The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-13
HER COLD-BLOODED CRIME.
Shot Her Husband to Death as
He Lay Asleep.
JUDGE WALLACE'S PLAIN TALK.
His Honor Refuses to Recognize
the Jury's Recommendation
to Mercy.

The extreme penalty of the law has been
passed upon Mrs. Ada F. Werner for the
murder OF her husband, George Werner,
on the night of April II last. Mrs. Werner
may now reflect on the error of her ways
for many years to come. despite the ver-
dict of a jury that found her guilty only
of murder in the second degree, accom-
panying the decision with a strong recon-
mendalion TO the mercy of The court.
The circumstances Of the case were de-
cidedly unusual George Werner was
young butcher of limited means. ana his
young wife eked out modest addition to
the exchequer by undertaking domestic
work. Somehow or other the young couple
did not agree as they might have done
had things been different. and it is very
evident that the wife, always headstrong,
passionate woman, conceived al insane
jealousy of her husband. 1t was even
alleged by way of defense that the discov-
cry of certain letters from members of
the fair sex who signed their pei Christian
names to requests for financial aid pre-
clp1tated the rash act which sent George
Werner TO his grave and the unhappy
wife to the State prison for all time.
On the night of April Ii Mrs. Werner
aud her husband had retired, and the hus-
hand soon fell sound asleep. Mrs. Werner
left her couch, crept downstairs, obtained
pistol, and returning to the Duptial cham
Der, in the most deliberate way blew the
brains out of her partner as he lay sleep
ing. The oise woke up the neighborhood,
and Mrs. Werner was speedily placed
under arrest. ali she had TO say at the
time was. He drove me to it, and l killed
him."
BY many people it was believed that
Mrs. Werner was insane. Her conduct
was decidedly strange, and throughout her
trial she preserved a calmness of demeanor
that led spectators 10 wonder, perhaps, il
II she really understood all that was going
on around her and the awful sOlemnity of
It. But jury took the circumstances Of
the case into consideration. and, rejecting
upon the cOld-blooded charar er of the
crime for which the woman was placed on
trial, by some means or other decided that
she was guilty OF murder in the second
degree. They strongly recommended Ada
Werner to the mercy of the court.
1t was Judge Wallace's grim privilege 10
pass sentence yesterday. Evidently his
Honor had an idea that the verdict had
been arrived at in the nature of a compro-
mise, as, while fully expressing his aprre-
citation of all conclusions that a body of
twelve citizens could come to alter mature
elaboration, nevertheless he apoIogIZed
for being compelled in such case as this
TO throw such recommending and con-
W uCs
His remarks preliminary to the passing of
sen teDce were delivered as follows:
The jury found you guilty OF murder In the
second degree with ID recommendation TO The
extreme mercy of The court. Now, as "A matter
OF fact 1t is quite plain that you were guilty of
murder in the first degree in taking the life of
your husband. George Werner. beeaus the TAX
ing OF his life under the circumstances under
which IL was taken was a simple assassination
the man was sleeping IN his own bed and you
went out OF the house, procured loaded pis-
iol and returned and fired bullet into his
brain as he slept. This was plainly MURDER OF
The first Degree.
Now. this was premeditated killing on your
part, undoubtedly resolved upon by you before
you came back TO the house that night. you
made up your mind TO kill him upon your re.
turn. and you had provided yourself with the
The strange thing in this matter is
that the jury did not find you guilty
OF murder in the first degree. because,
as ! said before. II this be not murder
III the hrst gree, then there is none; but
they found you guilty Of murder only IN the
second degree and moreover accompanied
win recommendation TO the extreme mercy
oil the court. L always nay attention TO the
recommendations OF a jury-I like to be advised
by them-at least Informed of whd' their views
are IN any case-it is great assistance 10 me
1t Is desirable 10 have it In looking al the
case for myself-tt is we'll 10 he possessed
OF the views OF others to know that they
thought so and so. II nothing else-informatiou
Is always desirable In arriving at a conclusion
at judgment. These ntlemen before whom
tHer6 was Clear case OF murder IN The 0rst de-
gree found you guilty OF murder In the second
degree only and modified that by a recommen-
daLion to the extreme mercy OF the court.
Under the circumstances Of the case and
considering. as 1 do, that you are
guilty really OF murder In the first degree 1
think IL my duty to impose the extreme pun
ishment, which Is that you be Imprisoned in
the State prison OF this State for ana during
the term OF your natural life. That is the
Judgment of the court pronounced aud now to
be entered IN this case.
There was al awesome hush In court as
the dread sentence was pronounced. 1t
took nearly everybody by surprise, COLI
sidering the nature of the juTy's finding
u pom the trial. But the most astonishing
part Of all was the absolute stolidity with
which the prisoner received the pronounc-
ing doom. She betrayed neither by voice
nor gesture that she realized her fate, and
with the same calm, Independent look
that settled upon her features throughout
the trials, she quietly arose and with firm
step and almost naughty carriage followed
Deputy Sheriff out of the courtroom on
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