Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-10-24
ATTEMPTED MURDER.
Bloody Work Of a RObbtr and Would
be Assassin.
A WOMAN SHOT AND BEATEN.
The Alleged Porpetrator OF the Crime
in JalI.-lle Declares His limo
ceuce.-Is lie the Mani


Adams, tho well-known colored boot.
black, near tho corner Of Eighth and
G street, on tho north bench, shortly
after O'Clock on Saturday night As
n result Mrs. Adams IL in critical
condition, suffering severely from
pistol shot in the abdomen and numer.
Gus cuts and bruises, inflicted bys
murderouely inclined robber, who He'd
with years. savings OF his victims.
Mr.. Adams' bootblack stand Ia near
tho corner OF Godbe-Pitts drug store
ON First South street. About n quar-
ter past eight he ceased his laborS for
the day and accompanied by his
nephew, Henry Hail, proceeded home
ward. The two men reached their
destination about twenty minutes after
leaving Main street. The house il an
old adobe shack with abandoned ap'
pearances and IL somewhat isolated. IL
bad been the custom Of Mrs Adams to
keep a light burning In the window
for her husband whom he was out late
at night. ON this occasion II was not
there and Adams wondered what It
meant. On entering tho house they
found IL In total darkness. They
etruck light and found everything In
n disordered condition. Articlee OF
furniture were overturned; trunks
were opened and thoir contents strewn
about the floors which were saturated
with blood. liz was evident 10 the men
that there had been foul play and
Adams seized doubled barrelled
shot gun, rushed Into the yard
aud fired two shots Ia order
TO arouse the nelghbors and bring them
TO his aid. Frsntioaliy aud hes,iiy ho
then made his way 10 the residence OF
Thomas Keyes, n white man who lived
near by, where he found his wife. She
was lying upon n lounge In n SEMI
conscious condition, her face and
clothes covered In blood. A few minutes
before Mr.. Koyes had gone TO the
police station and exeitedly related n
story about robbery aud the at
tempted murder OF Mrs. Adams. In
short time Chief Paul with corps OF
policemen and DR.. McAchran were on
the spot, arriving soon after Mr..
Adams.
Mrs. Adama' injuries were found TO
consist OF n long scalp wound, deep
cut across the nose, severe bruises about
the face and forehead and bullet hole
IN the abdomen. After restorativcs
were applied she rallied sufficiently TO
relate the following story: About )
O'Clock, she said, u white man, with
whom she was slightly acquainted,
called nj the house and inquired II Mr..
Adams was Mt home. On being given
u negative reply he said that no would
come In and walt for his return. Mrs.
Adams invited him and was about to
tender him chair, but before she had
time TO perform the courtesy the villain
drew n checked muller containing n
piece Of lead from his pocket and struck
her terrific blow on the head. She
fell and In 90 doing screamed for help
and was again dealt another vicious
blow, the force being 80 strong rs to
cause the metal TO break through the
muller and iiy across tho room. In
sfantly he flashed q revolver In her
lace, pointed II at her head for mo-
ment, aud then removed II downward,
firing bullet into her abdomen.
Nst satisfied with this murderous
and cowardly act he commenced TO
head and face until she was rendered
insensible. The wretch then ransacked
the house, securing $50, the savings OF
the family for nearly year, after
which no fled, leaving Mrs. Adams IN
swoon. When she recovered con.
sciOusness she. summoned her strength
and slowly made her way TO Mir.
keyes' house.
suspicion rested upon an ex.Con
fedsrate soldier who had been engaged
TO teach Mr.. Adams TO read and writ,
and who had given him couple o.
lessons. His name IL +. NJ. Sawyer, a
peddler So years OF age. Yesterday he
was arrested at his lodgings at tn,
corner OF Fourth and Il streets b,
Oflcers Heath and shannon. He WA
taken up to the Adams residence by
Chief Paul. Mrs. Adams declared
rs soon rs she saw him tina
lie has her assailant. This Sawyer
denies and claims that he will DO abb,
TO prove q complete alibi. Chlef Pau
says that Sawyer's reputation Ia gooI
and that he has lived quietly ant
peaceably In the neighborhood for SOM
months, making u living ~ a notiOI
peddler. He has no relatives here
He was taken to the police station
where he registered ~ an ex-con
fodernte soldier, n native OF Alabams
and fifty-two years OF age. 0pposlt,
his name was the order made b
Chief Paul: "rake no bond what
ever"
Mn. Adams' escape was n mario,
one. The pistol shot would undoubteC
ly have proven fatal had not the bull,
came In contact with u corset stee
Yesterday the bullet-whioh was yer
much hattened-wRs extracted by ID
McAobran. Mrs. Adams will probabl
recover, though her condition Is criticn
The police seem to think that Sawy,
IA not the man, but in the face Of Il
positive declaration made by Mt
Adams arc somewhat puzzled. Mr.
Auana' assailant must have been co
cred with blood, but not a drop
speok could be found ON Sawyer
clothing. The robbers also secured IS
but no money was found In Sawyer
tooIn.
Sawyer's neigbbors are very indi
nant over his arrest, claiming that
Is an honest man aud good citize
They hope for his early discharge. l
Ia not the ex.Confederate soldier wi
has served several terms In the cl
Jail here, US stated In q couple OF CO
lemporaries. That individual W
known IA sold Virginia" J.
had a number OF aliases. His Il
name IL not known, and he has NJ
denly disappeared from public view
Ogden Items.
Judge Jesss b. Barton and fam