The morning call., 1894-04-22
TWO LIFE TERMS.
Ernest w. Webber'S
Double Sentence.
Mr.. Hosmer's Suggestion That One
Sentence Follow the Other Is,
However, Denied.

The hand of Justice has fallen heavily
upon Ernest Wilhelm Weber. the young
murderer and robber. Judge Danger
field sentenced him yesterday 10 imprison-
ment for life for the murder OF Louie Hop,
and to an exactly similar term for III 3
attempted robbery of his store.
The story of the double crime is simply
this: Weber entered the Chinese store
of Louie Hop and held the proprietor up.
The Celestial, however, made vigorous
resistance and got killed for his pains. In
circumstance and detail the crime much
resent led that for which William Fred
ericks was on Friday last convicted of
murder in the first degree.
But in this case, despite the fact that 1t
was shown that Weber had purchased a
pistol shortly before the killing, purchase
which reduced his finances to few cents
only, the jury, after staying out from 3
o'clock one afternoon to o'clock the
next. returned verdict of murder in the
second degree. Weber was ordered to
appear for sentence yesterday.
When his name was called, Attorney Z.
G.. Harlan, representing the defendant,
made formal motion for new trial. As
sistant District Attorney Hosmer, not only
did not oppose the motion. but even con-
sented that new trial should be granted.
Harlan, seeing that perhaps ne nad made
a mistake, started 10 withdraw his motion,
but Judge Daingerfield interposed with a
formal denial of the motion. No further
legal cause appearing, the Judge proceeded
10 pass sentence on Weber.
Judge Daingerfeld recited the circum-
stances of the case, and remarked that he
failed to see any exlenuating circumstan-
ces whatever.
"In cases where deliberately planned
crime is committed" said the Judge. "and'
where there IS both violence offered to the
person and private property endangered, L
wish to be known as severe. IL is different
with cases of simple larceny, or even with
some cases of burglary. Where a man is
driven to crime through want and IN sheer
hunger and desperation does some wrong.
then / wish to be known as lenient. But
this is not one of those cases.
ERNEST Weber, YOU did this act volun-
tarilv and of malice afOrethought. That
you purchased a pistol shortly before you
murdered your victim is sufficient evidence
that you intended grevous bodily harm to
some one who did not comply with your
demands. Yet you were given fair and
impartial trial, and the jury deliberated
longer over their verdict than in any other
previous case of similar character.
Il stall always believe that the verdict
was compromise. Ten of the jury were
in favor of the extreme penalty. but were
afterward induced to consent to verdict
of murder in the second degree. L con-
slider that the evidence justified verdict
a. least of murder in the second degree.
Acting upon that belief that this is not a
Gaze where clemency should be shown, the
sentence of the court is that you, Ernest
Webber. be imprisoned in the State s
prison at San Quentin for the full term of
your natural lite"
There was dead silence in court as the
judgment was pronounced. Weber stood
for a moment as though unconscious, and
dropping heavily into bis chair sat through
out the balance of the proceedings motion
less as the dead.
But all was not yet over. At the time
of his arraignment for murder Webbar
was also arraigned uron the robbery
charge. At first he had pie ded guilty,
but on his counsel's advice that this plea
might prejudice him in the murder trial