The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-04-18
SUICIDE.
How George Wilson Drake was
" FOully Murdered"
Some Further Particulars About
the Death Of the Stranger.
Interesting to the Wise Heads
Who Saw Murder, the
Most Foul.

% the morning of the 31st o
March, man named George Wilson
Drake was found near the Tithini
i Office in a dying condition, with I
bullet hole ia his head, above tht
right ear. The particulars of the
event are still fresh in the minds o
E our readers, together with the action
, before the coroner's jury. the verdict
that he came to his death by unknown
: hands, the press comments on it, and
general public talk aud impression
that it was c -blooded murder,
committed for the money he had.
On this subject the HERALD. from
the first, tCok tbs ground that
it was suicide the NelOS
did not know; while the Tribune
pronounced it an unqualified
murder. The reasons for the opinion
Expressed by the HERALD were given
at length, and seemed plain enough
to US, and need 20 reCspituation.
The town was all excitement about
the affair, and a majority OF citizens
! took q very different view, and were
free in expressing their belief that
this paper was badly of on the ques
ton. The morning following the
day on which our account was pub
lished the following appeared in the
Tribune:
"The all absorbing topic of CONVEX
sation yesterday was the killing of
Drake. The HERALD chose to take
different view OF the shooting than
that of this paper, and called it
suicide. 1t placed the public in a
beautiful state of perplexity, there
fore, when in one journal they saw a
midnight murder had been COM
mitted, and by another paper that a
deliberate suicide had taken place. |
But the discussion which the variance |
gave rise to, demonstrated one fact |
very conolusiyely. that nine out of
ten cit 'zens of this city view the act
as murder by some one other than
Drake; that is, it was not self MUIR
der"
After a lengthy and detailed ac-
count of the testimony taken before
the coIoner's jury, in which doctor
was atked by the coroner which of the
statements published he believed cor
rect and received the answer that it
wss diff cult to see how it could be
a suicide, the Tribune concludes by
giving a series of twelve reasons why
Drake muat have been murdered, the
great one being that everybody
thought so, and the Erib. folks
thought so, and it must therefore be
so, and anyone entertaining a differ
ent opinion must as certainly have
been an ass as Drake was murdered.
The Herald was tax n to task by the
coroner for some statements which
were construed to reflect on the jury,
and particular stress was laid upon
the tests made regarding the burning
Of hair from q pistol shot; the infer
ence being that because Brakes hair
did not appear to be singed or burned
be did not commit suicide. That his
purse, in which everybody Rad seen
money, but no one had seen money
"a remarkable paIsdox-could not
be found, was cited as a significant
and important fact going to prove
murder; and to Offset everything else,
and put beyond the shadow OF doubt
he certainty of its being a murder.
he following was published in the
Tribune:
Som m REwARn
"a Reward of Two Hundred Dol
ars will be paid for the capture and
conviction of the murderer or muir
ierers of Geo. w. Drake, late men,
Der Of Vermillion Lodge, No. ITO, l.
D. o. F., Frankfort. Kansas, who was
30 fuulIy murdered in Salt Lake City,
Utah Territory, on the morning Of
March 31st, $780,"
The came thing was brought to the
HERALD for publication, but was re-
used except IS an advertisement, Is
being viewed as so much nonsense,
and as an UNIV arrsntable attempt on
he part of the Odd Fellows to create
an impression which the facts would
not justify.
So it was murder, and everybody had
settled down to the fact; but no clue
10 the murderer or murderers had
been discovered. On Saturday, how
sver. an event transpired which puts
he murder" in a new light. Sex
on J. E. Taylor and DR.. ].
D. Thompson beth received let.
ers from Margaret Drake, widow
# the unfortunate man, which
lad been written in response
10 letters received by her
from the gentleman named. Follow
ing are full copies, that to DIR.
Thompson being given first:
BEATTIE, MARSHALL Co., KANSAS,
April 18th, 1880.
DR.. Join D. Thompson, Salt Lake
City:
Dear Sir-Yours OF the I'd just re-
ceived. l have just finished a letter
in reply to one from Mr.. Joseph
Taylor, undertaken. In it | have
made such statements as | think will
answer all your questions, and set at
rest any doubts you have concerning
The sulhor of his death. The subject
is 60 distressing to me, that l pray
you to excuse me from answering
your letter 10 detail. Thanking you |
for the Interest you have shown tc-
ward what was left of one who was
more than all the world beside to |
NE, also for the sympathy you have
expressed yard me in this my
hour Of need,
! beg to remain,
Yours respectfully,
MARGARET DRAKE.
Here is the one received by Sexton
Taylor: