The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-12
Twelve Jurors Accepted In Douglass
Murder Case.
IT REQUIRED THREE DAYS
MEN WHO HOLD THE FATE OF
DOUGLASS IN THEIR HANDS.
Opening Statement Made By County
Attorney Peery-Outline of the
Plan of the Observation-Disclosures
Admitted Showing That Douglass
Mistreated His Wife.

Edwin Dix, William G. Smith,
George w. Brainewell. John w
Wilson, Robert Mcfarland, James
T. Widdeson, Charles Tillottson, F. s.
Woodcock, Thomas Etherington, Jo-
seph B. Dana, Andrew Miller, John H.
Brown.
The above are the names of the jul
rors who will decide the fate of John
y. Douglass. The panel was completed
yesterday afternoon, after nearly three
days of sitting.
Immediately after the swearing in of
the panel, County Attorney Peery made
the opening statement to the jury, go
ing over the evidence to be presented
in detail. The state proposes to show
that Douglass had been cruel and had
often threatened his wife. He reviewed
the actions of Douglass; his getting the
rig and the gun. Gave incidents to
show that Douglass was sober, and
that he was contemplating the terrible
deed. Douglass acts Immediately pre-
ceding and succeeding the shooting
were narrated By the attorney, and the
introduction of testimony began.
The state scored the hrst legal point.
They started to introduce testimony in
chronological order, beginning some
two years back, to show that Douglass
mistreated his wife. The defense OBJ
jected and long argument resulted
during which Mr.. Evans cited the
Thiede case. The testimony was al
lowed, and Mrs. G. H. Wheeler told of
quarrel between the two in Hunts
vile about a year ago, when Douglass
struck and kicked his wife.
Joseph Larson gave similar testi-
mony about a family jar in ogden two
years ago.
Deputy Sheriff Ballantyne told Of
Douglass threats when the divorce
summons was read on him.
Carl 4. Peterson had met the de-
PENDANT day or two before the shoot
ing and joked him about a report that
he (Douglass) was dead. The defend
ant had become angry and had said
he was going to Huntsville and show
himself very lively corpse.
Mrs. start uesntled ABOUT a previous
assault made BIZ Douglass upon his
Wife and corroborated the story of Jo-
seph Larson in regard to the assault
Ed Browning of the firm of Browning
Bros, said that on the forenoon of the
day of the shooting, Douglass came in
10 his shop and paid 10 cents owed to
Browning and then tried to rent a shot
gun and a pistol. Ed Browning re-
ferred him to the merchandise depart
ment. ..- -...-,.-
George E. Browning testified that
Douglass had applied for a shotgun
and pistol but they told him they
had no pistols to rent. He said that
Douglass had been drinking.
Milton Hall, clerk in Browning Bros,
said that Douglass got a shotgun and
two boxes OF cartridges. The articles
were Identified by the witness and put
in evidence. Witness said Douglass
told him he was going cut duck shoot
ing. Douglass appeared TO have been
drinking, but was rot intoxicated
A. B. Corey testified that Douglass
hired the rig at his stable. saying that
he was going to Huntsville. This was
about 1:30 in the afternoon. Douglass
was not drunk at the time.
Hoken Olsen said he was coming
down the canyon and met Douglass
near its mouth. Olsen asked him ii he
had any liquor with him, as he wanted
a drink. Douglass said no, and in turn,
tried to get a drink from Olsen, but
the latter had no liquor. Olsen said
Douglass was sober at the time.
William Wright was working at the
power dam, four or five mites further /
and the latter called out to him, good !
bye
Ludwig Selp met Douglass a little /
farther up and said to him, Hello, 1 /
heard you were dead" Douglass re-
piled, No, l am not dead, but l soon |
VIII ne Inc QeleIlOdnb VAS ltOl IN /
toXicated.
Sylvester Grow was the next man /
who met Douglass, and corroborated /
the previous witness, saying that |
Douglass was sober at the time.
Lars Larsen, father of Mrs. Doug
lass. said he was in the woodshed with
Douglass two children when Doug
lass drove up. Douglass kissed the
children and cried over them little
The witness told him that his wife was
down at a neighbours. The witness
also said that Douglass was sober.
Joseph Larsen, recalled, corroborat-
ed the testimony of Lars Larsen, his
father. about Douglass actions with
the children and while at the house I
The witness tried to cheer him up, and
Douglass finally said that he would go
over &c neighbours and get some tools
that he had there.
This closed the testimony for the day,
and brought the case up to the events
preceding the tragedy. To-
day the prosecution will put on eye
witnesses to the shooting. An incident
of the trial was the illness of Juror F.
s. Woodcock, who was, however. con-
improved last night Another
incident was the filming of Juror F. L.
Davidson IS for contempt, in failing to
be on hand on time