The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-08-29
VILE WORK OF
A F|END IN
HUMAN FORM
An Assaulter of Child
hood in the Tanks.
FREELY TALKS OF HIS DEEDS
BLIGHTED THE LIVES OF MANY
LITTLE GIRLS.
Boosted of His Vileness and
looked Upon His Crimes
as of Little Con-
sequence.

OAKLAND, Aug 2s-William Weber
of San Leandro is in the tanks at the
CITY Hall charged with number or the
most abominable crimes in the code ms
victims were young girls from TO ID
wears of age and the unnatural being
talks freely of them and confesses his
guilt with as much aplomb as though hs
was making a stump speech
For several weeks the police and the
constables have sought a man who mas
ben systematically seeking the ruin OF
children and yesterday he was caught
while pursuing another victim. The brute
has made confession that shows an ap-
palling depth OF depravity lie has
given the police dates and details that
have been proved true to-day and he was
speedily identified by one OF his victims
Webber's confession cannot be produc-
ed. but he says he has a system upon
which he works and which has, he de-
clares proved successful whenever ne
has put ii to the test. He lives at San
Leandro, but whenever he medttated COM
hitting crime he came TO Oakland. he
would accost little girls, tell them stor-
les of his wife's sickness and ask them TO
take message to d drug store.
He cunningly devised his scheme SO that
the child would have 70 pass vacant
house Weber would then entice the
child into the house and pursue his base
inciinations. II has been proved, and ne
has also confessed. that on June % he en-
ticed Lena Johnson, girl 10 years OLD,
into vacant house on Twenty-third ave-
nue.. The girl at once told OF her expert
ence to her parents and the police have
ever since been seeking the culprit. When
questioned tonight Weber frankly said
that after each crime he at once returned
70 his home at San Leandro, ana thus
evaded the Oakland police.
On June % Weber came TO this city
and induced Hattie Pattberg, child OF
years, to go into the upstairs portion OF
a vacant house on Center street Little
Hattie shouted out and SO frightened the
fellow that he ran out OF the house and
went at once to his home. A few days
later Alice PaWley, less than years OF
age, was selected by Weber as his vic
tim. He took her to vacant house at
1868 Center street and the girl went home
as soon as the flend released her and told
of what had happened. A week ago Web
Der met Nellie Baker. who resides on
she was induced to accompany him to an
empty house, where she was subjected TO
vile treatment. Nellie escaped as soon as
she could and her story OF feionious as
sault was at once reported to the police
by her parents.
The number of cases reported and the
the places where the crimes We're COM
ulitted convinced Chief Fletcher that a
fiend was at large and that all the cases
IDENTIFY worked along the same lines.
Yesterday afternoon Nellie Baker was
walking along Washington street when
self of his Identity, she told A. Nj. Schleu-
ter, proprietor of the Grand Rule Bazaar
Mr. Schleuter telephoned to police haed-
quarters and Detectives Quigley and Hol-
land walked down Washington street and
met Weber. He expressed no surprise at
mis- arrest and commenced to give details
to the officers before he reached the jail.
The prisoner was kept in secluston till
to-day when he was confronted with
Lena Johnson. who at once picked him
out from several other men in the Chiefs
office. The girl was accompanied by her
father and when Weber met him. he
asked permission to shake halAs with
Johnson and said he hoped he would not
PEELED the fellows advances and the po-
lice, fearing trouble. kept the two men
from getting any nearer. Johnson also
assured Chief Fletcher that he was not
armed
his conversation conveys the impression
that depravity. cunningness and repul-
sive familiarity may be allied with lu-
macy. He declares that he realizes he is
in tight place. but says his relatives IN
his aid when they hear Of his troubles.
Two months and half ago he was bit
ten by a dog, and he says that his over
towering passions have taken possession
of him since that time.
He is one of the worst types of men
! have ever met" said Chief Fletcher
tonight HE IS evidently trying to Gre
ate an impression that he is insane. but
there has been too much method in his
madness for q lunatic. He is a mon
strosty and there should be a decided
method of dealing with such fiends"
One of the best evidences that Web
ber's mind is not erratfc Is the fact that
he can recall wildly dates. places and
clearness extending over a period of
more than two months.