davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29
Words of Prisoner Furnish
Sheriff New Theory.

AUBURN, Nov. 2S.-"I know nothing
about this bank robbery. 1t is teeIn-
significant to talk about. If 1 did rob
the bank 1 did it just to see how far
could go. BY this 1 do not mean to
say that committed the robbery
These are the words of young Adolph
Weber, who rests under the charge
that he murdered his father, mother,
sister and brother, and under the
further charge that in May last he
robbed the Placer County. Bankssof a
large sum of. money. The bank rob-
berry is indeed a trivial matter to this
twenty year-old youth. The. charge
that he murdered his parents, his sister
and imbecile brother naturally is Of
more Importance. Both charges are
trivial to Weber, judging by. his con-
duct since his arrest. He has been as
cool as an iceberg at all times, even
when the pistol which he was supposed
to have used in his awful crime was
suddenly placed before him; cool even
when he was told the money he was
supposed to have stolen from the bank
was found on the property of his father,
near where the bloody pistol that dealt
death TO julius, Mary, Bertha and Earl
Weber was found.
Sheriff Keena. was therefore not
greatly surprised to-day when he en-
tered the youths cell and learned from
him that he considered the bank rob-
berry a trivial matter" But young
Weber will learn that it is not such a
trivial matter, for his carelessly uttered
words have given the Sheriff a new
theory to work upon.
IT did 1t to see how far 1 could CO."
These are the words that may mean
much in the prosecution of Weber
They bear out the suspicion held by
many since the arrest of Weber and
the disclosure of his many queer ideas
that a desire to "see how far he could
CO. prompted young Weber to com
nit the crimes he stands accused of.
His love for gold is well known. and
this love, by many, is looked upon as
a motive for the crime.
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29
TOXIC CLAIMS
NOGPS ATTACK
is SUCCEEDING
Capture Of the Most important
of the Port Arthur Forts
Is Imminent.

TOXIC Nov. 29.-It is reported that the attack
4 against 203-Meter Hill by the japanese light ar
tllery is succeeding 1t is estimated that 90 per cent
of the work of the complete occupation of Port Arthur
will have been finished with this height in the pos
session of the japanese. No part of the harbor of
Port Arthur will then be concealed from the japanese
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29
EUROPEAN DRESS ADOPTED
FOR CHINESE SOLDIERS
Movement to Cut on Queues Of the
Troops Also Being Put Into
Effect

MUKDEN, Nov. 2s.-The vicerOy
of the Chinese province or Honan is
the first to carry out the instructions
Of the Dowager Empress Of China in
clothing his soldiers in European
dress and cutting or their queues
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29
Not Ready to Rebuke Great Britain

TOXIC, Nov. 29.-Opinion as to
the action of the British in supplying
coal 10 vessels OF the Russian fleet has
not been formed. because the facts
and details are not yet known. No
comment has yet been made by the
press. 1t is understood that the
question has not yet been raised dip
lomatically. The formal opening of
the Diet will take place tomorrow.
War News Continued on Pare 2.
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29
Russian Supplies Co Astray.

MOSCOW, Nov. 2S.-People arriv-
ing from the Far East tell a remark
able story of the mysterious disap-
pearance from the trunk line of $50
carloads of stores and warm clothing
belonging TO private consignees and
officers.
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29

