The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-21
MORTGAGE ON THE HOME
OF M0RTENSEN WAS DUE
Lumber Companys Note Expired Last tuesday,
Day After James R. Hay Was Killed.
Further Interesting Developments in Murder Mystery Are I'm.
earthed by the Police.

= EoTHER DAY has passed since
u the discovery Of the terrible as
sassination Of James r. Hay,
and, like is predecessors, it has been
productive O. important developments.
from & police standpoint, in clearing
up the mystery surrounding the events
OF last Monday night. Perhaps the
most important is the discovery of the
true sieni6 canoe Of the note described
IN The Herald yesterday as in the
hands OF the police ana uncanceled by
Hay, VINO, il is claimed, took it to
Moltersen's home for the purpose Of
collection and cancellation.
The note was not, as at first believed,
8 ven as a matter of formality to
cover the iuIl amount of Mortensen's
indebtedness 70 the Pacific Lumber
company, bit was drawn On June II
20 cover al indebtedness Of $3.50 over
which the lumber company was feeling
some concern. To secure the note,
MSrtensen executed "a mortgage for the
amount, naming as security or col
lateral his home and the two lots on
which it stands. This mortgage ICll
due last Tuesday, the day following
Hays death. Had IL not been paid
at that time, or an extension secured
Mortensen might have seen the roof
above his head swept away for debt.
Statement of Debt.
The uneaneeIed note is not the only
incongruity that has come to light, So
It is said, in connection with the trans
action at Mortensen's home Monday
night, when he AYERS he paid Hay
$500 in gold. The signed receipt that
Hay carried that night and the note
that was to have been Cancelled were
only two Of three precautions with
which the involved transaction was 30
have been safeguarded. The third was
g detailed statement of debt delivered
10 MOrtensen that day with the under
standing that = was to be receipUed
when The cash was paid. This was
found yesterday among AIOrtensen' s.
effects. Hays Endorsement that it had
been paid was not upon it.
Following these discoveries, a con-
ference of all Interested officially in
probing the mystery was called at the
o1hce of County Attorney Christensen
The latter and his assistants. the sher-
IN and Representatives of his DEPART
ment, the chief Of police and the
detectives who have done most in the
il
murder, and the relatives of the vic
tim, gathered behind locked doors and
for several hours discussed the case.
All were Of the opinion that the mort
gage Is the most important element in
arriving ar the motive that prompted
fAe crime, and that with the motive
once est blisheu the rest viii be easy.
Ialk With Iortensen.
evidence was reviewed, an effort YVES
made to induce Moatensen to make
some statement, or at least TO answer
questions having direct bearing on his
movements on Monday night and in
relation to his financial condition at
thai time. The suspected man only
paced the room where he is confined. in
silence.
Consequent to tho conference the
following course of action has been de-
CideG upon by the authorities: No in
quest viii be held; the examination Of
BIOrtensen's books and accounts from
which it is hoped to learn what his
ebilit was to pay the debt of nearly
$1,000 viii proceed today; the formal
charge of murder made against him is
withheld penCing additional evidence,
but may be presented at any moment.
10 further search will be made specifi-
cally for bloOd-5tained clothing the
conclusion having been reached that
the murderer could have completed his
horrible task without having soiled his
clothing
Thus the situation rested early to-
day. with Mortensen, the accused, en-
joylng the first real sleep he has had
since his confinement b =gau-stretche3
our fun length on a cot dead to the
world through absolute physical ex-
haUs-ion but apparently as well sup
piled with nerve to meet all tests as
ever.