The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-15

Mrs Cora Thomas, the colored woman
who shot and killed her husband. Sam
Thomas. under circumstances already IA
miliar to the public, was yesterday put
forward in Justice McMaster's court for
a preliminary hearing on the charge of
murder in the first degree, the result of
which was that she was held for trial in
tie district court and her bond. by con-
sent of the prosecution. was fixed al
S. 900.
At the hearing yesterday the prosecu-
ton was conducted by County Attorney
! Naldenar Van Colt and Assistant Coun-
| " attorney Ray Van Colt, and Attorney
W R. Hutchinson represented the de-
PENDANT.
rhe first witness called was Mrs Nc
AIee Il coiored woman and the keeper
of the house of i'll repute in which
Thomas was shot. She said that on the
evening of June the deceased came to
her house. 4l6 State street. The defendant
came 10 the house later, and when the
deceased saw his wife. he ran away, and
the defendant shot him. Mrs. Thomas
drew a razor after the pistol was taken
from her. Two shots were fired.
Emma Hatfield said she lived with her
sister, the previous witness, and was pres
ent when the tragedy occurred. She heard
; two shots fired and assisted in taking the
-,:stcl and a razor from Mrs. Thomas.
Kitty Fairchild. who kept a house of i'll
fame on Commercial street. She ad-
mitted that she had pleaded guilty to
adultery with which she was charged on
one occasion.
MAJOR GERARD.
Major Gerard. surgeon to the Twenty
fourth infantry, testified that he exam
lned the wound of the deceased. The ball
entered the mans back and came out at
the chest. and the wo nd caused his
death
CORPORAL John Williams said he was in
the room when drs. Thomas entered. He
saw the flash of the pistol. and when the
others scattered, he stayed where he was,
only, however, because he couldn't get
ont lie disarmed Mrs. Thomas and mad
later turned the number of the pistol over
TO MS company commander He found
THOMAS lying on heap of hay in a
camping yard adjoining the McAfee house. I
Witness stated that the shooting occurred /
at about 5 O'Clock. He saw no razor, /
though he would have seen it had one
been raised. Witness told counsel for
defense that It was no business of his
whether he had experimental with raZors
in the dark.
Police Office Hempel met defendant on
the night of the shooting and she gave
herself up to him. She told him she had
fired a couple of shots at her husband /
and when he asked If she had hit him. (
she said she did not know. but had meant
to- Officer HemDie testified that he got
tie gun later and it sInelled of powder [
Officer Sheets said that Mrs. Thomas
had told him after the shooting tn her /
husband had been away week ana she
had followed him up to McAfee's house. I
She told him that when she went in the 7
house, Thomas got up and began TO run, /
and she fred twice at him.
DEFENSE OFFERS NO TESTIMONY.
The defense decided 10 offer no testi-
mOny at this time and consented to Mrs. /
Thomas being held for trial in the dis !
trict court On bonds. A question was I
raised as to whether the statutes would /
permit of the defendant being released on /
hOndS cha of murder in the first
degree. but there being extenuating cir
cumstances in the case the county at
torney was not disposed to be too tech
meal. and by agreement with counsel the I
bend was fixed at $1,000 which IL IS said
the defendant will be able TO obtain.