before others, who, according to his
views, are less acute than himself.
could detect him?
This idea will be worked on by Sher-
iff Keena and his assistants. They are
already convinced of Weber's guilt, but
they are still working to provide a
motive. Everything advanced viii be
well threshed out before it is dropped.
The finding Of the money stolen from
the Placer County Bank was the all
absorbing topic in the Weber case to-
day. Groups of men were on every
street corner this. morning and Geer,
Dependener and Monaghan, who dis
covered the coin, were the center of at
traction. Crowds followed them wher
ever they went.
District Attorney Robinson lis ex-
pected home tonight from San Fran
cisco. where he has been in consulta-
tion with the experts who examined
the blood-stained trousers. Sheriff
Keena had several interviews with
Weber, who practically admitted that
he robbed the bank.
This is not bothering me, however, Z"
said Weber. Its the other case that
am thinking about"
WEBER MAKES RETORT.
Weber has a habit Of answering a
question by asking another. To-day
Under Sheriff May asked him If he ever
owned a pistol. Weber replied NO
Did you ever see this one?" asked
May. exhibiting the weapon the bank
robber left behind.
II never did," was the reply.
How much did you pay for it, any
way, Adolph?" said May.
How much did you pay for it.,
Billy?' was the quick retort
Young Weber called for paper and
candles as Jailer Fulton was closing up
tonight. He writes a good many let
ters and is receiving many missives
from women. Yesterday he received a
bouquet and a letter from Miss May
Weber of Ashland, Or. Miss Weber
wrote that there must be some relation
ship between them. Weber answered
the note, thanking her for the flowers
and asking her TO send him the date OF
her birth, so that he could read her life.
The money found on the Weber place
has been counted and it has been ascer-
tanned that it is few hundred dollars
short of the amount claimed to have
been stolen, 1886. The shortage was
expected, as it is known that Weber
has been spending a little money now
and then and that when he was in San
Francisco last June he INDUCED in sew
eral Iuxuries- For instance, 1t is known
that he and young Fowler Of Oakland
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29
WORDS SUPPLY THEORY.

To these same people his statement.
"I did it to see how far I could co.
also supplies a motive, for it is known
that young Weber has prided himself
upon his ability to trace the movements
of people, he having on more than one
occasion wagered that he could dis
cover the perpetrators of practical
jokes played upon his friends. Might
he not also, 1t is figured, have a pride
in seeing how far he could go in crime
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29
Religious Professions Are Tabooed,

HAVANA. Nov. 2s.-The House to-
day. by vote of 81 to 10. passed the
bill prohibiting religious professions
in the streets.
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29

to obtain Russian emigrant traffic and
build UP a direct trade with America.
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29
TIE rHEArERs

ALCAZAR--The Christian"
cALIFORNIA-"F1n Ball"
CENTRAL-~The Little Church Around
the Corner"
COLUMBIA-"Her Own Way"
CHUTESAVaudevill
FISCHER RsAvaudeville.
GRAND-''The Show Girl"
MAJESTIC-''In Mizzoura-" -
PHEUM-Vaudeville
-TIVOLI-'.King Dodo.''
The San Francisco call., 1904-11-29
THE WEATHER.

Forecast made at San Francisco for
thirty hours ending midnight. Noven-
ber %:
San Francisco and vieinity-Fsir
Tuesday; light north wind.
A. c. MoADIE.
District Forecaster.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
SALTWATER

At q special term of the district court
held here yesterday by Judge Williston:
of Red Wing, applications were argued
for new trials in the cases of the Grey
Cloud Land company against the Sc
curity Trust company and Odin q. Gay:
Application for alimony in the case or
Hannah LANCE VS.. August Iange was
argued and submitted.
The annual meeting of the Minnesota
Mercantile Company of Saltwater resulted
in the election of the following directors:
Harry K. Huntoon, James Mulvey, L. Il.
Manwaring ]. F. Burke and A. g. Trie-
bel The officers elected We're A. u. Irie-
bel. president; Harry K. Huntoon, vice
president, and J. +. Burke, secretary and
treasurer.
Log shipments by rail to saltwater for
B. p Taber & Co, Keokuk, up to yes
terday amounted to over LOO cars, or
little more than 1900, 900 feet. Two large
landings have been made north of the
pontoon bridge, and booms have Deen
strung on the ice to prevent the logs from
getting away when the lake opens.
Ernest Binker, a son of Henry Binker,
of Saltwater, was brought here from Cor
don Wis, where he was injured by fall
ing under a snowplow at w. f. Mackey's
camp He was hurt about the back, but
no bones are broken
Albert Streiter was brought to this city
from a logging camp near Willow River,
and is seriously ill with pneumonia at the
CITY hospital.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
At St. Paul Theaters

