The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-27
GOT EIGHT YEARS.
Coyote Trainer of Boys to Crime Re
ceives Sentence.

Especial Correspondence
~ o1tffaI, Tn-o % r.t,z T.... .


Panguitch, June 24.-The June term Of
the district court has been held here
this week, Judge McCarty presiding
while the cases disposed of were few and
the time occupied but short. Thursday.
FRIDAY and saturday, yet the work done
has been very important and efficient and
mas accomplished great good to this part
of the state.
One of the nastiest and most vicious
gangs of criminals that ever infested any
part of Utah has been effectually broken
up and dispersed. The gang was con-
trolied and operated by one George Nc
Cormick. a man of mature years, much
magnetic force and a born leader; a man
with bright, flashing eyes; heavy, set jaws
and face betokening much intelligence
ana determination, which, together with
robust physique, proclaims him to be
and impreSseS the observer of him as
one Of the most dangerous men one can
in Nebraska and Wyoming, but he halls
here from Arizona, from whence he
came some four years ago, settling at
Noyote and there marrying a widow, Car
King. McCormicks past record is OBJ
scured in mystery, but ugly rumorS are
abroad about him. At Coyote he got
around him three boys, 1S 10 and 70
liam Hodge. Charles Hammaker and
Harry w. Small. Many minor offenses
have been committed by these, but the
crime for which they were informed
against in the district court was well
laid and planned Mccormick was about
TO go with his family to Arizona He eX-
planned to the boys that they could let
work and make living easily in that
territory, and prevailed upon them to go
with him, but first to start out horseback
and on the range gather up some COVE
and deliver them to him near the Arizona
line This they, after much persuasion,
finally agreed to do, all except Hodge,
who went along with Mccormick, but re-
fused to join in the stealing. Hammaker
and Small picked up the cows and were
waiting on the road to deliver them TO
Mccormick, but were aDprehended and
arrested by the officers before he arrived.
OF course, on coming to the boys and
finding them in charge of the officers.
Mccormick refused to accept the animals
and denied all connection with the boys
and all previous knowledge of their hav-
ing started or being on the road with the
intention of joining him. He was ar
rested, nevertheless. and while stoutlv
protesting against what he called the in
justice done him. he appeared to be non
chaiant and confident of easily escaping
conviction. relying. undoubtedly, on the
shrewdness of his plan to have others and
not himself in the meshes i'll case or an
accident in the working out of his plan.
and arrest, by showing that he had not
actually participated in the commission
of any offense. just as no doubt he would
have been triumphant had his plan sue
ceeded of having the offense committed
in Utah and in a twinkling. as it were.
been sailing off with the stolen property
officers and courts of Utah. But tia
best laid plans o. mice and men gang aft
aglee," and Mccormick is now under SEN
tence of eight years.
While it was evident that Mccormick
was thus the chief actor in the crime and
a conSpiratOr against the morals of youth.
it long seemed to the officers that it would
be impossible to get evidence to convict
him but John F. Chichester. Governor
Wells recent appointee to the office of
district attorney. proved himself an adept
.t,..If ovid ND rTarfC sod
even his most ardent admirers in the
mastery way in which he weaved the
convincing chain of facts before the jury.
with the result that a verdict of guilty
was returned as quickly as the jury could
retire, cast one ballot and return into
court. Judge Knox of Beaver calamity
fought for his client. MeCormick and
one, indeed. but the facts were against
him and he had to fight only on lega!
and technical points. and on these he will
appeal the case to the supreme court.
Hammaker turned states evidence. and
the case was dismissed as to him. 1t was
also dismissed as to Hodge. who had par
ticipated in the affair scarcely sufficiently
testified for the state. Small and Ham
maker. 1t viii be remembered. some time
since broke jail. stole horses and skipped.
Small got as far as Price. then sold his
horse and boarded the train and has rot
been heard of since. Hammaker was re-
captured. He pleaded guilty to stealing
that horse and was sentenced to one
wear.
The trial was an exciting and interest
ing one in many ways. 1t was largely at
tended by spectators from beginning to
end. and chief among the spectators and
those who attracted the most attention
were the mothers of the bows who had
been entrapped by Mccormick, and their
frequent expressions of rage at him some
times were so loud as to interrupt th-
proceedings of the court. and the tears
they shed and the agony and suffering
depicted on their AGED faces were piteous
to behold. The wife of Mccormick was
also present and her suffering was plain
" not less than that of the mothers. She
is a good woman and is confident that her
husband has been conspired against and
ic not the had man he iS nrnVed to be