Ford Endangered As Spectator Foils Would-Be Assassin

President Ford escaped injury yesterday in San Francisco as an alert spectator deflected the gun of a would-be assassin just as it went off.

Police took a 45-year-old woman, identified as Sarah Jane Moore, into custody after she allegedly fired a shot at Ford as he left the downtown hotel where he had delivered two speeches earlier in the day.

Police said that Moore had been questioned Sunday by the Secret Service, which had her listed as a possible security risk. Moore had been carrying a gun when she was picked up for questioning.

Moore stood in a sizeable crowd which had gathered to carch a glimpse of Ford as he left the hotel where he had been speaking. As Ford approached his limosine, Moore, standing 35 to 40 feet away, took one shot at Ford. But another spectator struck Moore's arm just as she fired, said police reports.

The bullet richocheted and struck another onlooker, injuring him slightly.