Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-30
Husband and Wife Were on Trial
Together.
WERE SENTENCED TODAY.
Some Interesting Facts Concerning
the History OF Lewis, Wilson and
Lille Mitchell Asoertained.

The closing scenes OF the trial oil
Lille Mitchell and Henry Wilson on the
charge OF having in their possession i'm
plements used by burglars, were vast
ly amusing to all present at the trial
when Wilson was placed on the stand
he swore positively that the watch
which he endeayored TO make away
with was given TO him by Lewis In
Ogden. He had Just met Lewis, had
not seen him before FOR four years. He
emphatically denied ever being con-
victed OF crime and also denied serv-
ing terms In the California. Montana
and Colorado state prisons,
why did you come hege?" asked Mr.,
Gunter.
why did I come here? Oh, came
here to see the Templel"
Lewis was put on the stand and relat-
ed a most wonderful story. He said
the letter sent to the Mitchell woman
was not intended for her. but for
woman named Johnson, who, by the
way, was witness wife, although he
had not seen her for six months. He
said that he wrote the letter and those
parts where us" and eve" and don't
try to come and see us" really meant
him alone. He didn't exactly know why
he signed the misslve Wilson and
I rttfto ha att u I
addressed TO Little Mace. In answer
to Mr.. Gunter, Lewis said that he got
the screws" or skeleton keys from a
friend and got the "Jmmle" the day
following his arrival here.
why did you get the 'jimmie?'
"Oh I'm carpenter
"Why did you have the keys"
well, just had EN-"
The attorneys eacn made strong and
eloquent arguments for and against
conviction. The jury was cut about fif-
teen minutes and returned verdict OF
guilty.
The defendants were taken before
Judge Timmony al 10 o'clock this morn
ing for sentence.
Attorney J. NJ. Hamilton addressed
the court this morning in behalf Of the
defendants and pleaded earnestly for
clemency. He said Your Honor, these
people are absolute strangers TO me.
know nothing Of them.
"All three OF these people are impli-
Gated in the crime, but l say that
Lewis is the head II may be that un-
der the influence OF Lewis these two
people did have burglary tools for
the purpose Of committing crime and !
do not think they should be given the
full extent OF the law. ! kindly ask
the court to be lenient with them"
Judge Timmony-"I am satisfied
that the jury rendered correct YER
diet. You are fortunate In being tried
for misdemeanor, for I am satisfied
that II the police had waited forty
eight hours before making the arrest
you would be tried in the district court
for the more serious crime Of burglary
The court then sentenced them to
six months Imprisonment In the County
Jail
Information was received In this city
last evening which throws considerable
light on the history Of the woman and
the two men during the last two years.
The woman Is undoubtedly the wife Of
Wilson, but has travelled under various
aliases.
For the last two or three years,
Lewis, Wilson and the woman have
been almost inseparable.
Two years ago Wilson and his wife
ran house Of III repute in San Fran
cisco and had considerable money.
II appears that Lewis was ar
rested in an opium den in
San Francisco The Wilson's came
to his relief and his case was
fought TO the supreme court Of Califor-
mia. The Wilson's lost what money they
had and for the last sixteen months
have, In connection with Lewis, been
roaming around the country between
Denver and San Francisco.
II is said the woman is green In the
burglary business. and the fact that she
made an attempt TO see her confeder-
ated when they were In Jail, seems to
bear out the assertion. Lewis is a
dope fiend and one Of the worst
type