The morning call., 1894-09-28

Ada F. Werner Convicted
of Murder.
The Jury Made 1t Second Degree and
Strongly Recommended Her
to Mercy.

Ada T. Werner, the unhapp woman
who on The night of April IL last took the
life of her husband, George Werner, W as
convicted by jury in Judge Wallace's
court yesterday of the crime of murder in
the second degree, with strong recon-
mendati0n to mercy.
The circumstances of the case we're
strange, and partly led to the theory taken
by the defendants counsel 10 the effect
that his client was insane. The unhappy
couple were in humble circum stances, the
husband being butchers cletk while the
wife added to the family revenues by
going out as a domestic servant. They
had no children; in fact they had only
been married seven months when the fatal
shooting occurred.
Werner and his wife had lived unhappily
from the start. They quarreed inces-
antly, and according to the wlfe's story, as
told upon the witness-staud, Werner was
guilty OF acts OF personal violence toward
his wife. At any rate, the domestic drama
ended IN terrible tragedy on the night of
Aprll IL last, when, at the Little house at
22R Hickory avenue, Mrs. Werner stole
from the side of her sleeping husband and
putting pistol to mis- head killed him in
what appeared To be a most deliberate
manner. All the wife said when arrested
was, He drove me TO it and killed him."
Mrs. Werner was put on her trial for her
life. She was defended by Attorney Alex
ander Campbell, who set up the theory
that his client was a victim of hereditary
insanity. In proof of this he introduced
evidence to show that Ada Werner's
mother, Mrs. Neil, was twice incarcera.ed
In the Napa asylum. However, 1t was
shown that each occasion almost immedi-
ately followed the birth of a child.
In addition Ada Werner herself testified
regarding her bus bands brutality. Within
a few weeks CT their marriage he made
debaslng proposition 10 her. and he re-
peatedly told her she was mo good" Yet
she was willing 10 Work, and when she
did SO she gave her husband the major
part of her earnings. She accused him of
gross infideIity, and had more than once
attempted to get divorce from him.
CorrobCrative evidence was introduced,
aud yesterday morning Attorney S. j.
Donovan testified that Mrs. Werner had
twice consulted him with regard to get
ting divorce because of her husbands
extreme cruelty. The first occasion was
within six weeks and the second within
three days OF the murder.
Mr.. Campbell made powerful plea to
the jury OIL behalf of his client On the
other hand, Assistant District Attorney
Black, who prosecuted, cautioned the Jury
that momentaTy Insanity was deIusion
and snare, and it was absurd to suppose
IL this case that at the instant the trigg er
was pulled reason became dethroned. He
asked the jury to make an example of this
woman by returning verdict of murder
IN the first degree.
Judge Wallace charged the jury, and
after deliberation of three hours the iury
returned verdict at o'clock last night.
Ada Werner was found guilty of murder
in the second degree, with a solemn rec
Ommendatlon to the mercy of the court"
The unhappy woman took the verde |:
quietly, and was soon removed to TIE
branch County jail, where she awaits
sentence,