The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-27

In the teeth of few noteworthy de-
velopments to the Beutler strangling.
beyond the actual features called out
by the discovery of the deed and some
highly coIored contradictory theories
of medical experts, the conviction that
an inoffensive citizen has been done TO
death by the fingers of fiends, is
deepened only one day after the MUIR
der.
That Fred Beutler's throat was weed
in the grip of persons who came pre-
pared to accomplish their evil intent
in stealth and with the weapons of the
gorilla is assured by the marks soaring
the throat of the dead. That two thugs
did the brutal act is certain from the
statement of responsible testator
who saw these men leaving the door
steps.
Belief that the incentive was not
wholly, even if at all, robbery, is now
justified by remarks made by Mrs.
Beutler and one Mitchell and over
heard at Murray on the very morning
of the day which was Beutler's last.
The old umbrella makers doom. it
would appear. was pronounced on that
morning, and even before he was pre-
pairing his lonely noon meal on the
same day, the gorillas were on their
way to the feast of blood.
Despite the conditions of the body,
of the rummaged cabin and the noises
of the night that developed so many
timid souls in the vicinity of the
"Cave," three physicians will appear
at the inquest at o'clock this after
noon and very likely introduce new
phase upon the murder. which Will, at
least, have its technical value as an eX
pert theory, though hardly anything
more.
EXPERT OPINIONS.
These practitioners, appointed by the
justice in charge of the inquest, to
make an inquiry into the cause of
death. expect to go upon the stand and
declare that there exists, in their
minds much doubt as to whether
Beutler was murdered but not so far
as to controvert the evidence that the
umbrella maker died of strangulation.
This theory was advanced by DR.. Beer,
and it is shared by DR.. Richards and
DIR. Penrose. who are all associated in
the medical investigation of the re-
mains. With the view of substan-
tiating or otherwise the theory ad
vanced, an order for an autopsy was
sought yesterday afternoon, from JUS
tice of the Peace Margetts, by DR..
Beer, who stated that neither he nor
his colleagues would be able to render
an opinion of death causes unless per-
1nitted to satisfy by an autopsy. a
doubt that had arisen. The order was
forthcoming, and last evening the
scalpels were used. but none of the
operators would disclose their dis
covery.
However, DIR. Beer was so confident
of his deductions yesterday afternoon,
he informed The Herald that the police
department were not at all unlikely to
a CT q
quest today-a surprise not anticipated
by them. Pressed to disclose some
what of its nature, he admitted the sus-
picion that Fred Beutler had never
been murdered, but that he had been
the victim of strangulation, resulting
from violent commissions. He clinched
his assertion with the information that
he spoke with a shadow of authority,
having seen Beutler on two former oc-
casions, under such peculiar circum-
stances that he had to doubt the theory
of murder.
OFFICERS THINK IT WAS MUIR
DER.
The police and sheriff's Office do not
coincide with the medical gentlemen.
They steadily pursued one clue yester-
day 1t has brought the dragnet about
three persons, Mrs. Beutler, the widow,
one Mitchell, with whom she has been
consorting at Murray, and John Rice.
arrested by Detective Sheets at 4
o'clock Friday morning. Rice and Mrs.
Beutier are now in custody, and it
is quite likely that Mitchell will have
been gathered into the fold before this
morning. Mrs. Beutler was brought
into the city from Murray few hours
after the strangling. Rice was taken
at his residence on North Temple. be-
tween Eighth and Ninth West streets.
- .5r,o 4r,r ,,fo
furnished by Mrs. Beutler. The woman
told Captain Eslinger that Rice had
visited her at Murray last Tuesday TO
ascertain her husbands wherea bouts.
He wanted to get some umbrellas
mended. When asked for his company
by Detective Sheets, Rice said that he
knew nothing of the affair.
''You are paid to get information
he reminded the officer, and lapsed into
a surly silence. after saying that he
would tell his troubles to the judge,
see?" While awaiting transferraI from
police headquarters to the Jail. he occu-
pied his time in reading the newspaper
account of the murder. The story
seemed to fascinate him, for the entire
print was perused several times before
his removal TO the city jail. Since then
he has refused to talk.
RICE's STATEMENT.
The most damaging evidence against |
Rice is that he has been heard to say |
at Murray that he intended to rolf
old Beutler. He admitted TO Captain |
Eslinger that he had gone to Murray
on the day of the murder, but what |
then-He sneered at the hope of any |
thing else being discovered. Beyond !
a known habit of mis- having frequented !
the home of Mrs. Tain at Murray, the /
police are devoid of any other evidence |
against Rice.
MRS. BUETLER'S THREAT
Mrs. -Buetier was less communicative |
Yesterday then on the night of her ar
rest. She seemed to realize that she |
had wagged her tongue too thickly and |
made evasive responses to questions. !
but there is now positive evidence in
the hands of the police showing that
the woman has 81 various times threat
cred to have Buetler put out of the
way. Her reason is not yet clear The |
story that she might realize from some
property If Beutler might be killed be-
fore ne had secured divorce from her
does not bear investigation. Beutler's
attorneys. who had his divorce pro-
ceedings in hand, have already come
forward and said that no notice of ap-
plication Cor divorce had ever been
sent to the woman. nor did any one
but the dead man and themselves
know that such proceedings were to
be Instituted. If the umbrella member
died possessed of any property other
than that in his squalid cabin that
Tapr has not been SuhStantiated Nor |