The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-16

1 I 49, ~ , DANcn II HIS y OK VIII
J. Z. q Meiveney. Became intimately
acquainted with him Late in 1889 h
was the city engineer at Pocatello. He
: mad made study of the science OF
irrigation. He first met his wife in the
fall Of 1891 in Fremont county. Ida.
while he was making some surveys in
that county
She was then II years old. In 1896
ne was member Of the legislature
from Bingham county. He served
through the session the foIlowine
Writer. He was married April %
1873, at Alameda, Cal. He made his
nome at PoeatellO. In 1894 he was az.
s.stant engineer under Enginesr
MelVeney and was in charge of the
construction Of bridge foundations on
the Union Pacific. He thought OMel-
Veney had met Mrs. Mills before they
were married
After their marriage they became
friendly and he, O'MelVeney, was often
guest at their house. He was ac-
q9ainted with O'Melveney's family.
Inc TWO families were on a friendly
Iooting and exchanged friendly visits.
Elected Lieutenant Governor.
The fall Of 1894 witness was elected
/ lieutenant governor of the state of
Iesiio; entered in the duties of that
oiliCs IN January, 1895 He was president
/ OF bhe senate, and afterwards was an
/ pointed state engineer. by. the governor
ne hefd unat position about three and a
nan years, UP to the fret Of July. 1898.
! Wi'eh ne resigned to enter the army. He
, ASSISTED the governor somewhat in the
organization Of the First Idaho regi-
fcent- Offered his services in the engi-
l-eering regiments that were being
formed at the time.
he was APPOINTED by the president
hrStl lieutenant in the regiment O'MaI
veney assisted him somewhat in the or-
ganizatiOn Of the company. He had
never had any difficulty with him. but
! respected nm, and had confidence in
MN, and never distrusted him. He was
IN command here and on the way to
San Francisco. They left Salt Lake on
July TO- and remained in California I'M
III august ., then sailed for Honolulu,
arriving there The 18th day of August.
Ihere he had charge Of preparing can1D
stalking out streets and tents. Epidemic
CI TYPHOID broke cut there in October
he was taken ill., Went to the hos
plfal the 2lst day Of November. Was
lhere until The 2lst or END day of
April. de was very sick His wife ar
rived there the last day o. the wear
1879 She nursed him constantly. and
was very faithful and attentive to MIN.
he Iert honolulu in April, and arrived
IN san Francisco on the 10th day of
April was III then and unable to walk.
11t'lt san Francisco the 18th day of Nav
for SaE Lake His wife was with
him.
They first went to the Knutsford ho-
tel, and afterwards to the house OF. Mr.. /
ard Mrs O'Melvene.s at their request. !
and remained there two DAYS. After
wards he Went 10 St. Marks hce-5ltal.
He was confined to the bed most of the /
time while in the hospital Was oper-
ated on two or three times, once at
Honolulu and once at st. Marks hos-
pitaL After leaving the hospital he ana
MS wife and children made their home
at 81 Second street, and lived there un-
til the latter part of August, when wit
ness went TO Cheyenne, where ne was
employed
On the 22rd day Of September. 1899
witness arrived in Salt Lake from
Cheyenne. On his way UP town he met /
MS wife and children on the street.
She did not know of his coming. There 1
was something in her appearance that /
attracted his attention. He thought she 1
looked very depressed and melancholy. /
and called attention to it.
Went to Pocatello.
She had been planning trip to 1
POcatellO and Boise, and agreed that {
night that she WAS to 20 She left for Z
theTe the following Monday morning. !
he last saw her at the station, but had /
no suspicious against her at that time. /
mat same evening, while writing some
letters at their rooms at the ..4alIs."
he looked over some old letters in a
pasteboard box that had been ussd for
a waste basket
He picked up a scrap of paper there
and noticed the words that were writ
ten on it. He saw the words: MY Dear
Husband: When YOU read this l will
be dead" He was unable TO describe
the effect that this produced upon him.
That night he went to St Marks nos
pital TO see Mr.. Wallace, and inquired
II he knew anything that would throw
any light on the matter. On leaving
the hospital he came back to the rooms.
he didn't go TO bed; didn't sleep any
that night Next morning he went to
2OcatelI0.
He went 10 the house where Mrs.
Mills was staying and asked for her.
and SPOKE TO her about this scrap Of
paper; said he could think of I e one
hing that would cause her to ccateul-
plate such an act That was in6delity
10 him. She said she had torn the letter
I'D because on his return ne seemed
10 be in such good spirits she had de-
;ided to keep her secret and live with
lin as before. She said something
about not being able to stand it any
onger, feeling her uuwOrthiness of his
lindnes5, she claimed to have affection !
or him.
He demanded Of her the name of the
nan. she didn't tell him. He had no
'UsDioiors as to vino IT was(
He and his wife returned to salt Lake
text morning. In discussing the mat
er she said there was no excuse Tor
Ter; she had no business listening to (
words that had been said to her. He
eH very angry, and remembered feel {
ng that lie had lost its attraction.
That night he went to BrOwning's store. 1
What did you do there?" asked \
Judge Powers.
Il bought a revolver"
What fOr?"
i had suicide in my mind" said the {
witness after a long pause
The witness testified that after that j
lie walked up City Creek canyon up I
ntO the foothills. His thought about {
lis children caused him to change his {
purpose. He kept the revolver in his I
,Ocket and carried it after that. He i
nd his wife agreed to separate. On {
eturning TO his room he found a letter Z
rom her. It was read in evidence as
ollows: i
Plea For Mercy. :
SHOW me a little mercy. I am sorry. [
10 one knows how 1 am suffering. but {
OF more than I deserve. If the time I
ONES when you think you can forgive [
he, breathe the words. and living or 6
cad I will hear. May God bless YOU q
nd watch over you wherever you may g
e is the last prayer of your erring y
lie vii. r-arrlerl1 her l.lrt liz -. II