The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-19
OGDEN.
THE DILLON MURDER TRIAL.
Witnesses Swear to his Irrational Conduct
after the Shooting of his Brother

IN. Charles E. Blythenburg again took the
stand for the defense. Judge Powers
asked if he had formed an opinion of the
that at times the defendant was insane'
Cross-eXamination. ''At times believed
he was as sane as anyone. | have talked
to him on business at times when he ap-
peared perfectly rational. At other times
he would lose the thread of conversation. l
have met other men that at times were
absent minded or wanting for words. l
have not visited Dillon in the penitentiary
but have seen him in the marshars Office
81 Salt Lake. He seems to be a changed
man since he was taken there
The prosecution asked if witness didn't
believe Dillon was more like he appeared
prior to 1856. since he had got away from his
saloon and gambling tables.
II think he does"
Judge Powers objected to prosecution
asking such questions. Redirect eXamin-
ation-"Since my admission to the bar l
have not drunk intoxicating liquors or
gambled. Gambling is a licensed occupa
ton in Wyoming"
Re-cross-Gamoling is licensed bust
ness by the state statute of Wyoming.
Rawlins is an incorporated town.
H. RASMUSSEN
was next called and testified: I reside at
Rawlins, am forty-one years old, and
mayor of the city. Have known Malachi
w. Dillon eight or nine years. Prior to
his marriage to Ellen Pagan he was good
citizen, and was always cheerful and
happy. heard of the trouble between his
wife or brother after he returned from the
hunting trip. l spoke to him about the
trouble with his brother, and asked him if
IT wasn't too bad to have trouble with
brother. He said, "Yes, but it is sad to go
away from home and leave my business
anu be deceived. 1t is enough to drive me
crazy" He was not cheerful knew of
Dillon complaining of inability to sleep. 1
never met him walking around town at
night l saw him shortly before he came
TO Ogden, the Saturday night before. He
appeared to be sober. 1 saw him in his
room and he was reading. | asked him
several questions and he didn't seem to
notice me. noticed the walls of the room
where he slept, but nothing peculiar ABOUT
them. l formed an opinion Of his mental
condition the time l went to his room.
thought he was out of his reason. l knew
his father; he died, 1 think, in 1887. His
mother died in 1885, and his brother Dan
died in 1889 Patrick Dillon was his
brother
communicative known Dillon
eight or nine years. Met with him only on
business occasions. Dillon went into the
saloon business in 1884 or 1885. Dillon was
a freighter before going into the saloon
business. He run between Rawlins and
Fort Washakee, or Lander. l never heard
OF Dillon being IN quarrel before ne was
married he spoke to me about his trouble
with his wife and brother in q very sad
manner. l heard that Dillon shot at his
brother after the trouble. Dillon was out
Th.n.r lasN., hs,.
1856 and 1889, during which time he paid
attention TO his coal mine about four miles
from Rawlins. l have told him he must
not be up so much at night drinking. He
said he would wake up with horrors and
see his brother Dan suffering in the hospi-
tai in Salt Lake. Mr.. Dillon was a very
enterprisiug citizen of Rawlins | don't
think he made anything out of his coal
business between 1856 and 1889. He was
in the saloon business part of the time
and ran gambling table in connection.
From his actions on the day prior and the
evening before he went to Ogden l thought
Dillon out of his mind. The day before l
went into Dillon's saloon to see the city
marshal on business, Dillon came up and
lnterfered and appeared unnatural; he be-
came so abusive and quarrelsome that had
TO leave and could not complete my business.
We had always been the best of friends !
didn't see him drink any but thought he
had been drinking.
Redirect EXamlnation-Dillon was one
of the most charitable men we had and has
plenty of friends.
j. j. SULLIVAN
was the next witness called. He testified
Live in Salt Lake; am acquainted with
Malachi Dillon; worked for him as bar
tender five or SIX months. Began work
for him year ago last winter. Knew
him before began work for him. / left
, Rawlins last September. He had sepa-
rated from his wife when l became &C
quainted with him. l have noticed him
very peculiar at times. Never saw him in
toxicated. L have seen him count his
money after a game, and get partly
through counting it and go out and leave it.
and after two or three hours come back
again and not say anything about it. He
did not drink for period of two or three
months while was at work for him. ]
have seen him throw money in glass be-
hind bar and 60 off and leave it, Have
noticed popularity about Dillon's eyes
1t would come on TO him suddenly. /
thought at times that he wasn't right in his
head.
Cross examinGtion-Am member of the
Salt Lake fire department; was a railroad
man in Rawlins while l did not work fol-
Dillon. Remembered one instance before
/ went to work for defendant that he was
Oub Vi Ills Luluu. I1dFGu ul6CukS6u the
case with any one since it came
up, never gambled in my life.
l have seen Dillon under the influence of
liquor. Have never seen him so that YOU
could call him drunk He is a man thai
can stand considerable liquor. After
gambling l have seen Dillon put his money
on the show case and walk out Durinr
the time / worked for him he was at the
saloon constantly; he had a man to take In
the money after the game closed and some
times took care Of it himself. Dillon or
certain occasions carried a gun. 1t wa:
not his habit to my knowledge There wa:
always gun kept back of the bar.
NJ. j. SULLIVAN.
~ reside in Salt Lake. Am a brother O.
the last witness on the stand. Run 8
saloon in Salt Lake. Lived in Rawlins
was running on the railroad at the time,
noticed Dillon was very peculiar One
day he was shooting craps in the Hui
saloon there. He made about $3.50 and po-
up and walked ont leaving his money OIL
the table. | took the money and gave it tc
the bartender. He came back soon after Th,
BARTENDER told me not to say anything to
him as he had just had an epileptic fit.
He looked pale and his eyes had wild ap-
pearance. l formed the opinion severa
times that Dillon was out Of his head.
Cross communicative been around
Dillon's saloon considerable Have gam.
bled some in his place. Have seen Dillor
at the gambling table dealing. | have seer
him drink, but never get drunk. Wher
feeling pretty good he was good natured
Never saw him in quarrel The time
saw him have the ''crap" game was thinl
in 1888. Never heard of him having an,
trouble only with his brother The tabl,
where the crap game took place was q
pool table. / know Dillon did not lose hi
money; he had it before him. If it had n o
been his the other parties would have oh