A new article has been added at Newspaper Abstracts > United States > California > Sacramento http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=587 Direct link to article: http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/link.php?id=35974 Submitted by: California Contributors Article Title: The Saturday Bee Article Date: June 23 1906 Article Description: Adolph Weber & Death of Mrs. William Walker & D.W.C. Benjamin, and Other Northern California News Items Article Text: The Saturday Bee Sacramento, Cal. June 23, 1906 Page 6 CHARACTER AND HABITS OF ADOLPH WEBER, UNNATURAL SON AND BROTHER Vain and Cunning, Cruel and Criminal, He Lived to Himself, a Repellant Youth, Plotting Evil Things AUBURN (Placer Co.), June 23 - Thursday's Bee told of the action of the Supreme Court in refusing Adolph WEBER, convicted in the Superior Court of this county of the murder of his mother in November 1904, a new trial, and the Bee of yesterday told of the prisoner's reception of the news and gave a brief history of the awful crime, by which not only his mother fell, but also his father, sister and brother. Following this, a short review of the prisoner's life, habits and character may prove of interest. A Strange Youth The life and character of Adolph WEBER have come under more notice than those of perhaps any other California criminal, unless DURRANT was the exception. And he is more of an enigma than DURRANT. The latter was industrious in protesting his innocence, while WEBER has never deigned to aver his, except when the direst question of his guilt or innocence was put to him at the trial, and even then his answers were in monosylables. He has not deigned to argue his innocence to anyone, as this he would consider more humbling to himself than anything he could do. And Adolph WEBER never knew what humility was. His whole being is based on vanity. Not that offensive vanity which is continuously asserting itself, but a quiet, reserved and self-satisfied vanity, which is secure in itself and which does not seek praise. Vanity and Cunning. Vanity, criminality and cunning are the chief composites of his character, so far as observation shows. He has no sense of humor or generosity. His mind has been so constantly on himself that he has failed to observe the common things of life. He has always held aloof from associates, so that he knows, in reality, but little of the merits and ability of his fellow beings, and the ways of men as most people know them. When you tell the prisoner something to smile over, he receives it coldly, and at other times he laughs most unexpectedly. Writers have sermonized that WEBER's early training and his lack of respect for his parents are the causes which developed him into the murderer of his family, but this is an erroneous idea. All the training and home influence in Christendom would not have changed or altered him a whit from what he is to-day. He was born a criminal, just as other men are born good and righteous. The law of Nature that applies to one, is applicable to the other, only the results are opposite. Loving Parents No woman ever had a kinder heart for her offspring than Mary WEBER. No father was ever more ambitious for his son to be something in the world than Julius WEBER. Yet this murderer grew steadily along the course of the assassin and struck down his kinsmen in the most fiendish manner. No earthly influence could have deterred him as his very heart and soul were seared with the mark of Cain. His nature and composition were simply that of a fiend. Even in his hopeless condition, his terrible spirit has not been broken, and he has held to his dogged silence. No man ever had the confidence of the prisoner. Though he was defended by able attorneys, they groped in the dark and knew no more than the detectives and public of the awful crime, and no man in all probability, will ever know from the lips of WEBER how the assassination was accomplished, or what its motives were. An Incarnate Wretch His little world never knew - even his parents who watched over and cared for him in the years of his infancy and boyhood - never knew, nor dreamed, of the incarnate wretch in Adolph WEBER, youth though he was. His parents are dead, and the world stands shocked at their murder, but, even so, it little understands his character. The silent, undemonstrative youth never gave the least indication of the awful intentions that were growing in his mind. His family was a burden to him. There was nothing that he approved in them, and for months he never shared a meal at the same board with any of them. This conduct was not looked upon as significant, but merely an eccentricity of a humored child. But in these sullen silences were developed the plans by which WEBER calculated to remove his family, an obstacle to him, and go into the world as he chose. With the fortune of his people, which he would inherit, at his command, he would have gained his damnable ambition. A