The record-union., 1895-09-26
DONNELLY And THE WEBER CRIME.
Detectives Believe the Convict Was
One of the Murderers.
Was Here the Night of the Tragedy.
and Went to Oakland the Fol-
lowing Morning.

published long story concerning the
suspicious movements of one John Dom
nelly, young San Francisco and Oak
land criminal, on the day following the
night Mr.. and Mrs. f. H. l.. Weber were
murdered in this city, the purpose being
to connect him with that crime.
Donnelly is now serving term in Fol-
som Prison for crime afterward COM
nlitted in San Francisco.
While Donnelly's movements on the
day following the murders in this city,
and his admission that forenoon that he
had heard of the double tragedy, may be
such as to warrant the suspicion that
he was implicated in the crime, there is
nothing in the story published in the
Tribune calculated TO weaken the case
against Kovalev, the ex-Russian convict
who is soon TO be tried here.
The fact that Donnelly returned to San
Francisco from this city on the morning
after the murder, wearing different
clothes from those seen on him short
time before. cuts some figure in the case,
as all the clothing stolen from the Weber
house at the time of the murder has not
been accounted for, although some of it
was found on the persons OF the Russians
now in custody.
THE "TRIBUNE's" STORY.
There are now in the County Jail at
Sacramento three Russians who are des-
tined soon to figure in the trial for the
murder of Mr. and Mrs. K. II. l.. Weber of
that city on tlfe 18th Of Decem Der of last
year. Of these Ivan Kovalev is charged
with the murder, while the others, one of
whom is named w. Zarewsky. are held
as witnesses. Zarewsky is expected to
detail a confession IL is alleged Kovalev
made to him as regards the pawning by
him (kovalev) in Oakland of certain
goods belonging 10 the murdered people.
1t is believed that one of the murderers
has already eXpatiated his crime at the
hands of man whom he assaulted in
san Jose having been killed several
months after the murder Of the Webers.
Recently his remains were eXhumed,
and il is claimed that they were found
encased in clothes which it is alleged be-
longed to the murdered Weber.
1t is believed, however, in certain cir
cles that there were more than two men
engaged in the commission of the crime
and that one of them Immediately after
the murder came to this city, was accused
OF the crime left Oakland as rapidly as pos
sible, hung around San Francisco, robbed
car, attempted TO kill grocer and rob
him and his place at the same time, and
eventually landed in The penitentiary,
where he will be expected 10 Dass the
next forty years.
The suspect is John Donnelly, scarcely
more than 20 years of age, and yet he has
committed more crimes and seen the in
side OF more reformatory institutions
than hosts of convicts who have passed
their lives in the business. Whether or
not his connection with the brutal Weber
crime can be traced to him is, as yet, un-
known, but his case is being investigated
by detectives, some Of whom have been
working on it in this city and San Fran
cisco for some time.
DonneIly had long been absent from
this city. Officers who knew him won
dered where he had gone. They were of
the opinion, however, that he would drift
back, because he seemed to have a strong
liking for this section, Notwithstanding
that every detective knew him and his
record. Sunday, Decem ber 30th of last
year, he put in an appearance at the
mole, crossing by the morning Oregon
express, which had passed through Sac
ramento, and which arrived here at 1915
o'clock.
KNEW OF THE MURDERS EARLY.
When the train passed through the
Capital City the bodies OF old man Weber
and his wife had not yet become cold in
death. The murder was not discovered
until late on the morning OF the Both and
the murderers, by the time the bodies of
Weber and his wife were found, had
from ten TO twelve hours to make their
escape. To aid them IN this was the Or
egon train for this city. As soon as the
Chief of Police of Sacramento heard of
the murder he notified the police author
tiles here and in San Francisco that he be-
lieved the assassins had made their es-
cape on the Oregon train and requested
that the police in both cities be on the
alert. The notification, however, was re-
celved here too late. because the train had
already reached the broad-gaugs mole
and the passengers had dispersed.
The detectives, however, learned that
Oh that same Sunday morning, Decem-
Der 30th, young Donnelly made his ap-
pearance in the broad-gauge mole on his
way to San Francisco. He was known to
many of the employees of the railroad
company, and especially to those whose
duty it is to look after the property of the
company. one OF these officials met
Donnelly, and the moment he saw the
young fellow the officer, who had heard
OF the Weber murder through the rail-
road men, and who knew Donnelly's
character well, told him that he believed
he (Donnelly) had been in the Weber
murder. Donnelly, who was covered
with dust, admitted that he had. ridden
on a brakebeaIn on the Oregon train
from Sacramento TO this city, but denied
that he had anything to do with the
crime. He said the murder had not been
Indians. He admitted also that he knew
ali about the murder.
At that time the officers at the mole did
not know that the news was not gem
orally known, but the fact was that at the
time Donnelly and the officer conversed
on the bject in this city the police had
scarcely been informed of it in Sacra-
mento. Ifthe officer had known that Dom
nelly would certainly have been arrested.
Now the question arises, how did Dom
nelly know Of the crime unless he had
been party to it? 1t was not known to
q regular passenger or train official, and
how could a brakebeam tramp have
learned Of 1t?
WE'RE THEY WEBER's CLOTHES?
The coat which Donnelly wore was not
of his size. 1t seemed great deal fresher
than the rest OF his clothes, although it.
too, bore evidence of brakebeam dust.
The mole officer was 10th 10 part, how
ever, with Donnelly, and, under the pre-
tense OF old acquaintance, detained him
IN conversation for nearly three hours
meantime telephoning Detective Shorey
of Donnelly's presence, as also the fact
that the man had at one time escaped
from Whittier, and asked whether be
(Shorey) wanted him. Several hours
elapsed before the detective made his ap-
pearance. Meantime Donnelly went
eway, leaving his overcoat, which he said
he would call for later. Shorey said he
would call again and take him in when
he (Donnelly1 called for his coat. But
Shorey never appeared. Donnelly took
the 2:30 boat for San Francisco.
When Donnelly left here he wore a blue
shirt with white stripes, red four-in-han
knit scarf, dark brown short coat striped
vest, lemon-colored trousers, soft black
Alpine hat and heavy, coarse shoes.
Donnelly was seen on this side several
days later. lie was then sttired in new
clothes.
Immediately after the murder Chief
ad n no of ha