Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-07-05
FATAL KNIFE STAB.
William Thornton, a Soldier, Killed
by v. A. Hobbs, a Civilian.
BORN HAD BEEN DRINKING.


mliDhm AnpfuNouf iiiNafN ~ kNhA-
pany ID, Sixteenth Infantry, ana w.
A. Hobbs, civilian aud resident Of
the Flnh ward Of this city. As a re-
suit OF the affair "A inquest was Deing
held over the dead body Of the soldier
this afternoon while Hobbs Is In the
custody Of the police with charge VI
murder against him.
Briefly narrated, the story Of the
killing Ia az follows: Yesterday both
mon had been drinking and met at the
saloon In question and as Hobbs had
seen military service, being a native
Of Georgia and having fought through
the war Of the Rebellion No Con.
federaio he willingly engaged In c0t-
versation which for time was not
marred by any unpleasant reference.
Then came a discussion OF the question
a. to which side was right aud which
was wrong, anu whether the people OF
the South were us honest aud sincere
no their fellow c0untTymtn Of the
North, with whom They differed and
with whom they waged war ~ fright.
fully.
Thornton maintained that they were
not, 20 II Appears. The intima,ion TO
that effect was resented by Hobbs who
said that no man had the right 10
question his honesty or sincerity. just
exactly what followed does not teum
clear beyond that there was some
threatening ianguago ON both sides and
then n persUnhl encounter Ot the men.
Hobbs lett luu pace ,or few mlu-
utes but on his return hOsiilitlos were
renewed. Both men were ordered
from the hou,e. They again met ON
tho sidewalk where they came to-
guthef. Hobbs diow a knife from he
pocket which he plugged into tho Right
thigh VI his Antagonist, The mAtn
artery of the limb was completely sew.
cred nnd IhoratJn made M way back
to tile ssluOu. fell ou the u o. nnd
blsd 10 death before the anvil Of n
physician.
HuLtB then ran Nv y hat wRiso1n
ovstthktn by SufgsA Fore, VINO nHI
been Mound. lie was arrested and
taken 10 tho % lice staff I'm aud luCkol
up. He came TO Utah about nine Yeas
ago anu has resided in thiH Uity most ~
the Vine. lie Is siNty yUars OF age, was
an ordinary iubutcr by occupation, aud
has large family OF children. The
knife with which no di1 the killing
was used for trimming trees anu nau
hooked BLADE gbOul four Inches In
length.
a NEWS rep Tter this afternoon
talked with Hobbs as no sat gruaniug
anu wTinging his hasds on the noor VI
the main corridor ofthe city iaiL Now
that he 10 sober the nwiulness Of mis-
.t....sf a.. ssNVNNlss nnnn MIN
Asked for recital OF the killing he
sAidi "rhoTnton frequently called mo
rgbel and said he would like 10 whip
me. replied that had four years OF
fighting aud that was quite enough for
me, Hut insisted that | was
no coward and that there was
no disgrace la being rebel.
You zee, he hal Lost some
relatives In tho war and he was very
bitter Ia his feelings towards the South.
lilo kept on botherlug mo anu said he
would Just ~ soon have light as not
Aud / replied that wasn't Ia the hRbil
Of running away from any man.
When We came together on the side
walk he grabbed mo by tue throat En1
made the scratches anu mafks you soe.
lie was younger anu stronger than 1
was and 1 drew my knife. rhpi IL all
/ care 10 say"
During the forenoon the prisoners
vile with several small children called
NJ the city jail anu were granted the
privilege Of a meeting. And q most
affecting meeting II was.
An inquest was held this after
noon by Coroner Taylor at the
undertaking parlors OF bkowea q
Son with jury, tho personnel
80 IA a.Ns f.NI
Hammond, William Kfout anu j. 4.
Hayes. The accused was represented
by Attorneys Guntrr anu Lewis, while
County Attorney Murphy and his ~.
sistant, Mr.. EichnoT, looked after the
interest OF the people.
The iirst witness was Glsvonni Cue.
coone, an Italian, who heard the two
men quafrrelling about the war OF the !
North aud South. Tue soldier, ho
said, was the aggressor all the way
through anu knocked Hobbs down,
after which the old man struck back |
with tbs knife.
II. Fernando, an Italian, proprietor |
OF the saloon whore the killing Oc- |
Cured, testified that the soldier was
the assaulting party, aud knocked the |
cold man" down. The latter ran
away but the soldier followed him anu |
proceeded 10 strike him again when |
Hobbs drew something from his pocket |
(pTesumably aknife) aud struck back. |
He was about aevonty-tivs yards |
away from tho two men aud could not |
zee clearly. He didn't know whether |
the soldier had anything In his hand |
or not.
Captain Donovan was placed on
the stand and identified the knife |
with which the stabbing was done.
DR.. Beatty, health commissioner, |
described tho character VI the wound, |
a which he had made thorough |
examination today. The knife had |
gone inward aud upward, ut an angle |
Of about forly-five degrees, sevefing |
the principal artery Of the leg. The |
wound was such that any byslRuder |
could have saved the mans life by |
bandaging the leg with u ha dkefchief |
NJ any time within fifteen or
twenty minutes nitbr II waB
Inflicted. The w0eiul lack OF com |
mon Intelligence aud presence OF |
mind on the part OF the bystandera |
was almost ne much responsible tor the \
killing as the wound itself.
The Jury found thnt Thornton blod |
70 death from u wound Inflicted by |
Hobbs.
The body Of the dead man will be-
tent 10 Fort Douglas tomorrow, where |
me deceased viii DO given military |
funeral.
Doiurs AunuuJ Ui,hUa1J