The morning call., 1891-11-10
THE LANDER WRECK
Examination Of the Roberts
Boys Resumed.
Liberal Pay Offered by Constable for
Information in the Case.
Testimony Of The Mother Of The Defendants.
Her Sons Both at Home on the Night
Of The Railroad Disaster.
Epecial 10 THE MORNING CALL

AUBURN, Nov. 9.-The Roberts train
wrecking case was resumed to-day at 8
o'clock in the morning.
An Indian named Quinside Shidam, i'm
plicated by Al Roberts, was the first wit
ness He said he never plotted with JEFF
Roberts; did not know the Roberts boys by
name; knew nothing of the wreck till he
came down to the meat market on the morn
ing it occurred. The witness impressed
those present as being man of intelligence
and truthfulness.
Constable J. f. Dyer was recalled. He
said he has known the Roberts boys for
eight years; had the first conversation with
Al Roberts at their home; Roberts said he
was going to tell the truth if it did implicate
his brother. Witness exhibited a telegram
from Al Roberts requesting him to meet him
at Lander Station at $3.50 o'clock on the
evening of October 10th. He acknowledged
that he had told Roberts that he would pay
literally for information in the case, but he
denies ever having offered compensation to
either one Of the boys.
Robert Montgomery, stenOgrapher for the
Southern Pacific Company, read two state
ments from Al Roberts, which we're in sub
stance as given in previous dispatches. He
denied actual knowledge that jeff had COM
mitted the crime. but accused Lin inferen-
TALLY, and stated that JEFF had acknowledged
II 10 him.
The finding OF the claw bar was again re-
hearsed. Dyer went with Al TO find it, and
II was gone. Dyer stated that the ground
gave no indications that a bar had been
there JEFF stated that the railway COM
pany had always treated them fairly. Both
be and Al had worked for the company.
Al states that he saw JEFF with both crow
bar and a drill going to the black smith-shOp
on the place
The testimony to-day places JEFF Roberts
age at - years and Al Roberts at IS years.
Nothing materially new was ELECTED this
forenoon.
B. F. True was recalled first in the after
noon. be verified his previous statements.
j. w. Stephenson. United States postal
clerk, was sworn. he remembered seeing
Al Roberts at the sleeper Santa Cruz,
The rest of the afternoon was occupied in
an examination of Mrs. Sarah L. Roberts,
mother of Al and jeff Roberts. She was at
different times too much overcome TO be
coherent She did not remember any work
at the blackSmiLh-shnp for some days pre-
Vious TO or after the wreck; was sure that
The boys were OOtn IN bed the night OF the
wreck She described the movements of
the family for ten days previous to the
wreck. A. Roberts had just recovered from
q serious illness of typhoid fever and was
much changed in dispositions; was more
Irritable and inclined to tell extravagant
stories. She evidently is a true mother and
Is guarded in her testimony. She heard 10
one halo wreck" as Al states; didn't
notice that Jeh's hands were black and
greasy alter coming in the morning of the
wreck.
An alteration took place between AttOr-
Hey Chamberlain and Officer William Smith.
Chamberlain requested that Smith SIT fur
Their from the witness and claimed that he
was intlmdatjng the witness.
Smith answered that he intimidated no.
body.
Chamberlain said you did"
Smith said 1t was a lie.
Smith afterward apol0gized and Judge
Gwyn refused to exclude him from the
courtroom.
a night session will be held.