when We Were Twenty -one' will
be presented by. Dick Ferris and his
company at the Metropolitan opera
house Thursday and Friday nights of
this week. Mr.. Ferris will play the
leading character of Dick, Miss Grace
Hayward will appear as Phyllis, Joseph
Totten as the Imp and Miss Marie
Pavey will be seen in Firefiy.
A rain storm that sounds wet, but
isn't, Is one Of the features of white
washing Julia" Henry Arthur Jones'
new comedy, which was produced last
season in London and which comes to
the Metropolitan next Monday for
three nights and matinee, and will be
presented by Fay Davis and a COM
pany selected from Charles Frohman's
Empire Theater company.
Another large audience greeted the
Swedish comedy drama, lyon Yonson.'
at the Grand last evening. The first
matinee will occur today at 2:30.
A drama founded on A. Conan
Doyle's detective story, 'sThe Sign of
the Four" will come to the Grand
opera house next week.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
FRED STEVENS
VOICES PROTEST.
St. Paul Congressman Would
Deny American Register to
Ship Beaumont.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March s.
Today in the house was set apart for
consideration of claim bills. Thirty
two bills of this character were passed
One, relating to the granting of an
American register to the ship Beau
mont, gave rise to considerable debate
MI Stevens, of Minnesota, made the
point that to admit such ships to
American register would be detri-
mental to the interests of American
workmen.. He was seconded by Mr.
Humphrey. of Washington. The friends
of the bill, which was passed, were
Messrs. Fordney, William Alden Smith.
McMoran, of Michigan; Thayer, of
Massachusetts, and Dunwell of New
York.
The Beaumont, formerly the Mira,
was wrecked off the coast of Nova
Scotia. Mr.. Stevens vigorously OPP
posed the bill. saying that it had for
its object the legislating of money out
of the pockets Of American workmen.
Mr.. Smith said that the vessel for
merly was an English one The pres
ent American owner, he argued, could
not get an English register and now
the gentleman from Minnesota would
deny him an American register
What shall we do with it?" he in
CURED. Sink it into the sea ?"
Mr.. Stevens dryly replied that there
were many other cases of a similar
nature.
Mr.. Humphrey (Wash.) Joined Mr..
Stevens in opposition to the bill and
argued that the American purchaser
thought he had an opportunity to
make money at the expense of the le-
Ultimate shipbuilding industry of this
country.
Further debate was cut off by Mr..
Fordney moving that the bill be re-
ported favorably, which was done amid
applause.
Army Bill in the Senate.
The senate spent almost the entire
day discussing the committee amend
ments to the army bill concerning pro-
viSional troops in the Philippines and
the consolidation of the adjutant gen.
erals office with the record and pen
sion Office.
The Porto Rican amendment was OBJ
jected to by Democratic senators as
tending to a more pronounced mill
tary form Of government Both amend
ments ultimately were accepted. The
bill was amended so as to provide for
an increase in the engineering corps.
1t was still pending when the senate
adjourned
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09

and 1t is understood that Warden
Wolfer was interrogated upon this
point. He entered an emphatic denial
Of all the accusations and insinuations
contained in the Jordan letter referring
to him In his official capacity, and his
statements before the board were sub
stantiated by Bronson. JOrdan's broth
err, w. G. Jordan, the junior partner in
the firm, was also at the prison yester-
day and he was called before the
board.
Wolfer was seen last night, and he
simply reiterates his statements made
before. He said:
81 have read the letter sent by w.
B. Jordan to the board of control, and
l will say that the differences and in
situations are wholly groundless. l
have no interest in the old company
and none in the new company which
is to take over the shoe contract at
the prison. There is absolutely no
ground for the inference as 1T is In
tended to apply to me-"
Policy of Silence.
s. J. Leavett, of the board of control,
was seen last night at the Willard. he
said:
1.-The board of control members must
decline to be interviewed on the sub
iect of the Jordan letter and the ques-
ton as to whether an official inVesu-
cation will follow We will give all the
papers a statement in due time II
statement is decided upon. L think all
the members of the board are of this
opinion and they will tell you the same
thing. We have no agreement not TO
he interviewed at this time, but we
simply won't talk until the proper time
comes"
Mr.. Leavett was asked if Warden
Wolfer was present at the board meet
ing yesterday and he said he was.
But he usually meets with the ooard
at our regular meetings" said Mr..
Leavett "and there was no significance
to that We also saw Mr.. Bronson at
the prison" Mr.. Leavett neglected to
say that Bronson had spent the great
er part of the day in conference with
the members of the board at the
prison.
An effort was made to communicate
with Mr.. Bronson. but it was said that
he was in st. Paul last night 1t is UNI
derstood that he has adopted the tao
tics of the board of control, and be-
yond making a general denial that
Wolfer had any interest in the old or
the new company, he, too, refused TO
talk.
Gov. Van SAINT is in Chicago and is
not expected to return before the early
part of next week, He has already
made the announcement that he would
cause an official investigation of the
shoe contract provided any specific
charges were made. In view of the
serious aspect that the matter has
now assumed, it is UP to the board of
control to make some response to the
demand for more information that is !,
the universal topic of conversation on
the street.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
BESEK ENDS 1T ALL
German Army Officer Kills His
Family and Himself.

