The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-22
ABBOTT TELLS OF THE KILLING
ACCUSED NARRATEs STORY OF
CHRIST. PErERsEN's DEATH.
Says He Acted In self-defense When
He Fired the Fatal Shot-Case
Dragging Slowly.
fsnecial Correspondence.)


Brigham City, Dec. N.-Ihis morning
in the district court the investigation OF
the Petersen murder case was resumed.
Sheriff Davis and Deputy Thompson
were placed upon the stand and exam
ined in regard TO the manner of the sur
render OF the defendant Mr.. AoDott
father of defendant, was also placed upon
the stand and examined as TO MS son 5
movements and course OF lie, etc, aIler
which the defendant himself was exam
ined at great length by Attorney NaIlah;
The accused testified that ne starte1
from Pennington TO his farm on Bear
river on Thursday before the SnOO1HS
occurred, and reached his farm on Fri
day. Accompanying him were MISS Alice
Robinson and his younger sister, jessie,
and a 14-year-oid brother named George.
On SATURDAY they visited a married sister
of his who lives few miles distant, and
returned TO the ranch in the evening.
The house and premises were theil
described. The young ladies' slept in the
house ON Saturday night, while the de-
PENDANT and his brother slept at the
StraWStack, a short distance from, Ihe
house. Between and = o clock the next
morning (SeDt. 49, he rose and came up
to the house, and, looking in southerly
direction, saw a lot OF Petersen hoSS on
his farm. HIS brother George arose and
took his dog and went and drove the pigs
off, and then returned to the house ana
said to defendant, Here's Petersep com
ing, and then they went into the mouse
and the door was closed. A few mo-
ments later Petersen's voice was heard
outside, calling, Abbott! Abbott! MT.
Abbott stated that he went TO the door
and saw Petersen standing Few 1eet
distant, and said, Good morning, Christ >
Petersen had d pitchfork in his nand, and
asked Abbott, Isn't 1T too bad, the way
you are treating my hogs?' Abbott an
swered, oh / don't know Petersen
then struck Abbott a blow with his list
over the left temple, knocking him back
against the doorway, and eXclaiming at
he 10 1ya q
time applying vile epithet to him. Then
he walked a few steps away, and then
turned and said, II win run this fork OIL
doorway Of the house, looked around for
something to defend himself with and
saw his gun standing by the window. he
an empty shell and put in new one and
then returned to the outside. He saw
Petersen short distance off, and said to
him, You get of nay PLACE; Pe5ers5esn
Abbott said he had got his gun TO de-
fend himself. Petersen had gone but a
short distance away, when, seeing ABBOTT
with a gun, he stopped down and was in
the act of picking up a large rock, eX-
claiming at the same time, IN fix you"
Abbott testified that he was then carry
| ing his gun in his hands, not aimed
directly at Petersen, but pointing towards
| him. When he saw Petersen stoop and
grab a large rock he pressed the trigger
and saw the deceased fall. He said he
had not intended to kill him, but desired
to defend himself. The accused was being
! ross-eXamined by the prosecution when
the morning session closed.
The afternoon was occupied by the con-
clusion of the cross-examlnation of the
! accused and several witnesses were ex-
amined in relation to the ditch from
which Mr.. Petersen obtained his irrigat-
ing water. The trial drags Il little slowly.
The case viii probably go to the jury
some time tomorrow. The defense may
rest tonight, and long arguments are
looked fer from both sides.
The court room has been crowded thus
far during the trial, and much interest
has been manifested by all who have been
in attendance.