Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-24
HOPT's. CASE GOING ON.
Nearly the same Evidence ns Bcfore
and the TestiInOnyIs Being
npidly-S..Tnken.

EupiUtS=sEuhehs
In the Third District Court yesterday
afternoon jury in the 1Iopt case was Sc
cured at about o'clock. This gave the
movers in the trial much satisfaction,
after having labored increasingly all the
week in search OF twelve impartial men
for jury. The indictment was then
read, and tine defendants attorneys re-
quested and were GRANTED an order from
the Court TO exclude the witnesses fpom
the court room during the trial OF the case,
except as called on.
Prosecuting Attorney Narian made II
statement to the jury OF the case, and
what he expected to prove. 1t will be
remembered that this is liopts fourth
trial. Three times the defendant has
been arraigned during the past five years,
and Just SO often he has been proven
guilty and sentenced TO death. All these
decisions have been reversed by the Su-
preme Court on exceptions by the de-
tense.
Johu W. Turner, father OF John +.
Turner, the murdered son, was called TO
the witness stand for the prosecution.
This was as late us O'Clock yesterday
afternoon, and but one other witness,
Silas Alfred, WAS TO be heard before adj
journing for the day.
SHERIFF TURNER'S EVIDENCE.
Mr.. Turner said in summary that he
lived in Provo City, Utah Territory and
is Sheriff OF Utah county. John +. Tur-
ner, his murdered son, was twenty-four
years OF age, and his Oldest boy. He last
saw his son on the Goth OF June, 1880, AT
Provo. He started for Park City TO do
teaming with two span OF horses and two
wagons. He had with him two or three
suits oil clothes, and wore checked cassi-
mere pair of pants and chcviot shirt and
had two suits OF blue flannel undercloth-
ing. In description John +. Turner
was about five feet six inches high,
weighed between 1876 and lao pounds,
dark complexion, dark hair, and with no
beard whatever. In minor matters, he
had silver ring with gold setting, two
pocket knives, u blank book. and Wore
boots.
Mr.. Turner's testimony was suspended
for the time being, and Mr.. Slas Alfred
was called to the witness stand. He lives
Mt Provo and is related by marriage to
deceased. Saw him alive on or about the
2sth OF June, 1880. Mr.. Alfred described
young Turner's teams, his personal APP
pearance and so on in very much the
same manner as did Sheriff Turner. He
next saw John +. Turner about the 2lst
OF July, five miles or 80 up Echo canyon.
Found young Turner lying behind some
| rocks dead. about five rods off from the
Ina lnl -,
the tent described, and several
rocks were thrown on top OF it.
John Fowler was with them at the time
of the discovery OF the body, which was
easily recognized by the features rs that
of John +. Turner. They also recognized
the finger ring and other effects of the
deceased. They left the body there and
went TO Piedmont, where they found one
OF the wagons belonging 10 the deceased.
Found the other wagon nj Green River.
The AK belonging to John Turner was in
this wagon and blood was found on ii.
and the wagon was stained with blood.
pair of horses belonging to John T..
Turner were also found, and all was
handed over to Sheriff Turner.
Alfred said the body OF Turner was
badly decomposed. The left side OF the
head, Just above the ear, WAS mashed in,
and the left jaw was broken off as though
done with something like an AK The
| above is substantially the same evidence
as has been given before.
Sias Alfred was recalled to-day and
asked question, after which he was
excused
Thomas Fowler, OF Ioh, was called
next, and testified to knowing Sheriff
Turner and his deceased son for several
years. Saw John r. Turner last alive in
May, 1880; knew his property. recog.
nized him when dead in Echo canyon, on
the 2lst OF July, 1880. The body OF
John +, Turner WAS rolled up in a tent
a few rods from the main road, pro-
ceedcd east and overlook Turner Mt Pied.
mont. Knew young Turner by hi
clothes, features and finger ring. one
foot wore II sock, the other was bare.
| Found one oil the teams in Green River
roam and brown horse. The rest Of
Mr.. Fowler's testimony substantioted his
former evidence in the case.
Leonard Phillips was called, and test
fed in substance that he lived at Echo
and knew defendant by sight, saw him
when Turner brought him there. Saw
the dead body found up the canyon saw
the team there that Turner brought back
and recognized it as the same outfit that
passed his house on the 9Th, some iour
days before found piece of scalp neal
the road beside Turner's body. lie de.
scribed the condition and covering OF the
body about rs did previous witnesses.
Alexander Gilchrist, Richard Nickel
and William Brown, testified much the
same as in former trials of the case, and
varied but trihingly in the particulars
given.
Sheriff Turner was recalled ior aues
ton or two and dismissed.
DR. j. VI. Benedict, who made an OK.
animation OF young Turner's body, was
called to the stand this afternoon directly
after Richard Wicket had been recalled
and dismissed DIR. Benedict said he
knew Sheriff John Turner, but not
the deceased; made an examination
OF the body on the depot plat.
form with Sheriff Turner in
charge, and other persons present. A
skull was produced and the Doctor
showed the condition Of the injuries by
an outline. The body was decomposed.
and the hair was off on the left sido ol
the head. There existed II broken place,
apparently made by blunt instrument,
probably an axe, and death must have
been instantaneous.
Sheriff NJ Allionn Of lu,,,,,;t ..,,,,,,.,