The San Francisco call., 1899-07-13
SHE WAN TED
TO SCARE KOPP,
THAT WAS ALL
Accused Wife Tells a
Pitiful ale.

There were tears and sobs in Judge Con-
lan's court yesterday morning. The usual
Police Court audience, hardened to the
tale of misdoing and suffering, listened
with wet eyes and labored breathing when
Mrs. Kopp told Of her life with the
husband she murdered. Mrs Bertha Mon
Ii, the woman at the bottom of all the
trouble. was an interested spectator. Trim
and neat in her widows weeds, she heard
the accused woman tell how she had
wrecked her hcme and taken from her IN
her hour of suffering the husband VINO
should have been her support and com
fort.
Mrs. Kopp spoke in strained whispers
The Judge, her counsel, the prosecuting
attorney and court sstenographer were
obliged to gather close to her to eaten
her trembling words. When, however, she
told how she had gone to Mrs, Monu ana
on bended knees had begged her to give
her her husband back the intensity OF her
emotion lent volume and strength 70 the
weakened tones. Her pitiful cry OF Give
me back my husband. have not long to
live. Let him stay by me to comfort
and If there were any dry eyes when she
fell back exhausted in her chair tney were
the shining, pitless eyes of Mrs. Mont.
The examination of Mrs. kopp conciqQ- %
ed the preliminary examination. Judge
Ferral led the defendant to the witness
stand. Owing to the weakened condltlon
of the woman it was decided TO nave the
examination concluded as quickly as pos
sible No prompttngs were necessary 70
make Mrs. Kopp tell of her troubles ana
the killing of her husband; she told her
story in a straightforward, honest man
ner, striving neither to conceal anything
nor shield herself Now and then sobs
choked her utterance, and again the hack
ing cough made speech impossible
Mrs Kopp's recital bore out in detail the
same tales of cruelty and abuse brought
forward by the other witnesses during the
trial The only points that she threw any
light upon were the purchase Of the pistol
"-.f Il we Went to Mrs Monti, said the ac-
knees knees to Oii1' give my % husband back to me
I have not many months to live told
her; let me have him. these last few
''Mrs. Montl denied that my. husband
either came to see her or cared for her.
After l pleaded with the woman l went
caught me by the throat and choked me.
Il will go with Mrs. Monti as much as
like he said, and don't think you can
my husband" went on the unhappy
woman, grew to be so cruel ana threat
ening that. felt l needed 2 protection; da,,,d
lock myself in when l was in the mouse
alone with him, and bought plstol,
thinking I would show it to him and scare
him. / had 1t for two weeks, hid away
in the closet and not loaded Then he
began to choke me and threaten violence
and I loaded the pistol.
ION the day / met him in the restau-
rant with Mrs. Monti, when he came
home he was abusive in the extreme. He
He demanded of me a card a lady had
left, and while went to get it | hear, heard
He was cursing. | was afraid and put
my nv pisfoi pfs in my pocket. When I went
toward him he made an attempt to a4 grab
/ must have fired. He fell, and / knelt
down beside his form.
Judge Conlan decided he would like to
hear argument in the case, although
Judge Ferral, attorney for the accused
woman. was willing to. at once submit it
to his Honor. Accordingly 1t was ar
ranged that Judge Low. for the people,
and Judge sFerral, for Mrs. Kopp, argue
the case Friday morning at IL In the
meantime Judge Conan Will Teaa over
der his decision on Friday morning.