The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-28

Reno, Nev., Dec. PA special tc the
Gazette says: In the county jail at
Quincy, Gala, on Sunday morning at
o'clock. one of the most horrible TRACE
dies known for years occurred. Lowell
Maxwell had been convicted of burg
larry in the first degree on two charges,
one for entering the express office last
October and taking an express box out
and robbing it of $4,000. The other for
entering the Weleh hotel in Humbug
valley last September and taking a suit
OF clothes. For the offences, Judge Nc
Laughlin was to pass sentence today,
the 9th. Yesterday morning, Sheriff
Bradford gave Maxwell breakfast as
usual When this was finished, the
prisoner asked permission to shave
himself This he had been accustomed
to do since incarceration.
Not suspecting any rash act, Sheriff
Bradford gave him a mug and razor.
Maxwell said he also wanted to take
bath and requested the sheriff to bring
him more water. When the officer
stepped out after water, the prisoner
called out to C. J. Lee and f. G.
Halt, who were in the sheriffs office in
front of the Jail proper and said: Good
bye, boys, good bye"
OlSEMESNDN ElxEl) f11MSE4lZE.
When Lee stepped to the door, there
stood Maxwell in his cell with a fright
full cut across his abdomen below the
navel and his inteStines protruding, a
spectacle most tragic and hOrrifying to
behold. After the rash deed the pris-
oner stated that he wanted to get rid Of
this hell on earth, and he heaped curses
on those who brought about his con-
viction. DR.. Sonagle was called, but af-
ter hasty examination. he pronounced
the case hopeless. In the afternoon, DR.
AIcChesney, county physician. sewed UP
the intestines; he also pronounced the
case hopeless. Maxwell died at 11:15
p. m. Not only had the razor cut a
six-inch cash in the abdomen, but the
intestines had been cut in four places,
at one point nearly in two. Maxwell
said he would have cut his throat in
stead if he had not wished to see his
mother before dying.
Besides his parents. he has numerous
brothers, sisters and other relatives
here, who are sOrely distressed by his
crimes and this deed
REVEALED THE TREASURE.
On Friday, through the efforts of
Sheriff Bradford and the advice of
Hon. w. w. Kellogg, his chief counsel.
Maxwell, consented to reveal the hiding
place of the treasure taken from the
express box by him on condition that
he should receive $500 of the % per cent
reward offered by Wells. Fargo & Co.
That evening, handcuffed and shackel-
ed, Maxwell, accompanied the sheriff
Captain Stone and Mr.. Kellogg to the
hiding place and that evening and next
morning all of the treasure was recov-
cred.
HIS CRIMINAL CAREER.
Maxwells criminal career began in
1884, when he killed a man named Rabe
in a saloon row in Greenville. For this
he was not entirely to blame, but he
was sent to prison for ten years. After
serving six he was pardoned and con-
Quoted himself we'll for few years.
but again entered upon a criminal ca
reer. The fear of going back to Fol
som prison was the cause of his rash
deed. The robbery, the trial and con-
viction Of Maxwell upon circumstantial
evidence, his subsequent confession
and restoration Of the treasure. fol-
lowed by his tragic deed this morn
ing, have kept the community in a
feverish state of excitement.