The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-21
A Horrible Tragedy.

A Horrible Tragedy.
A horrible shooting affray occurred in
the Broom hotel bar, owned by c. S. Cave,
at 800 yesterday morning. NJ Dillon, a
gambler and an all around tough from
Rawlins, Wyo., has been in the city for
several days past. About s o'clock he, ac-
companied by others, went TO the Broom
hotel bar to ill their stomachs with more
fighting whisky. When they entered the
bar was IN charge of Carl Christensen, the
porter. Soon after George NJ. Mitchell,
narkeeper on the morning shift, entered
When ne began duty Dillon called for a
bottle of wine, which 1was given him.
Mitchell was asked TO drink with them but
he declined, stating that he had Just got up
from sick spell and that lie had but re
turned from breakfast, besides that he did
not take anything very often. With that
KIND OF an answer Dillon became quite
angry and fired his revolver at Mitchell
who was near the north end of the bar
he Tired three shots in all Only one of
them took effect but it proved fatal and
Mr. Mitchell expired a few minutes after s
O'Clock. Officer Hansen, who happened to
be near by at the time, heard the shots and
arrested Dillon, who was landed behind the
bars IN the city jail.
A coroner's inquest W called for 10
o'clock, but for lack OF TN = witnesses the
case was. os5poned till O'Clock in the
afternoon.
Mitchell was well liked by everyone. He
was an honest and upright man. He leaves
a wife and two small children to survive
his awful demise, who are nearly pros
trated with grief. The mother of Mrs.
Mitchell was telegraphed and is expected
20 arrive from Denver this evening.
The inquest was held before Coroner
Allen at the county court house at o'clock
N fnA nNrn.f IA
Nestover, John q. Tyler and @. A a Henne
court
The first witness called was Carl Chris
Jensen, porter in the saloon, who testified
IN substance, as follows: was acquainted
with George Mitchell. The last time saw
him alive was about s o'clock this morning
as he was lying on the floor near the bar
room door that enters from the Broom hotel
office. l was behind the bar with Mitchell
when the man that did the shooting came
up. Understood his name was Dillon Saw
him fire the shot ana the bullet went whiz
zlng past my head. Mitchell did aot havea
gun and no harsh words passed between
them. understand thai all the trouble
came about by Mitchell refusing to take a
drink. After the third shot was fired. they
grappled each other and whirled around
the billiard tables. Mitchell was endeavor-
ing TO take the gun away from his assailant
think the first shot was the one that killed
him.
NJ. J. Philhps-I knew George Mitchell
ana saw him IN the Broom hotel bar this
forenoon. L was there when the shooting
occurred and went into the place with Dill
lon. His right name is Malachi Dillon and
1 have been acquainted with him about q
week. He came to Ogden from Wyoming
We were out together for about an hour
and hall, and came up to go to bed. He
was staying at the Broom ana [ was on the
Broom he said: "Jack, let's get bottle of
wine" told him l didn't want TO drink
any more, but he insisted [ should take
something, so to please him | went in
Carl Christensen was behind the bar at the
time. Mitchell had not yet arrived. The
wine was opened. We took two or three
sips ana set the glasses down and began
talking over some minor things We stood
talking for ten or fifteen minutes when
Mitchell came in. Dillon then insisted
that We take another bottle of wine. He
wanted Mitchell 10 take drink, but he de-
clned, stating that he had lust come from
breakfast Dillon said: Il would like To
have you JOIN u.s. but Mitchell still de-
cllned. At this junction Dillon got a litt 10
angry and said: "pll make you drink. y and
Mitchell replied, ''You can't make me 90
anything" and stepped towards the north
end OF the bar. Before [ knew il
Dillon had his gun out. and fired.
] heard Two shots and started for the Front
door. Dillon was pretty well under the
influence OF liquor when l met him. and he
crank mostly whisky and wine after saw
HIM. We first came together in Fender &
Corey's saloon about 80 O'clock. was
Bltung At the end of the oar when he and
another man came in. Dillon called for
WHISKY anu drank it. When he saw me he
sald; Hello, Jack, didn't see you.n and
ne wanted me TO take a drink with him.
we talked lew minutes there ana he went
our. onion ; speech was quite thick.
br' ). d. Powers-Saw Mitchell after he
was dead, about O'clock this marina, IN
Tue Broom hotel bar room. He was Still /
warm and didn't think he had been dead
but few minutes-[ should Judge about
ten minutes. l examined him and found q |
bullet hole in the right side Just above the |
ninth RIB. The ball ranged downward and |
LOGGED beneath the skin On the left side
passing entirely through the body. / !
measured the hole and found il to be three. /
elghths OF an inch in diameter No other /
holes were found, but l noticed powder
burns IN the face and in one eve. His |
oeath, believe, was the result of internal |
hemorrhage, caused by the ball passing |
through some large blood vessels.
Attorney Rogers thought the evidence
produced was sufficient for the Jurors to |
render decision, therefore they retired
and soon returned with the following YER
dict:
TERRITORY OF UTAH.
OGDEN PRECINCT No, g.
WEBER COUNTY. !
An inquisition holden in Ogden precinct Nc. .
Weber county, on the 10th CAV of January 1901
before Marshal Allen coroner of said cyo,,n,-' |
upon the body OF George Mitchell there Ivin55