Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-21
GIRLS SCREAMS
BRING RESCUERS
NOISE OF STRUGGLE CREATES
ALARM
Warrant Issued for William Francis
Charged With Disturbing Peace
Of the Roomers-Youna
Woman Tells story

Charged with disturbing the peace in
a complaint sworn to by Mrs. r.. j.
Christie of 412 West Second street,
where he has been roomer for the
past week, the police are searching for
William Francis, who has been em-
ployed as a solicitor for DIR. M. j.
Gavin of 202 Bryson block.
Figuring in the proceedings which
led UP to the charges Of disturbing the
peace is pretty 1S-year-old Miss Ruth
Thompson, daughter Of a prominent
orchard owner OF Riverside. The girl
says she is n second cousin of the ac-
cused man and that for years they
have been the closest friends.
HE has always been like a brother
TO me-" she declared last Friday night.
IT can't understand why he acted as
he did tonight"
Early last Friday evening Francis
called at the Lincoln hotel, where the
young woman lives, and asked her to
accompany him to his rooming house
to visit the landlady there. When he
called at the Lincoln hotel, Miss
Thompson says, Francis was slightly
intoxicated. Miss Thompson says she
did not notice the condition of the man
at the time and consequently accom-
panied her cousin to his room.
She Screams for Aid
SHOTIly dIlPI entering lUe IoOlll' dC-
cording to the landlady of the house
and several of her roomers, a quarrel
ensued between the pair and the young
woman was heard to scream for help.
The landlady and roomers, who heard
the screams. ran to Francis rooms and
ordered him TO open the door. Fran
els failed to comply to do so and ac-
cording to Miss Thompson he began
sapping her, causing her to increase
her screams.
Unable to open the door to Francis
room two of the roomers rushed to
the police station and asked for as
sistance. Two officers were detailed to
arrest the man.
In the meantime Francis heard that
two of the roomers had gone for police
and hurried1y made his escape. When
the officers arrived the man had dis
appeared.
For the past two weeks Francis has
been employed as solicitor for DR..
Gavin. Yesterday morning he appeared
there to begin his days work, but was
discharged from service by DIR. Gavin.
Very little is known here about Miss
Thompson, who says she is a. second
cousin to Francis. The girl is eXcep-
iionally pretty. She says that she ran
away from her home in Riverside sew
eral months ago owing to a quarrel.
On leaving Riverside she came to this
city and found employment as nurse
TO an aged sickly woman who has
apartments in the Hotel Lincoln, West
Second street and South Hill.
= After her experience with Francis
Friday night she was so frightened
that. it was necessary for an officer to
accompany her to the hotel. She
claims she has brother living in this
city. When the officers arrived at the
rooming house at 412 West Second
street Miss Thompson begged that
nothing be said about her experience
with Francis. 1t was on the threats of
several of the roomers that they would
leave there if the landlady did not pre-
fer charges of disturbing the peace
against Francis, that the warrant was
issued.
Mrs. Christie stated last night that
had she known that Francis had al
lowed the young woman to enter his
room she would not have permitted
him to remain one of her guests.
"I am very anxious that my house
shall receive no notoriety, but l in
tend to prosecute Francis to the full
extent of the law" said Mrs. Christie.