The herald., 1895-11-19
discriminating Statement Struck
.f From the Record
THE KOVALEV MURDER CASE
The Defense Decides to Offer No More
Testimony
The Jury to Be Charged Today-Revlvai
lists Visit the Jail and Hold
Religious Services
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press SDecial Wire.
SACRAMENTO Nov. 1S. - Ivan Ku-
velev, the murderer OF +. II. l.. Weber
and wife, took the witness stand this
morning against the protests OF Senator
Hart AMI Major Anderson, his attorneys.
When he went upon the stand he was
told through an interpreter that be need
not testify. kovelev sail, II was pres
ent ana participated in ths murder"
Judge johnson ordered this remark
stricken from the records as it was not
responsive to the question. The Evening
Bee will today publish tbs full confess
sion of Kovalev which he made on Fri
day last to Nine. Gordenko and a written
copy of which tns murderer held in his
hand while he was on the stand. In the
confession Kovalev said he ana Matthen
Tsher oskoff, his companion, climbed a
back fnece and crawei up the back stairs
to the Weber house. Then Tscherbakoff
struck down the old man Weber with an
ak and afterwards chopped Mrs. Weber to
death with the same weapon. He said
that Tscherbakoff, Arnold Levin, Captain
Andre and a man named kuebakki, all
Russians who lived in San Franci,co,
were burglars who Travelled about the
country, and it was his misfortune to oc-
casionaally fall in with them. kovalev's
actions dumbfounded his attorneys, and
they decided to hold another conference
during the noon recess.
The court room WAS packed to suffoca-
tion this afternoon.
When the court said: proceed, gen
tlemen," Mr.. Hart for the defense sald,
1--WE rest.''
Major Anderson, addressing District At
torney Ryan, said: 1--WE are willing to
submit the case without argument.
Tue di.trict attorney remarked this was
takine him by surprise. 1t was a case
that involved the life Of the defendant. He
had not drawn up his instructions, neitbe
vas he prepared 10 proceed with the arr
gument.
Major Anderson passed up to the court
the il structiuns for the defense.
District Attorney Ryan asked that the
case be continued until tomorrow morn
ing at 10 o'clock, when he would be ready
to proceed with his argument. 1t was
an important case and one which he de
sired to present as well as lie could for
the state. and he would ask the jury to
return q verdict of guilty
The judge granted the request and in
structed the jury not TO talk nboCt the
case with any one nor to read anything
| in the public print. The case then went
| ov until tomorrow morning.
There sas remarkable scene at the
| county Juil tOudy. MTe. MdRElo VAN
Cott. the revivalist. accompanied by the
choir and a number OF the members Of
tie Sixth Str ct Method st church, visited
| tho jail and held services. The motley
crowd of prisoners, aoout eighty in num-
Der, occupied benches or stood up against
the walls. The prisoners listened with
close attention to all that was said and
sung and dozen or more knelt and pray
ed. many joining in the singing.
Next to the choir. expressionless,
drcamy-eyed as he has been in court
thesc manv days, sat Ivan kovalev, on
whose life jury is sitting in Judgment
Throuahour 1T all his wasted fingers
clasred his dinRv, old-fashioned derby
hat and bis pale blue eyes were downcast
Even the singing did not move him.
Among the number who Joined in the
devotional exercises was W. christ, a wait.
ing trial on charge of numbering his
wife.
'See that mani" said one Of the wo-
men with Mrs. Van Cott. as she point
to Kovalev. "He is on trial for NJ urder-
ing two of our hest citizens
"Horribl"! Horrible!' said the evan
Relist. '"How my heart bleeds for these
poor boys"