The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-18
Such Is the Finding of the Coroner's
Jury.
THE POLICE FIND NO CLUES
IDENTITY OF THE ASSASSIN A
COMPLETE MYSTERY.
Nothing New Brought Out at the In
quest Yesterday-Brown's Trip to
New York-Had No Money In the
Deposit Box-The Testimony.

Two days work on the mysterious muir
der OF Lawrence Peter Brown has not
resulted in throwing any light upon the
tragedy.
The officers made every effort yesterday
to develop some tangible clue to the
identify of the assasslns, but withosst sue
cess The inquest was completed. but
nothing new was elected, and the tragedy
promises 10 remain an unsolvable mys-
terry
The theory advanced on Wednesday that
Brown was shot to death by one of two
men who had entered thu place to burglar
ize it, and was caught in the act, is the
only one accepted, but those experienced
in dealing with criminal affairs believe
that the only hope of capturing the muir
derers is through some careless act on
the part of the men themselves.
THE parties responsible for Brown
death" said one of the officers yesterday,
were not seen by anyone That is shown
now that the inquest is over. 1t was
hoped that a witness might turn up to
give a clue in that direction, but the hope
S gone. The men escaped unseen IN the
gray dawn. Brown is dead The murder
Nrs left not the slightest trace of them
seives behind. They didn't even strike a
match. We have nothing to begin upon,
and Il any clue is found, it viii be the
result of accident.
THE INQUEST.
Yesterday afternoon the coroner's in
quest was held by Justice Gee, it having,
been taken from the hands of Justice
Semmer on account of the killing having
taken place in the formers precinct. The
inquest was begun about o'clock and
jury consisting of Z. W. Wilson, B. 5.
Harrington and H. ]. Moore was i'm
paneled. There were a number of wit
nesses examined, but their testimony was
substantially as printed in The Herald
yesterday. Mrs. Croxall told about hear
ing the shots and sending her son. Ray,
for Mr.. Lawson and the police. She
4 bod -,
her that he was not afraid as long as he
had his friend with him, he showing the
little protector revolver which he car
ried. Further than that nothing new was
brought out in her examination.
RAY CROXALL.
Ray Croxan told the same story he
gave on the day OF the murder, and iden-
tilted the pants. which were found by
the bed with the pockets turned inside
out, as those worn by Brown. Officer
store open. described the body as it lay
upon the floor and gave other details in
the case which have already been pub,
nshed in full. Officer Everil corroborated
Larsen's statements.
JOHN MALLISTER.
John McAIlister stated that he is Is
years of age and had worked for the de-
ceased for four or five months previous
to the day of the tragedy. AT 7:45 on the
evening before the murder, he saw Brown
leave the store. saying he was going to
attend a meeting of the lodge. Young
McAllister remained in the store until
SIS and after taking a look outside, to see
if there was anyone coming who might
wish to get something before he closed,
and seeing no one he locked the door and
went home The next morning he was
told of the murder and went over to the
store, finding the officers thers- Cues
toned about the events of the previous
day he stated that Brown had remarked
that he was going to the bank for some
money with which to pay the bills which
were being presented.
When deceased left witness went in and
lay down on Browns bed AS he did so
he felt the pistols under the pillow, and
looking, saw the small one of peculiar pat
tern lying there with the large 44-calibre
gun which was found by the body. Brown
returned from the bank soon after and
paid couple of bills, and it was then that
McAllistar saw several $40 gold pieces
and some greenbacks in the purse. Wit
ness stated that deceased was in a very
happy frame of mind before he left for the
lodge.
THE PISTOLS.
Asked concerning the pistols McAllister
said that the small one was not loaded
on the day preceding the muruer. Brown
had not been able to open it, and one
day about month before they went out
and fired off all of the cartridges in the
gun. It had never been reloaded since.
The large gun. however. was loaded.
When shown the weapons he identified
them as he did the keys and l,antS. Wit
ness described the purse which Brown al
ways carried in his right hip pocket. 1t
was about the same shape as the ordin-
airy purse and was made of brown leather
somewhat worn. 1t was larger than the
usual siZa and the metal rim was worn
so that it looked brassy- 1t was opened
by pressing a button and had two COM
and the other for coin.
THE TRIP EAST.
Refreshing his memory, McAIlister stat
ed that he had seen piece of paper in
the pocket-book as he stood by the side
of Brown, on the evening before the muir
der He did not know whether il was q
check or only q piece of paper. Witness
also stated that the day before Brown
went east he entered the store with
leather bag about the size of scent salt /
bag This seemed TO be full of $50 gold !
pieces. Deceased also had a large roll |
of greenbacks about TWO inches in dame !
ter The currency and coin he spread {
ont on his table in the bedroom. where I
he was busily engaged in counting it. and 1
il was then witness saw il. Brown said |
he was going TO get a draft on some hank /
in the east and take it with him as he I
might run across a good investment and (
he would need the money. That was /
he left the next day for New York (
Charles Brown. brother of the deceased 1
taking charge OF the store. Brown re- /
turned on the 18TH and when asked by !
McAllister how he came out in his in
Vestment, said he would know later on.
MURDERED MANS BROTHER.
c. W. Brown brother of the deceased.
was called and testified that his brother !
was p most temperate man, of a hanDv
conJented disposition, and had no enemies {
as far as was known. Witness told about /
the same story as that given by McAllis-
ter in most OF the details. Asked if he E
knew whether his brother ever deposited T.
any money with bank in the CITY he re-
piled that he thought not Deceased had
q safety deposit box in the Deseret Ma
tional bank This was opened in the pres
eilce or witness yesterday and nothing
but papers found in il. These papers con- .
sisted Of receipts, lodge certificates. some
deeds 10 property il Colorado. mining
stock, etc. No money was found.
Witness further testified to having been
at the meeting OF the X of p. on the
evening preceding the murder but left be-
fore his brother arrived. He was after
wards told by others. who were present
that his brother was there. He knew
in New York, and had received about the
same reply TO his questions concerning
IT as did young McAllister.
4 BULLET IN EVIDENCE.
Deputy G. A. Dyer testified that he
had gone TO the scene of the TRAGEDY
about $3.50 and cut the bullet from the {
jamb of the door. Witness presented a
bullet. which was offered as an exhibit
THE WOUND.
Drs. Anderson and Douglas testified as
to the course of the bullet through the
body of deceased. The ball. entered the
left breast at a point midway between the
nipple and the median line of the ster-
num- or breast bone. II penetrated the
main portion of the heart grazed the lung
and lodged under the skin Just to the left
of the seventh dorsal vertebra The
wound caused instant death, and deceased
could only haze taken one or two gasps
20