The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-04-13
ACID THROWER
Ruins YOUNG
GIRLS BEAUTY
Squirts Poison Into Miss Ruth
Wilson'S Face From Be-
hind Board Fence
infatuated Youth Whose Love
Was Rejected Is Accused
of the Crime

cred most important by the detectives
in connection with the burning love
missives of Redfern, leaves from r
copy OF Munsey's magazine containing
A story entitled. Famous Aninities of
History the particular romance treat
ed being that OF Maurice Of Saxony. the
soldier of fortune, and Adrienne Le-
cOuvreur.
That the perpetrator of the outrage
had carefully planned his crime and
carried il out with rare cunning was
quickly established when it was learned
that for more than two days a young
man had been hidden back of the
fence. frequently looking toward the
Wilson home across the street and
auicly disappearing when any one ap
preached.
Young Man Seen
Mrs n J. Gear. living at 1880 Oc-
tavia street. just opposite the Wilson
home. had a clear view of the lot in
side the fence from the window of
her sitting room and Monday afternoon
saw a young man lettering there. At
the time il occurred to her that he was
4 student Of the Lowell high school,
which is very near. and that he was
preparing one Of his lessons. When she
saw him in the same place two hours
later. however. Ii excited her curiosity.
He was sitting on the grassy embank
ment inside the fence reading a maya
zine, frequently applying his eye TO the
hole which was directly in front Of him.
In the actions OF the young man de-
scribed by Mrs. Gear the detectives
drew a deadly parallel TO those of Red
fern. and are convinced that while the
young man awaited his victim he stated
his heated brain with the account of
the amours of the great soldiers of the
Rarly eighteenth century. They believe
that Redfern saw in himself the proto-
type Of Maurice Of SaXony. described a s
a hero of chivalry, a marvel of cour-
age, of fascination and Of irresponsi-
bility"
That Redfern was carried away with
romantic ideas was apparent from his
every action from the time he first saw
the girl with whom he fell madly in
love, until yesterday, when. IL is be
lieved, he marred her beauty for the
rest Of her life.
In September of 1908 Wilson returned
with his family from his summer home
at Camp Meeker. With him were his
wife. Ruth. and a son. Lloyd who died
two months ago Taking Suffer
street car 10 reach the family resi-
dence, the father noticed young man
enter and sit directly opposite his
daughter. At Octavia street he alighted
and followed to the family residence.
The following morning he was In front
OF the house when Ruth left II go to
the Lowell high school just around the
corner in Suffer street. Having learned
that she attended there, he registered
as a student and succeeded in being
assigned to the same class as she was
In. He Immediately began his atten-
lions, writing notes and having them
delivered TO the girl or placed in her
desk by a Japanese employed about
the school.
Although always faultlessly dressed
and apparently very bright, Redfern did
not impress the pretty high school stu
dent and from the first she showed an
aversion for him, although in an limo
cent, girlish way she answered some of
his notes out of curiosity.
Suddenly alarmed by more serious
tones in his notes and jnsistent de-
mands that she meet him, Ruth told
her father and mother of the matter
and was Immediately instructed to dis
regard Redferns attentions.
The GOODNESS and aversion apparent
in the girls manner toward him
seemed TO arouse an insane desire for
her affection in Redfern, and from that
time on his notes delivered to her in
school and letters addressed to her
home told Of a tempestuous love Al
though IN some letters he apparently
began calmly to tell the girl Of his af-
lection and his desire to win her. he
invariably concluded in an incoherent
STYLE. Others of the letters were wild
flights into the realms Of romance. tell /
ing OF undying love and devotion in
spite Of the girls Indifference and still
others were Of a threatening nature.