The record-union., 1893-12-06
INTERESTING TOWARD THE CLOSE.
Yesterdays Proceedings in the Jeferis
Murder Case.
What Special officer May is Prepared
TO Testify to-Jurors and the
Newspaper Reports.

Newspaper Reports.
All the testimony in the Jeiferis muir
der case was not concluded yesterday,
and may not be to-day. The defendant
was on the stand the greater part OF the
day, making nearly three days ordeal
for him, the effects of which were quite
apparent.
Mrs. Jeferis was not IN court yester-
day, her baby being i'll from the effects OF
the severe draughts of air it has had to
undergo about the Courthouse since the
commencement OF the trial. The jurors
are also weary and apparently anxious to
get through, while Judge Prewett has not
been at all well since the first week, hav-
ing then contracted a severe cold.
The spectators do not show any evil
dences of weakening, however, as the
crowd grows greater with each succeed
ing day, the increase being largely made
Up of women.
AS rule the case has been almost de-
void Of incidents of a sensational clarac-
ter, the result no DOUBT of Judge Prev
etps calm but firm manner OF dealing
,
indications OF Il quarrel the offenders are
brought up with such a sudden turn by
the court that the thing is never allowed
to get start.
Two or three incidents occurred yester-
day, however, that under other circum-
stances would doubtless have been in
flated to the verge at least of the sensa-
tional, but they were not permitted 10
materialiZe. one was at the close OF the
days proceedings, when Judge Prewett
aGmoniShed the jurors not to read news
paper accounts OF the trial from that time
till it was concluded. The inference was
that some OF these reports were biased
and misleading. The court was very
emphatic in its instructions to the jurors
on that point, and his remarks created
something Of stir among the auditors.
Prior thereto JetferiS caused a holding
OF breaths and craning OF necks when he
declared, IN response to question by
Mr.. Jones as to how he recalled certain
incident, that it became impressed upon
his memory just as did the incident OF
Mr.. Jones one night threatening that he
would Kill the witness.
Mr.. Zones was at first disposed to re-
gard the matter in humorous way, but
suddenly became serious and demanded
an explanation. District Attorney Ryan
also insisted that the witness should eX-
plain what he meant by the remark, but
Judge PreWett had nipped the sensation
in the bud by commanding Jeheris
TO say no more on the subject and TO ''re-
frain for further excursions Of that sort"
w hile the remark OF the witness
seemed to rattle Mr.. Jones and the Dis
trict Attorney, nobody else looked upon
the incident as a serious one, it being
well understood that II Mr.. Jones ever
said anything Of the Kind to Jetferis il
was only as a bit OF raiIlery on his part.
Tr,Y-n Tv,fsa
late III the day, than at any previous time
since the case was we'll under way, by
the prosecutions offer 10 prove by Spe-
cial officer Dick May that on the morn
ing the Brighton station was burned
and with 1t the body OF Miss Ayres the
operator thcrc-the officer saw Jeifers
enter the Orleans lodging-house about
o'clock, Jeneris having contended all
along that be was III his room all that
might until he w2S called at 3 o'clock in
Tie morning. The court will decide this
morning whether or not it is proper re-
bUttaI testimony.
iGsuniing the crOSs-examinatiOn of
JeNoT.s al the morning session, Mr. Jones
asked hIm II, when george McMullen
delivered 10 hlm a note from Miss Ayres
one evening, he MADE any effort to con-
ccal his Identity, and the witness replied
no. Miss Ayres had told him that she
had lent money to NcMullen when ne
was making the campaign for Sheriff.
lie denied that the conversation con-
corning McMullen occurred at the
Brighton Station, and declared it took
place III this city. lie was also positive
be did not write the telegram signed
Frank" and sent from here December
10, 1892, TO Miss Ayres. at Brighton, max
ing an appointment with her. He SAID it
locked like Miss AyreS own handwriting
in an effort TO initiate his.
Reference being made to the statement
made by him IN the District Attorneys
Office, Just after his arrest, that he had
shaved his beard off in August or SEN
tember, 1892. Jefferis admitted that he
may have said so, but if he did it was a
mistake, due to the excited condition OF
his mind. He insisted that his beard was
removed the 9TH OF July. He denied that
Foreman Hull of the round house here
said TO him on his arrival IN the evening
OF July 9Th that the powder explosion at
berkeley that day must have blown oil
his Whiskers.
Jelieris also denied that he was OH the
sidewalk III front Of the Orleans Hotel
about : O'Clock on the morning of the
Brighton tire, and said he was then in his
bed asleep.
In response TO questions by Mr.. Jones,
Jefleris said he never walked out from
Tweuty-eighth and N streets to Brjgh-
Ayres the picture she carried in her
watch. but that he said. was in 1882 or
1883, before he had begun to dislike her
1or bothering him.
Regarding Miss Ayres' money, Jefferis
denied THAI he went through the form OF
marriage with her III order to get it, as he
could have got her, money and all. with
out marrying her.
He admitted that he knew where she
kent her money at one time, as she had
told him. and he believed he had told
0'Hern about it. The latter and Starkey
We're associates and friends OF his at that
time, and he confided in them, especially |
ia O'Hern. who is his brother-in-law. !
Again he insisted that the alleged report |
OF the statement he made in the District ]
Attorneys Office was not correct, as 1t /
contained some things be did not say and /
omitted others that he did say.
At the afternoon session Conductors /
Charles Post and II. II. Wells testified I
that. so far as they knew. Miss Ayres did /
not so 10 nor come from san Francisco |
on either OF their trains on the 7th or Sth /
OF July, 1892, the time she is alleged to /
have gone 10 that city aud married /
Jeheris.
Being recalled by General Hart, Jetferis |
testified that he could not swear positively /
whether or nut he wrote the letter 10 Mrs. /
fonte, his Hrst wife, signed George"
There h3td been so much forgery and /
writing IN the case that he hardly knew I
v hat he did write.
lettering TO his statement on Monday /
that lie stili had confidence in Starkey /
and % HeFn, he explained that he was so |
weary at the time, 50 troubled about his /
sick baby, and was feeling so badly from
3 severe headache that he dia not realize I
what he said. He certainly had no conf (
dence in these men.
In response 10 Mr. Jones' inquiry. he /
said he did not one night alight from a /
buggy driven by Starkey at Fourth and /