Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-12
Julius Weber, Wife, Daughter
and Son Are Murdered at
Auburn, California
BODIES BURNED WITH HOUSE
Unknown Assassin Commits Terrible
Crime and Then Sets Fire to the
House TO Hide His GuiIt-Bodies Al.
most Consumed, but Remains Show
Bullet WOUNDS.

Auburn, Cal, Nov. 12.--It is now
known that julius Weber, his wife
their 19-year-old daughter Bertha, and
their son, Paul. aged IA years, were
murdered by an unknown assassin,
who set fire to the home IN an
effort TO cover his crime. Before the
fire had made any great Roadway, the
bodies of the murdered woman and her
two children We're rescued from the
burning house. An examination of the
bodies showed that Mrs. Weber and
the children had been murdered before
the fire had been started. The daugh-
ter had been killed by a pistol wound,
as had been Mrs. Weber. On the boys
head were several deep cuts. He hal
also been shot.
All efforts to reach julius Weber, the
father, who was not thought to be in
the burning house, were abandoned
until yesterday, when a search was
made in the burning timbers and his
body was found in the bath room OF
the dwelling. He, too, had been shot
down before being let to be consumed
by the flames. This makes the death
list as follows:
julius Weber, aged 4S.
Mrs. Julius Weber, aged Al.
Bertha Weber, aged 10, their daugh-
ter.
Paul Weber, son, Ia years.
The body of Mr.. Weber was so badly
burned that it has been impossible 10
ascertain how often he was shot. Il
has been ascertained beyond doubt
that the women were killed in one room
and their clothing set on fire, and that
they were then dragged into the apart
ment where their bodies were Discovers
ed.
One very peculiar circumstance of
the tragedy is that, while the bodies OF
the mother and daughter were burned
to some extent, the apartment in which
they were lying was not on fire when
the f1remen broke in, which showed
that they had been killed in some other
portion Of the house. partially burn
ed and then dragged into the room
where they We're found.
The physicians are holding an au-
topsy over the badly charred remains
of Julius Weber. Coroner Shepard,
Sheriff Kean, and District Attorney
Robinson are making a thorough in
vestigation of the tragedy. They are
no theories, but the facts
would indicate that the murders were
the work of mad man, or a COOL
permeditated crime. The
robbery theory is about exploded, as
no incentive has been found. Adolph
Weber the son, aged 20, who is the
only member of the family alive, talks
but little, but to the coroner and sher
if, he said he did not think the motive
was either robbery CIR revenge. When
asked if he had theory, he said he
had, but would not give it. The boy
said he left the house about $3.50, came
down town, purchased pair of trous
ers, and did several other errands.
When he went to the fire, he dropped
his old trousers, which were in a bum
die, in the burning building. He is
now at the home Of Deputy County
Treasurer John Adams. Young Web
err has good reputation. Two 22-
calibre revolvers were found, but the
bullets extracted from the bodies were
Of 32-calibre. The officers are looking
for the pistol from which they were
fired. The inquest has been adjourned
to await the result OF the autopsy.