The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-30
COURT TO DECIDE
WHO KILLED CATS
Neighbors Accuse Mrs. Mary
Manix and Warrant Is Is
sued for Her Arrest
Others Blamed by Defendant,
Who Says "They just Want
the Law on Me"

Mrs. Mary Manix of 10 Masonic ave-
nue. says she would not dare to put poi
son for cats in her backyard-not even
If they ate all her chickens-when she
has on her premises a fine cat of her
own with large litter of promising
goats chickens and horses, not to men
ton four children, She says it would
not be reasonable.
Her nefghbors. notably Mrs. A. Huls-
man Of IL Masonic avenue, are sure
that Mrs. Manix is responsible for the
sudden death of four cats within the
fortnight, and through the Society of
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals war
rant has been secured for her arrest
on a charge of poisoning cats with
meat containing strychnine.
COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORs
Mrs Hulsman and other residents of
the block have been indefatigable in
bringing the influence of the law to
bear on Mrs. Manix, according to the
latter. She was arrested for disturb
ing the peace last fall at the instiga-
ton Of Mrs Hulsman; a letter was sent
erty Owners" in which II was asserted
that her tin chimney had burned down
to the level of the roof and sparks were
menacing the adjacent houses; and I'm
March communication, signed "a
Neighbor," brought Mrs. Manix to the
notice of the health department by the
declaration that scarlet fever or other
contagious disease kept two of the
children at Is Masonic avenue in the
house, while the other two mingled
with the young people of the neighbor-
hood. The "Neighbor'' also asked that
a doctor be sent, as the little girl was
dangerously Ill and the mother was a
Christian Scientist.
WILD CATS EAT CHICKENS
Nothing came of these charges and
Mrs. Manix says positively, with a snap
of her fingers. that she doesn't care for
any of them although the charge of be-
ing Christian Scientist aroused her
slightly. as she is a devout member OF
Holy Cross church, and attended a pic
NC at Shell Mound given by Star of
the Sea parish the day her accusers say
she poisoned the cats.
Mrs. Manix has recently lost three
chickens, one full grown hen, another
months old and yet another weeks
of age. They were eaten by cats
d
and this is not contradicted by those
who are seeking to protect the cats Of
the vicinity.
Lots they care about the cats" Mrs.
Manix says; they just want hekiaw
on me-"
Mrs. Manix recently brought charges
OF disturbing the peace against Mrs.
Hulsman and the Gardellas, her neigh
bors on the other side, saying they
abused her and her children.
HORRIBLE DREAM REPORTED
Mrs. L. Phelps of 10 Masonic avenue
is TO be q witness against Mrs. Manix,
for she says the latter told her that she
put strychnine in the half of a chicken
left by the cats ana even confessed that
she dreamed on the night after she
fixed the poison that her own cat got
out and ate it, and she jumped out of
bed to see and found two of the ma
rauding chicken eaters cold in death.
Mrs. Manix says it is all due to Mrs.
Hulsman in regard to whose character
she makes damaging assertions. Mrs.
Hulsman says, with tears, that she is a
respectable widow, whose life has been
made so miserable by the slanderous
talk of Mrs. ManiX that she thinks of
selling her home in Masonic avenue and
building another in the Richmond dis
trict. She says, also, that her late nus
band was dark lodge Mason" and she
intends seeking Masonic aid to protect
her against Mrs Manix.
Her husband was not Mason" says
Mrs Manix. He was gentleman, .for
I'll give the devil his due
Mrs. Manix says decisively that she
never put out any poison, although the
druggist at Baker and McAllister
streets says he sold her strychnine; but
she SAYS she thinks it was the Phil
ipses who lost seven chickens to the
cemetery cats