Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-05-03

The recent murder OF Respectable
man named Brassfeld in Salt Lake City,
has brought affairs in Mormondom
nearly to crisis. Brassfeld had Just
married Mormon's "second" wife, and
his full name was Spurs Newton
Brassfeld he was 30 years old, freigh-
ter by occupation, and lately from Aus
tin, Nevada.
Having been married by Judge NJ Cur
dy of the United States territorial court
to a SECOND" wife of AN. Hill, Nor
mon missionary, now in Europe, he un-
dertook to get her clothing and house
hold goods also to obtain possession of
her two children by Hill, but was re-
sisted in both efforts by the friends of
the latter. The city police (Mormon) ar
rested him for stealing the clothes, and
a trial for that was pending. Two writS
of habeas corpus were issued for the
children, one ff0m Judge M'Curdy of
the United States court GENTLE court,
in the interest of Brasstie4d), the other
by the probate (MormOnl court in the
interest of the Hill party and the hear
ing before Judge MCurdy was in pro-
gress. Brassfeld contended that as
Hill had wife when he married the
now Mrs. Brassfeld, mother of the chill
dren. the second marriage was null and
void, aud the children by it having no
legal father, their custody reverted in
full to the mother. Thus was raised a
! direct issue as to the legality of polyg-
amOus marriages. During a recess
in the United States court, the children
being in the custody ofthe United States
marshal, the probate or Mormon judge
summond him to answer his writ Of ha-
beas corpus, and threatened to imprison
him unless he produced the children be-
fore his court.
At this point in the progress of the
case, and while Brassf9ld and the United
States marshal were going together to
the International Hotel i II the evening, a
man, who stood between the bay win
dow and door of an adjoining building,
advanced one step from the corner and
fired at Mr.. Brassfeld the shot taking
effect in his arm and side four buck
shot entered the arm, one striking the
elbow joint and breaking the arm. The
| fifth shot, which was much larger than
the others, entered his right side. When
the gun was fired Mr.. Brassfeld fell, and
said, 40, my God ! l am shot !" He was
carried into the International Hotel,
where he fingered in agony about 45
| minutes and then expired. The assas-
sin, after firing, ran across the street,
and turning the corner by the theater,
continued in uortherly direction. AS
he passed the st. Charles restaurant he
was fired at twice by policemen. The
marshal here lost sight of the murderer,
| and he seems to have been recognized
by no one. And here the case rested at
last accounts. The Salt Lake Union
| Vedette says Mrs. Brassfeld has ap-
piled to the military authorities for pro-
lection. The question of who shall have
the custody of the children remains to
be decided and promises to be exceeding
ly interesting. The Vedette comments
as follows:
"It would be useless to deny the fact
that, in the opinion Of the Gentle com
munity of this city, the killing of Mr.
Brassfeld was a deliberately planned
scheme, concocted and advised by mer
high in authority in the Norman church
1t is reminder of the days that were
and foretaste of what will be AGAR
when the troops are removed The
community is struck dumb st the ap
palling audacity of the affair. Men sal