Student of History WEBER is a student of Nations. He believes that Russia is the coming power of the earth, regardless of her recent crushing defeat by Japan. In his cell he has quite a historical library, over which he pores a good part of the time, giving but little thought to his impending doom. He also has an atlas and maps of the world and takes great interest in discussing these subjects. He has mapped out campaigns by Russia against the United States in which he counts the Russians as the victors. He believes the Russian Empire will eventually acquire India, but he does not explain how Russia would overcome England's objection to such an action. From early boyhood these kinds of problems have been uppermost in his mind. It was from the plans of one of these military sketches that the evidence of his handwriting were detected in the bank robbery case. A Poor Talker To all visitors the prisoner is uninteresting. He lacks the faculty to make his conversation interesting, and his sharp, metallic voice soon becomes monotonous to the listener. He is suspicious and close-mouthed about his case, and a direct question about any of his actions in the great tragedy is always met with resentful silence. He does not answer any question with much satisfaction and more often his response is a counter question. WEBER FULLY REALIZES HOPELESSNESS OF CASE AUBURN (Placer Co.), June 23 - This is a quiet day in the WEBER case and no visitors to speak of have seen the prisoner. Even his old schoolmates have not seem him for many months, and the confirmation of his sentence did not stir them to any visits nor expressions of sympathy. WEBER chats with the men who are watching over him day and night to prevent his self-destruction. The prisoner has been a student in Spanish for some time and last night conversed quite fluently in that language with Guard LOZANO. He realizes fully the hopelessness of his case, but strange to say he has changed his demeanor and is quite cheerful, so far evinces no signs of fear of his coming fate. His guardian and business agent, John ADAMS, who has managed the prisoner's business affairs all during his prosecution and imprisonment, has been ill for the past two months and shows no signs of improving. His condition yesterday was reported quite serious, and when the prisoner was told of it he replied, somewhat dejectedly: "I guess this means death for both of us." Some speculation is being indulged is as to what the prisoner will do with his money. Predictions are that Miss Bertha HESS, a cousin, will receive a good portion of it. This is based on the prisoner's liking for the young woman though she was bitter toward him and refused to communicate or correspond with him. Since his conviction he has written several long letters to her, but there has never been a reply to any of them. It is quite likely that WEBER will remember all of his relatives in his will, though it is not known whether he has executed one yet. If he has, it is safe in the hands of his guardian or attorneys and will probably not be brought to light until after his execution. Tennis at Stockton STOCKTON (San Joaquin Co.), June 23 - The tennis tourney to be held in this city on July 4th promises to be one of the biggest of the season. Secretary BARNETT, of the local Club, has received many entries and has announced that all entries will be closed next Monday evening. Among the entries from Sacramento are George L. BAKER and Charles LOMBARD, both members of the Sacramento Lawn Tennis Club; F.F. ATKINSON, of the East Side Club of Sacramento has entered and has written that there will be four teams from that city. The local players are Dewey POWELL, Robert INGILS, Ed. HIGHBY and Walter HUNTER. J.P. FRANCIS and O.J. LOWALL, of Auburn, are also entered. Robbers Sent to State Penitentiary MONTAGUE (Siskiyou Co.), June 23 - Fred FLORES will spend three years in San Quentin Prison and J.C. REYNOLDS and James BRADLEY fifteen months in Folsom Prison because they robbed the Walbridge store in this place on May 6th. They were sentenced in Yreka by Judge BEARD yesterday afternoon. FLORES was probably given the longer term because he was the leader of the gang and because he did not plead guilty when BRADLEY and REYNOLDS so plead. Bathed in Hot Spring; Dies From Scalding ANDERSON (Shasta Co.), June 23 - Daniel KIRKPATRICK, aged 73, and for twenty-seven years a business man of this place, died yesterday morning from the effects of a scalding he received last week in plunging into a hot bath at the Big Bend Hot Springs, where he had gone for the benefit of his health. He was unmarried. Mrs. Dan ZUMWALT, of this place, is his cousin. The funeral will be held to-morrow. Witness Left State REDDING (Shasta Co.), June 23 - Richard BARNICOTT and Charles McVEY, who have been held in jail since January on a charge of robbery alleged to have been committed in Kennett, were released from custody yesterday, the charge against them