The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-14
KNITTED TO DEATH.
A Terrible Crime in a
Drugstore.
EUGENE WEIR STABBED
Fifteen Times in the Left Side
by an Assassin.
WHO WAS ALSO A ROBBER.
The Search That Was Made for
Money Hidden in a Secret
Place.

Ing at the junction of Market and Hayes
streets was the scene of a mysterious
tragedy last right.
Shortly after o'clock this morning Po-
liceman O'Day, while passing by the store.
discovered it in darkness and the front
door unlocked.
One of the first things to attract his at
teniion was the fact that the cash register
was open and there was but 10 cents in il.
He procured light and made a search
Of The premises.
Going toward the rear of the stairs be
discovered fight of stairs that led to the
basement.
Holding the light over his head and
peering down, lie discovered dark object
at The bottom of the stairs.
Going down he aooa discovered that the
object was the body of a man, whose head
was resting in pool of blood.
At the foot of the stairs is a glass door,
and the officer noticed that three mes of
glass in it were broken, and that the glass
was blOod-staiued.
A hasty examination proved that the
man was dead, and as the body was cold
he must have been dead for some time.
O'Day, Mortified at the discovery he had
made, summoned assistance, and some of
those who came in answer to his call for
help identified the dead man as Eugene
Weir. who was clerk in the store.
The Morgue authorities we're notified,
and while awaiting the arrival of the dead
wagon and officers from the Central sta
ton an examination was made.
This led to he discovery of basin near
the head of the stairs. This had soap and
water in it. and towel was near by.
From this and the TACT that the body
was on It's back with the head down, it
was concluded that Weir. who was quite
young man. had. after turning off the
gas preparatory to closing up, walked
back to wash his hands. and in the dark
had fallen down the stairs.
When the Morgue authorities arrived
the body was taken up, and then it was
discovered that death was not the result of
an accident.
Fifteen ugly. deep knife wounds in the
left side showed that Weir had been
cruelty murdered.
Then the fact dawned upon the investi-
gators that one crime had been committed
to either conceal or commit another
One theory was that while Weir was in
the rear part Of the store washing his
hands and out of sight, one or more men
entered the store with the intent to rob
the cash register.
That they were engaged in the act when
Weir discovered them and attempted to
arrest them, when one of them attacked
him with a knife.
That he drove blow after blow, fast and
furious, into the body of the clerk, while
the other emplied the register.
That then the gas was extinguished, the
body dragged to the rear of the store and
hurled down the stairs.
Another theory was that the robbers
went into the place and without a mo-
ments warning dealt Weir fatal blow
and then. to make sure that he would not
recover, stabbed him again and again.
Having disposed of the clerk by pushing
him down the stairs they made search of
the place for money.
Besides the cesh-Iegister four drawers
were opened. but in none of them was
there any money.
That the object OF the rO bbers and muir
derers was to secure only money is borne
out by the fact that Weir's watch and
chain were not taken from his person.
The manager of the store appeared at
the place at o'clock this morning and be
gave out the information that it was Gus
tomary to put the days receipts in secret
place just before closing up.
The money thus concealed was discoy-
cred where il ought to have been and the
amount was oply $50.
The search made by the robbers and
murderers is proof that they knew of the
habit of the clerk. and it was his money
they were after.
They no doubt thought that there was a
greater sum on hand.
The murderous criminals had the start
of the officers by several hours, and up to
O'Clock this morning the officers were
working without clew.
Weir was about 26 years of age, and re-
sided at the southeast corner of Seventh
and Mission streets.