Tessie Wall
Tessie Wall | |
|---|---|
Madam | |
| Known for | Proprietor of brothels in San Francisco |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | one son |
Teresa Susan Donohue (May 1869 – April 1932), better known as Tessie Wall was an American
Origins
Donohue was born in San Francisco, California into a working-class
Madam
It is not known when she left the Boas household, but at some stage she became a dance hall girl and had earned the reputation of having been a hard drinker. She allegedly outdrank boxer
Tessie was fond of horse racing and collecting antiques. She owned an elegant townhouse on Powell Street.[4]
In 1917, after her husband sued her for divorce, Tessie attempted to kill him by shooting him several times with her revolver. Daroux survived and declined to press charges against Tessie.
From the 1920s until her death in April 1932, Tessie was the unofficial "queen" of the annual San Francisco policeman's balls, and it became her custom to lead the Grand March in the Civic Auditorium. On one such occasion Mayor Sunny Jim Rolfe was her escort.[5] Her last public appearance was at a policeman's ball in 1932, a month before her death. She was described as having worn a blonde wig, white satin gown, and part of her collection of diamond jewelry.
References
- ^ Kevin Starr, The Dream Endures: California Enters the 1940s, p.142, Google Books, retrieved on 4 January 2010
- ^ Kevin Starr, The Dream Endures: California Enters the 1940s, p. 142
- ^ Starr, p.142
- ^ King, John (January 29, 2012). "Frankie and Johnny would feel right at home". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ Starr, p.142