being dismissed because the prosecuting witness, Fred COOK, has left the State. They were tried once in the Superior Court, the jury standing eleven to one in favor of conviction. The second trial had been set for next week. On Visit From Mexico WOODLAND (Yolo Co.), June 23 - Mr. and Mrs. Al. SCHINDLER arrived in this city last night from San Ignacio, State of Sinaloa, Mexico. Mrs. SCHINDLER was formerly Miss Anna SCHLUER, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otto SCHLUER of this city. SCHINDLER owns a cattle ranch near San Ignacio and is also interested in the Candaleria gold mine with Colonel Daniel BURNS, and other mining properties in that country. They will remain some time visiting relatives and friends before returning to Mexico. New Teachers VACAVILLE (Solano Co.), June 23 - Out of a class of fourteen taking the annual teachers' examination before the County Board, one-half were successful in procuring certificates to teach, two of the successful ones, Misses Edith HOGUE and Roe RODGERS being from Vacaville. Will Marry YUBA CITY (Sutter Co.), June 23 - Stanley B. WALTON, son of B.F. WALTON, of this county, and Miss Lena BONESTILL, daughter of Attorney C.K. BONESTILL, of San Francisco, announce their engagement. The date of the wedding has not been set. Alva Udell and the Relief Fund DIXON (Solano Co.), June 23 - No surprise was manifested by the people of this, the home town of Alva UDELL, when they saw in Wednesday's Bee the telegram from San Francisco that he had commenced action against the Finance Committee of the San Francisco relief Committee, demanding that the funds in its hands be turned over to himself and "10,000 other refugees." The "10,000 other refugees" undoubtedly exist only in the very fertile imagination of Alva UDELL. The people here who know UDELL so well are reminded of the many old traits of this character by his recent act. UDELL has always been an agitator and disturber; always complaining of everything that is; always trying to get hold of something that belongs to somebody else; devoting considerable attention to looking up the flaws in titles to lands; getting into trouble generally, but managing somehow or another to keep out of jail. He has been arrested for land frauds and also for bigamy, but he has always succeeded somehow or another in steering clear of losing his personal liberty. Alva UDELL will have a very high old time if the Courts would pass over that relief fund to him. But the "other 10,000 refugees" would probably not have such a high old time. Aged Woman Called YREKA (Siskiyou Co.), June 23 - Mrs. William WALKER, of Scott Valley, passed away last Tuesday. She was 83 years old, and the cause of her death was old age. Until recently she had been able to look after the interests of her ranch, which is on Kidder Creek, Scott Valley, where she has resided since she left her old home in Illinois and crossed the plains with her late husband, William WALKER, in 1863. She leaves five sons and four daughters, all of whom are married and settled in either California or Oregon. Her third son, B.F. WALKER, held the office of Sheriff for a term of four years in Siskiyou County, and now resides in Oregon. She was respected by all of Scott Valley. The funeral took place Thursday at Fort Jones. A great many people from Yreka attended. Whooping Cough LOYALTON (Sierra Co.), June 23 - Whooping cough is epidemic here now. Not only a large number of children have the disease, but several adults are afflicted. Otherwise the health conditions are excellent in Loyalton. Barn Burned IGO (Shasta Co.), June 23 - Children playing with matches in Candido MATTOS' barn yesterday afternoon started a fire that destroyed the barn and contents, including a $100 colt. Mr. MATTOS' dwelling near by was saved by hard work. The loss on barn, hay and colt amounts to $500. D.W.C. BENJAMIN Dies at Georgetown GEORGETOWN (El Dorado Co.), June 23 - D.W.C. BENJAMIN, a well-known citizen, died at his home in this place Thursday afternoon at the advanced age of 81 years. He was born in Connecticut in 1826. When a young man he learned the millwright's trade, and also received his diploma as a physician, but followed the former occupation. He came to California in 1852, and engaged in mining, lumbering and mill building, and for a time was bridge contractor. He served the county as Supervisor some years ago, and was an active and enterprising man. In 1871 he married Mrs. GROVER, who survives him. He also leaves one son, Clinton E. BENJAMIN, of Pino Grande, and six step-children. The funeral took place in Georgetown this afternoon, under the auspices of Acacia Lodge, F. and A.M., of Coloma, and Georgetown Lodge, No. 25, R.A.M., of which Lodges he was a member. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ CA-Old-News ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ NewspaperAbstracts.com - Finding our ancestors in the news! TM http://www.NewspaperAbstracts.com