The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-15
THIEDHS final
STATEMENT
Continued from Page IL

we drove TO his Office, and on the
way up L spoke to him, and he an
sWered me by saying, shut up, you
son of "a b." and treated me shame-
fully He was too drunk when hen
came to me to make any search or inf
vestigate the matter at all. but thought
TO save him trouble ne would lay the
blame upon me, and perjured himself
by saying that l had confessed. He
prejudiced the people against me
through the newspapers by telling the
reporters L had said 1 had killed my
Wife and two. or three others.
ROasts Mcqueen.
Now, gentlemen. L have been in your
community since 1855, and any business
men with whom L have dealt L believe
trust my word in preference to Bill
McQueen's oath. Who will say that
a man whose soul has been soaked in
whisky for years, as has McQueen's.
can be relied upon as an active and
efficient officer of the law? How many
men who have known Mcqueen for the
past five years will deny that he was
utterly unfit for the Office he held, and
how many would stake their money on
his oath? Can man whose brain and
body is beclouded with drink be re-
sponsible? Such testimony as his. ana :,
the prejudice that was gotten up
against me. is the cause Of an limo
cent man being sentenced to death. I
only hope you will. for the sake of
humanity, consider the facts. and ask
If man would commit such a crime
in such manner?
You all must know that there are
hundreds of cases of innocent men hav-
ing been put 10 death upon circum-
stantial evidence, and when too late,
those who have been the means of
sending a person to eternity have
found that mere prejudice and haSty
conclusions have been too often theS
only means for bringing in a verdict Of
guilty for a defendant. who is so Of
ten found after his burial to have been
innocent. when the true murderer,
stung by conscientious remorse. or
fearing God in his last moments, turns
upon his pillow and confesses that he
is the truly guilty one.
Asks Few Questions.
The few questions I would like to
ask are: Was Mcqueen to be relied
upon as an efficient and trustworthy
man?
Why did he go to Harry Haynes
place before coming to mine, when he
knew my place so we'll?
Was it acting the sheriff's part as
an officer of the law to declare to a
large gathering-about 600 people
that 1 had killed my wife, and then
go and leave me tied up among themc
What business had ne at Haynes
for two hours while I was tied up? &
Is it not possible that to get me out
of the way and save work for the
sheriff that Haynes and Mcqueen
made it up between them to say that
had confessed to the latter?
Does it look reasonable that any
sane man would commit such an act
in the manner stated and on a public
highway?
Declares His Innocence.
OH 1t cannot be but that fate shall
come to my relief and clear the dark
stain from my name, if only for my
little daughters sake. Time will surelv =
clear it up If Mcqueen had done his =
duty and had made an effort to seek
out the guilty party or parties, I am
sure I would have never been brought
to trial.
1 have written my statement in all
particulars as near as my memory
can recall it, and it is the only one I
can relate; and as God is my witness.
l hope for no mercy from him or any
living soul if 1 am not innocent of the
murder Of my dear wife or of ever
shedding innocent blood.
CHARLES THIEDE.
November 10, 1895.
Thiede's references to ex-sherif Nc
Queen are, as everyone knows. simply
absurd By attempting to attack that
efficient officer. the condemned man
has only injured himself. Mr.. Nc
Queen. who has the satisfaction that
follows duty well performed. will
simply laugh at Thiede's attack, and
ne can afford to-