The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-21
The Griffin Trial.

Yesterday was the seventh day of the
trial of James l.. Griffin for murder. The
dry was principally an uneventful one, ex-
.cepting the fact that the testimony was
closed and the arguments of the attorneys
begun.
The first witness called in the morning
WIS E. w. Exum, ex deputy United States
marshal MIR Exum stated he has been a
resident of Ogden for three years and was
personally acquainted with the defendant
and deceased. He testified tn at Hamer
had the reputation of being bad man
while under the influence Of liquor, and
was apt TO pull his gun on such occasions.
Deputy Marshal Bowman was called TO
the stand and stated he was well acquainted
with the defendant and knew him to be
man of good character and was not of a
ouarrelsome nature.
@. A " Hemecourt was next put on tho
stand and testified to the bad character of
the deceased. He said on one night Of the
Carnival Hamer was under the influence
of liquor. Hamer entered the palace and
attempted to go down to the dancing floor
in place that was being guarded. The
guard objected to his doing SO and Hamer
pulled his revolver on him. D'Hemecourt
saw the transaction and grabbed the re-
volver and took it away from Hamer The
shut down on his (D'Hemecourt's finger
which is all that prevented its discharge.
Phil Ford, constable, was the next wit
ness put on the stand, and testified that he
was with Hamer Immediately after this
happened. He was detailed to watch
Hamer and see that he did not get another
revolver. He swore that Hamer went to
several places and asked for one.
James Harrington and John McMannis
both testified to the good character of
Hamer.
James Mcintosh swore that Hamer bore
character which was not entirely the
best. He stated that about week before
the shooting occurred he was in MAIDEN 8
saloon. Hamer was there in conversation
with j. Il. Knauss. The men became a
little heated in their conversation, during
which time Hamer changed his revolver
from one pocket to the other twice. Wit
ness stated Hamer would have used it had
il not been for him.
Mr.. Knauss was called and denied hav-
ing any knowledge of Hamer handling his
gun on that occasion. He knew Hamer
became somewhat worked up at the time,
but failed to notice the movements he made
with his revolver.
After the conclusion Of Mr. Knauss' re-
marks, the prosecution called a. II. Swan,
who testified that in his knowledge Hamer
bore the reputation Of being a peaceable
and law-abiding citizen.
Hiram MAIDEN was called and swore that
he heard Truelock, the hack-drlver, tel
another party that he saw Griffin shoe,
Hamer while he had his hands up True
lock was recalled and denied having any
knowledge of the conversation.
G. G. Richards, M. Poulter, Isaac Clark
and John Keck were called and each testi-
fed that Hamer was possessed of a gooG
character.
Matt S. Browning was called to the stand
as q gun expert and gave the calibre, size
etc, of the balls fired from each of the pis
tolls the night Of the tragedy.
The testimony having been declared all
in, the jury was ordered to Maden's saloor
In charge of Deputy Marshal Butcher anc
Bailif Randall to examine the bullet hole.
in the wall.
Upon their return to the court room, At
torney G. S. Varian began the argument.
for the prosecution.