The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-11-06
The CHASE and Capture OF the
Murdersrs
Handsome Reward.
correspondence SALT LAKE HERALD
LOGAN, Utah, Nov. 4, 1881

able paper would like full account
of the murder of the late Joel
Hinckley, which has caused SO
much excitement and enthusiasm,
especially up this way. In view OF
settling the minds of those who
have listened to the many rumors
in circulation, and giving those who
are not acquainted with the circum-
stances the particulars of the sac
affair and an idea of the feeling
which existed before the capture OF
the villains who perpetrated the
murder, 1 have gathered the fol.
lowing:
At ten o'clock on the night of the
2Sth ult., two men, heavily masked
stepped into the u. & n. Railway
office at Franklin and presenting a
pistol, told the late Hinckley to
throw up his hands. At the same In
stant the pistol discharged, the ball
entered the late agents chin, and
caused his death almost instantly.
1t is firmly believed that the intent
of the dastardly scoundrels was
plumber and not blood, for had they
wished to kill the agent they could
have done it without entering the
Office, as they saw him as he stood
near a window washing his hands.
They also saw the mail carrier,
young Stalker, who was supposed to
be asleep on bench, and the smaller
man in his confession says he was
to take care of the mail carrier
while the larger man obtained the
combination Of the safe, and the
plumber from the agent. AS soon
as the pistol had exploded, the ras-
Gals, seeing what they had done, fed
in haste. Mrs. Hinckley, the late
agents wife, was in an adjoining
room, and heard it all, and as soon
as the assassins had left the office,
she and Stalker rushed out for help,
and the sad intelligence flew like
wind.
Upon the arrival of the passenger
train at Franklin, which was
shortly after II o'clock, an operator
who was on board sent the follow
Ing message:
FRANKLIN, ID, 28th.
g. ". Thatcher, Superintendent,
Logan:
Joel Hinckley was shot dead about
10 pm, by two unknown men-one
tall man, about six feet, the other
about five feet eight inches. Both
had mask caps on and drawn over
their faces. Tall man had soldier coat
on with cap on. Both men started
north from here on foot.
(Signed) A. r. STALKER"
Upon receiving this message Su-
perintendent Thatcher Immediately
made arrangements and the first
thing in the morning run a special
to Franklin to learn full particulars
and start men out in pursuit of the
two men suspicioned who had
been seen in Franklin three DAYS
before. Superintendent Thatcher
secured descriptions of the men and
at once started men out after them.
He also sent kilograms to all agents
along the line giving description
of the men and ordering them to
arrest all suspicious-looking men
and hold them for examination. He
also ordered out men, well armed,
from Battle Greek to watch every
bridge and place where the men
could cross Bear River. He tele-
graphed for such men as could be
used to advantage, to assist in the
chase. lie telegraphed to General
Supt. J. I. Clark, stating the facts,
and asking if the company would
offer a rewa. d for the capture of the
mTdererS, to which Mr.. Clark re-
piled at once offering the handsome
sum of $1,000.
Supt. Thatcher also telegraphed
to the father of the murdered
young man, stating what had hap
pen d, to which he received an
answer saying he would be here on
Sunday. Thus the sad news was
beralded and the fame of excite
ment and enthusiasm increased.
On the afternoon of the 3lst ult.
man presented himself at Carl
Sagers' ranch, about thirty miles
northwest Of Soda Springs, and
asked for food. Sagers, who had
heard of the murder of HinckIey. |
had a suspicion this was one of the
men, and determined to treat him
well and try and find out something
which would lead to confirm his
SO he invited him in, but
the man refused, saying he had al
partner about 800 yards from the
house, and he would take any food
Sagers would give him down to his
partner in a dug-Out they would oc-
cupy during the night. Sagers told
them they were welcome to a bed
in the house if they would
accept, but he declined, saw
ing they had their blankets
and would get along all right
Later in the afternoon Sagers went
down TO the dugout, and seeing no
there, asked after them.
when one of the men said: "To tell
the truth, they were burnt up
Sagers told them they had better 90
up to the house and have a GOOD
nights rest, which they afterwards
did. Early the following morning
Sagers rode over to Calls rancho.
Ieaving the men at the house. On
his arrival there, he found a ielly
crowd, consisting of VIM. Brown.
II Qriff &c