The San Francisco call., 1910-04-16
ACID THROWER
DODGES Police
in long Chase
Suspect Proves His Innocence
by Facing Girls Parents
After Arrest
Ruth Frances Wilson, Her
Mother and Girl Friend
Deny Filtration Story

mo matter how long it takes or
what the difficulties. the pursuit. oe
Van Camp Redfern will be prosecuted
vigorously until that young man Is
captured and placed in Jail. Every re-
source available to this department. VIII
be drawn on and I am confident that
before very long he will be IN custody,
1t is evident that he is ba5ng pro-
tected by those with whom he lived
recently and this may delay his arrest.
but he will be run down.'@Chisf OF
Police John B. Martin.
Failure to capture Van Camp Red
fern, accused of throwing acid in the
face of pretty Ruth Frances Wilson.
resulted in the issuance of orders by
Chief of Police Martin yesterday in
which he directed his subordinates 10
redouble their efforts to bring TO JUS
tice the alleged perpetratcr Of the
iendish crime.
Suspect Proves Innocence
Early in the day A ID. Scott OF 231S
Bancroft way, Berkeley. took into Gus
tody r. C. Padgett. the young man who
pawned an overcoat at the AtteII loan
/ office April and exhibited to the
broker the portrait of a beautiful young
| girl, about whom he wove a tale OF
romance. Padgett had the photograph
in his possession and at once agreed to-
come to San Francisco to face the par
ents of Ruth Wilson at their residence,
1924 Octavia street.
He did not answer the description OF
the missing Redfern and his innocence
was quickly established. The photo
graph OF the girl exhibited by Padgett
resembled that of Ruth Wilson in a
general way. but proved TO be like
ness of Miss Sarah Sweet. formerly OF
New York. but now residing with her
mother at 2632 Durant avenue, Berke-
ley.
| After the elimination of Padrett the
police quickly disposed of the fancifuI
story told by r. Peterson, the amateur
detective who declared that he saw
Redfern on Haight street ear Thurs
day morning.
Former Convict Tracked
This was followed by the elimination
of former convict, who answered the
description of Redfern and excited tha
interest of Detective Sergeant Nc
Grayan and Detective Robert Wren for
several hours.
The police received kilograms from
Sissons. Salinas and Monterey to the
effect that young man answering Red
ferns description had been seen in those
places.
Injured Girl Improves
While the police were pursuing tho
young man accused of the crime Ruth
Wilson showed further Improvement at
the hospital. although early yesterday
she suffered great pain. DR.. Louis c.
Deane. the eye specialist. said last
night that the condition of her left
eve was still very critical.
Joseph A. Wilson. father of the
pretty victim. accompanied by his wife.
visited the girl several times during
| the day During one of these visits
the contents of a sensational article
published yesterday morning were in
advertentIy made known TO the patient.
The article stated that Ruth Wilson on
one occasion had allowed Redfern to
make desperate love to her in the gar
den at the side of the family residences
while her mother watched from near
by shrubbery. The little patient in
dignantly denied the implied reflection
on her character. and was greatly
grieved over the injustice done her
Sensational Story False
Miss Ruth Squires. a daughter of Rev.
]. E. Squires, and companion of Ruth
Wilson was given as authority for the
sensational recital. while some of the
details were supposed to have been
supplied by her brother
To a representative of The Call Miss
Squires yesterday morning Indignantly
denied ever having given the slightest
ground for the attack on Miss Wilson,
and characterized the published inter-
view as vicious and slanderous.
Mrs Wilson resented the imputatiOn
that she had looked on while her
daughter made love to a youth who
had been absolutely repulsive.
The fact that Redfern was repulsive
to Miss Wilson was also brought out
yesterday by youthful boy companions
of the girl who had paid her marked
attention and were frequently at the
family residence. Walter Dinmore, son
of prominent businessman and stu
dent at the Lowell high school. who
seemed to have divided highest honors
In the girls esteem. declared yesterday
that Redfern had been looked upon
a common pest and not in the light OF
a rival.