BERLIN. March 8.-Lieut Carl Be-
SEX (retired), after a long and steady
decay of fortune, yesterday took his
last money and gave asplendid dinner
in honor of his nineteen year-old
daughters birthday. Besek then pol
soned his wife, daughter, two sons, re-
spectively twelve and sixteen years
old, cadets at a military academy, and
himself with cyanide of potassium,
which he seemingly inserted in the
mouth of each in the form of a pill
after they had gone into. a drunken
sleep. The sheriffs had taken charge
of everything in the house, and labels
had been attached to Besek's furni-
ture. ETC., which would have been sold
at auction today.
After a brilliant career and a mar
riage with an heiress Besek had
reached the end of his fortune. He won
the iron cross during the war of 1901
with France, married the daughter OF
a rich hotelkeeper. thereby having to
leave the service. as he married out of
his caste, and started a newspaper
The lieutenant wrote well, but the pa
per was not successful and he be-
came sales agent for manufacturer
and then manager of mapmaking en-
terprise. He lived beyond his means
for thirty years.
Last night the Besek family had a
box at the circus. Dinner was ordered
in from a caterer. Besek was espe-
ciany gay and tender, and pressed his
wife and his three children to drink
lots of Champagne. He died holding
his wife's hand tightly.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
Russia Calls Halt at St. Louis.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, March S.-The
framework for the Russian national
pavilion at the worlds fair was torn
down today on receipt of a cablegram
from St. Petersburg by Contractor LIE
Couer, who has been in charge of the
work. The cablegram was from the
department of the interior, briefly or
dering such work as had been COM
pleted torn down. Though Russia may
not participate officially in the fair,
there will be a plenty of Russian ex-
hints
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
PERSONAL MENTION

Ryan-Clyde B.. Stevens, Denver; F. W.
Mueller, Davenport; G. W. Schultz, De-
corah; w. E. Coles Jr. and wife, Benson;
F. c.. Witherby, Eau Claire; w. j.
Schultz, Virginia; Horace Clark and wife,
Peoria; T.. E. Boneau, Helena; w. P.
Westenberg. Milwaukee.
Merchandise. Dubois, Clarion; J.. E.
Benton, Britt, Iowa; E. E. Secor, Buff
falo Center; S. B. Cogshall, Tacoma; F.
S. Smith, Supenior3 H. M. Forbes, Port
age; John l. GUN, Pipestone; Water
Courtney and wife, Brainerd; G. S. Trum-
BILE, Westlake; William D. Curtin and
wife, River Falls, Wis.
Windsor-M ]. Simon. Bismarck; W. P.
Vietch and wife, Eveleth; v. J. LaRose.
c. Carlson and wife, Rush City; r. J.
Unger, Denver; E. B. Burroughs Lar1-
more N. D.; E. G. Davis, Tacoma
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09

character or to furnish it for public
inspection. AS long as they pursue that
policy they will have only themselves
to blame if the public makes its own
guess and draws it's own conclusions.
They and everybody concerned in this
affair owe to the state complete public
ity; and as a first step The Clio b e
demands publicly. as it has already
demanded through its representative,
the presentation to the public eye of
everything relating to this matter with
in the knowledge, of the board. Turn
on the light. a~... -.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
TODAY'S WEATHER


