The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-07
Jury Finds Postmaster Not Guilty
of Arson.
JURY WAS OUT ONE HOUR
CLOSING TESTIMONY AND AR
GUMENTs OF COUNSEL.
Mr.. Varian Severely Scored the OFF,
GERS for the Methods They Pur-
sued-Defendant Congratulated
By His Riverton Friends-Re-
moved As Postmaster.

Ernest T. Bate is not guilty; so said
the jury which has during nine days
listened to his trial for arson. The jury
does not believe that he set fire to the
Riverton store on the night of April 1.
Bad news comes from Washington
for Bate at the same time that he is
cleared of the charge of arson. A dis
patch received last night said that he
had been removed as postmaster at
Riverton. The cause . is not stated.
Mrs. Catherine Thorne has been ap-
pointed in his place.
Most of those who had listened to the
testimony believed that there would be
a disagreement of the jury. The evil
dence had been so conflicting and the
character of Bate having been good, IL
was not considered that the eight men
would be of the same opinion. but they
did decide the matter very quickly.
The evidence introduced yesterday
morning was in rebuttal, the defense
having rested at the conclusion of
Bates testimony. Rufus Nell, who
claimed to have visited the store at
Riverton on the day after the fire with
his wife and sister. told of the way the
defendant acted at that time. He said
that Bate had shown him how and
where the fire occurred, stating that
Bate pointed out the coal oil on the
floor and motioned upward to illustrate
how the oil must have been thrown
against the door Bate had under
taken TO show him that the fire must
have begun on the floor and not at the
roof, as was now contended by the de-
Tense.
Sheriff Howells was recalled to tes-
tify concerning the envelope that had
contained the $50 worth of stamps al
legged to have been stolen
Henry Black, an employee of the
Commercial Coop of Riverton. from
which place the defense alleged the
kerosene used in the fire was taken.
was called to testify that the kerosene
pump in that store could not be worked
by one unfamiliar with it. Mrs. Annie
Nell was the last witness: she corrob-
GRATED the statements of her husband,
Rufus Nell.
Assistant County Attorney Ray Van
Colt opened the argument in a short
address for the state. He went over
the ground carefully to show the inn
possibility of the store having been set
on Ere b. tramDs.
Attorney Varian, for the defense.
talked for an hour and three-cuarters,
that time having been assigned to each
side.
Mr.. Varian was very bitter in his de-
scription of the conduct of the officers
toward Bate. With much vehemence
he declared that the defendant had
been bounded by the officers of the
law"
County Attorney Putnam closed the
argument.
The jury was sent out at 4:30 during
the afternoon, in charge of Deputy
Sheriffs McDuff and Peery. The eight
men deliberated for Just one hour.
When they had agreed Deputy Peery
went for Judge Norrell. Mr.. Varian and
County Attorney Putnam were on
hand. Bate, with his father and mother.
his wife and his two little children and
many other relatives and friends who
have been in constant attendance, were
in the court room.
When the verdict was read and the
defendant discharged. all the Riverton
people came forward to shake hands
with MIN.