The estranged wife of the publisher of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review attacked three of his employees yesterday afternoon in an attempt to take his dog by force, police said.

Police said Ritchie Scaife, 58, assaulted a maid, a secretary and security guard outside of the home of Richard Mellon Scaife on Westminster Place, Shadyside, at about 1:20 p.m. yesterday. Mr. Scaife was not at home at the time of the incident.

Mrs. Scaife told police that she saw Sue Patterson, the maid, walking a yellow labrador named Beau and "lost control." Mrs. Scaife said she became upset because she said the dog had been taken from her residence the day before.

"The dog had just done his business and I was bending over when I heard the squealing of tires and Mrs. Scaife running at me," said Mrs. Patterson, who said she needed a CT Scan and X-rays. "She hit me repeatedly in the head and left scratches on my neck."

Mrs. Patterson said she was planning to file assault charges against Mrs. Scaife. She said attorney Laura Gutnick was representing her and the other victims. Mrs. Gutnick could not be reached last night.

According to police and witness reports, Mrs. Scaife pulled Mrs. Patterson's hair and punched her in the head. Mrs. Patterson called out for help and Dennis Bradshaw, the security guard, went to go pull Mrs. Scaife off of Mrs. Patterson. Police said Mrs. Scaife slapped Mr. Bradshaw's glasses off of his face and broke them.

At that point in the scuffle, Mrs. Patterson lost control of the dog and Mrs. Scaife chased after him. Mrs Scaife was in the front yard of Mr. Scaife's residence trying to grab the dog when Genevieve Still, Mr. Scaife's 77-year-old secretary, spotted the loose dog and attempted to get hold of him.

Police said that Mrs. Scaife pushed Mrs. Still to the ground and then kicked her in the hip. Witnesses to the fracas interceded by trying to calm Mrs. Scaife. All of the victims suffered minor injuries and did not immediately seek medical treatment, police said. After police left, all of the victims went to nearby Shadyside Hospital.

Mrs. Scaife was not arrested. She gave a Downtown address to police as her residence. Police said charges would have to be filed by the victims at the local magistrate's office.

A man who answered the door at the home last night refused to answer questions.

In December, Mrs. Scaife was arrested outside of Mr. Scaife's Shadyside home and charged with defiant trespass after refusing to leave. Mr. Scaife, who was home at the time, called police, saying Mrs. Scaife was pounding on doors and peeking in windows.