Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-11
MAD ACT
INSPIRES CRANK
WEALTHY WIDOW ENGAGES A
SPECIAL GUARD
Mysterious Letters Annoy Mrs. Franz
els, and Police Are Watching for
Suspicious Characters on
Bonnie Brae Street

Fearing that mysterious beggar
who has been persistent in his demands
for aims might do some act of violence
like that for which Morris Buck is now
awaiting trial, Mrs. John f. Francis,
a wealthy widow living at 9O5 South
Bonnie Brae street, has engaged
special policeman to watch her beau
tjful home, and during the night the
patrolmen in that section of the city
have received orders to have sharp
lookout for strange characters loiter-
ing about the corner of Bonnie Brae
and Ninth streets.
Mrs. Francis was much annoyed that
the story of mysterious visitor had
leaked out and to The Herald man
last night she said that she much re-
GREETED the publicity that had resulted
from her natural desire for protection.
She Feels Nervous
II have no reason for suspectng that
anyone is seeking to do me HARM" she
said, but l am nervous and somewhat
tlmid and / feel better to know that
an officer is keeping watch over my
property"
When asked about the visitor, who
is alleged to have demanded black
mail, Mrs. Francis replied that the
man might be innocent of any inten-
at her house so soon after the ter
rjble murder of Mrs. Garfield made
her worried.
About week ago a man called at
the house and presented letter to the
effect that having heard of Mrs. Fran
els known charity he would like to
be assisted financially.
The caller was not allowed to see
Mrs. Francis but the letter was given
to her.
She asserts that there were no threats
contained in the letter but it was GER
tainly of such nature as to cause her
alarm, and arrangements were at once
made to have Special Policeman Fos-
ter guard the premises and report all
suspicious characters who We're seen
near.
Parallel to Mrs. CanfieId's
On the statements of Mrs. Francis
alone the case presents a parallel to
that of Mrs. Garfield.
Mrs. Francis is the widow of John
F.. Francis, noted for his philanthropy,
and his widow has always been much
interested in charity.
She Is wealthy and lives in a beau
tiful home.
She has received letter from a
mysterious crank. possibly containing
yelled threats. This might have been
truthfully said of Mrs. Garfield up to
the afternoon of the shooting.
Mrs. Francis Is evidently much dis
tressed over the matter and has denied
herself all visitors who are not person.
ally known to the household.
When the man who wanted a loan
called last week he was received by
the servant and not permitted to see
Mrs. Francis.
If Mrs Garfield had used the same
precaution there might have been no
tragedy two weeks ago, say the po-
lice.
At the police station members of the
detective department said that 1t was
no unusual thing for a crank or ia
matte to be inspired by reading Of some
deed of violence to attempt a similar
action, and criminal records all over
the country show that where some
prominent man has been murdered
there seems to be a sporadic outburst
of crime and violence.
Officers who patrol the section which
includes Bonnie Brae street have
been instructed to keep lookout for
all suspicious characters and to at
orce notify the central station.
With all the resources of wealth at
her command. Mrs. Francis will be
safely guarded, say the police. and N
she receives any more letters they will
be at once turned over TO the detee-
tives