Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-01
McMURRIN'S SURPRISE PARTY.
That Crime, Stalwart Young Man''
Returns and Affectfonately
Beats His Wife.

1 AAAs
The '1fne, stalwart young man" has at
last turned up, and in that turning up
has destroyed the last vestage of sympa-
| thy and respect which his friends had
still entertained for him. On Saturday
night at little after o'clock, Joseph W.
McMurrin was seen in disguise by several
of the neighbors, stealthily moving
around his residence on Sixth South
street, peering in at the windows in
manner which caused the spectators to
infer that he was endeavoring to discover
who was on the inside before venturing
to enter. A few minutes after he had
disappeared around the back of the house
evidently having entered the back door
"a prolonged series of awful screams
and groans rent the night air and startled
the neighbors for considerable distance
around, and the cries for help were easily
recognized as coming from a woman.
One of the first persons who reached the
house was Mrs. Smith, a sister of Nc
Murrin's wife. living next door, and it is
due to her prompt and vigorous interior
ence that the universally respected
young man" is not at this moment in the
custody of Marshal Ireland. Her pres
ence and well-known and anita gonistic |
attitude towards McMurrin induced that |
party to leave the premises with much |
greater haste than characterized his COM
ing, SO that when deputies Greenman and
Franks arrived a half an hour later the |
hero of Social Hall alley was nowhere to
be found. Mrs. Smith, while feeling
the most pronounced antipathy for Nc
Murrin, refused, out of consideration for
her sister (McMurrin's wife) and her
mother, to disclose any of the facts relat-
ing to the occurrence, either to the depu.
ties or to DEMOCRAT reporter, and most
of the particulars had therefor to be gath
cred from other sources.
ing "Joe McMurrin is beating his wife
For Gods sake, go for help" and
the angry and smothered reply, cts
a damn pity he didn't beat you" 1t was
afterwards discovered that the appeal
had been made by Mrs. Smith to her
father, Mr.. Stephen Hunter, who is also
The father of McMurrin's wife. Hunter
ives on the corner of Main and Sixth
South streets, just three doors west of +.
and is as fanatically in SYM
oathy with his fugitive son-in-law as he
s violently and cruelty opposed to his {
laughter, Mrs. Smith. Those who ap-
oeared first on the scene, saw McMurrin
,rab his wife by the throat and admins 6
er number of good "stalwart' blows
lpon the head and shoulders of his pros
rate wife, whose shrieks were something
errlble. The encounter, on his part at
east, was an angry and violent one, but
he cause which led to it remains hidden
the utmost secrecy, which the persist
mt efforts of the reporter failed to pene-
rate. For more than half an hour fol- {
owing the incident, McMurrin's children
ontinued to shrek in chorus, positively g
efusing to be quoted by those who offer
q paclflcation; and this, added to what il
as seen and heard, establishes beyond a
oubt or question that McMurrin was cru is
lily violent in his merciless attack. 1t was "
lrmised by some of the neighbors that "
is wife's testimony in the Collin exami-
alton, in which she stated that he had /
enied firing shot at Collin, had SUPER
duced the attack of Saturday night last: II
ut this is only opinion, as is also an
her theory that Mrs. McMurrin had
zen little careless in speaking of her
Those who saw the pet of the Neaus and I"
erdtd declare that his disguise was a fu
Try poor one, being mainly coal black in
x and beard. Those who witnessed the p
locking affair were so well acquainted n
It'll his appearance that no false wig or D.
hlskers could possibly deceive them. PIT
I'd several of those neighbors are as m
miliar with his british wife beating or
stom as with the man himself
Word was communicated to Marshal ~
Glands office within very few minutes ar
er McMurrin was discovered, and the ia
o deputies, as stated, were on the prem en-
g Immediately afterwards. They were Ill
lbbornly refused all information by tn
IS. McMurrin, and proceeded to search CO
= house and afterwards several other tn
sciences in the neighborhood, but co
thout success, and yesterday deputies pc
pit vigllant watch most of the day Inc
5hout learning anything of Importance.
vas thought at one time that positive str
e had been discovered, but the hopes las
lch rose in the minds OF the faithful
,uties were dissipated after several q
lrs OF fruitless search. That McMurrin
that vicinity there is no reason to !
lot, but the wonderful unity of feeling Mi
ong the residents of that locality to fat,
cid him battles every effort, no matter run,
ingeniously put forth, and the strong IVY
liability is that many days will elapse nm
ore the pride of the people is brought afts
lrn fha hor Of A.