Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-02
THAT asrALwART YOUNG MAN.
The UHeraId,' Denies He Returned
and Heat His Wife, Which Is
Evidence That He Did.

Several new features have developed
in the McMurrin wife-beating affair to-
day which not only add additional con-
frmation to our report OF the incident as
published yesterday, but affords as much
amusement as surprise. The humorous
part of the affair began last evening some
time after the DEMOCRAT had found its
way into most Of the households in town.
The rattle-brained reporter Of the Herald
appeared at McMurrin's house and an
nounced his desire to meet with the
members of the family. To this end
Fathers McMurrin and Hunter, Mrs.
Joseph McMurrin, her sister, Mrs.
Smith, and several others assembled
in the room, and the reporter
proceeded to read aloud to his congrega-
ton the article in the DEMOCRAT. After
he had finished reading the account there
given OF the disgraceful occurrence, he
regard to the nature OF which Messrs.
McMurrin and Hunter had already been
consulted. OF course Mrs. McMurrin,
like any other mans wife would do and
has done under similar circumstances,
shielded her guilty husband by tech
nically denying the facts which the DEM
ocRAT published. When the reporters
questions were directed to some other
members Of the family, old man
Hunter fixed his angry gaze upon
them as much as to say, cutter anything
to the contrary, if you dare" and there
was general acquiescing, which was
taken by the Herald man as a positive
denial and from which he proceeded to
construct what he foists on subscribers as
a genuine observation-disclosures interview.
We have learned that great many OF
the expressions which he makes Mrs.
McMurrin and Mrs. Smith say originated
with himself, and were never conceived
even by those ladies. 1t was evident
from the start that he did not seek in
formation on the subject, because
such information would have seriously
compromised himself and the paper he
represents, and in every effort he put
forth there was nothing else apparent
than burning desire to prove some Of
the DEMOCRAT statements false. Some Of
those parties who were present at the
that they were forced into acquiescing in
the denials given to the reporter under
the most powerfully intimidating circum-
stances, and these same individuals also
voluntarily said this morning that the
DEMOCRAT statements a0ere correct, but
that out of consideration for family ties and
the cruel embarrassment and treatment
that would be certain to follow, they were
compelled to smother the facts. One Of
the parties who was present at the dis
turbance Saturday night states positively
that she saw Mrs. McMurrin receive the
treatment administered by "the fine and
stalwart young man," and that the vic.
tim displayeda bruise behind the ear
and another one on her side, where she
had been knocked violently against the
corner OF the table. 1t has also developed
that McMurrin was angered into com.
hitting this dastardly act as u re.
suit of his wife's permitting certain
individuals to visit the house-persons
whom he was afraid would betray him
The facts we published yesterday were
obtained from eye and ear witnesses to
the proceedings and the information was
given to us under promise that their
names should not be made public, as they
feared the resultant treatment that would
inevitably follow. The DEMOCRAT chal-
lenges the Herald to produce, over the
lady's signature, those denials and state
ments accredited to Mrs. Smith. As to
the testimony OF Mrs. McMurrin, which
we have been assured was literally
doctored by the reporter, it counts
for nothing; and nobody possessed oil
a knowledge of what is proper and con-
sistent would expect to induce wife tc
give evidence that would criminate hel
husband, except in the most extreme
cases OF irreconcilible breaches where
the wife has lost all hope and Willingly
delivers the oppressor over to the law
The public may rest assured that the &C
count given in yesterdays issue of the
DEMOCRAT is true in every particular
and that it was based upon evidence ant
testimony of an indisputable character
A person who SO easily forgets where hi
obtains information, should be less reck
less in making statements which ht
claims to have received.