The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-09-09
Would Be Slayer Is
Foiled by New
Invention
Rushes Back TO Store
TO Learn Combination
Captured by Police
Before Reaching
Victim
Harriet Clarke Escapes
by Miracle From Death

Enraged because Harriet Clarke,
q beautiful Chicago woman, re-
fused to lead a life of dishonor,
Andrew G. o. Jacobs, a convict
on parole, drew her into a room
yesterday evening, slammed the
door, and drawing a Colts auto
matte revolver from his pocket re-
peatedly tried to pull the trigger.
In his fury and excitement, how
ever, he had forgotten to release
the lock and none Of the bullets
reached the intended victim. With
a cry of rage the infuriated man
dashed from the room, hurried to
the gunstore where he had pur-
chased the weapon and threw it
on the floor, saying, with a curse,
that il would not shoot.
why. you have forgotten to release
the lock" said the clerk.
How do you release the ID
thing2" said Jacobs. Tell me quickly"
It took the clerk but few minutes
~ explain the mechanism OF the re-
volver and Jacobs started back for the
room where he had left the terror
stricken girl. IN that time. however,
the police had been notified, the girl
had been led 10 a place of safety and
the intended murder was prevented.
Jacobs arrived in San Francisco about
2 month ago. being. accompanied by
Harriet Clarke. who then knew nothing
OF his past life The couple had eIoped
from Chicago on Jacobs promise TO
marry the girl on their arrival here;
= but he repeatedly put off the ceremony
with sundry excuses. Sick at heart
at being thus duped. the girl told him
that unless he married her she would
leave him.
49, kin you if you do" said Jacobs.
Undaunted by his threats the girl left
him three days ago.
Finding her gone Jacobs started i'm
mediately to hunt her down and at 6
O'Clock yesterday evening discovered
her at as Dupont street.
Come in here" said Jacobs, indicat-
ing an empty room, 7 have something
TO say to you" So carefully did the
fellow succeed IN hiding his real feel
ings from Miss Clarke that. without a
moments hesitation, she did as re-
quested.
Now, d you" said Jacobs with a
snari, banging the door and turning
on her suddenly. making no attempt to
conceal the Jealous rage and passion
consuming him.
Why. Andy" began the girl In sur
prise; but the sentence ended with a
scream Of fear as she saw him draw
the revolver and aim il at her. Beg
ging for mercy the woman crouched in
a corner, momentarily expecting death.
She saw Jacobs finger press on the
trigger, and covered before him, plead
ing FOR her life. the agony Of fear
changing her shrieks for help into
hosrse whispers for mercy. Again and
again Jacobs endeavored to pull the
trigger, and each time he did so the
woman passed through all the horrible
tortures such a situation would bring
about.
Attracted by her first shrieks for
help a japanese porter, n. Agasaki
climbed 10 the transom of the room, but
quickly dropped to the floor when
Jacobs swung around at him with the
pointed revolver. Seeing at last that
he could not shoot her Jacobs ran from
the room 70 the gun store. and in his
absence the fainting girl was taken
way
4 While on his way back TO the room
Jacobs learned that Officers Thomas
Hyland and James Welch were after
Confirmed IN Pare 4. Column