The San Francisco call., 1909-04-13
FAILS TO STOP
FLIGHT OF HIS
WIFEAND BABE
Robert L. France Creates Scene
While Auto Party Is
Leaving Hotel
Mother in Law Blamed for
Trouble in Family of Rail-
road Official

Love for his wife and babe, who were
being taken from him in an automo-
bile by his wife's mother, led Robert
L. France, labor and fuel agent of the
Southern Pacific company, to create a
torrid zone of excitement yesterday
morning in the street before the door
OF the st. Francis hotel.
An automobile. containing a party of
well dressed women and the year
old infant, was about to drive off, when
France rushed to its side, wrenched a
suit case from one of the women and
exclaimed loudly: That is my suit
case and that babys mine, too
Then the automobile rolled swiftly
away, for the mother in law, Mrs. H.
B. Reed, who has been a guest at the
st. Francis gained at least temporary
advantage in the contest for the young
and pretty wife's affection. But France
is loyal to his wife and optimistic, and
is sure that he will win his wife back
to their pleasant apartments in the Ell
Forrest. SIS Bush street.
MY wife is good, pure and true and
has been under influences not friendly
to me- was all that France would
say last evening, when pressed for an
explanation of the melee at the door
Of the Powell street hotel.
BRIEF, But TINGLING
The excitement was brief but tim
Cling while it lasted. An automobile
drew up at the door of the hotel and
three women, one of them carrying an
infant crossed the sidewalk to the
car. The woman with the child, Mrs.
France, stepped in. quickly followed
by her mother, Mrs. Reed. The third
woman, q nurse, who was carrying a
suit case, was just about to take her
place with the others when France
accidentally appeared.
He made a dash for the party and
grabbed the suit case. which the nurse
was carrying.
That is my suit case" he cried ex-
citedly. struggling with the woman for
its possession. With mighty wrench
he tore it from the nurses grasp.
breaking the handle in the tug.
And that baby is miner he shouted.
springing toward the car.
But the nurse had found her seat and
before France could reach the step the
machine was chugging away.
France got into another ca,r and
started from the scene as swiftly as
the automobile could go.
Mrs. Reed and her daughter could
not be located last evening. Mrs. Reed
gave up her room In the hotel during
the day and left no address.
BLAMEs WIFE,s MOTHER
France. who occupies a responsible
position with the Southern Pacific
railroad company, and has made a
plea SAINT home for his wife and child
in a well located apartment house
was feticent last evening when asked
to explain the unusual comnotion he
created at the St Francis. He spoke
however. in the highest terms OF his
wife, and expressed every confidence
that she would be with him soon. He
would not utter word of disapproba-
ton for his wife's mother, who, friends
say. is responsible for the unhappiness
in the France household.
France has given his mother in law
no cause for antagonism, IL is stated
by friends of the couple. and they
were at a loss to explain her inimical
attitude toward the peace in the fam
ily. The friends are confident that the
family difficulties will not lead to the
divorce court, but that a change of en-
vironment for the young wife will lead
TO certain reconciliation with her hus-
band.