The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-15
SHOT ROR HIS CRIME.
Frederick Hopfs Strange Execution at Salt
Lake CITY.

A Salt Lake special Of Friday SAYS /:
Frederick Hopt alias Welcome, the youth
ful murderer. was shot here to-day by off.
GERS deputized for the purpose. The statute
gives the condemned the choice OF death
by hanging or shooting. The United States
Supreme Court Yesterday declined TO inter-
iere. Hopt said he was not afraid to meet
his fate, and chose to be shot. 1t will
be remembered that In June. 1880,
John +. Turner, son OF John W.
Turner, sheriff OF Utah county, left
his fathers home, at Provo, taking
two teams and wagons, loaded with
grain for feed, camping outfit, etc.
lie went to Park City for the purpose
Of securing work for himself and teams,
intending to remain during the season, and
arrived there the latter part OF June. He
camped in the canyon below The town and
spent several days i'm and about th>t min
ing camp. making numerous acquaintance,
among whom was Frederick Hopt, then
going under the name OF Frederick Wei
come. Turner, failing to get work, talked
OF going to Gunniscn, Col, q new town
then Just starting. some $50 miles distant,
and asked several persons to 90 with him
and share in his enterprise. The last seen
of Turner alive was on the evening OF July
Sd. when he went TO his camping-place II
rest.
Uopt at late hour that night appeared
in saloon with blood on his hands and
clothes, and engaged in drinking, spend
ing money freely. In the meantime Sheriff
Turner had not heard OF his son, and,
learning OF his disappearance from Park
City, started out to trace him up. He fol-
lowed Hopt to Cheyenne and went there
to make his arrest, charging him with KILL
ing his son. On the day he reached there
he received dispatch giving notice Of the
finding OF the body. A few hours later
Hopt was pointed out by him to the
Cheyenne officers, and the arrest was
made. Turner took the prisoner and
brought him here. As he passed Echo the
remains OF his son were put in his charge,
and thus the unusual occurrence OF q
father bringing the murderer OF his son
and the body OF the victim ut the same time
occurred and created most intense excite
ment among the masses.
Turner was at the time and Is still a
deputy United States marshal, and in pur-
suance Of his duty rs officer and respect
for law. prevented HOpt at that Zine and
on ScNcGul OCCdSlOHS SlHCt HUM DtiIS
Ivnched. After this arrest Jack Emerson,
companion OF lopt. telegraphed from
Sidney. Neb.. that he was there, ready 10
stand trial; and he was arrested and
brought here. The two men were indicted
together, after which separate trials were
had. Emerson was found guilty and sem
fenced to Imprisonment for life. Hopt was
tried few months after the murder. found
guilty OF murder in the first degree, and
on being sentenced to death, chose shoot
ing rs the mode OF execution.
Three deputies were detailed TO carry
ont the execution. armed with Winchester
repeating rifles. The criminal was blind
folded and seated upon a coffin in the iai
yard The three officers drew up ten PAGES
from tie condemned man, all being eX
cluded from witnessing the execution eX
cept the sheriff, his deputies. and jury
selected from the jail and sheritl's officials
all other citizens refusing to serve. The
murderer was killed at the first volley
every ball penetrating his body.