The record-union., 1893-07-14
JBFFERI0' DIVORCED WIFE.
Her Sensational Statement Is Not
Admitted in Evidence.
Expert Testimony on Jefferis' Sigma
ture-The san Francisco Mar
ria.e License Examined.

Department One Of the Superior Court
was crowded again yesterday morning
when Judge Prewett took his seat and
ordered that the trial Of George b. jeff
eris, the engineer, who is charged with
bigamy, be resumed.
The first witness called by the prosecu-
ton was George r. Jones, who is man
ager of the Arcade House, on Second
street, below J. Jefferis, he said, had
come to his place for lodging, or rooms,
for himself and wife. This, he said, was
On the 18th day of July, 1892. While
there Mr.. Jefferis wrote his name on the
register, and this register was placed in
evidence. Shortly after Jefferis rented
the apartments at the witness place a
lady came there whom Jelleris intro
duced as his wife, and whom he took to
Jeferis' room. Mr.. Jones asked JefferiS
directly if that woman in his room was
his wife, and was answered that she was.
Being crOss-examined by Mr.. Hart,
attorney for the defense, the witness said
he was positive that Jelleris signed his
name in the register, and did 50 with an
indellble pencil. He did it because wit
ness asked him how he spelled his name,
and to facilitate matters he took the pen
Gil and wrote the name in full. There
was also a little dispute between the wit
ness and defendant while the latter was
rooming at the Arcade House, about
money matters.
JEFFERIS' FIRST WIFE.
Mrs. J. 7. Fonte, who was once Jefferis'
wife, but was divorced from him, was the
next witness called. She at present re-
sides in Berkeley, but formerly lived at
92l4 Mission street. She testified that on
the 18th Of December last, when residing
in san Francisco, she received a tele-
gram from her mother in Oakland, tell
ing her to come over, that George wanted
to see her. She Immediately crossed the
bay and arrived at her mothers few
moments before George Jefferis arrived.
1t was shortly before u o'clock. Witness
said she knew who Clara o. Ayers was.
Jetferis, in speaking Of her, called her
''the station agent at Brighton" When
Jeheris came In witness asked, what do
you want with me, GeOrge?" He re-
piled, ~ on remember that when we had
our trouble / told you there was some one
else coming in between US besides Nellie
Eby?" He then went on to say that it
was the station agent at Bautas. He
said he took Nellie out to Bantas to make
the station agent jealous.
At this point in her testimony Attor-
utN IlaEL IdlStQ an ODJecLlOn LDaL IL W as
immaUerial and Irrelevant.
The court remarked that he himself
could not see wherein it was material.
Mr.. Jones SAID he was willing To state
before the jury or to the Judge privately
what he expected TO prove.
The Judge dismissed the jury for five
minutes and told Mr.. Jones to proceed.
MIR. Jones said this conversation took
place only few days before Miss Ayers
was murdered.
we object to any such statement-that
Miss Ayers was murdered" interrupted
Mr.. Hart.
A STARTLING STATEMENT.
Mr.. Jones apologized for the remark.
Then resuming his statement TO the court
he said: 1--WE will prove by this witness
that Jetferis was very anxious to get doe
uments and papers that were in possess
sion of the Brighton station agent that
would be evidence against him. We will
show that on the 18th of December he
called on his first wife and told her he
wanted her to go to Sacramento on the
train in advance Of his. lie told her on
her arrival here to 60 to livery stable
and get team and drive around to the
depot so he could get in with her without
being seen. lie said that they would
drive to Brighton; that the woman there
had injured him; that she had $500
which they would make her give up. We
viii show you that Mrs Eonte was thun-
derstruck and said: Why, George. she
would make fuss about it and we would
be arrested. 1t will be shown that
Jei1eris said: Why not choke her, set
the building on FIRE and everyone will
believe it to be the work Of tramps.' Mrs
tonte never had anything more to do
with him. When he left her he said he
must get rid of Miss Ayres. Less than a
month after that conversation the station
was burned and Miss Ayres burned with
1t. His wife was about to return from
Oregon; he saw the perilous position he
was IN, and the station agent at Brighton
had to be got rid Of"
THE EVIDENCE Rejected.
After some deliberation the court de-
cidod to sustain the objection. judge
Prewett said the crime OF bigamv. TOR
which Jetteris was being prosecuted, took
place over year ago, while the crime of
murder and arson took place about six
months ago. He said it was an ordinary
rule of law that a person charged with
one crime cannot be proven guilty Of an
other in order to convict him Of the first.
The jury was then called in and the case
proceeded with.
The District Attorney showed the wit
ness a number of the signatures &c. h.
JeIferis' TO letters, and particularly affi-
davits when lie made applications for
certificates Tor marriage licenses in San
Mateo and san Francisco Counties.
Some she recognized positively and 9th
ers, she said, resembIed his handwriting.
but evidently he had written with more
care than usual.
She said she had lived with him almost
six years and had seen his handwriting
in his time-book every day and was quite
familiar with it. She recognized the
photograph of Jeiieris with a full beard.
and says that IS the way he looked in
May, 1872. Several kilograms and letters
We're presented to witness, written by
&c. b. Jederis," which she positively
identified as the handwriting of her
former husband. All of these letters and
papers were Iiled as evidence in the case.
on crOsS-eNaminatiou, Mrs Fonte
stated that she had been married by con-
tract about one year ago, and is now liv-
ing with her husband in Oakland. Be
lore this, she lived on the San Leandro
road with 4 former husband. and had also
lived with her mother. Her husbands
name was Frank Moser, from whom she
was divorced III 1872 She received $50 a
month from the defendant during the
time she was single after their divorce.
After that, Tor while, she received $50 a
month.
Recess was taken at this juncture.
Afternoon Session.
Colonel +. Il. Hamilton of the Sacra-