Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-28

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stances in the testimony TO prove that
this party engaged in this murder, you
are to say so, and if you see evidence OF
guilt you are TO make it known in your
| decision. You have no explanation to
make as to the death of John f. Turner;
| you have but one question to answer in
deciding the guilt or innocence OF this
defendant by the evidence adduced.
Something has been said about Hopt
being the master mind and leader OF
Emerson in the affair. The incidents
along the road deny the assertion, and
show
| EMERSON A MORE EXPERIENCED, OLDER AND
DEEPER PLoTTER
Than Hopt. 1t will be remembered that
Hopt was luckless boy, without parental
care or guidance at the age OF 13 years.
He formed hayward, reckless habits,
which have centered crime upon him.
On the other hand is Emerson with his
knowledge OF the world and the tact OF
even working upon the feelings OF jury.
Ileave with you the grave responsibility
of handling this mans life.
MIR. BEN sHEEKs.
May it pleace the Court and gentlemen
of the jury, shall not go through all the
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set forth by my associate, Mr.. Williams.
This case arose long time ago.. The de-
PENDANT has had no means to employ
counsel and has had simply such aid as
has been provided by the Court. In re-
gard to the Identification Of this body,
the fact that these witnesses testified that
they identified the body by the face
seems untrue, and that they had to be
guided by referring to clothes and many
small articles besides. have
wondered why the other sock, said to
mate the one brought here, was not pre-
sented. The prosecution would have
produced it if it had been mate of the
one brought here. Why not bring the
one found on the body instead Of the one
which had been off several days? This
is all care to say OF the identification OF
this body. Where is there any evidence
that Turner was killed by Hopt? Where,
il so, is any generalization shown? Re-
garding the loose remarks OF Hopt that
HE WOULD GET EVEN WITH THE TURNER
| FAMILY,
| What is the conclusion? You all know
that throughout your own lives you have
said many careless things with no signif-
canoe intended
Mr.. Sheeks gave an example OF the
easy possibility of being mistaken in
person s words and meaning, as may be
the case with the witness who testified to
Hopts threats against the Turner family.
Referred to the statement of Mr.. Camp
bell, of Green River, who said Hopt
stated he had killed an innocent
young man in cold blooo Why did this
not cause suspicion if it impressed the
witness as being true, and why did Mr..
Campbell stop there and not ask ma
tural question about the killing Of an in
to stay all night with him, and but little
credit can be given the testimony. Ii
these men killed John f. Turner it was
for the purpose of getting the teams and
property to sell. And il they
did do the crime they would
never have waited until the
morning OF the 9th before going away. 1t
is highly improbable that Hopt would
have gone to Emerson, total stranger,
and asked him to go with him in care OF
one OF the teams. There is no evidence
to show
WHERE EMERSON WAS THAT NIGHT,
And Hopt was about the town with COM
panions and free. to detection, if guilty.
After they started away Hopt seems to
business, and this looks as though Emer-
son was shouldering the responsibility on
Hopt, and in case Of detection OF
the body this man Emerson could
plead ignorance and leave Hopt ac-
countable. Emerson kept himself
hid from view and in the background all
along that canyon trip. The shirt with
blood on it was seen the night of the Sd
by lady and some others who have
testified here. 1t has been unfortunately
lost. We say if it had been Hopt's shirt
it would have been produced here, but as
it was not it must have belonged to EN-
erson, and the spots on Hopt's shirt have
been accounted for, and he didn't try 10
get away, but wore the shirt until the
next day.
WHOEVER KILLED TURNER
did it without reconciliation and made
their plans afterward, as is shown by the
outfit not being removed until three days
afterward Gentlemen OF the jury feel
that L have not given the defendant the
aid he deserves for / have not had the
time to look up the defense the prosecu-
ton had done. | leave the case OF life or
death with you. You have it in your
power to take his life, but should YOU
find no generalization and deliberation
you can save him.
Long before the hour for the afternoon
session of the District Court, thronps of
men and women wendell their way IN
the stairs into the trial room. A large
representation OF the legal fraternity
were present inside OF the railing, and
even the aises were packed with the
curious to get a glimpse of the unmoyed
criminal and the patient and resolute
John w. Turner, father OF the murdered
boy.
MIR. G. s. vARIAN,
The Prosecuting Attorney, began n most
eloquent and exhaustive argument of the
testimony given. Commencing at the
Sd OF July, 1880, he recited in a rapid
and most touching manner all the
long chain. OF facts centering the
murder of John i. Turner ON
the head OF Fred Welcome, alias Fred
erick Hopt. To give the points brought
out by the searchings OF the speaker
would be an impossible task at this late
hour. In contradictory proof OF Hopts
explanation OF the blood on his shirt-his
appearing in town for observance .imme-
diately after the crime is supposed to have
been committed-the moving of Turner's
property up Echo canyon, and the
graphic account OF all happenings along
the canyon road, We're given in such a
stirring spirit as to bring the tears and
crimson to hundreds OF cheeks. Every
one at all familiar with the tragedy Is
well acquainted with the evidence i'm the
case, and in Mr.. Variants inyestipa-
ton OF young Turner's mysterious