The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-05

To establish a motive for the killing
of Chief Engineer ]. c. O'Melveney by
Captain f. ]. Mills is the important
object of those interested in Tuesday
afternoons shocking tragedy. For, in
spite of yesterdays developments, there
is no evidence sufficiently strong TO
bear this question from the foreground.
The wife of Captain Mills has been
dragged into the case in an unenviable
light, and the belief that she is the
woman in the case, which at first was
received incredulously by the police,
has gained more prominence.
Certain it appears that there had
been trouble between Captain and Mrs.
Mills, but its origin was not of recent
date. There is strong evidence that she
was not the most faithful of wives But
TO prove by what is known now that the
chief engineer was one of her para
mours would be a more difficult task.
Others are involved. A prominent doc
ter and d lieutenant under Mills are
said to be more or less responsible for
Mrs. Mills ruination. and it is reason
ably certain that Mills knew it. But
this sheds no light on the real question
why did Mills shoot O'Melveney?
The two men were the best of friends
where Mrs. Mills and her demeanor to-
wards her husband had been the sub
ject of discussion. The captain left,
from the best information obtainable,
satisfied of O'Melveney's innocence of
a possible accusation, and began his
walk down town with the chief engi-
neer. What occurred during that walk
to anger Mills? If nothing, the man
was insane.
Trbaca ara the fKVro most 1llalJSihlp the
cries of motive remaining, and nei-
Their are clear. of alternating circum-
stances.
A gentleman who is in full possess
sion of all the facts relating to Mills
visit TO the O'Melveney residence on
the day of the murder declared last
evening that nothing tranSpired during
that visit that would justify or explain
the murder, and his own belief was that
Mills was insane.
The facts are slowly coming to light,
while the accused and his associates
remain dumb. His wife is in custody.
She viii not talk. Mrs. O'Melveney is
likewise reticent, and an air of mystery
surrounds the case entire.
The inquest was held yesterday, and
after very brief proceedings the jury
found that the chief engineer was
feloniously murdered. Nothing new
appeared in the testimony. Mills was
arraigned before Justice Sommer, and
after entering a plea of not guilty was
committed without bonds.
The theory of the defense is fairly
determined. 1t viii be that O'Melveney
accomplished the ruin of Mrs. Mills
and that the husband was justified in
his terrible deed.
No arrangements have been made for
the burial. The body still lies at the
morgue, while a half-masted flag over
the Short Line building waves to the
officials memory.
Mills was given into the custody of
the sheriff after documental proceed
ings yesterday afternoon, and occupies
a cell at the county jail with John II.
Benbrook.
The tragedy, of course, is the sole
topic of discussion throughout the city.
and it is noticeable that Mills has failed
to receive little sympathy from the
public. He has but few callers, and
his physical and mental condition is
growing weaker every day. This has
been noticed by those who have been
with him since his arrest, some of whom
have no hesitancy in saying the ac-
cused Is more or less demented.