Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-03
WILL THEY DENY 1T NOW
UnimpeachabIe Evidence That Joseph
McMurrin Beat His Wife
Brutality.
Neighbors Testify That the "DemO.
Gratis" Report Is Correct In
Every Particular.
The "Herald" and "News" Con.
victed Liars in Defense of "the
Fine, Stalwart Young Man."

. One might suppose that the Herdtt
had accepted handsome retaining fe,
from Joseph w. McMurrin or his friends
judging from the ridiculous extremity they
have reached in their crazy efforts to
shield his reputation from the odium
which attaches to it as result of Satur.
day nights outrageous proceedings. We
half expected the idiotic reporter of that
sheet would, by another manipulation of
the thumbscrews which have been
threateningly held over Mrs. NJ. I. Smith
by her relatives ever since the event, OBJ
tain from her certified denial of
the facts; and this in one respect
| is just what the DEMOCRAT wanted,
for that lady had secured from
our reporter promise which he would
have faithfully kept under any but ex-
treme circumstances, and which her
signal denial justifes him in now ignor-
ing. Mrs. Smith explained that she was
in such q notwithstanding in part
with several small children on her rela-
tives for support-that any statement
coming from her as to the facts in the
case would seriously embarrass her and
render her condition even more miser-
able. The DEMOCRAT reporter ,appreciat-
ing her situation, avoided pointed refer
ence to her story, and was not willing.
even after what appeared in the
Herald of Tuesday morning, to expose
the facts in regard to the lady;
and we still feel sorry that we are com
PEELED to explain the lady's position, be-
cause we know that she is not at heart in
sympathy with the fraudulent movement
to cover up the facts in the disreputable
case. But we trust she will come to see
that in the end it is more profitable and
satisfactory to reveal the truth, which we
tervently believe she would do if removed
from the powerful influences that sur
round her. We prefer to let others tell |
the story and put to shame the baseless |
fabric which the Herald man has woven |
out of palpable falsehoods, and to |
this end have visited several of the
nelghbors who were cognizant of the
occurrence As might be
expected many of those who saw and
heard were unwilling to allow their
names to go before the public, as such
an action would for ever cut them off
rom friends, relatives and social happi-
ness, but they stated the facts in most
instances without reserve.
Here are some of the statements, and
hey should be taken as far more reliable
han those of a terrified wife and terror
zed sister-in-law, particularly when the
patent truths are considered which rem
Ter the testimony of both the latter
Wholly inadmissible:
MRS. SHEARS STATEMENT.
We were attracted to our front door ,
ast Saturday night by screams appar- !
ntly coming frem Joseph McMurrin's
ouse, which is opposite our own. We
pened the front door and heard a ter q
BILE screaming of the children in McMur- :
ms house, and shortly afterwards Mrs. .
NTH came running over to the gate to 9
here we stood. She shouted as she
anne out, "Joe McMurrin has knocked n
is wife down and is beating her; the s-of i
b., etc. +" ETC., and she excitedly asked n
II there were any men present. I 4
ked her if she wanted help, and she =
Id Yes, McMurrin is beating his wife. =.
e land has knocked her senseless. II
End up town and give it away, and ~
Will stop and watch that he doesn't g,
lip" Mrs. Smith did a great deal of %
louting out and was evidently much n
ghtened. The next day she came over &C.
See US and appeared to have bee, adj 81
sed to keep quiet on the matter, as she w
rs anxious to know whether we had ae
her name in connection with .,
matter. She said on this occasion h e
at she was present Saturday night til
Ian r1,.r L
ce began to abuse me, and as l was "a,
wing ne started on his wife and tn
ocked her down. While ] was over an
re (across the street, McMurrin T
pped and left his wife lying uncon- on
Gus, not knowing whether she was as
I'd or alive. She remained uncon-
GUS for half an hour. ok
Mrs. P. S. SHEAR. III,