Minnesota-Rain or snow Wednesday,
warmer in east pertion; Thursday rain or
snow and colder; variable winds becom-
ing fresh northeast
Montana Snow and much colder We'd
Timer Michigan and Wisconsin-Fair
and warmer Wednesday; Thursday, rain;
variable winds becoming fresh southeast;
South Dakota-Rain Wednesday ana
colder in west portion; Thursday fair,
colder in east portion.
IoWa-Fair, warmer WEDNESDAY;
Thursday rain, colder in west portion
North Dakota-Snow or rain and colder
Wednesday, Thursday fair.
ST. Paul = Yesterdays observations,
taken by the United States weather bu-
reau. St. Paul. w. E. Oliver, observer, for
the twenty-four hours ended at o'clock
last Embellishments corrected for tenn
peratuTe and elevation. Highest tempera-
ture, 80; lowest temperature, 10; average
temperature, Is, daily range, IS; barom-
eter 1907; humidity. SO; precipitation.
trace; p. m. temperature. 30; p. m.
wind, northeast weather. partly cloudy.
Yesterdays Temperatures
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1904.
GIVE THE FACTS ABOUT THAT
PRISON CONTRACT.

The publication by The Globe of
assertions relating to the contract re-
Gently let for the state prison labor
has occasioned the widest comment.
The demand of the public is that the
light be turned on and all the facts
made known. Gov. Van SAINT cannot
do less than direct thorough Official
investigation of the whole affair. But
prior to that, it is the plain duty of the
board of control to put the public in
possession of all the information that
they themselves possess.
The rumors afioat are not based upon
gossip or uncertainty. The letters
which Mr.. w. B. Jordan, the former
contractor, has addressed to the board
of control are so specific that we are
amazed at the reticence of that body
Mr.. Jordan is man well known and Of
high repUte. He is in a position to
know many interesting facts. He has
been before the board with statement
Why is that statement not forthcom-
ing? Why has the board refused, as it
has done peremptorily, to make every
thing public?
We call attention to the salient
points in Mr.. Jordan's brief but forcible
communications. In the first he says:
ST should, as above, have been glad to
have the contract, 225 men at So cents
per diem, the prison being under prop
er management, and would at this time
be perfectly willing to take it at 65
cents per day, the prison warden being
man who would not use his official
position to force himself upon the con-
tractor as partner" In the second he
charges the board with avoiding pub
LEFTY for facts already in its posses
sion. These assertions cannot be met by
q policy of silence without raising the
gravest questions.
In the first place, is there or has
there been an interest in the company
holding the prison contract controlled
directly or indirectly or held by any
other person for the benefit of Warden
Wolfer? He denies this, but his denial
might we'll be more specifically
phrased In the next place, has he de-
sired or demanded any such interest,
and has that had anything to do with
the letting or the terms of the con-
tract? Any such participation would
be an. improperly so grave as to
amount to a public scandal. The COM
pletest investigation is due to all the
parties concerned.
Again, this is serious affair for the
state. Mr.. Jordan says that he would
have been glad to take the contract at
4 higher figure than that of the sue
cessful bidder. He says that he would
be glad to take it today if he could be
secure against hostility from the war
oCA a. u" SOnlo' nc Is man per-
sonally and officially responsible, and
the difference between the price he
names and that which the state will
receive amounts, for the life of the
contract, to $13,5oo. This cannot be
ignored.
An investigation must be had. In
the meantime, one immediate and un-
pleasant feature of the case is the
silence of the board of control.
1T is fact that Mr.. Jordan
made a statement of some ma
ture before them, and it is a fact that
they have declined to make known it's
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-09
Contemporary Comment
The Yellow Peril. ,

The medievaE notion of the yellow
peril is all very well ito frighten chill
dren with but the phrase deserves Sc
rious attention only in its modern COM
mercial form of ASIA for the Asiatics.' =
1t is possible, Of course, that were
China strong enough it might shut out
trade with the rest of the world. But
for many years any such attempt
would be impossible. and by the time
protectionism is feasible it may be be-
lieved that the world will have begun
to appreciate the advantages Of un-
restricted commerce toe highly to sac
rifiee them lightly.-Kansas City Star.