The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-30
Insurance Agent Grant TestifieS In
Arson Case.
BATE SHORT ON STAMPS
ADMITTED THAT HE FIRED THE
BUILDING.
Agent Grant Promised the Postmas-
ter That the Stamp Shortage
Would be Made Good-Bate De-
clared That No One Assisted Him
in Setting Fire to the Building.

postmaster Ernest T. Bate of River
ton, on trial for arson before Judge
Norrell, listened to the strongest testi-
mony against him yesterday morning
But he didn't listen without evidences
OF emotion, for on his face he wore a
strained and sometimes panied look
Through all the damaging testimony of
/ Special Insurance Agent B. F. Grant
and Deputy Sheriff Cummock he list
ened intently. His wife, who has been
ms constant attendant during the trial,
tried to smile at times, but her eff
forts failed and died away into pitt
full expression. There were in The
! court room many residents of River
! ton. friends of the prisoner.
The cross-eXamination of Grant by
| Attorney Varian was not as severe as
had been anticipated. Not once did
the insurance agent become involved.
! Once or twice the attorney seemingly
almost lost his temper, but he did not
succeed in breaking the force of Grants
! evidence to a great extent.
On Wednesday afternoon Grant had
! been put upon the stand, principally
/ to tell of the alleged confession which
Bate had made to him on the day af-
ter the fire. There was a long legal
argument as to the admission of this
testimony. Judge Norrell decided yes
i
tary, and therefore admissible where
upon Grant took the stand and pro-
ceeded TO relate his experience.
Bates Confession.
Bate had told Grant that he at
tempted TO burn the building in order
to cover up his shortage of $50 of
stamps. Grant asked why he did not
go TO his father and ask for assistance
and Bate had said that he ought to
have done so but had neglected it,
Grant said he would help him out; that
at the Home Fire insurance office there
were many stamps, and ii would not
be difficult to get that amount, which
he could use to replac~ those missing
Grant said that Bate told him that he
would lose the stamps in a ditch mixed
with rubbish and dirt, and have them
recovered, so that the missing stamps
would be accounted for. The witness
believing that there were others con-
cerned in the fire, asked Bate if there
were, but he maintained that he was
the only one concerned. In endeavor-
ing to learn whether Langton and
Knott of the Equitable Coop were
connected with it, he drew from Bate
that he thought these two men would
aid him to get $50 worth of stamps
The register of the postoffice was
all right. wasn't it?" asked Attorney
Varian in cross-eXamination.
Yes"
Then, why couldn't the defendant
substitute cash for the stamps and I
show it in the register?'
We'll. his register showed that he
had $50 in stamps on hand, and he
didn't have them" answered Grant.
Did you tell the story of this con-
fessiOn just as Bate told you?" asked |
the attorney.
Yes, sir
when you first asked him about |
the burning of the store, didn't he tell |
strange men about the place on that !
night?"
Yes"
And you said to him that you were
confident he had set the building on
fire to cover up his tracks?"
Yes, sir" answered the witness.
Did Not Admit He Lied.
Didn't you say that you would get
stamps for him, and didn't you admit
on the preliminary examination that
you had lied?"
mo, SIR said the witness. Il think
you said that"
get off the stand" said Attorney Va
rian, with some feeling Ito show me
where in this record | said that?"
''All right" answered the witness
very cooliy.
The attorney attempted to offer in
evidence to contradict Grants state
nents about the stamps a card from
he postoffice department, showing that
he loss of them had been put down
is accidental but Judge NOrrell would
lot admit it.
You were doing all this to aid and
lbet him so that he would be sent to
he penitentiary?" asked Attorney Va .
ian.
Yes, sir" said the witness.
when you told him that you would
nave to pay back the $751; for repair
ng the building you told him false
hood. didn't you?"
Yes, sir
How many lies did you tell Bate
n this conversation" asked Varian
Il don't think 1 told him any in that
ense?"
Different in Court.
How do we know you are not lying ,
low?"
We'll, 1 wasn't before a court then"
You make a distinction then in what /
-ou say before a court and what you S
ay outsider" s
Yes, sir !
You tell the truth in court?'' {
Yes, SIR
After the statement of Deputy Cum I
mock, who listened to Bates partial \
onfession while hiding behind a crate I
f goods the state rested it's case.
Attorney Varian. in his opening
tatement to the jury, said that he
rould show that the fire had been set
Y tramps and that Bate was the first
D. try to extinguish the flames and v
Torked harder than anyone else. l
1t is likely that the case will not be e
oncluded till Monday.