The San Francisco call., 1904-11-17
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This startling testimony was given
by Mrs. Snowden tonight at the Off
cial inquiry being conducted by
Coroner Shepard into the murder OF
the Weber family. Trembling from
head TO foot and with tears
coursing down her cheeks. the wit
ness, who is a sister of the murdered
woman, slowly uttered the words
that sent a thrill of horror through
her auditors.
1t was several minutes before the
sorrow-stricken witness partly re-
gained her comDosure and was able to
resume her narrative.
''I shall always think AdoIpf guilty
until he proves his Innocence to my
satisfaction" she added in low and
quivering voice.
Young Weber was not present to
hear the testimony given by his aunt.
He probably knew of the incriminat-
ing words that would fall from her
lips and preferred the quiet Of his
cell.
Mrs. Snowden. who is refined and
quiet little woman, gave her testimony
a
She fully realized the terrible posi-
ton in which she was placed, but not
for an instant did she hesitate to voice
the words that draw the net closer
around the suspected nephew.
During her narrative Mrs. Snow
den's eyes were filled with tears and
when reference was made to the awful
scenes of last Thursday night, a shud-
der of horror ran through her frame.
A deep silence reigned in the court
room until she told Of the threat made
against her life by the prisoner and
then it was that the spectators gave
vent TO their feelings in murmur OF
awe a. Indignation.
KEPT FAMILY IN TURMOIL.
my sister and had alwoys been the
most loving of sisters" said Mrs.
Snowden, in answer to question pro-
pounded by the Coroner, to show the
feeling that existed between the wit
ness and the murdered woman. I'VE
were neighbors," she continued, land
met almost every day. l also loved my
niece, Bertha, and my little nephew,
Earl. l was on the most kind and
friendly terms with my brother-in-law.
NV sistc~ and 1 confided all our
thoughts to each other. My sister was
a happy woman with her husband.
although he was man of most aw-
full temper he was a good, kind, indul-
gent father and provided we'll for his
family. Adolph, however, kept the
family in almost constant turmoil. He
annoyed his father and sometimes
would not speak to his mother. He
was hateful and stubborn, but 1 never
saw him strike any one except his poor
little crippled brother. On last Thurs
day he was unusually ugly. l went
over to see my sister and took little
Earl home to his mother. l had been
taking care of Earl during the morn
ing. as Mrs. Weber was washing.
When 1 walked over to the house my
sister and 1 exchanged loving greet
tnps. I told her Earl had been crying
for his mother, so I had brought him
home. I sat and talked with her for a
while. Presently Adolph came
into the yard. His mother said
'Dolphy,' that being the name
the family called him, Will you go
down to the market and bring home
some meat for dinner? Your father
has been working very hard this
morning digging postholes and you
know, Dolpry, that I always like to
give him a good dinner when he is
doing anything especially firing.
Adolph passed her by without saying
a word. She asked him three times
and finally he snapped out cross and
ugly No. He then went upsairs
into the house and his mother, burst
ing into tears, said: 'Dolphy is so
mean and so hateful to me it nearly
breaks my heart She then followed
him into the house and 1 heard her
say. 'Adolph, YOU are doing wrong
If YOU get your father down on you
IT will go hard on you She then
came back to me and remarked
.Adolph is so mean he will kill us all
vet. He irritates his father by his
ugly ways and then his father gets
mad at me and for time is so ugly
that can hardly stand It.
SHOOK FIST AT HIS MOTHER.
my sister then told me of how badly
Adolph had acted the preceding day
She said: Julius and 1 went down
into the garden and took Earl with
me. l sat and watched my husband al
his work and finally took up a shovel
and dug a little just for FIN. 1 made