The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-12
Special 70 TIE HeralI.l

PROVO. Utah, June l1.-Tbis city was
the scene of a tragedy this evening which
has thrilled every one with excitement.
David Rockwell son Of Porter Rock
well. who has lived in Rush Valley for
some time, shot and seriously wounded
William Ritter, a young man who for
some time has resided near Tbs Rockwell
place. and was by him shot and MORALLY
wounded
For some time past the wife Of John
Rockwell, . brother Of David's. has COM
planned that heG husband was not treat
ing her wei and has sent letters to he-
parents, who have resided in this city
for a year. asking them TO SEM Cor her
and permit her 90 come home They did
not 10 so. and on las4 Tuesday. accom-
panied by Ritter, she came here and took
up quarters at the house of her mother,
Mrs. Jenkinc. The couple made the drive
in one dag.
RoC2zwELLS BOTH DRUNK.
Yesterday John and his brother David.
who. by the way. have been inseparable
since childhood, came to this city, and
from the time they reached the city in
the eariy morning until evening they
drank very heavily.
BY night4sli ootn men were II very
drunken condition. and after roaming
around FOR =. tims they hied themselves
to the jenkins home. where they found
young Ritter unloading load of coaj
John Reekwell acccsfed him by asking;
, What are YOU doing here. you Cd
d-a SIN of > b--h?"
Ritter responded by stating. IF you
will wait a minute I viii explain every
thing &c you
Rockwell drew a gun when he first
asked Ritter the question: bur when Rit-
ter made the remark alluded to he laid it
down and offered, if Ritter would get off
the wagon and come down, he would fight
HIM
DAVE SHOOTS RITTER
What might have followed, no man
knows. bus at this point in the proceed
ings, Dave got possession OF the weapon
and accused his brother Of being a cow
ard ard afraid tc shoot.
The accusation was followed by shot
which struck Ritter in the center of the
breast and pssT7d out through the back
under the T1gfr shoulder.
RITTER RETAILATEs.
Rittee had Winchester In the wagon,
and although wounded. picked it up and
before Davec ould fire the second time shot
him through the head. the ball entering
the right eye and lodging at the base OF
Che brain, the wound inflicted being a
mortal one
Assistance ca7ue at once and Dave and
John were taken TO the county jail, where
a physician pronounced the injuries OF
the wounded man fatal
Ritter stands a good chance of getting
well
all how Tlnl1
known in the vicinity where they lived
and had great many friends. While
sociable fellows and ever ready to do a
man favor. they were dangerous when
angry under the influence of drink. They
were both hard drinking men and engaged
in mining q. great deal. making a living
tn the intervals wlen they were not pros
leoting, in farming,
AS may be expected when either was
TIE worse for drink their families suffer
ed and the two men We're so closely at
tached to each other that 1t was seldom
one was f,lll when the other was not.
WERE ONCE WEALTHY
At one time they were ho1h wealthy
their father, Porter Rockwell. having left
them q. large ranch at the head of Gov
er7lulent creek in Skull valley. togethe,
with a. large number of horses and cattle
X did not last them long, for they came
into this city and proceeded TO have q
good time while the money lasted. WheT
ii was over the ranch had passed into The
hands of john Rydaich, who still owns i
and they began working for him and
other ranchers IN the vicinity, an svc,a
ton both have pursued since.
John is an ordinary looking man. about
the medium height, while Dave wheI
dressed in good clothing, had q djstin
gusshed asr. He was by far the NOR
passionate of the two. as VIII ba notef
from the effects of the shooting.
BOTH HAVE FAMILIES.
He leaves wife and three childres,. iil'
eldest years Of age. ohm has a family
consisting OF a wife and two children
Ritter is d single man.
In explanation of the fact that he hat
q Winchester handy in the coal wagon
Ritter explained last evening. that he al
ways carried one with him wherever h
went.
John Rockwell is about 80 years Of age
Dave about 81 and Ritter q.
A report received late last night state'
thar Rockwell could not live later thai
this morning.