The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1901-12-27

James r. Hay, secretary OF the Pa
elh Lumber company, at Salt Lake,
who disappeared Monday night after
having collected $500 due from Peter
Morteuseu, a contractor. was foully
murdered His body was found We'd
nesday forenoon buried In a shallow
grave along the right of way Of the
Rio Grande Westerns Park City line,
near Sixth East aud Twelfth South.
Hay was shot In the back Of the head
twice, and his head evidently bruised
with some blunt instrument.
Peter Mortenseu, the man who al.
leges he paid the money, aud who has
Hays receipt for the same. is in Jail
charged with the crime.
The story Is An unusual one. Nor
Jensen was indebted to the Pacific
Lumber company 10 the sum Of $4,000.
Monday after banking hours he called
At the uptown Office Of the company,
aud stated that he had the money at
home to discharge the obligation, aud
requested that Hay call that evening
lectured aud get II. ManagerGeorge T..
Romney Mortensen for keeping 30 much
money at home, aud positively refused to
send for the money, and positively In
htructed Hay not TO accept the money
until the next morning. with this un-
dorstanding Mortensen aud Hay left
tbs Office and took a car for home, they
living In Forest Dale, "a few rods apart.
What transpired on the way home TO
induce Hay to disobey positive orders
and call for the money at night is not
known.
About . o'clock Monday night Hay
drew on his overcoat and left bone for
Mortensen's TO get the money, telling
his wife OF his errand, and stating
that he would not be absent long.
Mrs. Hay retired and did not awaken
until . o'clock, when she became APP
%prehensive because her husband had
not returned, and hastily dressing her
self, went across the street 10 Morten-
sens house, arousing him 10 inquire
about the missing man. M%ortenseu
assured her that Hay had left his house
with the money about 10 o'clock TO
take the money up town to turf over
TO Mr.. Romney, and that he probably
missed the last car home and bad re-
maiDed up town with friends.
As Hay did not appear Tuesday
morning, an inquiry was set on foot.
Mortensen told a straight story about
Hays having called about $3.50 o'clock,
taken the money and given a receipt
for the same, which he exhibited; that
he had left shortly aftetward with the
intention OF taking the money up town
and turning II I'VE to Mr., Romney for
safe keeping.
Putting these circumstances together
the officers suspected flight, aud sent
descriptions Of the missing man abroad
In hopes OF appreheuding him. Hays
friends and associates, however, iu-
sisted that he had either been ioully
dealt with or had lost his reason, aud
their suspicious were verified by subse-
quent developments.
Upon the discovery Of the grave tho
officers were notified. Neighbors of
Hay were soon on the ground, among
whom vas Mortensen, When the oil.
GERS arrived the body was soon un.
covered. The grave was barely eigh.
teen inches deep, aud scarcely covered
the dead mans feet. The hands vera
folded across his breast, and his over
coat drawn over his face TO hide II from
the Assassin's view or to protect It from
the dirt
After a short consultation, Morton
sen was arrested on suspicion OF having
committed the deed, and Is awaiting a
preliminary examination. lie stoutly
maintains his innocence.