escaped him.
Two girls passed him as he stood on
the curb watching his first victim cross
the street He turned and followed the
two girls. He soon overlook them and
grasped the hands of one.
What do you mean?" she demanded.
7 beg your pardon" he said courte-
ously, and tipped his hat. He stepped
on the other girls heel and politely
begged her pardon. he passed remarks
about the girls until they reached the
corner and then they darted down the
street away from him through the
crowd.
Hugs Elderly Woman.
His eyes rested on an elderly woman.
who stood at the entrance of the Ma
tional Bank of the Republic. He walked
up beside her and the woman moved
out of his way, He quickly slipped his
arm around her waist and gave her a
squeeze.
So startled was the woman that she
lost her senses for a moment. When
she realized the situation. she gasped
for breath and jerked away from the
stranger. He disappeared in the crowd
but a moment later grasped by the
hand woman who was standing on
the curbing, evidently waiting for a
car. She turned around and stared at
the stranger. He smiled sweetIy and
called her gentle names, but his victim
did not take kindly to them. She
jumped from the curb, wrenching her
hand from his grasp. She dropped her
pocketbook and when he disappeared
through the crowd she picked 1T up and
hurried away
Husband Goes After Him.
AT Walkers bank corner he APP
preached a woman with a cordial greet
ing. She sidestepped. but he followed
her He made, grab for her and
threw both arms around her. She
struggled away from him, This per-
Torrance attracted the attention of
several persons. Coombs started up
the street and the woinan's husband,
who had stopped to talk with a friend,
chased him.
Officer Brown noticed him f1irt with
couple of girls before he approached
his last victim and followed. Before he
got through the crowd Brown collared
him and barely saved him from the
rage of an angry husband.
III beat YOUR brains OUT exclaimed
the wrathy spouse. with emphasis
Officer Brown interceded for his
prisoner and without further trouble
took Coombs to Jail. The latter re-
fused to talk to the officer and seemed
cool and deliberate. The charge of as
sault was preferred against him and
his last victim Will appear against him
in police court today.
Coombs was we'll dressed and is A
hne looking man. He claims to be q
Years of age. He gave his occupation
as a Rorseman and says he follows the
racing business. Letters We're found
on him addressed to Carson City, New,
and he said he had lived there for the
past year. Coombs arrived in Salt
Lake yesterday morning from ogden.
He refused to make any statement last
night about his case
The names of the women could not
be obtained although a large number
OF persons witnessed the occurrences.