The San Francisco call., 1904-11-18
Coroner Concludes
His Inquiry Into
Tragedy.
Prisoner Does Not Appear
to Be Affected By
the Verdict.
Gives Way TO Tears During His Pre-
HninaTy Examination on Charge
Of Numbering Mother,
speeia Di.DstoA to rAs c.n

speeiG Dlspsteh 70 rAs CAL
AUBURN, Nov. 1.-THE COrOner's
Jury in the Weber case, after forty
minutes deIiberatiOn tonight, found
that Julius, Mary and Bertha Weber
came 70 their deaths from pistol
wounds. and expressed the belief
that said pistol wounds were in
ficted by AdOlph J. Weber and that
the boy Earl Weber came 10 his death
from wounds inflicted by a blunt in
srrumenr and from sufOcatiOn-"
Weber was in hts cell on the first
floor q the Courthouse when the jury
returned the verdict and the news was
quickly conveyed 10 him by one Of the
Shertns deputies. The prisoner ap-
peared 10 be prepared for the unwel-
come tidings and did not display the
least emotion When asked by The
CaI correspoudent II he had any state
ulelr ro make, he replied, 4 viii have
nothing 70 say until after l have read
the testimony taken before the Coro-
uer
SHOWS SIGNS OF WEAKNESS
Confinement in jail is AT last begin
ming 70 ten on young Weber He gave
signs OF weakness to-day and for the
first time since the terrible tragedy dis
PLAYED emotion. Those who know him
best have been expecting him 10 col
lapse and that he has held Up thus far
shows that he Is possessed Of nerves
Of iron.
Z uas while Adrian Wills was on
the witness stand this afternoon Civ
ing testimony at the preliminary hear
ing being conducted oy Justice smith
that Weber gave way 70 tears Wills
was relating The story OF how he had
found the prisoner n z fatnring cOndi-
ton under q magnolia tree IN front OF
the burning home on the night OF the
murders, when Weber suddenly diD-
ped the end Of his handkerchief IN
glass OF water on a IaDle N LronL OF
him and commenced bathing his fore
head BE appeared 70 be suffering in
tense agony and although he fought
hard % keep back the tears that were
yelling u his eyes he failed Slowly
the tears cOursed down his cheeks and
he buried his face IN his haudEercnle1-
His frame quivered and not a few Of
the spectators expected him 70 become
hysterfcaL A few minutes later. how
ever he sl0wly raised his head and
glanced around the courtroom in a non
chalant manner. His eyes were bright
and burning as II with fever. his
lips were tightly compressed and his
face was cold and ashen looking The
weak spell soon passed away and dur
ing the remainder Of the session he sat
as cool and collected as If he was the
most disinterested spectator.
RELATIVES WILL HELP HIM.
As Weber was leaving the courtroom
At the conclusion Of the afternoon ses-
sion several Of his relatives who had
been sitting with the spectators ad-
vanced 70 meet him. Miss Laura Hess,
& cousin. kissed him and his face be-
came radiant Others in the party
took him by the hand and gave him
words of hope and cheer.
August Geiger, e cousin OF Mrs. Web
~, is here from Sacramento 10 give
support 70 the prisoner. Geiger is ac-
coupanied BY his wife and child
In regard 20 the statements made by
Mrs Snowden at the Coroner's inquest
last night. Weber to-day denied that
his mother had ever expressed the
slightest fear OF him He said that
he had always been a loving son 10 her.
he also denied that he had made any
threat against Mrs Snowden the morn
ing after the murders.
There was nothing OF special inpor-
tznce elected during the preliminary
hearing to-day other than the testi-
mory q Charles Dunham who said
that he saw young Weber Jump out OF
the northeast window on the north side
of the house on the night OF the fire.
He said that one Of Weber's hands
was covered with blood This incident
happened after the three bodies had
been removed from the house
Dan Heany testified that he was
early on the ground on the night Of the
IRE, but he did not see young Weber
there.
DID NOT SEE WEBER AT FIRE.
F. P. McKinstry, who was one Of the
first 70 reach the fire, testified that
when ne arrived there Mrs. Snowden
was terribly excited and was trying TO
break into the house 70 rescue her
relatives. Finding all the doors and
windows locked he climbed over
porch and broke into the front room
upstairs According TO his testimony
the smoke was not heavy, but as he
had no knowledge Of the house he slid
down from the balcony and going
around 70 z side window burst II in and
then passed out a lot OF furniture. He
says he ran around the house several
times. but did not see Weber.
Miss Addie MuIligan and Miss Ida
Brown. who are employed by the teIe-
phone company, testified that the tele-
phone line which was connected with
the Weber residence went out Of ser
vice at 6.35 o'clOck on the night of the
tragedy. Some one had called up from
the house and when they responded
there was no answer.
The principal witness at the after
noon session was Adrian Wills. He de-
scribed how he had rushed up To the