The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-25
SEDDoN's STATEMENT.
How He Managed TO Get Off and the
Story lie Told the Officers.

Ac WdulCQ u nave d talk Win ne QpOl
the matter and went down there. WheI
l arrived at the Jail he informed mi
that he had made a statement TO tn,
officers To say that ! was surprised
is a mild expression. He further tolC
me that it had been agreed he should
be dismissed by the authorities. Aftel
that l went no further in the case thar
to attempt to have him dismissed las
evening, something | soon discovered
was impossible until today / did not
even trouble myself to ask for any OF
the details of the affair, but left him
and with the appearance at the exam
ination this morning my connection
with the case ends. I have not a re-
mote idea of what he told the officers
as neither he nor any one else has di-
vulged anything to me-"
MRS. seldom INTERVIEWED.
A reporter for The Herald called at
the Seldom home last evening Mrs.
Seldom answered the ring of the door
bell and when asked where Seldom was
replied that he had gone to the Jail to
see Mrs. Hamilton.
Have you any statement to make
concerning what Mr.. Seldom has told
the officers?" asked The Herald man.
None whatever" was the reply" eX-
cept to say that he is as innocent of
! the crime as you are"
You have made statements to re-
porters, however, have you not?''
No. sir, did not. A reporter called
( here, but | did not tell him ANYTHING.
He wanted me to, but had been in
structed TO say nothing 10 reporters,
and give out Information concerning
| the case, or Mr.. Seddons position
Whatever. l declined to state any
thing"
You had better see Mr.. Seldom
she continued, and if he wants to say
anything he can do so. but l do not
believe he will tell you anything"
| Mr.. Seldom was found at the Jail and
when asked what statement, if any.
| he had TO make, replied that until the
examination he did not care to say
anything He was informed that The
Herald had what purDorted TO be a.
correct version of the tale which he
told the officers and was asked whether
he cared to affirm or deny the same or
any part thereof, but answered in the
negative. He did not deem it proper
to disclose anything at this time. and
while he apparently had TO grudge
against newspapers for the position
/ they had taken in this connection he
preferred to remain silent.
WHAT SEDDON TOLD.
Every one connected with the work.
, ing Of this case seems to want to throw
sort of Hawkshaw glamor around it:
make "We-never-slees,' detective
business of the affair." Although it
would have made no change Darticu-
larry in the situation to have told
everything connected with the state
ment made by Seldom at the jail. there
are many who have concluded to keep
still on account of it, and to divuige
only when they see fit.
The three men who interviewed Sed-
don at the Jail again declined to give
out ANYTHING for publication when
pressed yesterday. but an attache of
this paDer is in q position TO say the
following is a correct statement of the
affair as seen by Seldom:
AS he stated at the inquest, he was
abed, or had retired when the shooting
began. He may have been doing or
may not, but that cuts very little fig
ure. The noise of the shots alarmed
him and he arose and without dressing
himself. ran to the front door, which
was partially open. Hamilton was
LYING ON HIS FACE.
and his wife stood with the smoking
pistol in her hand. Seldom went back
and put on his trousers and again went
to the front door and found her just
coming in. as he stated. That is the
history of his connection with the case.
AS to his after actions, he was for a
few moments puzzled. Here was his
wife's sister. guilty of n crime COM
mited at his very doorway. and his wife
thoroughly cOgnizant of the circum-
stances. for She too. had noted the con-
ditions. There was hasty consultation, |
and as Lou declared her husband had |
shot himself. it was deemed best this !
should be allowed to stand. He went |
out and locked at the body and did I
take hold of the pistol, but dropped it |
when he was told by a bystander that |
he had best leave matters alone as he /
found them He then went. at the sug |
sestion of a bystander, and brought a
lamp so that they could see who il was. |
although he we'll knew all the time that |
1t was his unfortunate brother-in-law,
for whom he had always manifested an
admiration. His testimony at the in
lueSt was nearly all the truth, although /
not quite. He also cited several coca
sions when Mrs. Hamilton had made
threats against her husband and, so
The Herald IS informed, related sew
eral specific instances. He is said to
have told the officers the story of the
pistol and how she had it on Monday,
or Sunday, he did not remember which.
This information was conveyed to
the county attorneys office. and on the
strength of an agreement that he would
testify to the same at the examination,
he was dismissed. as related.
Although ne did not see the shooting,
he fact that Mrs. Hamilton was out
side when it occurred, instead of be-
ing inside as she testified. makes the
,ase against her only stronger. She is
indeed in a very bad condition as re-
ates to possibilities of conviction.
The Herald was right when it in
sisted. after the first days inquest, that
she was guilty of killing her husband.
WHY seldom EXPLAINED.
Various reasons are assigned for the
action of Seldom in this connection, hut
he most plausible among them all was
related by friend of his last evening,
who says that he became alarmed lest
she should determine to save herself at
his expense. He was where he could
rot see any one to help him. was taken
lway from his work and his family
rere IN need of his services. Why
should he suffer for the wrongs of an
,ther? Mrs. Hamilton has refused to
;ay word in his favor at the inquest,
ut had let matters go on. and he might
Re convicted. as an accessory after the
act and get a long term of years. He
made I'D his mind that he would not
tand anv such treatment, and acted
His wife was taken down
o the Jail, and the statements made