The San Francisco call., 1898-07-14

Of whose characteristics personality, fortunes and moral condition this verse was written 1t matters not, but it aptly tells the story of the position at present occupied by one Isaiah w. Lees, known here and there as the present Chief of the Police Department, in an action now being heard by Judge Hunt. The suit was orig inally brought by John J. OMalley against the State of California and Isaiah w. Lees, to recover 5000, which amount was offered by Governor H. H. Markham for the apprehension and con- viction, of the murderer of F. H. l.. Weber and his wife, Lizzie M. Weber. A short time ago, however, the action as to the defendant, l. W. Lees, was dismissed, by reason of the fact that Lees claim to the money had been weighed in the balance and found wanting, but If he did not get the money the scheming Chief is 10th to be deprived of the glory accompanying the arrest, conviction and execution of the brutal murderer, and he is an able ally of the State in consequence The man who undoubtedly deserves the credit and the reward offered for the apprehension of the murderer Is carpenter of peculiar name, WladlSlaW Zakrewskei. He has assigned the claim to the plaintiff, John J. O'Mal- ley, and OMalley will make the fight for the spells In court.
 In December of 1894 the whole State was shocked by the report of the foul murder of Weber and his wife in their home in Sacramento. Mystery yelled the tragedy. Nc motive of any great conse- quence could be assigned for the murder of husband and wife, and but a slender clew. was left by. the assassin, who inn ghastly crime. Officers were groping In the dark for some thread that would put them on the track of the murderer but as they seemed to be making no headway Governor Markham, in order to stimu- late the energies of the public, offered reward to any man who would bring the assassin to justice.
 Among those who read the proclama- tion offering the reward for the arrest of the murderer of the Webers was Zakrew- skie, the carpenter. He had heard that the criminal wanted, and as he was a na- tive of that far away land and had a large number of fellow countrymen he counted as his friends whom he knew would lend him aid he set to work His suspicious fastened upon three men he knew were in the neighborhood of the he set out to hunt them up. They were Ivan KovaleV, George Patalla and one Levin.
 Zakrewskei hunted for some time be- fore he cornered his men, and then set to work to gain their confidence. He had known Kovalev for many months prior to the commission of the crime of which he suspected him. and he was soon on the most intimate terms with him. Time passed and finally when the carpenter was sure of his game he confronted Ko- NdtSV anu dCCuSeQ ulIn or the murderS Kovalev was nonplused at the accusa- tion, but, still believing that Zal1rewskei would prove his friend and shield him from the law, he confessed.
 He told the story in detail to Zakrews- kei-how in the dark of the night. while the old couple were resting in content in their rooms, he had skulked in and dashed out their brains. The carpenter worked cleverly. and one night, when the murderer was sleeping soundly in a room in this city, he conducted two police o.fi- cers to the place, directed them to the room in which the murderer was sleep ing, and then stood guard at the door to prevent his escape. The officers had no difficulty In placing the assassin in irons. and he was marched to prison.
 Patalla and Levin were likewise be- trayed into the hands of the authorities, but on examination they were released. 1t