Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-14
A RACy CASE IN COURT
lanr,on Becomes Excited and Interrupted the
Proceedings.
MAKES A STRANGE DENIAL.
Declares That Nr. Mott Was Not ~.
on Hates 1soud what the
Record shows.

The proceedings In the preliminary
hearing OF tho Rivcrton arson case,
which Ia being heard before Justice
Tlmmony In the police court. developed
interesting information today. Mr. II.
n. Grant. the special agent for the
Home Fire Insurance company. was
the sole witness examined during the
morning session. which extended from
$50 a. IN. until 1885 y. NJ. Mr. Grant
related tho facts that led up to his taxi
ing a trip out 10 Rlvcrton the day after
the IRE and his subsequent talks with
the accused. aiyo tho means he adopt
cd for drawing confession from tho
defendant. Tho case from the outset
assumes the proportions and promise OF
very hard fought trial. Attorney
vaginn contrasting every inch OF ground
with the prosecution. ~ an early hour
this morning the f.lvcrton contingent
arrived In town and by 1850 were seated
IN the courtroom. In addition TO the
accused mans wife. father and mother.
there were eight or ten lady residents
u the settlement and their escorts.
Mcssrr. f.angton and Mott also were In
evidence taking copioua notes of tho
procecdlngr with the object IN View as
Ar. taugton explained Of taking civil
action ngaiurt AFR. Grant for his al
icrcd intimationn To the effect that
they wcrr Interested In the ease be-
yond that % mere spectators. Mr..
iangton very blan.-'y declared that he
had no Interest whatever Ia the store.
although sir. Mott had: he further en-
phaticaily stated that his partner Mr..
Mott. had not gone upon this bond OF
young hate rs published by the daily
papers and IN standardization OF tho
statement he called Air.. Motif across this
courtroom 10 confirm the correct
ness OF hia contention. lie then grew
excited and expressed himself In vigor-
Gus Language az. Az he said. the manner
In which his name had been dragged In
to the case. With reference to the
claim that Mr. Mott was not on Mr..
Bates bond Il II perhaps only ncccs-
Hary To say that some one has made
mistake. The bond bears his signature
and Justice McMaster this afternoon
Informed the News" that Mr.. Mott
went before him personally and quail
Ned. Mr.. f.angton therefore seems 10
be at variance with the court record.
LAST EVENING.
The proceedings In the case Of Erncs,
T. bate. the young lllycrton poatmaA-
ter and merchant took "A decidedly In
tercstinE turn iaAt evening.
Apparently the prosecution. judging
from the evidence. has been leaving no
stone uniurncd ~ cxtort a confession
from the alleged inccndiary.
The star witness. In yesterdays pro-
ceedingn was Deputy sheriff John n.
cummock. who testified concerning n
conversation between u, y. Grant and
bate on the night OF April 9th. at River
ton. cummock said he was hid.
ms behind a crate at the time and
could distinctly hear the conversation.
Grant asked the accused why he
hadn't been to zee him In town.
You are not going 20 throw me down.
are your said he. IN my company
knew | was here 90 help you out ia
yet In trouble. The best thing you can
do In TO give me the money TO pay
your father for the damage TO the
building" Bate replied that he would
do ~ In thirty days.
Grant he said frat talked 10 bate
about the repayment OF sis.3s. which
the Homo Fire Insurance company had
paid or was 20 pay 90 Bate senior for
damage 10 tho building, ana the young
man finally agreed 10 refund the money
within thirty days.
WORKED BATE IN JAIL.
Attorney varlan took the witness In
hand and gave him "A lively turn OF II
during REORGANIZATION; the witness
said hp had worked ON the case with
Mr.. Grant and finally made the arrest
but did not urge the accused TO plead
guilty.
you told him you know he was
guiltyg" said Mr.. vafinn.
Il Yes, I tried 10 get him to any who
had put him up 20 Il. and said he had
better made q clean breast OF H."
Were you present at the jail that
night when Grant got himself into a
cell. under pretext of arrest. 10 extort
aomething from the boyy'
Yes"
you know OF ~"
mo"
The aherlnra Office dld. dId 1t not9'
Yes, I believe So"
You saw Grant In jail?"
cummock said he had heard OF an
unknown man who had been seen
around Rivertnn ON the night OF the
fire. He further admitted that N the
Ere on the roof started on the roof OF the
frame lean to" that his theory regard
ing the cause OF tho fire. would fall to
the ground.
Morpni Dansic was tho next witness,
II he stated that ON the nlght or the iire
he was Attending a ball given by the
bate family IN an adjacent hall. He
went into the Ht0r, with the accused
70 get some candy, Beie left the build
ing At the same time ~ he did locking
the door after him. He didn't see him
again until the alarm was given.
on cross-examlnation pansie testified
that upon the alarm Of FIRE being raised
that Rate assisted him In rolling out the
coal oil tank, In the addition, and also
took AN active part In carrying out the
stock.
Court then adjourned until $3.50 this
morning.
THIS MORNING.
Mr.. u. v. Grant was the first witness
called this morning; he proceeded to
state that upon his attention being
called 10 the IRE at the Riverton Pio-
neer Coop on the morning OF the lat
OF April he repaired 20 the scene at
| 4 osciock in tina nj .arnoon ~ thar dny