Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-24
HOPT's CASE GOING ON.
Nearly the same Evidence as Before
and the Testimony Is Being
Rapidly Taken.

afternoon a jury in the Hopt 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 mer
for Il jury. The indictment was ther
read, and the defendants attorneys re-
quested and were granted an order from
the Court to exclude the witnesses from
the court room during the trial of the case
except as called on.
Prosecuting Attorney Varian made a
statement to the jury OF the case, and
what he expected to prove. It will be
remembered that this is Hopt's 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.
John w. Turner, father OF John +.
Turner, the murdered son, was called to
the witness stand for the prosecution.
| This was as late as 4 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon, and but one other witness,
silas Alfred, was to be heard before adj
1ourning for the day.
SHERIFF TURNER'S EVIDENCE.
Mr.. Turner said in summary that he
lived in Provo City, Utah Territory and
ls Sheriff of Utah county. John F. Tur-
ner, his murdered son, was twenty-four
years OF age, and his Oldest boy. He last
saw his son on the 29th of June, 1889, 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 OF clothes, and wore checked cassi-
mere pair OF pants and cheviot shirt and
had two suits OF blue flannel undercloth-
ing. In description John F. Turner
was about five feet six inches high,
weighed between 1876 and 140 pounds,
dark complexion, dark hair, and with no
. beard whatever. In minor matters, he
had silver ring with gold setting, two
pocket knives, q blank book, and wore
boots.
MIR. Turner's testimony was suspended
for the time being, and Mr.. Silas Alfred
was called to the witness stand. He lives
at Provo and is related by marriage to
deceased. Saw him alive on or about the
18th OF June, 1880. Mr.. Alfred described
young Turner's teams, his personal ap-
pearance and SO on in very much the
same manner as did Sheriff Turner. He
next saw John F. Turner about the 2lst
OF July, five miles or so up Echo canyon.
Found young Turner lying behind some
rocks, dead, about five rods off from the
road. The body was rolled up in
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 as that
OF John F. 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 to the deceased.
Found the other wagon at Green River.
The ak belonging to John Turner was in
this wagon and blood was found on it.
and the wagon was stained with blood.
A 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 ax. The
above is substantially the same evidence
as has been given before.
Sllas Alfred was recalled to-day and
asked Il question, after which he was
excused.
Thomas Fowler, OF Lehi, was called
next, and testified to knowing Sheriff |
Turner and his deceased son for several
years. Saw John F. Turner last alive in
May, 1889; knew his property. I recog-
nized him when dead in Echo canyon, on
the 2lst OF July, 1889. The body of
John +. Turner was rolled up in tent
q few rods from the main road, l pro-
ceeded east and overlook Turner at Pied
mont. Knew young Turner by his
clothes, features and finger ring. One
loot wore 4 sock, the other was bare.
Found one OF the teams in Green River,
a roam and q brown horse. The rest of
MIR. Fowler's testimony substantioted his
former evidence in the case.
Leonard Phillips was called and testi-
lied in substance that he lived at Echo.
md knew defendant by sight, saw him
when Turner brought him there. Saw
he dead body found up the canyon; saw
ne team there that Turner brought back,
IND recognized it as the same outfit that
passed his house on the 9th, some four
lays before found q piece of scalp near
he road beside Turner's body. He de-
crlbed the condition and covering OF the
'ody about as did previous witnesses.
Alexander .Gichrist, Richard Nickel
nd William Brown, testified much the
anne as IN former trials of the case. and ..
aried but triflinglv in the particulars
iven.
Sheriff Turner was recalled for = oues-
ion Or two and dismissed. !!
Or. j.. NJ. Benedict, who made an ex- :.
Ininatlon of young Turner's body, was
allied to the stand this afternoon directly I
fter Richard Wicket had been recalled
nd dismissed. DR.. Benedict said he
new, Sheriff John Turner, but not !.
ne deceased; made an examination
the body on the depot plat .
'rm with Sheriff Turner in :
barge, and other persons present. A i
zul was produced and the Doctor
1oWed the condition of the injuries by
q outline. The body was decomposed.
nj the hair was off on the left side OF
he head: There existed broken place.
oparently made by blunt instrument. Y
robably an axe, and death must have |,
zen instantaneous.
Sheriff NJ. Allison, OF Summit county.
as called to the stand and, like DR.. G
eheoict, his testimony was substantially
e same as given i'll the trials heretofore. 8,
lc
Salt Lake City Brewing Company. tt