The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-04-09
PETER NELSON'S story.
The Bankers Son Testlfes in His
Own Behalf.
DID NOT KILL HIS FATHER.
But He Thinks He Knows Who Com
mitted the Murder.
The Tracks at the Window Did Not Cor.
respond with Peters Shoes-Says
He Never Qnarreled with HIS
Father, as Alleged.


Father, as Alleged.
PROVO, April SIN the Nielsen murder
sase today Peter Nielsen, the defendant,
gave testimony as follows; Am % years
Did, and have lived at Mt. Pleasant all roy
life, with the exception OF the time was
at college and on the desert with sheep. l
returned from college last year and took
charge of the books at the bank at Mt.
Pleasant and worked there until the 18th
day Of December last. I am the oldest OF
fathers chileren, and have always been
on friendly terms with hun; he paid me
salary while working in the bank, also
while in his store. All my schooling was
paid for by father.
THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.
About 5 o'clock on the 18th of last De-
cember / LETT the bank. Father left be-
fore this. / went home, took supper and
started back to the bank at about $3.50 to
make out a statement at the request OF
my father. / took the east street, went to
Fisk IS saloon, where l purchased cigars,
and went to look for man in another
business place. l went to the Oman
hotel, where l frequently went; saw ID.
c. Doe and several others there and re-
manned in the Office for short time
talking to Mr.. Doe. From there went
to the bank, one block east. | went in,
took of my coat and lit the lamp. "a
description of the bank was given by the
witness. The lamp was in the bracket.
/ took 1t out, put it on the table and be-
gan reading the paper; went out for a
minute or more and Immediately re-
turned.
Upon returning worked at the state
ment, but did not finish it, as was called
by Mr.. Gunderson, who said tcome quick;
your father is shot, Before this Mr..
Rosenstone came to the bank and turned
the knob OF the door, about 1880 p. M.
Went to grandmother home with Gun
derson, and found father lying on the
floor, bleeding from the mouth; blood
was on the floor. l don't know how long
! remained. The next morning l went
back to where father was. and found the
tracks. I took a blanket and covered the
tracks, as it was showing. / went up
town to the bank for short time, and re-
turned to where father was; staid large
portion of the forenoon. Mr.. Anderson
and the president of the bank
came to the house and talked to
me. They asked me for the keys,
but l did not give them up, as father was
responsible for the condition of the bank.
l told them to see him. ] afterwards gave
up the keys. Father and mother told
me l was suspected of having done the
shooting. l had pistol and when
Sheriff Burns come gave it to him as Ihad
heard suspicion rested on me.
THE RIFLE AT THE BANK.
AS to the rifle at the bank. it was
usually kept on little shelf under the
counter. There was four cartridges with
the gun. No more had ever been brought
TO the bank.
About a week before the shooting the
gun was brought TO the bank dirty. The
week preceding the occurrance unloaded
the gun to clean it, but as it was about
supper time and the ram rod was in the
vault, / did not complete the job.
l told Erickson that if the gun was
loaded he would find three cartridges in q
little box, if not there would be four.
DID NOT SHOOT HIS FATHER.
Houtz-Have you an idea who shot
your father?
Al have and have had all along.
Odd you shoot your father?
Al did not.
Witness identified the shoes he wore
on the night of the trouble, and put them
on in the witness box. He also stated
that he wore them when Mr.. Headcuist.
a shoemaker, took his measure in the
stand last night.
THEY NEVER QUARRELED.
AS to the testimony of Lottie Zabriskie,
IN regard to fight, Peter stated that he
was at college when the affair is said to
have taken place, and denied ever having
fight.
81 never made a threat against my
father in my life. I was attentive to him
while he was lying sick from the wound
he received, and he died in my arms''
Houtz asked that the bare foot, shoe and
overshoe be measured in the presence of
the jury. This was denied by the court.
During the cross-exaraiuation specta-
tors manifested the greatest interest, as
it was thought that Nelson would be put
through trying ordeal, but he answered
indifferently and sometimes exhibited
some stubbornness. Once or twice, when
rejecting upon the critical points in the
case, a tenderness of nature was shown.
Peter stated he was not given the com BIZ
nation of the safe, although he had
spoken to his father about it.
NOT PETERS TRICKS.
1t proved. from measurements made by
q shoemaker, that PETERS shoe was ten
and q half inches long, while the track
at the window was but nine and a half
inches long. Several measurements
were made by the cobhler, which dis
agreed in some particulars with those
made by the marshal at Mount Pleasant.
Two witnesses stated that Soren Neil
sen had said when he knew that he was
going to die that he did not believe Peter
guilty. Some rebuttal testimony was
introduced as the dinner hour arrived
BLACKBURN's REVENGE.
During the progress of the case Mr.,
King asked the court to reprimand the
district attorney for certain remarks, but
the judge considered Ieprimands out of
order in the face of bar inclined to rep
rimand the court. He was rather pointed
II his remarks to King, and ordered him
TO take his seat IN a rather discourteous
tone of voice.
THE NORTHWESTERN EXTENSION.
a Grading Outfit Leaves ogden and Com