Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-06-06
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
A Desperate Nan Shoots Bis Child
Al The R. G. W. Depot.
Then Turns The Gun on Himself, But
Not Until flo Had Fired a Bullet
Through the Supposed Lover
OF His wife.

A shocking mufder and suicide oc'
CURED this morning about 7 O'Clock
near the II. q. w. depot, rs n result Of
which, nm ox.brakeman, Sam Lijay
and his little boy o years old, are
stretched In coffin ut Undertaken
Evans and Jack Kcrby lies at the
Sisters hospital, probably fatally shot,
the father Of the child doing the fatal
work.
The shooting took place In
n small restaurant kept by
Liday's wife across the road east
from the depot. The house was visited
BY n NEWS reporter n short time af.
Tor the occurrence. Mn. Liday was
there and amid sobs gave her version
Of the incident.
In RESPONSE toquesilons she saidi ~
married my husband In Wisconsin
some seven years ago. My husband
came here n little over n year
ago and | followed three months
later He never afforded me
any support, and | opened n rcstnu.
rant by which have made my living.
My husband was abusive, and when
my brother came out he persuaded me
that II wns better 10 get n divorce,
which / promised 10 do, with the
understanding that he should re-.
main with mo 10 protect me.
My husband was away aud did not
H., him know ~ my Intentions then.
He went away In February and I have
heard nothing fron him since, until
sunday night, when he came 10 the
back door aud told the 10y that washes
the dishes he wanted 10 are me. When
came, he had our little Ralph In his
aims.n
The thought Of tho child was TOO
much for the POOR woman and a long
paus. followed, during which her son,
by former husband, bright 10y of
10, camu In. His presence was tho
signal for another hood u grief, aud
for some minutes they wcrc ciaaped In
each 0thef'sarms conyulacd with A1hs.
"Ian't Il awf,il,n she finally cx.
claimed. "My dear little baby, tina.
loved him ~ aud never did anybody
IN the world any harm"
Responding 10 thu reporters queries.
she finally continued: II didn't 10 10
him, | couldn't. had no love Tor
him and did not want 10 encourage
him 10 return 10 mo M my husband.
| asked him II lie wanted some supper
and he said no, hodii not want any.
thing from mo. offered 10 make him
"a bed In the house, and he cams In aud
slept with the little 10y"
"What has happened between you
sincsg"
"Nothlng, only he has slept ia the
house with tho baby. Ycs, on Monday
he came home drunk. never thought
oncc Of his shooting anybody, but
was afraid ~ his smashing tho iurni.
ture aud asked policeman 10 arrest
him. But my husband went hack Of
the house, and the officer raid he
could not arrest him without n warrant,
~ he seemed 10 10 pcaceablu.
| said no more about II, and last
night told him he ought 10 10 away
aud leave mo alone. He did not care
for me and did not care for him,
said, and | would rather die than live
with him amy longer. hut nxcd him
bed with the understanding that he
would leave this morning. lilo again
slept with tho little boy. got up
about 8 O'Clock 10 look after the
breakfast. Sometime later hc dressed
himself and came out between slx aud
seven O'Clock. There was no ono IN
the eating room at the time hut myself,
Mfr. k-rby, tho girl, aud another gun.
ucman, who won't away either before
or Immediately after the shooting. lie
sat here In the middle Of the room, Mr..
lSerby was out by the window. / was
In the back room. Little Ralph had
lust walked aud asked 10 got
up. just at that time heard
pistol and Mfr. kefby cried out, III
am shot, then my husband rushed iu.
10 the lack room; ran out; though,
ho intended TO shoot me; I never
dreamed ho would kill our child; hut
ho went and nat down on the bod, aud
while tho poor little baby was Just 10.
Ing 10 put his arms around his neck he
shot his own little baby dead"
After n pause tho reporter nsked.
"Do you know why ho shot Mr.
Kerby2n
"No; he never said word Of Mr..
Kefby 10 mo. Hotold my brother the
day before he got drunk that Mr..
Keiby was the cause OF all his trouble,
Aud that Il all know aboutit."
GLOW long have you known Mr..
~ knew him before I came 10
Utah. And when opened tho res.
taunnt lac came aud got
his meals here; my brother HAS lived
with me all the timo aud knows that
Mr.. Kerby was always my friend and
that was ALL"
The lady told certainly n straight
story, aud inqulflos among those who
knew the family, failed 10 reveal any.
thing disceditable 10 them. Hhe, par.
ticularly, bearu good character so far
as known.
The bodies are at the underlakcr'a,
where M examination was yet for this
afternoon. Mr. Kerby II sho, through
the lefi lung aud his condition was
such that the reporter was not allowed
10 converse with him.
For the dead mans Side Of the case
there IL but little 10 say. Inquiry r..
yeAled that up 10 recently he had been
brakeman on the railroad,
but lately he had boon out OF
work. A few days ago, II Is said, he
decided part Of his property, consisting
Of snyeral city lots, 10 his wife, and
later decided Il all ~ her, There up
peared 10 bo an agreement between
them that they would separate aud
place the child In someone's hands,
when they both could toe him; but this
Is rum0r.
In all II IL the most horrible case that
has occurred IN this city for many
years.
This inquest, according 10 present ar.
rangements,will be- held ON Monday.
Probate Court.
Esiaia NJ Qanrga E,l,n,on, nrJa. -