, 1881-07-10
THE STERN MURDER.

The hearing Of tho men and boys charged with
the robbery and murder Of Lazarus Stern In
February last, US uurrated in yesterdays TK1B-
uSE, took place before Justice Wallace ut tho
-Armory Police Court yesterday, and occupied
the entire afternoon. The prisoners arraigncu
were Austin Burns, Rudolph Van 1Iuscn. Max
Weber, his son Max Weber, Charles D. Denton,
and james Griffin.
Detectives Haincs who was first called, gave
au account Of the arrest of the young cripple,
Austin Burns, and the conversation that passed
between them. Burns told hin thnt he had
joined in the plot tt ROB the old lnan; that he
got the negro, James Griiln, tD assist; and that
Griffin secured the assistance of another colo red
hoy, Charles Denton. Burns told the dctccti We
that Griffin was the one who held tho old 1ntll
down in tho bed and Denton made the search
for the supposed valunblcs Burns camed thut
he waited IN the doorway. but did nothing
further.
Detective Simmons gave detailed account Of
the capture OF the TWO negroes ut Burlington,
H.. aided by the boy Max Weber: who also tig-
ures dcfcndcnt in the case. GriiIiu uumir-
ted to the officer that he at the robbery, but
claimed that he dia not "hand1e'' the cid man.
but p!cutled that Grlliin had persuaded him by
tie luducement that 1t w:ls
"A S5,U00 OR $1,000 JOB.
The old man WIS taken charge Of by Griffin, and
tue se9rch M ot,e, for money and je%elry wa5
only s in money and Il little jcwclry- Denton
informed tic officer TINT none others bur the
three were present. The officer stated thnr the
first Information he received Of the crime
FROM Louis Weber, who cni1le to the station with
his little son, Max, and his lawyer, b. ". Shaft
llcr. Sir. Weber told the officer that be felt in
duty bound tn make known what the boy Max
had divufged rs tn Burns connection with the
robbery. On the strength Of this pointer Burns
arrested. and admitted his guilt, hut clniued
that he WIS insti"atcd by the boy Mux.
Owen Ituane, of No: ;l1 Clark street, whose
store adjoins Louis "cbcr's pawli-shop, tcsti-
robbery he was passing Wcbcr's place, aud Burns
and MAX Weber were looking ut the icwciry III tho
window. One of the boys remarked thal old
kuanc sworc that be heard Louis Weber tell tho
boys that 1t would be II good thing to 70 and rob
aud kill the old man. lie did not make any
efrorrto conceal the Suggestion but any pAsScr-
by might have hcnrd it. Ruanc did HOT pay
much attention to it, as he did not think the re-
had several times aftcrward heard tho boys talk
about 'rOObinE Stern- He said that Max WAs
always coaxtng Burns into the job. The witness
further said that he bad seen members Of the
Weber fanly, including father and son. taking
provisions to old man Stern When asked if he
did noI at once associate the death Of the old
witness said he did not as Stern had been very
feeble. and bis death surprised nobody.
The next witness WIS Jennie Burns, bright
little girl of II, sister Of one OF the Prisoners
who testified that she lived With Mrs. Kuanc,
who was her sister, and that she also
HEARD WEBER sUGGEsT TO HIS BOY MAX
and Jcnnie's brother. Austin Burns. the robbing
OF Stern She described tho occurrence in al
most precisely the sutne language rs did Mrs.
Iilane- She was horrited thar Mr.. Weber should
tuik that way 70 the boys. and hurried into the
house and told her mother. She had afterwards
heard the boys plotting in the store, and hud
warned them TINT they would ger into trouble.
i was always Max, she said, who was coaxfng
Detective Simmons informed tho Court that
Burns had told him about Webers suggestion to
rob Stern, but he thought 1t was only said in a
Joke.
Louis Weber described how he had first learned
from his boy Max of Burns connection with the
Mr. Weber WAS asked by Il neighbor to 10 and
see Stern, lis be was very sick. lie did so. aud
thought the old man t., w9s going TO die; He ac-
to mike out Il will for the old nun. Stern
refused to make any will, on the ground
that that he had anotn othn3 to dispose 9 IL
was going s9Pnosfn 9hess w}n pro3s 5na.
ways paying Acr for the same, but the witness
never was there but the utlc time. The witness
Indignantly denied havtng suggested the rob-
An older son of Weber testified that his little
brother Max had confessed to stcating 500
worth ,s ol jewery from their fatller, and that
Burus took it to dispose uf. II Burns refused to
restore it, the witness rather freshly suggest
ed, he tMax) could
SEND 1IIM TO THE GALLONS
hy reason Of his connection with the murder Of
Rudolph Van Huscn, aged IS. Clark street
hoodlum testified that be had been concerned
in the plot to rub Stern. but that be had backed
out uud left towl1. remaining away till utter the
murder. Burns had drawn him into the scheme,
and he tVnn llusel1 had talked with rho negro
Griffin about it in Scotls gainbiin:.-house.
Capt. Bonfed testified that Burns accused |
Max of providing u billy" for the gang, and
Of describing Sterns rouln to them.
After the attorneys had advanced thoir
theories. Justice Wallnce committed Burns,
Gritlu, Denton, aud Max Weber. without bull,
OH the charsc ct murder. und held Louis Weber
and Rudolph Van Husen the same charge In |