The San Francisco call., 1896-02-27
BOY BURGLARS
FLAT DEN|ALS.
Mrs. Willmore on Trial
for Receiving Stolen
Money.
LITTLE INA IN COURT.
Abe Majors Tells of Stealing the
Landlords Money to
Pay Rent.
BERT SHIELDS HIS MOTHER.
Mrs. Wagner Appeared, but Was
Ignored by Both Her
Boys.
BERT SHIELDS HIS MOTHER
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,

OAhLAND OFF1cE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
9Oo Broadway, Feb. 26.
Two unhappy families were in the Police
Court this afternoon. Probably two fam
lies deserving of more commiseration
never engaged the attention of court.
Mrs. Willmore, the mother of one of the
boy burglars, was on trial for receiving
stolen property. Her little girl Ina was
present, under the care of lady official OF
the Chabot Home; her boy Bert was
brought up from the County Jail 10 testify
as a witness. Mrs. Wagner. trembling
with grief and completely unnerved, sat
in the court with her two little ones. Her
son Archie purposely ignored her, and her
other boy, Abe, evidently felt the same as
his brother.
With the exception of Mrs. Wagner, not
one OF the unhappy crowd showed trace
OF grief, but rather Indifference was no.
ticeable.
Sergeant Hodgkins was the first witness
and he detailed the confession made to
him by Abe Majors few days ago. An
attempt was made TO show that the confes-
sion was made under promise Of reward,
but no such proof was brought out. The
witness told of finding a bag of money be-
hind picture in the WilImore house and
said that Mrs. WiIlmore was present when
be did so. The money was produced in
evidence, and as Hodgkins gave it a shake
there was a smile diScernible on the faces
of the boY prisoners.
After Mason, the candyman, had testified
to the burglary at his Berkeley store, Abe
Majors was put on the stand. He told his
story as clearly and unhesitatingIy as
though be were repeating q schooi lesson.
He told the story of his acquaintance with
the Willmore family and OF his residence
IN their house, as already published. He ad-
mIrteG dong the Mason burglary ct BeTke-
ley and said he told Mrs. Willmore OF the
burglary before they did it and after it was
done. Bert Willmore gave the money to
his mother In witness presence.
"Who owns the house you live in2"
asked Prosecuting Attorney Melvin.
"Mr. Mason
"The confectioner whose store you
robhed?"
Yes, sir"
And you paid the rent with the money
you stole?"
YES, sir''-and everybody smiled. in
Guiding Mrs. Willmore, at what appeared
like joke on Landlord Mason.
Abe Majors said further: Mrs. Willmore
awakened us at half-past on the morning
OF the burglary at Mason's s store. Mrs. Will
more was up when we returned and the
money was handed to her, and Bert told
her that the Job had been successful. Ina
did not know of the burglary ana at Mrs.
Willmore's suggestion we went to bed TO
hide the fact from the girl. Mrs. Willmore
advised US not TO take the eiectric-cars,
but to walk, for If We rode we might be re-
cognized. Bert and | each took IS of the
money and Mrs. Willmore took the rest
During his examination Abe Majors
testified that the bag behind the picture
was the household bank and they all used
to help themselves. He said that Mrs.
Willmore suggested that he take an as
sumed name so that his mother would not
know his whereabouts.
The witness further stated that the two
boys always told Mrs. WilImore where
they were going and what they were doing.
This closed the prosecution and the de-
fense put Bert Willmore on the stand.
He denied that his mother knew anything
of what was going on and denied ever hav-
ing given her any money. He also denied
having told Sergeant Hodgkins that there
was money buried in the yard at the back
of the Willmore house.
Ina Willmore was not put on the stand
to-day. She is a very girlish-looking little
maid, in short dresses, and when Abe
Majors professions of love for her are re.
called, any such idea seems absurd. She
talked freely In Judge Woods chant ber:
during the trial, and was as gay as any
schoolgirl. She denies any knowledge O.
what was going on in her home.
The examination Of Mrs. Willmore was
continued till tomorrow morning.