The San Francisco call., 1904-11-26
Accused Youth Again Re-
fuses to Eat, and Though
He Is Still Defiant Eyi-
dence of Strain Is Showing
INSANITY PLEA MAY
BE USED BY DEFENSE
Legal Fight for Control of Es-
tate of Murdered Man to Be
Waged by Public Aminis-
traitor and Boys Guardian
Special Dispatch to The Call.

AUBURN, Nov. 25.-Adolph Weber
refused dinner again to-day. It is now
believed that if he was placed in SOL
itary confinement and denied callers
for a few days his defiant manner
would soon change He certainly
shows some signs Of the mental strain
he is under. There is no truth in the
report that he has made any sort of
an admission that would count against
him There have been rumors of a
confession, but there has been none.
Weber still sticks TO the same story
that he told Sheriff Keena and Cor
oner Shepard the morning after the
murder and later at the Coroner's in
quest Weber's story Of the route he
took on the night of the tragedy has
been contradicted by Miss May Clark,
and his statement that ne carried his
little brother out OF the burning fire
has been shown to be untrue by
George Ruth Clarence Geear. A. s.
Fleming. James Kenison and Guy Lu-
kens- The rest OF his story has not
been contradicted.
To-day has been a very quiet day
IN the Weber case. There have been
no startling developments. Sheriff
Keena has not yet returned from San
Francisco, where he went in search
Of the person who sold the fatal pistol.
The blood-stained waistcoat is still
missing and Vice President Lubecks
offer Of $1,000 reward has not brought
him the stolen bank money.
Ben P. Tabor. one of Weber's coun-
SCI. is in San Francisco. and it is un-
derstood he has secured the service of
Hiram ". Johnson for the defense.
Attorney Samuel J. Pullen has with
drawn from the defense of Weber He
viii, however. look after the Weber
estate for John Adams, guardian of
the accused youth. The contest for
control Of the estate comes up next
Monday, when Adams viii seek let
ters Of administration. opposing Pub
lie Administrator Shepard. who was
appointed special administrator by
the court.
The Snowden family favors Shep-
ara, who is represented by Attorney L.
l. Chamberlain and Lee f. Wallace. The
estate is variously estimated at from
$30.OU0 TO $4,000 1t consists OF real
estate in Oakland and many mortgages
CT ISHcnes III the vicinity CT Auburn.
There is much speculation as TO
Weber's defense. Il is assumed that
insanity viii be the plea To a Call
reporter to-day Mrs. Snowden said
there was no insanity on either side of
the family as far back as she knew
anything about. Weber has no rela-
tives living in this country: they are
all in Germany. Mrs. Weber's people
live in Sonora. this State.
WebeI's attorneys have made no eff
fort 10 have him admitted to bail
thinking il would be useless attempt
It is intimated. however, that a change
Of venue viii be asked for when the
case is called in the Superior Court
Those who are familiar with legal pro
cedure 10 NOT expect the case will be
transferred Considering the enormity
Of the crime with which the defendant
is charged, there has been but little
open bitterness displayed, and the peo-
pie are willing to abide by the result
Of the trial