The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-07-22
THE ECHO MURDER.
The Victim a Son Of Sheriff John
Turner.

| 1uEu6Is
On Tuesday morning an item was
published of the discovery OF the body
OF murdered man, on the 10:h inst.
about seven miles from Echo City, 10
Echo Canon. An inquest was held
and the facts set forth were: The
body was in such a state of decom po-
sition as to be unrecognissble. As
near as could be determined, the man
was about % years of age, bad dark
brown hair, wore a checked chevios
shirt, light cashmere pants; no coat,
hat, shoes Ur boots we're found. He
was lying about three rods north
from the main wagon road, behind 8
large rock. The body WAS wrapped
in an A tent. There was bunch OF
lucerne in with the body. and five
large rocks placed on it, outside the
tent, weighing from fifty to seventy
five pounds a piece. One corner of
the tent was burned. The skull
above the left ear was broken in, also
the under jaw broken apart. The
body was that Of a man about five
feet five inches; bis hair was cut very
short; had on one white sock; no
papers or anything on the Deceased
that led to his Identification. Owing
to the time he had lain. probably
three or four weeks, it was impossible
to find any further marks OF violence.
On Monday morning Sheriff John
Turner received telegram annosnc-
ing that his team had that day been
sold a! Evanston by person who took
whatever money he could get for it
and decamped hastily. Mr.. Turner
Immediately suspected foul play,
and upon the publication of
the item on Tuesday morning,
as above stated, it was very generally
believed, and with every reason for it,
that his son John, young man over
20 years OF age, was the victim, and
that a person named Fred. Welcome
vas the murderer. Mr.. Turner's son
had been working at Park City with
hia father team for some three weeks,
and about a week ago Last Tuesday
had left there for Echo, in com.
pany with this Fred. Welcome, who
also, as near as can be learned, had |
a team. Since that time nothing has
been heard of the boy. The descrip.
ton given above answers that of
young Turner, as near as could be
given in the state in which the sbody |
was found, and such clothes es he
had on were similar to those known
to be worn by thesunfortunate young
man. The fact that one corner OF
the tent was burned was viewed as an
attempt on the part Of the assassin to
hide the evidence Of his crime in
flames, but to Sheriff Turner and his
friends j. is positive assurance that
the murdered man is his son, &c Mr..
Turner's tent, when his son started
out from Provo with it, had one cor
Ter burned as described. It was
stated in the article of Tues
day that the body had lain
three or four weeks, but physi-
clans state that three or four days. in
such weather, and in the position
described, would be sufficient time in
which to bring about the decomposi-
.ion in which the body was found,
which is another circumstance, taken
in connection with those already
given, that tends to establish the
Identity of the body.
As before stated, Fred. Welcome
was known TO leave Park CITY with
the young man, and Fred. Welcome
it ia reported answers the de-
scription of the person who
SOLD Mr.. Turner's team at Evans
on. On two occasions Sheriff
Turner has arrested this Individual,
once. for horse stealing, which
case, owing to the absence of the
person from the territory whose horse
was stolen, was never prosecuted
against him. he has been heard to
swear be would kill Turner, and has
even said so to Turner himself, when
in custody; and instances are cited,
how true We cannot say, in which
this same fellow Welcome has laid
plots to have the sheriff severely
beaten il not killed. Where be came
from no one appears to know, or
whether he has any family, but he
was always looked upon at Provo as
a tramp and very bad Elaa. Young
Turner knew him well, and it is
thought strange that he should con-
sent to be IN his company.
From the position OF the body and
the surroundings it is naturally infer
red that the murder was cold-blooded,
and that the victim was attacked
while asleep. He could not tavs had
q great deal OF money, If any, as he
had only worked three weeks, but to
some tramps it needs but little in
centive to take away human life;
while, besides what money might
have been obtained, there was the
team which was sold.
Upon the receipt of the intOrma-
ton Sheriff Turner started out, &C
compsnied by Mr.. Thomas Fowler.
OF Lehi, and they are now in pursuit
of the assassin, or have captured him.
Mr.. Turner's reputation aa a sheriff
and detective i4 second to none in the !
territory, and with the incentive be
has for the capture of the murderer,
it is the confident belief that Welcome
will be captured dead or alive. The
former manner is preferable. il he |
really be, as appears, the murderer.
A telegram was received from
Sheriff Turner from Echo. on
Wednesday, ordering coffin, which !
settles the question of the identity oil
the murdered man, it certainly being
young John.