The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-12


in favor Of the prisoners in the murder
trial evident yesterday morning.
The fact that the prosecution had re-
fused TO put on Swift the day before.
was taken by many as an evidence of
weakness in the case. Swift, whom the
prosecution had subpoenaed, was in
camp when the raid occurred and when
the quarrel occurred. Swift it was who
was alternately with Coleman and with
Melton during the eventful thirty-six
hours before the tragedy. He was i'll
the camp when bullets were whtstling
about and ripping through the tent.
He had called out for the men to stop
shooting; had cared for the wounded
and dying, and, in short, was in a
position to know more about the trag-
edy, and who was responsible, than any
other party.
And Yet the prosecution, who had
subpoenaed him, had refused to put
him on the stand.
There We're some who deduced from
this that Swift was unreliable and
might testify the attorneys could not
tell what, and there were others who
thought that Swift would ted the truth,
and that the truth would help the de-
defense.
About the same audience was in the
court room yesterday as on the day
before, and the individuals sat in about
the same places. The court room was
but about two-thirdS full, but even idle
listeners seemed almost as intent as
did Mrs. Coleman, a handsome, refined
looking woman sitting near her hus-
band, or as intent even as Warner
himself.
pOwEPS TN EVIDENCE
At the opening of court Judge Pow
ers asked the court to instruct the
prosecution to put on Swift, he having
been subpoenaed by the prosecution,
and it appearing from the evidence,
was an eye witness to the affair
Mr.. Evans said he would make no
objection to putting him on for cross
examination, if the prosecution was al
lowed to put questions to him also.
Swift is a resident of Tooele county,
and said he, with Mr.. Burton and Mr..
Coleman, had an agreement to locate
some mining property near Vernal.
Mr. Burton was to pay the expenses.
They left Salt Lake on Feb. 3; reached
Vernal about March Z; stopped with
TIeber Priest. After staying there sew
eral days, they went on about twenty
five miles to Taylor mountain.
Then they came back and stayed
Of the Dyer mine. They stopped at
Melton's cabin. Melton offered to sell
Mr. Coleman
for $lOG, 600. Mr. Coleman declined, say
ing he was not able to buy one, but
would rather ind one. Melton said
to Coleman that he knew he was not
bucking snow in that country for Moth
ing, and that Coleman must have some
thing good. Melton wanted Coleman
to hire him. saying that the latter
could not afford to do without him.
They stayed in Melton's cabin only
one night. They moved ON down to
Brush creek. There they saw Melton
again and
HAD SOME HOT TALK"
Melton said: You had better pay me.
You are paying Swift So a day. 1 know
the country better than he does.
Z can follow on horseback wherever
you can go afoot-''
Mr.. Coleman declined the proposition.
Swift and Coleman then made an
arrangement to throw Melton off. Cole
man went on down to Vernal leaving
Swift TO move the camp quietly SO as
to throw Melton off their trail.
The next dav Swift went down to
Priests to get his horse shod. Mr..
Coleman and he met Melton again.
Melton and the Stauntons came there
together. Mr.. Coleman would not talk
with the men, but went over to Mr..
Avery's. They told Swift they We're
following them. Saw them next day in
town. There are some big willows
down around their camp at Priests
Just back of their camp was a rocky
bed of a stream. He saw someone
back at Priests place about dark on
Friday The man had something like
a gun in his hand. Mr.. Coleman was
there talking with him about ten min
utes. Saw Dick Stanton near Priest S
the next day. He stood up in his STIR
a.ps and looked about and then went
back. He had a gun at the time He
saw them next up about Dry Fork
When he and Coleman went up next
time, they tried 10 hide their trail by
going out of their way on several oc-
casions.
They went on Sunday and got there
about an hour before shutdown. Next
morning, before sun UP, they saw Mel
ton and the Stauntons. They We're not
near enough to talk to them. When
witness went out to get the horses, he
saw strange tracks about their camp
He so informed Mr.. Coleman while
they were eating breakfast. After
breakfast, they walked up the ridge and
saw two of the stanton party. They
went over and spoke to them.
THERE WAS NO BANDSHAKING
but Melton said: You are d-n hard
to trail, but you have worse than you
to trail you
Later, Melton followed them to camp
and in substance said: I've offered tC
furnish you a good mine, I've Offered
TO hire out to you. l am not for sale
now, but I'll have my share of whatever
is; located. I'll follow you to Salt Lake
or 10 hell, but what I'll have my share
Later. Swift talked with Melton alone
and the latter apologized TO the witness
for abusing Coleman. At Brush Greek
one OF the Staunton party told Coleman
that be could call as many Of his crowc
from Vernal as he wanted with q
SIGNAL MADE BY A MIRROR.
Melton had said something to The
effect that he could do what he pleased
with the men in those hills; that h,
Swift had answered that they would
not get much ransom for him, if sucf
a course were pursued.
Later, witness made a proposition t.
Melton and offered him $500 tf the,
would go away and let him alone Mel
ton had hung out for 81 ,000 but afte
talking with the Stauntons had finall,
agreed TO take $500 cash. Would no
sign any agreement nor take a note
Coleman went down to see about get
ting the money. Witness had asked