The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-07
DAMAGING EVIDENCE
The Railroad WreGking Case
at COlfaX.
Conclusive Testimony Against The Two
Roberts Brothers.
Fatal Termination Of a Peud al TTuCkee.
An Unknown Tramp Killed al
Sacramento.
Special TO THE MORNING CALk

AUBURN, Nov. 6.-The examination OF
the Roberts brothers train wrecking case
was resumed this morning, with recalling
J. r. Brees. His wife had told him moth
ing of the memoranda taken by her as to
her conversation with the Roberts boys.
W. E. Nicholson, Pullman car conductor
on the wrecked train, stated that he was on
the sleeper ShoshOne at the time of the
wreck. His car next preceded the sleeper
Santa Cruz, that was ditched. He went 10
the Santa Cruz to aid the passengers, and
heard Morrill, ask some one, "How did you
get here SO soon?'
Ora Dibble. printer on the Colfax Sem
tinel, had talk with Al Roberts q day or
two after the wreck. Al told him that he
. could lay his hands on the parties that did
the work. After the arrest he made a state
ment that Dibble read in open court. He
states that his brother jeff asked him, a
day or two before the wreck, if he wished
TO make some money Soon after JEFF took
a bar and drill TO the shop on the R berts
place, and Al heard him at work on them.
On the morning of the wreck he and his
father went up to help the passengers. Got
home about O'clock III the morning. jeff
came soon after. His hands were black
ened. JEFF said: Don't tell on me; |
ditehed the train" l told him l would tell
on him.
Miss Mabel Ingersor stated that she was
engaged 10 Al Roberts. and had planned to
elope with him. and they had met al Mrs.
Brees, who was aiding them in their plans.
Al had told her that he had $3.50 in Auburn.
They had arranged TO elope before the
wreck. She received a letter from bin in
which he stated that he had been suspected
Of the wrerking. She wrote to him, in
which she used the expression: please,
darling, don't say anything about the
wreck" She had burned up tie letter she
had received from Al.
Sheriff w. c. Conr0y was sworn. His
testimony corroborated the previous state
ments with regard TO the wreck. He saw
Jef Roberts, and Jeff told him he knew the
bar found near the wreck. Al Roberts said
he had found a claw bar with the claws
broken of. and hid it in the leaves where he
found 1t. When lie went back with Dyer
they could not find it, He says the last
time he saw it before the wreck was when
JEFF had 1t. In questioning him further
afterwRrd he fell into crying and said: ''My
G1dl must give my own brother away%
He pointed over TO JEFF and said; There is
one Of them" He was crying at the time.
Adjourned till o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
This afternoon the time was consumed In
subjecting Sheriff Conroy 10 rigid cross
examination and in the examination of
Special Officer B. +. True. Efforts were
made on the part Of the defense to prove
that the statements made by Al Roberts
were eNtorted by offers of reward or threats
The defense gained no admissions that
would prove this. Conroy read statement
which was admitted as evidence, from A
RDbRTte q Sacramento n which Stota
that he left ColfaX about o'clock the night
before the week and went straight home
and TO bed; that lie was awakened by the
crash OF be wreck. JEFF was not In bed at
the time He dressed and went to the
wreck to assist the passengers. JEFF did not
get home till about O'Clock. He told him
be had ditched the train and that if he told
on him he jeff would kill hin. In another
statement he said he knew Jeff did the
work, as his hands were all greasy and
dirty. JEFF claimed that he could prove he
was not at the point of the wreck that night
but he made no statement. True cOrrObo
ated the other witnesses as to the situation
Of the track after the wreck. He was there,
and took the bar found to Sacramento.
Jen was present when he took the bar and
stated that he knew the bar. True re-
quested him to say no more. JEFF subse-
Quently stated that he had known the bar
at Lander station. In 6 conversation with
AL Roberts he asked him who was with
HiH hHcu hc uiu tllC N VI n ne COlnueuceu
crying, and said, My God, must give
away my brother" On the night Of the
wreck. Al States that when be heard the
crash be said, lis 1t possible that he has
done this?" He came back to his room aud
cried out wreck! wreckw At Sacramento,
after Al Roberts had made his statement,
Miss lngersoll, being present, Detective
Smith asked him if he would get down on
his knees before Miss lugers0ll and swear
that he had nothing to do with the wreck.
He said he would, and Smith said, in anger,
You cur! I've a mind to brain you"
The case was then adjourned till o'clock
tomorrow morning