The San Francisco call., 1909-02-15
PIERRE LAFON
Still EVADES
THE WARRANT
Police Unable to Find the Man
Accused of Trying to Poison
Two Women
Mrs. COffman Explains Delay in
Securing Warrant, and DR..
Armstrong Is Silent

Pierre I.afon. the French nobleman
1or whose arrest warrant was sworn
10 Saturday morning by Dr. Sarah B.
Armstrong and Mrs. Gertrude Cofman
on q charge that he had attempted to
poison them last December, is a fugi-
tive from Justice
After an unsuccessful attempt had
been made Saturday to find Lafon and
place him under arrest thees srrant re-
NAMED ia the central station, while
the accused man appeared al his home,
sS3 Golden Gate avenue. stayed there
three hours, settling up his affairs and
then disappeared for parts unknown.
Yesterday the warrant was placed in
the hands OF Captain of Detectives An
derson, and he detailed Detectives
Frank Lord and Andrew Gaughran to
md the man and arrest him. But Lafon
did NOT appear az lis home all day. and
abe detectives have not been able TO
locate him.
LAFON WRITES OF HIS LOVE
Several love letters sent by Lafon to
AIRS COffman. which she declares went
through the mail. or were tucked under
her door by the infatuated man. were
found Yesterday one typical one runs:
Ny Gertie darling: I am dying Of
love for you and I thought that every
thing was settled and you could afford
me a little affection. Why do YOU re-
sect me as though I an q serpent when
YOU have no reason TO do so2 / love
, you more and more and ] am suffering
martyrdom. Accept my kisses on paper
II you reject them in reality.
PIERRE"
LafOn sent a warm note TO DR.. Arm
strong. telling her TO leave his house
and never return. The note was
couched in no uncertain terms, but was
not followed by Miss Armstrong until
her friend. Mrs. Coffman, had received
the $500 they asked for the half in
terest in the lodging house.
REASON OF THE DELAY
II was given out yesterday that the
reason for the lapse of more than two
months between the date Of the al
legged attempted murder and the issu-
ance Of the warrant for Lafon's arrest
-on the charge was the fact that
friend Of Mrs Conman held a mortgag ge
on the lodging house at 9S3 Golden
Gate avenue. belonging TO LafOn, and
tnat the DAYS We're allowed to pass
in the hope that the mortgage might
be paid before the arrest was made
-Al - NoALAilan eaL0 yesterday that.
though she continued to live at the
Golden Gate avenue lodging house for
26 days after the alleged poisoning was
attempted December by Lafon plac-
Ing iodine OF arsenic in the teapot, yet
she did so in the greatest fear. in hour
ly terror lest Lafon repeat his deed.
and succeed in carrying II through sue
cessfully. When she received the prom
1sed payment Of $500 December go she
left the place within an hour
MISS ARMSTRONG RETECENT
Dr. Sarah B. Armstrong. who swears
that she saw Lafon place the drug in
me teapot while the two women We're
eating, remained secluded in her room
yesterday. Miss Armstrong has main
tanned 2 strange reticence regarding,
the affair and her continued silence as
70 the reasons for the Issuance OF fhe
warrant, which was procured at her re-
quest is regarded as a peculiar phase
OF the case
Captain OF Detectives Anderson win
exert every EFFORT TO apprehend Lafon
and the TWO detectives placed on the
case are busy unearthing friends OF the
Fugitive. in an endeavor TO find where
tne man IS concealed. All avenues ~
escape from the city are being guarded
by the police.