The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-03-21
HYDE, THE SERPENT
How He Induced Two Boys to
Commit a Crime.
SOME VERY QUEER PROCEEDINGS
Both Boys are Discharged ann Eyi9 Also Goes
Free-SOmeOne VIE Guilty, but
Who ig Ltft IN Doubt.


sumed in the Third district. Thompson was
the first witness called and he testified: =
am twenty years of age and my parents
reside in Rock Springs, Wyoming. 1 be-
came acquainted with Kane at Scofeld,
early IN December last We came to this
city short time before this robbery and
met Hyde, or Perkins, on First South
street. We had known him before, and in
talking, we told him we were broke and out
of work. He ssid he thought he could do
something for US, and on Sunday, short
time afterwards, we met him again in the
Union Pacific depot. He had a bottle of
whisky, and we three drank it up. Then
Hyde said, whats the matter with hold
ing some one upl" He said there was a
whole lot Of it being done here and
NO ONE WAS EVER CAUGHT.
He had pistol and would furnish diguises
and there would be no danger. We made
Two appointments to meet him after that,
but didn't keep the engagement, as we con-
cluded not to go into it. We met him again
on the street by chance, and be said he had
a better scheme, which was to
rob street car. He said the
line had at least $50 on it and we could
easily get away with it without run
ming any risk. we put him off then but
met him again one night shortly after
wards and he asked what was the matter
with holding up the car that night. We re-
fused at first and Hyde brought out two
bottles of whiskey which we drank while
we discussed the plan. He said that If we
would go down with him he would go into
the car and hold the men up, and then, if
everything was all right we could come in
aud take the money. He showed us the
gun, which l found was not loaded, aud we
again refused to go with him. He finally
persuaded US TO go along, and we took a
position near the end of the track We
waited about three-quarters of an hour be-
fore the last car came. During the wait
car came down, and Hyde said he would go
and see If that was the car. He came
back and said tina. it wasn't the last car
and we waited. When the car came HYDE
went out, jumped in the car,
COVERED TIE MEN WITH HIS GUN
and held them up and we went in. After
we got through and left the car, HYDE told
us which way to go, and he took US right to
q squad of policemen, who arrested US,
Marshal Young Jestifed-I have known
this man Hyde or Perkins for about twenty
years. The last conversation I had with
him was on the afternoon preceding the
robbery. After the robbery | gave orders
TO the officers to release Mr.. Hyde. He
had gun on him when arrested 1t was
an old second hand affair. He showed it to
me in the afternoon. 1t was not loaded
l never made any effort to arrest HYDE
after he was released. l went to Mr..
Upham IN the evening after l saw Hyde
and told him that his last car for Forest
Dale would meet with some trouble and
that it might be as well TO advise his men.
Hyde told me that third man had come
into his party, and that he had six
shooter and
APPEARED TO BE A DESPERATE MAN.
There never was any scheme between
Hyde and myself, by which Hyde was to
induce the others to com nit crime.
The defense rested here and the prosecu-
ton called w. H. Hyde in rebuttal
The attorney for the witness arose and
asked the court to instruct the witness as
to his rights.
Judge Zane-Oh well, guess he under
stands that he needn't criminate him
self
The witness-Well, 1your honor. | am
under arrest, and am under pretty heavy
bonds myself, and would rather not testify
at all.
Judge Zane-Well, when the questions
are put to you, you can decline.
The witness then uestifed-I knew these
defendants before l met them in this CITY
i first saw them here about a week before
the robbery, and some days later 1 met
them at the Union Pacific depot.
Mr.. Critchlow-What was said by you all
about holding up, while at the Union Paci-
tic depot.
The witness-well, object to answering
that.
Mr.. Critchlow-On what grounds
The witness-On the ground that it
might criminate me.
The court sustained the witness in his
objection.
Continuing, the witness said-These de-
PENDANTS did not engage in the robbery
through any inducements held out by me.
1t is true that
AGREED TO ASSUME ALL THE RISKS.
Mr.. Critchlow-Now, what was said by
you TO Marshal Young on the afternoon
proceeding the robbery!
The witness-I refuse to answer the
question. Your honor understands that |
am under arrest for this myself
Judge Zane-Well, you have the right to
refuse on the ground that you might crimi-
nate yourself, but on no other ground
The witness-That's the ground.
The witness was turned over to Messrs
Meyer and Lee for cross-examination. Mr..
Meyers first question was: Do you say
there was no arrangement between you
and Mr.. Young?
The witness-I refuse to answer.
MIR. Moyer-That's all, and / wish to
thank the prosecution very much for intro
ducing this witness.
THE ARGUMENTS.
This closed the evidence and the argu
ments were proceeded with.
Mr.. Critchlow said aside from all The
extraneous matters introduced, the fact
remained that these defendants certainly
robbed Conductor Stauber, and it was GER
tain that the conductor permitted himself
to be robbed because he feared the conse
ouences of resistance. The guilt of the
defendants had been fixed by their own
acts and these other matters did not alter
that The record of these men was simplv
the record of footpads.
MIR. Meyer opened for the defense bv
reading the indictment, and he then asked
how much of it had been proven. Did these
men, with loaded pistol, assault F. M.
Stauber, put him in mortal fear and bv
means of such fear forcibly and against his
will steal certain personal property of the
said Stauber! Did they have pistol? Did
they put Stauber 10 mortal fear! Did they
take his property by means of that fear2
And last, was it Stauber's property that
was takens As to the part played by the
man Hyde, he could only compare him to
serpent. He was willing to let him be
judged from his appearance and action on
the stand. 1t would be an outrage to saw
that the city authorities could employ such
a thing as Hyde to go out on the streets and
induce boys to commit a crime and pay him
for such service out CT the city funds If
such thing could be done, what boy would
be safel He did not want to appeal either
to the sympathy or passion of the jury, and