The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-04-08
NELSON'S DEFENSE.
An Attempt to Prove an Abb for
Young Peter.
He WAS at the Bank Seven Minutes Be
fore His Father Was shot-The De-
PENDANTS Mother Testifes.

PROVO, April TIN the Nelson murder
case this morning, D. d. Houtz made an
opening statement for the defense-in
which he told the jurors that few weeks
prior to the alleged fight which took
place between Soren Nielsen and his son
Peter, testified to by Miss Zabriskie. Peter
Nelson left Mount Pleasant for college,
and had been fitted out for the trip by his
father.
On the evening OF the shooting, the son
is said to have left his home at $3.50
O'Clock and went in the direction of the
bank by way of the west street. He
stopped at OmGn's saloon and got cigar,
after which he retired to the Office of the
hotel few minutes. Upon leaving the
hotel ne went to the bank and read the
paper short time, going out once be-
hind the house for but few moments.
When he came in he remained in the bank
until informed of his father having been
shot.
Mr.. Gunderson told Peter of the occur
renee, which was a great shock to his
nerves and caused him to faint outside
the bank door. 1t was 7:05 p. m. when
the shooting took place, within one or
two minutes of the time when Peter was
at work in the bank. A test has been
made and it is found that it requires ten
minutes for one to go from Nelson's to
the bank. While assisting his father
after the shooting defendant was taken
violently i'll on account of heart trouble,
with which he is afflicted. The attorney
concluded by stating that Soren Nelson
died in the arms of the defendant.
PETER AT THE BANK.
Jacob Rolls gave testimony to the eff
feet that he was near the bank on the
n1nhf of fhp chnntJnu AZ fpr r11iT ta
he was at Fisk's saloon. He walked to
the bank, which took minute or two.
There he saw Peter at a desk writing.
Witness then went home, reaching there
at Z O'Clock. Five minutes after this
time he heard the shot,
Peter Matson saw defendant in the
bank at two minutes before z; had set his
watch that day, and at that time had
looked to see if IL was time for choir prac-
tice, he being the leader. Two other
witnesses gave testimony to the effect
that Peter was at the bank Immediately
before Z, and that the shot was fired
about i've minutes after z.
Christian Jensen saw Peter in the bank
at about tWenty-seven minutes after z, as
near as he could judge.
j. Hansen was put upon the stand to
1mpeach the testimony of Mr.. Francin,
and said that Francin had told him that
he did not manipulate the rife at the
bank at all.
EXPERT TESTIMONY.
Witnesses were brought forward by the
defense to show that the gun which was
at the bank was taken there in a dirty
condition.
John R. Twelves was sworn and gave
some expert testimony about the con-
dition OF gun after having been dis
charged, as to its smell. Witness thought
that one hour afterwards gun might
smell OF burnt powder, but after that il
would gradually die away. The same
length of time would be required for the
drying of the moisture consequent pom
the firing of q gun.
L. Holbrook had similar opinion.
Victor Nelson took the gun to the bank
on July 1, with four shells, but did not
know whether or not there were some al
ready there. He also tested the time it
would take TO walk from the place where
Nelson WIS shot to the bank; said it took
eleven and half minutes.
n. S. Nelson was recalled to testify as
to the general reputation of the defendant,
but turned out to know nothing much
about it. Since this affair developed the
witness had heard several things detri-
mental to his reputation.
A Mr.. Jensen made bad break during
the course of his examination, in which
he said that he had heard many bad
father.
Several witnesses testified as to de-
fendant's good character.
THE DEFENDANTS MOTHER.
Mrs. Nelson, mother of the defendant,
testified that her husband came home on
the night OF the trou bic at O'Clock
Peter came afterwards and later went to
the bank after supper, at the request of
his father.
About an hour after the husband had gone
over to the mothers, which was ten min
utes after the boy had gone to the bank,
she heard of the shooting.
Mrs. Nielsen denied that any difficulty
had ever taken place between father and
son to her knowledge. She said that her
son was not usually well.
Cross examination developed that tn ere
had been trouble between Mrs. Nielsen
and her husband, although she tried
to conceal the matter. The question was
asked as to whether or not the son was
DESTROYS. of going away to get married,
to which the witness hesitatiDgly replied
in the affirmative.
A serious look came over the coun-
tenanoe of the young lady when this sub
ject was touched upon, and she seemed to
be very much oppressed.
The woman confessed to her agitation
when Sheriff Burns came to the house,
and she was fearful of her sons arrest. 1t
was difficult to obtain much information
from Mrs. Nelson.
Adjourned until tomorrow morning at
10 O'Clock.
The Harding embezzlement case has
been postponed until next Wednesday by
mutual consent of the attorneys.